Charles Loomis Harmon papers

  • Creator Names Harmon, Charles Loomis, d. 1868.
  • Title Charles Loomis Harmon papers [manuscript], 1834-1868.
  • Physical description
    • 8.5 linear ft. (7 boxes)
    • 10 microfilm reels : neg. ; 35 mm. (Camera negative).
    • 10 microfilm reels ; 35 mm. (Reader copy).
  • Access and usage restrictions Boxes 5-6 have been removed for conservation treatment (Nov. 2011) and will be unavailable for several months.
  • Collection summary
    • Account ledgers (25 vol.), letter books (5 vol.), financial records, correspondence, and other records of Charles Harmon's business and investments, primarily Harmon & Loomis Company, a wholesale and retail grocery and drygoods firm. Ledgers list customer names and the sale of sundries including lard, produce, whiskey. The collection is mostly account books, but also includes files of invoices, deeds, receipts etc., ca. 1841-1861, relating to real estate investment and other business matters in Chicago, Wisconsin, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and other cities. Volumes in the 1830s and 1840s list Naperville as well as Chicago as a base of operations.
    • Box 1 contains volumes 2, 5, 6 (1836-1841); box 2 contains volumes 8-10, 16 (1848-1861); box 3 contains volumes 18, 21, 23 (1857-1865); box 4 contains volumes 26, 30, correspondence (1846-1860); box 5 contains volumes 1, 3, 4, 12-13 (1836-1860); box 6 contains volumes 14, 17, 22, 24, 25, 27-29 (1851-1868); box 7 includes miscellaneous materials (1834-1858).
    • Also: copies of the account books on 10 reels of microfilm: (Reel 1.) v.1-v.5; (Reel 2.) v.6-v.7; (Reel 3.) v.8; (Reel 4.) v.9-v.12, index for v. 11 is found on Reel 10; (Reel 5. v.13-17; (Reel 6.) v.18-v.19; (Reel 7) v.20-v.21; (Reel 8.) v.22-v.25; (Reel 9.) v.26; (Reel 10.) v.27-v.30 and index for v.11. Does not include the volume in folder 23 of the extra files.
  • Biographical or Historical Note Charles Harmon moved to Chicago with his brother Isaac in 1832.The two brothers started a dry goods store in 1833 at Water Street and Clark Street. Their father was Dr. Elijah Dewey Harmon, who set up one of the first medical practices in Chicago. Dr. Harmon was famous for performing Chicago's first major surgical procedure. The procedure was the amputation of a frostbitten foot in 1832.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Walter Harmon (M1944.0037; M1945.0018).
  • Names
    • Harmon, Charles Loomis, d. 1868 Archives.
    • Harmon, Isaac D.
    • Harmon family.
    • Harmon & Loomis (Chicago, Ill.) Archives.
    • Harmon & Loomis (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Subjects
    • Commission merchants Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Dry-goods Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Dry-goods Illinois Naperville 19th century.
    • Groceries Illinois Chicago Prices 19th century.
    • Grocery trade Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Real estate investment Illinois Chicago 19th century.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 19th century.
    • Naperville (Ill.) Commerce 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Population 19th century.
  • Genre
    • Account books. aat
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Deeds. aat
    • Invoices. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.