Table of Contents

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the William Tallman Russell Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Biographical Note

William Tallman Russell (1788-1872) as a young man received his education in New York State and then served apprentice as clerk at the Counting House of Post and Russell of New York City. He traveled extensively in Europe and to the West Coast before settling in New Bedford and marrying Silvia Grinnell in 1819. He then engaged in the whale fishery and the manufacturing of candles in connection with the house of William R. Rotch & Co. Between 1849-1853, he served as Collector of the port for the U.S. Custom House in New Bedford. He also acted as Secretary of the Bedford Commercial Insurance Co. from 1859 until his death in 1872.

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Scope and Content Note

Materials in this collection reflect William Tallman Russell's involvement in the whale oil industries and candle manufacturing trade between 1811-1853. Financial records encompass daybooks, journals, and ledgers for 1811-1853. Purchasing and receiving records include invoices and bills of lading for 1821-1844. Labor records are the settlements of accounts with ship owners and crew for 1820-1847. Correspondence consists of volumes of copies of outgoing business letters for 1815-1849. Also in this collection are records of the New Bedford Custom House for the period in which William Tallman Russell served as Collector, 1849-1853.

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 6 [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

This entire collection was donated to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Russell Grinnell in 1947 and 1949.

Processing Information

Processed by: Judith Downey, ca. 1982

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 7 June 2011; box list appended by Mark Procknik, 28 December 2011

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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Vessel Names

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