Table of Contents

Historical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the White Family Business Records

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Historical Note

Holder White (1812-1895) and his son, George M. White (b. 1837), were businessmen active at Westport, Massachusetts, between 1849-1914. Holder was a wagon maker and undertaker, while George drove a peddler's wagon and also sold goods at auction. In 1860, George entered into partnership with Christopher A. Church and Nathaniel Wales Winchester of Church & Winchester, dry goods merchants of Westport, Mass. The resulting firm of Church, Winchester, & White was active until 1864 when Church sold his share of stock in trade to his partners and the firm became known as Winchester & White, by which name it was known until about 1891. Predecessors to Church & Winchester, which was active from 1855-1860, were Church & Anthony, active prior to 1843, and C. A. Church & Company, 1843-1855.

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Scope and Content Note

Materials in this collection reflect the business activities of Holder White and George M. White at Westport, Mass., between 1849-1914. The business records of Holder White consist of a ledger and several receipts, 1855-1876. George M. White's business records consist of financial records, 1849-1914, including an "Auction Record" and an account of boarding for horses, as well as legal documents, 1868-1909, consisting of peddler's licenses and executor's accounts.

The bulk of the collection encompasses the records of Winchester & White, dry goods merchants of Westport, Mass., and their predecessors, dating from 1843-1891. These volumes consist of a day book, 1851-1852; ledgers, 1859-1891; and inventories, 1843-1890, including profit and loss statements and transfer of stock in trade.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to the Collection

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 34 [sub-group, series, sub-series, folder/volume as appropriate], [item]

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 United States Code 552a) governs the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include:

If the researcher later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the researcher is personally liable for copyright. privacy, or publicity infringement and agrees to indemnify the New Bedford Whaling Museum from any legal action as a result of the error. Permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document does not indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from the document without permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded.

Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead, from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g. employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use."

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy law. This institution also places restrictions on the use of cameras, photocopiers, and scanners in the research room.

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Administrative Information

Provenance

Materials in this collection were given to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Arnold W. Milliken, 18 December 1964.

Processing Information

Processed by: Barbara E. Austen, ca. 1982

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 20 October 2011; box list appended by Mark Procknik, 18 January 2012

Funds for processing this collection were provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Description

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Subject Headings

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