Isaac Bell papers, 1787-1940

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#0098
Bib ID:
4079828 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Bell, Isaac, 1768-1860
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
0.5 linear feet (1 box); 11 items
Language(s):
English .
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 is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Summary

There is a letter book / account book of 347 p., 1790-1856, containing 466 draft copies of his commercial and social correspondence with shipping agents in Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Germany, China, Canada, as well as in the United States. The correspondence concerns Bell's business arrangements, the various cargos he shipped and their disposal, political affairs affecting the shipping trade, laws and treaties of various countries to be dealt with, taxes, embargoes, piracy, threats of war, and other pertinent events. A second account book of 84 p. (many are blank), 1787-1852, for the Ship Stephania and others contains ships' records for 1799 to 1828 and miscellaneous accounts up to 1857. There is a one volume carbon typescript (113 p.) of genealogical notes and reminiscences by Gordon Knox Bell (Regent of the University of the State of New York and grandson of Isaac Bell) and others, ca.1940. There is also an essay and lists of the residents of Greenwich Street (including the Bell and Rogers families) by Elizur Yale Smith with related correspondence, 1940.

Arrangement

Selected materials cataloged; remainder arranged.

Using the Collection

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 is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

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); Isaac Bell papers; 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.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of Gordon Knox Bell, Jr., 1957.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Papers: Source of acquisition--Bell, Gordon Knox, Jr. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--11/08/57. Accession number--M-57-11-08.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Papers Processed HR 10/27/93.

Revision Description

2020-07-09 EAD document created by CCR.

Biographical / Historical

Isaac Bell, an East India merchant, was born in Stamford CT in 1768. His Loyalist family brought him to New York City in 1776 and to St John, New Brunswick in Canada for the duration of the Revolutionary War. He entered the shipping business, returned to New York in 1792 and sailed as supercargo in 1798 on the first of three voyages to China which would secure his fortune. He was associated in business with Archibald Gracie and with Moses, Nehemiah, and Fitch Rogers. His fortune later declined due to both the Panic of 1837 and to disastrous fires. He died in 1860.

Subject Headings

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

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Account books CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Bills of lading CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Drawings (visual works) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Essays CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Genealogies (histories) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Invoices CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Lists (document genres) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Manifests (shipping records) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Receipts (financial records) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Reminiscences CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Shipping records CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Name
Anderson, Joseph, 1757-1837 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Bell, Gordon Knox, 1871-1955 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Boss, John L. (John Linscom), 1780-1819 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Brown, James, 1766-1835 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Cambreleng, Churchill Caldom, 1786-1862 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Carrington, Edward, 1775-1843 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Coster, John G., 1762 or 1763-1844 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
DePeyster, Frederick, 1758-1834 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Forsyth, John, 1780-1841 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Gracie, Archibald, 1755-1829 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Hussey, Josiah, 1768?-1839 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Jones, Thomas K (Thomas Kilby) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Lenox, Robert, 1759-1839 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Osborn, Gardner CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Rogers, Moses CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Rogers, Nehemiah CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Sands, Comfort, 1748-1834 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Smith, Elizur Yale CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Smith, Nathan, 1770-1835 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Tudor, William, 1779-1830 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Voght, C, Freiherr von (Caspar), 1752-1839 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Wright, William Henry DeCourcy, 1795-1864 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Place
Boston (Mass.) -- Commerce CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Canada -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Charleston (S.C.) -- Commerce CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
China -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
East Asia -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
East Indies -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
France -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Germany -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Great Britain -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Madeira Islands -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Mediterranean Region -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Netherlands -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
New Orleans (La.) -- Commerce CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
New York (N.Y.) -- Commerce CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Portugal -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Saint John (N.B.) -- Commerce CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Spain -- Commerce -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
United States -- Commerce CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
United States -- Foreign relations CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Businessmen -- Canada CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Businessmen -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Clipper ships CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Coffee industry CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Commission merchants -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Cotton trade CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Export marketing CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Exports -- China CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Freight and freightage CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Indiamen CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
International trade CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Marine insurance CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Marketing CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Merchant marine CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Merchant ships CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Merchants -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Merchants -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Pirates -- Mediterranean Region CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Rope trade CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Sailing ships CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Ship captains CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Ship captains -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Shipping CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Ships -- Cargo CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Ships -- New York (State) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Silk industry CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Sugar trade CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Supercargos CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Tea trade CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Textile industry CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Wine trade CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID