Merchants Fund records


Collection 3520

1853-2003
(13.0 Linear feet ; 9 boxes, 24 volumes)

Summary Information

Repository
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Creator
Merchants Fund (Philadelphia, Pa.).
Title
Merchants Fund records
ID
3520
Date [inclusive]
1853-2003
Extent
13.0 Linear feet ; 9 boxes, 24 volumes
Author
Finding aid prepared by Daniel DelViscio and Sarah Leu
Language
English
Abstract
"The Merchants Fund is a Philadelphia charity established in 1854 to provide charitable gifts to business persons facing financial hardships. It evolved from the Mercantile Business Association, an organization dedicated to providing business advice, networking opportunities, and protection from financial failure or defualt due to illness, old age, or disability." (From their website) The collection consists primarily of administrative, financial, and legal records of the Fund. There are board minutes, business and legal correspondence, and tax returns. There are also extensive files on beneficiaries that include wills and estate papers. Other financial records include audit reports, treasurer's reports, tax- and Social Security-related records, and reports on the "Oliver Fund." Among the records are also several volumes, some dating to the mid 1800s. These include ledgers, cashbooks, bound annual reports, and bound minutes.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2013

1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Conditions Governing Access note

Boxes 1, 4, 5, and 8 are closed to researchers until they have been reviewed by an archivist, as they contain personal information about applicants and beneficiaries. The rest of the collection is open for research.

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Collection Inventory

Box

Administrative records and correspondence 1860-1870, 1950-2003 

Restrictions

This box is closed to researchers until it has been reviewed by an archivist for possible access or use restriction, as it contains personal information about applicants and beneficiaries.

Contents

Individual personal beneficiary information/pension information (applications visitor reports).

Correspondence between clients/potential clients.

Various reports (financial, business developments).

Records of coverage and payouts/costs.

Administrative records (agendas, minutes, leases for building, ledger records, deposits).

Correspondence and records related to income transfer.

Lists of beneficiaries with addresses and personal information.

1

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Transaction reports, audits, and financial statements. 1929-1980s 

Contents

Cash transaction reports.

Audits and correspondence.

Annual financial statements.

2

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Administrative correspondance and financial records 1854, 1940-1970 

Contents

Administrative records (charter, bylaws 1854).

Board of Managers attendance records.

Correspondence--income tax, Social Security registration.

Correspondence--tax laws.

Investment transactions 1960s (purchase notes).

Finance Committee records.

Security correspondence.

Newspaper clippings (meeting advertisments).

The Pennsylvania Company correspondence.

3

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Beneficiary files and transaction records 1860-1970 

Contents

Oliver Fund--beneficiaries.

Annual reports 1860-1920s, bylaws, charters.

Oliver Fund account book, Merchants Fund account book 1960-1970, Merchants Fund cashbook 1895-1918.

Executive/Executors Committee orders (check stubs) 1889-1891 (two volumes).

Restrictions

This box is closed to researchers until it has been reviewed by an archivist for possible access or use restriction, as it contains personal information about applicants and beneficiaries.

4

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Beneficiary information 1932-1990s 

Contents

Lists 1932-1979.

Visitor reports 1940s-1990s.

Correspondence 1950s-1980s.

Restrictions

This box is closed to researchers until it has been reviewed by an archivist for possible access or use restriction, as it contains personal information about applicants and beneficiaries.

5

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Estate correspondence and wills 1880s-1990s 

6

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Administrative minutes 1970s-1990s 

Contents

Minutes 1970s-1990s.

Administrative 1970s.

Correspondence--legal/finance 1970s-1980s.

Legal papers 1922, 1960s, 1970s.

Audits 1950s.

7

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Financial correspondence and estate records. 1905-1980s 

Contents

Financial correspondence 1960s-1980s.

Beneficiary data and lists 1959.

Will and estate papers. 1905-1970s.

Restrictions

This box is closed to researchers until it has been reviewed by an archivist for possible access or use restriction, as it contains personal information about applicants and beneficiaries.

8

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Volume

Minutes book 1920-1928 

1

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Annual reports 1855-1873 

2

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Annual reports (2nd copy) 1855-1873 

3

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Ledger 1920s-1930s 

Scope and Contents note

A few loose letters inside the cover.

4

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Ledger 1917-1930s 

Scope and Contents note

Beneficiary list notes inside cover.

5

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Ledger 1893-1916 

Scope and Contents note

Beneficiary list notes inside cover.

6

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Ledger 1880-1892 

7

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Subscriber and donor book 1870 

8

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Checks 1854-1865 

Scope and Contents note

One letter on the inside cover.

9

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Records (minutes) 1871-1892 

10

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Records book 1853-1870 

11

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Minutes 1854-1920s 

Scope and Contents note

Contains original constitution.

12

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Account roll book 1854-1872 

Scope and Contents note

Beneficiary lists inside cover.

13

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Cash book 1890 

Scope and Contents note

Loose papers inside.

14

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Cash book 1914-1942 

15

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Cash book 1923-1945 

Scope and Contents note

Loose papers inside.

16

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Minutes 1854-1920s 

17

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Minutes 1928-1952 

Scope and Contents note

Loose notes inside.

18

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Minutes 1952-1970 

19

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Minutes 1892-1927 

Scope and Contents note

Loose papers inside.

20

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Cash ledger 1942-1960 

21

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Cash ledger 1946-1961 

Scope and Contents note

Letter inside.

22

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Income register 1896-1928 

Scope and Contents note

Many loose papers inside.

23

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Income register 1896-1905 

24

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