Murphy-Worden and Company (Missoula, Mont.) Records

Murphy-Worden and Company (Missoula, Mont.) Records, 1893-1902

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Murphy-Worden and Company (Missoula, Mont.)
Title: Murphy-Worden and Company (Missoula, Mont.) Records
Dates: 1893-1902 (inclusive)
18931902
Quantity: 3.5 linear feet (9 volumes)
Collection Number: Mss 568 (collection)
Summary: Murphy-Worden and Company was a Missoula, Montana, dry goods and grocery store. This collection is comprised of nine bound store registers dating between 1893 and 1902. These registers overlap dates and primarily track patron account status with few details regarding the nature of items purchased.
Repository: University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions: Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Murphy-Worden and Company was formed in June 1886, when Worden and Company (a grocery) merged with Murphy, Hart and Company (a general merchandiser). The merged company was owned and operated by Frank L. Worden, Christopher P. Higgins, William C. Murphy, and J. L. Hart. The company sold dry goods, clothes, and groceries at the store formerly run by Murphy, Hart and Company (217 N. Higgins Ave.). In February 1890, Murphy-Worden and Company dropped the dry goods line. In 1902, the Murphy-Worden Company was replaced by Murphy-Greenough and Company, which continued exclusively as a grocery store in the same location.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection is comprised of nine bound store registers dating between 1893 and 1902. These registers overlap dates and primarily track patron account status with few details regarding the nature of items purchased. Though each volume was assigned a general descriptor during original archival processing, the volumes do not provide enough detailed information to clarify the relationship between each volume. It is possible that some volumes were used to track transactions for different departments within the Murphy-Worden Company but this assertion cannot be verified.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Volume Title], Murphy-Worden and Company Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged as a single series of financial records.

Custodial History

The A.M. Sterling Family of Ronan, Montana, held the collection until donating it to the K. Ross Toole Archives.

Acquisition Information

This collection was acquired with the A. M. Sterling Company papers in 1969.

Processing Note

This collection was originally processed as LC 24. The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2003, the collection was re-described. Volumes 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 are in uniformly good condition. Volumes 2, 3, and 7 suffered some damage prior to accession into the K. Ross Toole Archives; however, damage is mostly limited to the outer portions of the volumes.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: Financial Records , 1893-1902Return to Top

3.5 linear feet (9 volumes)

This series includes general financial records detailing daily transactions and cumulative account status. All volumes exhibit accounting shorthand practices and most detail credits, debits, salaries, and expenses by individual/company name. Accounts Receivable Ledgers record purchases with the price of items and method of payment. Volume 8 is a continuation of records in volumes 5, 6, and 7 for client records that exceeded the number of pages originally allocated in the earlier volumes.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Volume
1	General Journal	1898-12-01 - 1902-08-31
2	Cash Book Envelope with miscellaneous receipts (laundry, out, etc.) inserted into front cover.	1898-07-01 - 1902-08-31
3	General Ledger Loose sheets titled "FINAL BALANCES" inside of front cover.	1893-09-01 - 1902-07-31
4	Alphabetical Index to General Ledger (volume 3)
5	Accounts Receivable Ledger, A - K	1896-10-01 - 1899-02-28
6	Accounts Receivable Ledger, L - Z	1896-10-01 - 1899-02-28
7	Accounts Receivable Ledger, A - Z	1899-03-01 - 1901-04-30
8	Accounts Receivable Ledger	1898-12-01 - 1902-03-31
9	Sales Ledger	1899-12-01 - 1901-05-31

Archives West Finding Aid

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