Series I. Transaction Records, 1858-1982
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The Transaction Records series includes those documents recording various activities of the Publication Fund, especially the issuance of Fund certificates, the payment of dividends in the years prior to the start of publishing, the delivery of publications, and some nineteenth century expenditures. The bulk of the series includes several volumes, including the two original share certificate books in which stubs remain for the issued shares with the name of the investor and later transfer information, as well as unused blank certificates. One of these certificate books dates from the Fund's beginning in 1858; the other dates from 1908 and includes certificates bearing the new reference to DePeyster in its title.
Other volumes include subscriber names and addresses, publications delivered to them, dividends due and paid, and exchanges of publications with other institutions. In addition to the registers, records about the changes in share ownership over time are found in card files and various informal lists, especially one from 1944 that seemed to result from a significant effort to reconcile and update the shareholder records. The series includes some documents dating from the founding of the Fund, including the report of the committee that recommended the creation of the Fund, the 1858 and 1865 offering circulars, a subscription book, and other early material. Transcriptions from the 1920s of relevant nineteenth century minutes and reports are in the series. Financial records date from the nineteenth century and include bank books, cancelled checks, dividend payment records, bills, and notes on investment income.
Arrangement Note
The Transaction Records series is arranged by format and in rough chronological order. The series opens with the foundational documents of the Publication Fund, such as offering circulars, and records related to the initial acquisition of shareholders, such as the subscription and certificate books. These are followed by early financial records, such as documents related to dividends paid, bank books, and Fund expenditures. These are followed by the registers and other records recording shareholder activity, such as purchases and transfers, and the various documents recording deliveries and exchanges of volumes.
Reports and Resolutions (1 of 2), 1858-1870s(?)
Scope and Contents Note
Includes the report of the Special Committee of the Executive Committee formed to consider the proposal for a Publication Fund (1858), minutes of the Publication Fund Committee meeting of June 9, 1866, and other early documents.
Reports and Resolutions (2 of 2), 1921, 1925, 1944, 1949
Scope and Contents Note
Includes abstracts prepared in the 1920s and 1940s of Executive Committee and Society meetings pertinent to the Fund (1858-1925) and legal opinions from the 1920s concerning the quantities of each volume to be published, stored, and other related questions.
Offering Circular, 1858
Circular to Members, 1860
Scope and Contents Note
Includes the circular sent to members providing information about N-YHS meetings, galleries, and other features, including the Publication Fund.
Offering Circular, 1865
Publication Fund Certificates, 1858-1908
Scope and Contents Note
Includes the stubs for original, sold certificates #1 through 832; unsold certificates 833 through 1000; and the stubs for certificates #1001 through 1338 obtained by transfer.
John Watts DePeyster Publishing Fund Certificates, 1908-1979
Scope and Contents Note
Includes the stubs for original, sold certificates #833 through 850; the stubs for certificates #1339 through 1558 obtained by transfer; and blank, unused certificates.
Subscription Forms and Certificates, 1858, 1865, 1908
Scope and Contents Note
Includes subscription request forms and loose, blank certificates.
Original Subscription Book, 1858-1860
Subscription Notes and Lists, circa 1860-1869
Names of Subscribers (Printed Lists), 1865, 1868-1870
Lists of Subscribers and Dividends Due, 1860-1871
Publication Fund Dividends, 1864, 1868
Scope and Contents Note
Includes the recipients and amounts paid for the first and second dividends from the Fund.
Dividend Payment Transmittal Forms, 1864, 1869
Dividend Payments. Cancelled Checks, 1864, 1868
Bank of America. Publication Fund Bank Book, 1859-1884
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a record of Fund purchases, income and expenses.
Bank of America. Publication Fund Bank Books (3), 1859-1883
Abstract of Account, 1859-1877
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a summary of income and expenses for the Fund for the date range.
Fund Income, 1860s, 1907
Scope and Contents Note
Includes 1907 correspondence related to donations from Archer Milton Huntington and Samuel V. Hoffman to the Fund.
Fund Expenditures (1 of 2), 1860-1884
Scope and Contents Note
Includes the Fund's cancelled checks for investments and expenses for 1860-1884 (the bills related to these checks are in this folder and the next), a summary of expenses for 1867-1890, and bills from the 1860s.
Fund Expenditures (2 of 2), 1870-1896
Publication Fund Ledger (Original Book), 1859-circa 1966
Scope and Contents Note
This is the register of what appears to be the original entries of shareholder accounts (i.e., purchases, transfers, publications offered, etc.).
Publication Fund Ledger (New Book), [1944]-circa 1978
Scope and Contents Note
This register appears to have been initiated in 1944 by purging obsolete names from the "original book" and carrying forward only current shareholders. (See shareholder list as of 1944 below.) Active accounts transcribed from the original book date back to the 19th century; new entries span to about 1978.
Publication Fund Shareholders A-Z, [1944]-circa 1979
Scope and Contents Note
This is a set of index cards with shareholder information in alphabetical order by name. Likely initiated in the 1940s to complement the "new book." Updates to the cards extend to about 1979.
Shareholder List as of 23 August 1944, 1944
Publication Fund Deliveries. Volume for 1868, 1868-1870
Publication Fund Deliveries. Volumes for 1869 and 1870, 1870-1873
Publication Fund Deliveries. Volumes for 1868-1872. Memorandum, circa 1869-1873
[Publication Fund Deliveries], circa 1870s-1882?
Scope and Contents Note
Includes names and addresses of shareholders with checkmarks likely referring to orders of published volumes.
Publication Fund Deliveries, 1880-1897?
Scope and Contents Note
Includes names and addresses of shareholders with checkmarks likely referring to orders of published volumes.
Publication Fund Deliveries, circa 1902
Scope and Contents Note
Includes names and addresses of shareholders with checkmarks likely referring to orders of published volumes.
[Publication Fund Deliveries], circa 1906-1937
Scope and Contents Note
Includes names and addresses of shareholders with checkmarks likely referring to orders of published volumes.
Publication Fund Deliveries, 1868-1918
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a record of deliveries by volume.
Publication Fund Deliveries, 1919-1973
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a record of deliveries by volume.
Publication Fund Delivery Book, 1973-1982
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a record of deliveries by volume.
Publication Fund Exchange, circa 1910-1975
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a record of volumes sent to other institutions for exchange.
Delivery Lists Working Files (1 of 4), circa 1940?
Scope and Contents Note
This set of four folder includes lists of deliveries for the volumes of 1911-1936, with s few related notes. These appear to be working files from the late 1930s or early 1940s with the purpose of reconciling and updating records of past deliveries and current shareholders.