W.R. Grace & Co. records, 1828-1986, bulk 1861-1960

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Selected materials cataloged, remainder arranged. Cataloged correspondence, A-Z; Boxes 1-8: Unbound correspondence & documents, 1861-1918; Boxes 9-97: Letterbooks, contract books, etc., 1864-1917; Boxes 98-103: Nicaragua Canal, 1897-1900; Boxes 104-122: Scrapbooks, 1884-1920; Boxes 123-146: Subsidiary companies, Minute books, etc., 1869-1939; Boxes 147-153: Joseph Peter Grace, Correspondence & documents, 1919-1942; Boxes 154-155: Printed books & atlases; Boxes 156-157: Photographs; Box 158-162: Misc. & additions; 35 Oversize items.

• Series I: Cataloged Correspondence
• Series II: Unbound Correspondence and Documents, 1828, 1861-1918
• Series III: Letterbooks, 1868-1917
• Subseries III.1: Letterbinders of incoming letters and documents to W.R. Grace, New York
• Subseries III.2: Letterbooks--Copies of outgoing letters & documents from W.R. Grace & Co.
• Subseries III.3: Letterbinder of incoming letters and copies to M.P. Grace in Lima, Peru
• Subseries III.4: Letterbooks--W.R. Grace. Private
• Subseries III.5: Letterbooks--W.R. Grace & Co. Private, 1884-1917
• Subseries III.6: Miscellaneous Letterbooks, 1864-1916
• Series IV: Contract Books, Agreements, Receipts, Reports, etc., 1877-1916
• Series V: John William Grace, 1879-1889
• Series V.1: Incoming Letters in Binders
• Series V.2: Letterbooks
• Series VI: Nicaragua Canal, 1897-1900
• Series VII: Scrapbooks, 1884-1920
• Series VII: Subsidiary Companies, 1869-1939
• Series VIII: Joseph Peter Grace (1872-1950), 1919-1942
• Series IX: Grace Pedigree, 1911
• Series X: Printed Books and Atlases, 1865-1948
• Series XI: Photographs, circa 1880-1950
• Series XII: Motion Pictures Films
• Series XIII: Addenda, 1918-1986

Description

Summary

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.

This wide-ranging collection of correspondence, administrative records, motion pictures, scrapbooks, and other materials details the development of the W.R. Grace & Co. shipping business as well as more than fifty other companies owned by the company or the Grace family. Apart from merchant and trade activities, prominent topics covered in the collection include mining, railroads, the construction of a trans-Isthmian canal, and South American, Central American, and United States politics.

• Series I: Cataloged Correspondence

• Series II: Unbound Correspondence and Documents, 1828, 1861-1918

• Series III: Letterbooks, 1868-1917

  Letterbinders of incoming letters and documents and letterbook copies of outgoing letters, as numbered and arranged by W.R. Grace & Co.

• Series IV: Contract Books, Agreements, Receipts, Reports, etc., 1877-1916

  (Arranged chronologically)

• Series V: John William Grace, 1879-1889

  (Letterbooks and Letterbinders)

• Series VI: Nicaragua Canal, 1897-1900

  (Correspondence, documents, and printed materials)

• Series VII: Scrapbooks, 1884-1920

  (Newspaper clippings and printed memorabilia)

• Series VII: Subsidiary Companies, 1869-1939

  (Minutebooks, incorporation papers, receipts, printed materials, etc.)

• Series VIII: Joseph Peter Grace (1872-1950), 1919-1942

  (Correspondence and documents)

• Series IX: Grace Pedigree, 1911

  (Genealogical scrolls documenting pedigree from 1027-1910)

• Series X: Printed Books and Atlases, 1865-1948

• Series XI: Photographs, circa 1880-1950

  Grace family members and friends, houses, horses, ships, South American scenes, W.R. Grace & Co. personnel and offices

• Series XII: Motion Pictures Films

• Series XIII: Addenda, 1918-1986

  (Printed materials and miscellaneous materials)

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection has no restrictions.

The following boxes are located off-site: 1-164. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies 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); W.R. Grace & Co. records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

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

Alternate Form Available

Microfilm available.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--W.R. Grace & Co. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1980. Accession number--M-80.

Historical Report, 1963-1972: Source of acquisition--Harper Collins. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--12/14/1990. Accession number--M-90-12-14.

Gift of W.R. Grace & Co., 1980 & 1985.

Gift of Harper Collins, 1990.

Publications About Described Materials

Clayton, Lawrence A. GRACE: W.R. GRACE & CO. THE FORMATIVE YEARS, 1850-1930. (Ottawa, Ill.: Jameson Books, c1985) 403 p.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/1989.

Historical Report, 1963-1972 Processed HR 08/20/1992.

Revision Description

2009-07-07 File created.

2014-02-07 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

William Russell Grace (1832-1904) and Michael Paul Grace (1842-1920) emigrated from Ireland during the 1850s and set up in business respectively in New York and Callao, Peru as ship's chandlers (boat supplies). They soon developed into shipping brokers and later owned their own fleet, the beginning of the present-day Grace Line. Grace companies were established in San Francisco and London. W.R. Grace was active in New York City politics (Mayor, 1881-1882, and 1885-1886), banking and insurance, real estate interests, and Catholic charities.