Marvyn Scudder Collection of Corporate Documents, 1827-1950s

Creator:

Scudder, Marvyn, 1876-1935

Abstract:

Marvyn Scudder, the editor of the Marvyn Scudder Manual of Extinct and Obsolete Companies and the country's most famous stock detective, donated the collection to Columbia in 1921. The collection contains more than 3,000,000 pages of documentary material on thousands of United States and foreign corporations.

Extent:

514 linear feet 411 record storage cartons

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

Includes annual reports, communications to shareholders, indentures, prospectuses, reorganization plans, and other corporate instruments dating from 1827.

Biographical / historical:

Begun in 1885 by Moses L. Scudder, head of the Investor's Agency in New York, the collection was inherited by Marvyn Scudder editor of the "Marvyn Scudder Manual of Extinct and Obsolete Companies" and the country's most famous stock detective and he gave the collection to the Business Library in 1921. Particularly strong in documents from railroads, mining companies and New York City real estate companies the Scudder Collection has a complete file of material on the Union Pacific Railroad that includes the original offering statements.

The Marvyn Scudder Collection of corporate documents is believed to be the largest of its kind with more than 3,000,000 pages of documentary material on the financial history and organization of thousands of United States and foreign corporations.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--Business Library. Method of acquisition--Transfer; Date of acquisition--2004.

Custodial history:

Transferred from the Business Library, 2004 (Originally donated to the Business Library in 1921)

Processing information:

Marvyn Scudder Collection of Corporate Documents. Finding aid published pl 7/7/2009.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetical by corporate name.

Accruals:

No accruals are expected

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Related material:

Scudder Corporate Annual Reports - Columbia Historical Corporate Annual Reports, Watson Library of Business and Economics

Other finding aids:

Card Catalog in Business Library and Box List.

Access and use

Restrictions:

To access the collection one must go to the Business Library and consult the Scudder card catalog which contains entries for each company name, arranged alphabetically. To locate the box number for any file listed in the catalog, one must consult the box list which indicates the first and last company name in each box.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Marvyn Scudder Collection of Corporate Documents; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

RBML Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:: Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.

Contact:: rbml@library.columbia.edu

Collection