John Kirk letterbooks

  • Creator Names Kirk, John, fl. 1850-1871.
  • Title John Kirk letterbooks [manuscript], 1852-1871.
  • Physical description 1.5 linear ft. (4 boxes)
  • Access and usage restrictions Some materials are currently in the conservation lab and are temporarily unavailable for public use. Please contact the Research Center (research@chicagohistory.org) to inquire about specific availability.
  • Collection summary Letterbooks of an itinerant salesman, representing various manufacturers, who traveled extensively through the Midwest and Pennsylvania. Letters describe economic and social conditions of the day and their effect on Kirk's selling activities. Topics include the fur, iron, hardware, and steel industries and trade; salesmen and salesmanship; Mormons in Illinois; the Kansas-Nebraska bill; the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850; the antislavery movement; the colonization of African Americans; education in Illinois; Abraham Lincoln; Stephen A. Douglas; and description of Chicago, including its sanitary and sewerage affairs, the coal trade, valuation of real property, and Joseph T. Ryerson & Son. One letterbook, 1858-62, of Kirk's son Thomas, who also was a salesman, and one letterbook of Kirk's daughter Alice, who was a teacher, are included. John Kirk's letterbooks end with a copy of his will.
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available in the repository.
  • Names
    • Kirk, John, fl. 1850-1871 Archives.
    • Douglas, Stephen A. (Stephen Arnold), 1813-1861.
    • Kirk, Alice.
    • Kirk family.
    • Kirk, Thomas.
    • Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
    • Joseph T. Ryerson & Son.
    • Kirk, Alice.
    • Kirk, Thomas.
  • Uniform Title Kansas-Nebraska bill.
  • Subjects
    • African Americans Colonization 19th century.
    • Antislavery movements United States.
    • Coal trade Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Families Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Fur trade United States.
    • Hardware industry Middle West 19th century.
    • Iron industry and trade Middle West 19th century.
    • Mormons Illinois 19th century.
    • Sales personnel Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Selling 19th century.
    • Steel industry and trade Middle West 19th century.
    • Teachers Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Women Illinois Chicago 19th century.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Description and travel 19th century.
    • Middle West Commerce 19th century.
    • Middle West Economic conditions 19th century.
    • Middle West Politics and government 19th century.
    • Pennsylvania Description and travel 19th century.
  • Genre
    • Letter books. aat
    • Wills. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.