Descriptive Summary
Houston Cotton
Exchange
Houston Cotton Exchange
Collection Materials are in
English.
RG D 16
2 document boxes, 1
record storage carton, and 90 Ledger Volumes; approximately 40 linear
feet.
Houston Metropolitan Research Center,
Houston Public Library
Alternative Format
The collection has been partially microfilmed.
Historical Note
From its earliest years, Houston served as a collection, marketing,
and transshipment center for cotton grown in the hinterland around it. In 1874
a group of the city's businessmen decided that the volume of cotton traffic
passing through Houston, as well as the increasing complexity of trading it on
a rational and uniform basis, required the establishment of a central,
regulatory exchange. That year the Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange--later
renamed the Houston Cotton Exchange and Board of Trade--was founded. It became
the place, wrote one observer, "where King Cotton holds court in Houston."
Stimulated by its cotton trade, which was the second largest in the
world by 1900, a network of support facilities was built in Houston to maximize
both efficiency and profits. These included a modern port with state-of-the-art
warves and fittings, a connecting canal to the Gulf Coast, and early railroad
and telegraph service. In a retrospective survey of the historical role of
cotton and the Cotton Exchange, the
Houston Chronicle concluded that "no other
organization has done more to build Houston's commerce and industry, stabilize
its economy, develop its port, or furnish its civic leadership than the Houston
Cotton Exchange. Cotton forced the building of transportation and handling
facilities, and played a major part in the success of banks and other
businesses and industries. Cotton money built Houston. Every phase of its life
has been guided by the members of the Cotton Exchange."
Scope and Contents
It consists of financial records, the meeting minutes and
correspondence of the Board of Directors, photographs, and other material
pertaining to the history of the Exchange and Houston that will be of
particular interest to those investigating economic and political topics.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by the type of material. Each different
kind of material is in chronological order. Most of it is contained in the
original, heavy-duty ledger volumes of the Cotton Exchange, except for the
minutes and correspondence indicated on the following Container List.
Access Restrictions
None
Use Restrictions
None
Preferred Citation
Houston Cotton Exchange Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research
Center, Houston Public Library
Acquisition Information
The Houston Cotton Exchange Collection was transferred to Houston
Metropolitan Research Center from the Houston Cotton Exchange in 1978.
Processing Information
Processed by Howard Beeth; completed
April 21, 1982
Index Terms
Subjects
Boards of
trade--Texas--Houston
Cotton
trade--Employees--Texas--Houston
Cotton--Prices--Louisiana--New Orleans
Cotton
trade--Texas--Houston
Cottonseed
Houston Ship Channel
(Tex.)
Shipping--Texas-Houston
Organizations
Chicago Cotton
Exchange
Houston Cotton Exchange
and Board of Trade
Liverpool Cotton Exchange
(England)
New Orleans Cotton
Exchange
New York Cotton
Exchange
Port of Houston
Authority
United States. Securities
and Exchange Commission
Detailed Description
1. Annual Meeting Minutes
1
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Meeting Minutes,
1878-1889
2
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Meeting Minutes,
1906-1922
2. Cotton Exchange Building Company
1
1
Cotton Exchange Building Company: Record Book,
1893-1907
3. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes and Related
Material
1
2
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1923-1929
1
3
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1930-1939
1
4
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1931
1
5
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1932
1
6
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1933
1
7
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1934
1
8
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1935
1
9
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1936
1
10
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1937
1
11
Houston Port and Traffic Bureau: Monthly Reports,
1936-1937
2
1
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1940-1945
2
2
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1946
2
3
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1947
2
4
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1948
2
5
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
1949
2
6
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Stockholders Meeting Papers,
1950-1951
2
7
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-June,
1950
2
8
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Dec,
1950
2
9
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-June,
1951
2
10
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Dec,
1951
2
11
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Stockholders Meeting Papers,
1952
2
12
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-June,
1952
2
13
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Dec,
1952
2
14
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Stockholders Meeting Papers,
1953
2
15
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-March,
1953
2
16
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
April-June,
1953
2
17
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Sept,
1953
2
18
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Oct-Dec,
1953
2
19
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Stockholders Meeting Papers,
1954
2
20
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-March,
1954
2
21
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
April-June,
1954
2
22
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Sept,
1954
2
23
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Oct-Dec,
1954
2
24
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Stockholders Meeting Papers,
1955
2
25
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-March,
1955
2
26
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
April-June,
1955
2
27
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Sept,
1955
2
28
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Oct-Dec,
1955
2
29
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Stockholders Meeting Papers,
1956
2
30
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-March,
1956
2
31
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
April-June,
1956
2
32
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Sept,
1956
2
33
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Oct-Dec,
1956
2
34
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Annual
Stockholders Meeting Papers,
1957
2
35
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-March,
1957
2
36
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
April-June, 1957
2
37
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Sept,
1957
2
38
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Oct-Dec,
1957
2
39
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-March,
1958
2
40
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
April-June,
1958
2
41
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Sept,
1958
2
42
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Oct-Dec,
1958
2
43
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-March,
1959
2
44
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
April-June,
1959
2
45
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
April-June,
1961
2
46
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
July-Sept,
1961
2
47
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Oct-Dec,
1961
2
48
Houston Cotton Exchange & Board of Trade: Board of
Directors Meeting Minutes and Correspondence,
Jan-Feb,
1962
4. Second Mortgage and Securities & Exchange
Commission Conflict
3
1
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict, no date
3
2
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
1923
3
3
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
ca.
