Mary Forwood Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2010.006

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily consists of bill of sales, receipts, correspondence from business interests, and two personal letters related to the millinery shop operated by Mary Forwood. This collection documents the business transactions of Forwood from 1865 to 1872.

Dates

1865 - 1872

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Mary Forwood operated a dressmaking/millinery shop in Clarksville, Tennessee during the late 1860's. In May 1865, Forwood applied to establish a supplies store in Decatur, Alabama. Letters show that Forwood sent consignment items to Jn. A. Daniel of Leighton, Alabama. Other papers connect Clarksville within a larger network of commerce as Forwood recieved supplies from Memphis, Louisville, Cincinnati, New York, and other cities. Forwood consistently purchased items from Cannon and Byers, wholesale dealers in millinery goods based in Louisville, Kentucky. Correspondence with Cannon and Byers suggests that Forwood's business struggled at times.

Little is known about the physical location of Forwood's shop in Clarksville. Two rooms were rented from Courts and Beaumont from at least April to May 1867. Forwood also paid Neblett & Grant of the Chronicle OFfice for sign advertisements. A bill indicates that Forwood purchased a sewing machine in 1867; this machinery would have allowed Forwood to increase production at her shop. Locating good help seemed to be a problem for Forwood. Although she recieved a jop inquirt from Mrs. Louisa Divine in Octover 1867, she was still in need of an experienced milliner in early 1868.

Extent

0.417 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Mary Forwood Papers Collection contains 38 items related to Mary Forwood's dressmaking/millinery shop in Clarksville, Tennessee from 1865 to 1872.

Arrangement

Arranged based on document type and chronology. Items from the same business and/or person are grouped together.

Custodial History

These papers were discovered in the attic of a house (1206 Main Street) in Darlington, Maryland in the 1970's. Homeowner Bruce Bruder found the papers when his family moved into the home. He thought that Mary Forwood was related to William Stump Forwood who lived three miles from the house. This would account for the papers being located in Darlington, Maryland. A personal letter, dated October 26, 1867, places family members of Mary Forwood in Baltimore, Maryland.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Bruce Bruder donated this collection of papers in 2010.

Processing Information

The Mary Forwood Papers Collection was first processed in 2014. The arrangement system at that point was based on chronology. In June 2017, the Mary Forwood Papers Collection was processed a second time. The collection is now arranged based on document type and chronology. Items from the same business and/or person are grouped together. The inventory and finding aid was written by Laura Stephans in 2014 and revised in 2017 by Jenna Stout.