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Records of firms owning and operating packet boats and clipper ships at New York City. Fifteen volumes of letter books (11,450 leaves), 1855-1871, and 32 volumes of ledgers, etc., 1853-1871, including those of J.B. Dickinson, 1850-1855; Wakeman, Gookin and Dickinson, 1866-1871; and Wakeman, Dimon & Col, 1853-1863. The letter books, ledgers, and account books show operation of the firm. Many letters of instructions to captains of various vessels.

The records of W.R. Grace & Co. cover the rise of the Grace shipping business from 1864 until World War II. The early correspondence concerns all aspects of the shipping business in New York and South America, mining interests in Peru and Chile, the railroad in Costa Rica, the inter-ocean canal planned for Nicaragua, and political interests throughout Central and South America. There are letter books, correspondence, and scrapbooks of clippings for all aspects of W.R. Grace's career. There are minute books and other documents for more than 50 subsidiary companies owned by W.R. Grace & Co. or by family members. The papers of Joseph Peter Grace (1872-1950) continue the business, family, and philanthropic activities until 1942. There are also 20 reels of motion picture film about the Grace Co. South American interests in the 1950s.