W. B. Farrell papers

W. B. Farrell papers [manuscript], ca. 1851-1908

Descriptive Inventory for the Collection at Chicago History Museum, Research Center

By Pearl Slaton, 2004

Please address questions to:

Chicago History Museum, Research Center

1601 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60614-6038

Web-site: http://www.chicagohistory.org/Research

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: W. B. Farrell papers [manuscript], ca. 1851-1908.

Main entry: Farrell, W. B.

Inclusive dates:

Size:

0.8 linear ft. (2 boxes)

Restriction: Research use of this collection is governed by the standard rules and regulations of the Chicago History Museum Research Center.

Provenance statement:. Gift of Mrs. Florence L. Richardson, a descendant of W. B. Farrell, in Nov. 1989.

Terms governing use: Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Please cite this collection as: W. B. Farrell papers (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

This descriptive inventory contains the following sections:

Summary description of the collection,

List of online catalog headings about the collection,

Detailed description of archival series in the collection,

List of contents of the collection.

Summary description of the collection:

Correspondence, agreements, receipts, deeds, and other papers of W. B. Farrell and William F. Reber, Chicago businessmen. Farrell speculated in land in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, ca. 1850s-1890s. Farrell also operated as a nurseryman and florist, importing and selling plants, with a greenhouse in Hyde Park (Ill.). Letters between the Farrell brothers, 1875-1882, indicate close business and personal relationships. Also present in the collection are small amounts of correspondence with the Farrell sisters; some letters of Louisa Farrell, wife of W. B. Farrell; and personal papers and legal documents of Gertrude U. Reber (later Backus), daughter of W. B. and Louisa Farrell. Reber was conservator for Mrs. Farrell and her estate.

List of online catalog headings about the collection:

The following headings were made for this collection in the online catalog.

Subjects:

Farrell, W. B.--Archives.

Farrell, Louisa.

Reber, Gertrude U.

Reber, William F.

Businessmen--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.

Families--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.

Florists--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.

Nursery growers--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.

Nurseries (Horticulture)--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.

Real estate investment--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.

Real estate investment--Illinois--19th century.

Real estate investment--Iowa--19th century.

Real estate investment--Minnesota--19th century.

Real estate investment--Wisconsin--19th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Commerce--19th century.

Chicago (Ill.)--Economic conditions--19th century.

Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.)--19th century.

Form/genre:

Agreements.

Correspondence.

Deeds.

Receipts (financial records)

Added entries:

United States--Illinois--Cook County--Chicago.

Detailed description of archival series in the collection:

Series 1 (box 1)

Primarily business papers: W. B. Farrell was a speculator whose main interest was in buying and selling land. He operated in Illinois and neighboring areas from the early 1850's to the 1890's. For a time Mr. Farrell also had a business as a nurseryman and florist, importing and selling plants, with a greenhouse in Hyde Park. The fragility of some of the papers creates problems in reading the information, but the numerous agreements, deeds, bills of sale, and receipts indicate that Mr. Farrell was active in acquiring and selling land in, at least, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Series 2 (box 2)

Largely personal correspondence: Letters between the Farrell brothers cover the period 1875-1882 indicate close business and personal relationships. There are also small collections of correspondence with the Farrell sisters, as well as some letters of Louisa Farrell, wife of W. B. Farrell. The last files concern the tasks of Gertrude U. Reber (later Backus), daughter of W. B. and Louisa Farrell. She became conservator for Mrs. Farrell and later for her estate. The Reber papers include official documents as well as personal letters.

List of contents of the collection:

box 1

folders:

1 Background

2 Business correspondence, 1857-1877

3 Business correspondence, 1878-1889

4 Agreements, deeds, 1853-1857

5 Agreements, deeds, 1857-1859

6 Agreements, deeds, 1860-1885

7 Bills of sale, receipts, 1851-1874

8 Bills of sale, receipts, January-May 1875

9 Bills of sale, receipts, June-December 1875

10 Bills of sale, receipts, 1876-1892

box 2

folders

1 Cancelled checks, 1872-1875

2 Correspondence with Farrell brothers, 1879-1881

3 Correspondence with Farrell brothers, 1882-1886

4 Correspondence with Farrell brothers, 1885-1886

5 Louisa Farrell, (wife) Correspondence, 1865-189?

6 Miscellaneous Family Correspondence, 1875-1882

7 Gertrude V. Reber (daughter): miscellaneous papers, 1870-1898

8 Gertrude V. Reber Backus, conservator for Louisa Farrell papers, 1898-1900