Name/Title
George, Harry L. Collection Ledger, Volume IIEntry/Object ID
AM9999.143.635Scope and Content
George, Harry L. Collection Ledger, Volume II. Ledger of receipts for purchases of Native American artifacts and curios, descriptions of artifacts, and correspondence with other collectors. Two containers. Box 1 = Ledger (large "bankers box"), Box 2: Loose Documents (Flip Top Document Case)
Digitized in 2015. Digital files on St. Joseph Museum server: e:\Shared Document\Harry George\Ledgers JPGs\Letters JPGs Edited Vol. ll. About 95 percent of the items in the ledgers are glued into the book's pages. George collected most of his adult life, until his passing in 1923.
The Harry L. George Collection of Native American artifacts at the St. Joseph Museums consists of over 4,000 objects, 200 books, numerous photographs, and hundreds of pages of early 20th century correspondence between George and dealers, collectors, and reservation agents all over the United States.
George compiled two large ledger books full of hundreds of pages revealing insight into the life of an avid Native American artifact collector, a premier source for understanding early 20th century collecting practices. Harry George corresponded with well-known dealers and collectors of the time including Herman Schweizer (Fred Harvey Company), Grace Nicholson, George Heye, and many others. Included are the lesser-known dealers and collectors who were active at this time,
The ledgers are rich with details about both famous and infamous characters at a critical period in the Native American artifact trade.
The Ledgers are also on the searchable database http://harrylgeorgecollection.omeka.net.
Harry Lewis George was born November 2, 1848 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Stern George and Harriet Elizabeth Mulford George. He had one sister, Harriet.
George began work at his first job as a grocery clerk in 1863, earning two dollars per week. Other jobs included employment at a firm that manufactured patent medicines and a later job with wholesale dealers in hosiery, underwear, and gloves. After arriving in St. Joseph, Missouri, on September 9, 1869, he immediately began working for R.L. McDonald, a prominent wholesale dry goods businessman in the city. At this time, Harry lived at the McChan Boarding House at 6th and Felix. George worked here until 1896 when he left and went into business for himself representing different mills in the sale of their products.
Harry George married Maggie Beattie McDonald (daughter of R.L. McDonald) on January 23, 1884. Together they had three children -- Mary Marjorie, Rufus Lewis, who died in infancy, and Harriet Louise. They resided at 822 N. 9th St. in 1903.. Harry George passed away on February 23, 1923 due to acute pulmonary edema. He is buried, alongside his wife and son at Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri.Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term
LedgerNomenclature Secondary Object Term
Book, AccountNomenclature Primary Object Term
Record, BookkeepingNomenclature Sub-Class
Financial RecordsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication Objects