1930's
3
4
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
1933
3
5
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
1936
3
6
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
July-Sept,
1936
3
7
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
Nov. 1936
3
8
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
Dec. 1936
3
9
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
Jan. 1-14,
1937
3
10
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
Jan. 15-31,
1937
3
11
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: 2nd
Mortgage and Securities & Exchange Commission Conflict,
Feb. 1937
5. Telegrams
3
Chicago Telegrams,
1924-1949
4
Liverpool Telegrams,
1881-1888
5
Liverpool Telegrams,
1881-1895
6
Liverpool Telegrams,
1888-1895
7
Liverpool Telegrams,
1900-1905
8
Liverpool Telegrams,
1911-1924
9
Liverpool Telegrams,
1933-1941
10
New York Telegrams,
1881-1884
11
New York Telegrams,
1884-1888
12
New York Telegrams,
1888-1894
13
New York Telegrams,
1918-1931
14
New York Telegrams,
1931-1947
15
New York Telegrams,
1947-1963
16
New Orleans Telegrams,
1881-1887
17
New Orleans Telegrams,
1887-1893
18
New Orleans Telegrams,
1893-1900
19
New Orleans Telegrams,
1900-1908
20
New Orleans Telegrams,
1908-1918
21
New Orleans Telegrams,
1918-1931
22
New Orleans Telegrams,
1931-1946
23
New Orleans Telegrams,
1946-1962
6. Daily Quotations
24
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1923-1924
25
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1924-1926
26
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1926-1928
27
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1928-1931
28
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1931-1933
29
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1933-1935
30
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1935-1939
31
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1939-1943
32
Daily Quotations, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1943-1963
7. Garage and Sundry Charge Register
33
Garage and Sundry Charge Register,
1924-1926
34
Garage and Sundry Charge Register,
1926-1927
8. Record of Houston Cotton Movement
35
Record of Houston Cotton Movement,
1891-1899
36
Record of Houston Cotton Movement,
1899-1908
37
Record of Houston Cotton Movement,
1908-1919
38
Record of Houston Cotton Movement,
1919-1930
39
Record of Houston Cotton Movement,
1930-1942
9. Cotton Seed Quotations
40
Cotton Seed Quotations,
1895-1915
41
Cotton Seed Quotations, New York,
1915-1929
42
Cotton Seed Quotations, New York and New Orleans,
1929-1937
43
Cotton Seed Quotations, New York and New Orleans,
1937-1945
10. Record of Houston Port Movement
44
Record of Houston Port Movement,
1926-1937
45
Record of Houston Port Movement,
1938-1949
46
Record of Houston Port Movement,
1949-1963
47
Record of Houston Port Movement,
1963-1976
11. Cash Journal Voucher Records
48
Cash Journal Voucher Record,
1925-1926
49
Cash Journal Voucher Record,
1926-1929
50
Cash Journal Voucher Record,
1929-1933
51
Cash Journal Voucher Record,
1933-1937
52
Cash Journal Voucher Record,
1937-1944
53
Cash Journal Voucher Record,
1944-1947
12. Visitors Registers
54
Visitors Register, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1894-1905
55
Visitors Register, Houston Cotton Exchange,
1924-1941
13. Payrolls
56
Payroll Book,
1924-1926
57
Janitors Weekly Payrolls,
1925-1926
58
Payroll Book,
1936
14. Floor Records
59
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: Floor
Record No. 1,
1924-1925
60
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: Floor
Record No. 2,
1925-1927
61
Houston Cotton Exchange Building Company, Inc.: Floor
Record No. 3,
1927-1934
15. Daily Transactions
62
Houston Cotton Exchange Daily Transactions,
1934-1942
63
Daily Quotations, Houston and Galveston Cotton
Exchanges,
1909-1923
16. Light and Power Records
64
Light Record No. 1,
1924-1925
65
Light and Power Record,
1925-1926
66
Light and Power Record,
1926-1930
17. Receipts
67
Daily Receipts to all U.S. Ports,
1881-1900
68
Houston Port Receipts,
1900-1918
18. Futures Markets
69
New York and New Orleans Futures Markets,
1963-1969
19. Record of Steamers
70
Record of Steamers, Port of Houston,
1931-1959
20. Cash Books
71
Cash Book,
1906-1909
72
Cash Book,
1909-1912
73
Cash Book,
1912-1916
74
Cash Book,
1916-1921
75
Cash Book,
1921-1925
76
Cash Book,
1926-1928
77
Cash Book,
1925-1931
78
Cash Book,
1945-1950
21. Miscellaneous Financial Ledgers
79
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1897-1901
80
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1897-1908
81
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1901-1903
82
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1903-1908
83
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1908-1912
84
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1908-1914
85
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1924-1925
86
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1928-1935
87
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1936-1945
88
Miscellaneous Financial Ledger,
1951-1955
22. Blank Stock Certificates
89
Blank Stock Certificates, Houston Cotton Exchange &
Board of Trade
23. Photographs
90
Photograph Album