Name/Title
Dorsey Law Practice Collection--Collections 2Entry/Object ID
2018.011.0010Scope and Content
1 folder ; 9 5/8 x 14 3/4"
Members of the Dorsey family practiced law in the county for generations. During the late 1920s and well into the 1930s, Mr. Dorsey handled dozens of collection cases. In large cities, collection agencies developed lists of small town lawyers who received a small fee for collecting accounts from rural debtors. Mr. Dorsey received commissions from Baltimore and Pittsburgh collection bureaus. He was often tardy in his efforts. Sometimes he advised the company that the debt was uncollectible and sometimes he did take the debtor to court. These are examples of his work.
May 6-July 13, 1932 The Kemper-Thomas firm asked for collection of money owed by Paul B. Long of Clements. Long had ordered one hundred calendars from the company.
August 13-18, 1932 Claude E. Guy, doing business as Guy Brothers in Clements, sued Irene Wilkinson for payment for carpentry work and placed a mechanic's lien on her property.
October 11, 1933--February 15, 1934 J. R. Wathen bought $30 worth of hats from the Mexican-American Hat Company of St. Louis. There was much correspondence about the bill, but eventually Wathen produced a canceled check to prove he had paid.
January 4-July 13, 1934 T. J. Marsden owed Hires Turner Glass Company $135.68. Mr. Dorsey dilly-dallied about collecting, finally told the company the debt was not collectible, and had to be chided several times to return the paperwork to the company.
June 4, 1934--February 28, 1935 Daniel Miller Company, a dry goods wholesaler, shipped quite a bit of material to Harry M. Jones for Jones' store. However, Jones did not pay the bill, and eventually the company authorized Dorsey to sue. Paperwork was filed, but the result is not in these papers. There are interesting documents explaining the collection process.Collection
Dorsey Law Practice CollectionArchive Items Details
Date(s) of Creation
1932 - 1935Location
Container
Dorsey Law Practice Collection, Box 1Shelf
Rack 07, Shelf 1Rack
Rack 07Wall
West wallRoom
Archives 1Building
Tudor HallContainer
Dorsey Law Practice Collection, Box 1Shelf
Rack 07, Shelf 1Rack
Rack 07Wall
West wallRoom
Archives 1Building
Tudor HallRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Dorsey, Philip H.Person or Organization
Guy, ClaudePerson or Organization
Jones, Harry M.2Person or Organization
Long, Paul B.Person or Organization
Marsden, T. J.Person or Organization
Wathen, John R.Person or Organization
Wilkinson, Irene R.