This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 1 item |
Abstract | Carhart & Roff was a merchant firm based in Macon, Ga., that was founded in 1841. The firm was named for its originators and principal investors, Elijah H. Carhart (1827-1885) and Aaron A. Roff (1815-1880). The collection consists of a letterpress copybook maintained by Carhart & Roff in its business from 13 September 1854 to 27 January 1855. The firm dealt in a wide variety of goods with parties across Georgia. Letters are frequently directed to merchants in Savannah, Ga., with whom Carhart & Roff appear to have numerous dealings; there are also letters to a number of customers with regular accounts. The letters often indicate shipment of goods, receipt of payment, the need for cash remittance, or payment overdue. Topics addressed in the letters include yellow fever in Savannah, the difficult economic environment, and the purchase or sale of whiskey. There are a small number of references to the use of slaves in business dealings. There are also numerous, regular letters addressed to a Mr. F.J. Ogden of Savannah, who was possibly the firm's purchasing agent there. The letters urge him to send goods quickly and regularly direct him to invest amounts of money on the New York Stock Exchange, with further directions to remit payments to Carhart Brothers and Co., likely the grocery owned by the brothers of Elijah H. Carhart in Brooklyn, N.Y. |
Creator | Carhart & Roff (Macon, Ga.) |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: Martin Gengenbach, November 2010
Encoded by: Martin Gengenbach, November 2010
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Carhart & Roff was a merchant firm based in Macon, Ga., founded in 1841. The firm operated a wide-ranging general supply trade throughout Georgia. Carhart & Roff was named for its originators and principal investors, Elijah H. Carhart (1827-1885) and Aaron A. Roff (1815-1880), both of whom hailed from New Jersey. Elijah H. Carhart had several brothers who worked as grocers in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Back to TopThe collection consists of a letterpress copybook maintained by Carhart & Roff in its business from 13 September 1854 to 27 January 1855. The firm dealt in a wide variety of goods with parties across Georgia. Letters are frequently directed to merchants in Savannah, Ga., with whom Carhart & Roff appear to have numerous dealings; there are also letters to a number of customers with regular accounts. The letters often indicate shipment of goods, receipt of payment, the need for cash remittance, or payment overdue. Topics addressed in the letters include yellow fever in Savannah, the difficult economic environment, and the purchase or sale of whiskey. There are a small number of references to the use of slaves in business dealings. There are also numerous, regular letters addressed to a Mr. F.J. Ogden of Savannah, who was possibly the firm's purchasing agent there. The letters urge him to send goods quickly and regularly direct him to invest amounts of money on the New York Stock Exchange, with further directions to remit payments to Carhart Brothers and Co., likely the grocery owned by the brothers of Elijah H. Carhart in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Back to TopFolder 1 |
Carhart & Roff letterpress copybook, 1854-1855.The letters of 20 September 1854 and 26 October 1854 refer to the yellow fever epidemic in Savannah, Ga., and its effects on business in the area. The letters of 28 November 1854 and 11 January 1855 note the difficult economic environment in the region, and the firm's need for hard currency to continue operations. The copybook also includes letters with references to the purchase and sale of whiskey and the firm's difficulty in keeping it in stock (see 30 November 1854 and 7 December 1854). The letters also include a small number of references to the use of slaves in business dealings. A letter from 15 November 1854 alerted the Savannah firm of Bingham, Kelly, & Co. of the impending arrival of four slaves. Another letter on 7 December 1854, likely in response to a client's complaint, apologizes for the quality of the buyer's liquor upon arrival, but blamed the issue on the slaves responsible for handling and transporting the shipment. |