urn:taro:utexas.cah.00392 A Guide to the Alexander Gilmer Papers, 1872-1929 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History Original EAD encoding by Evan Hocker according to TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. March 2005 Finding aid written in English. Descriptive Summary Gilmer, Alexander Alexander Gilmer Papers 1872-1929 101 ft., 10 in. Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin Materials are in English. Use Restrictions

Most of collection is stored off-site; contact repository in advance for retrieval.

 Biographical Note

Alexander Gilmer (1829-1906) was a shipbuilder, sailor, and lumber man. A native of Ireland, Gilmer immigrated to Georgia and later moved to Texas, where he participated in the Civil War Battle of Sabine Pass. Gilmer went on to build an enormous lumber empire in East Texas despite serious setbacks from a series of sawmill fires. He moved to San Antonio and eventually died while travelling in New York City.

 Scope and Contents

Papers relate to the business operations of Alexander Gilmer's sawmills and lumber businesses, from acquisition of timber land to the shipping of finished lumber to yards in Texas, other states, and abroad.

Included are books, letter presses, payroll records, blueprints, maps, plats, log books, financial records, invoices, checks, correspondence, typescripts, and photographs.

 Cite as

Alexander Gilmer Papers, 1872-1929, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin

 Inventory Stored off-site: 2M407 Carbon copies of order books, 1891-1894 2M408 Carbon copies of order books, undated 2M409 Bank books, 1895-1905 2M409 Check stubs, 1888-1906 2M410 Check stubs, 1895-1906 2M410 Unused check book, 1905 2M411 Check stubs: 2M411 1888-1904 2M411 1926 2M412 1892-1900 2M413 1889-1902 2M414 1889-1892 2M414 1901 2M414 Cancelled checks, 1891-1897 2M415 Cancelled checks, 1902-1904 2M416 Cancelled checks, 1880-1896, 1900-1903 2M416 Receipts, 1880-1896 2M417 Promissory notes, 1879-1896 2M417 Credits and debits, 1889-1896 2M417 Business account papers, 1872-1886 2M418 Business account papers: 2M418 1887-1894 2M419 1895-1898 2M420 1898-1899 2M421 1900-1901 2M422 Invoice books: 2M422 1887-1889 2M423 1889-1890 2M424 1890 2M425 1890-1891 2M426 1891-1892 2M427 1892-1894 2M428 1895 2M429 1895-1897 2M430 1897-1898 2M431 1898-1899 2M432 1899-1901 2M433 1901-1903 2M434 1903-1907 2M435 Sales books: 2M435 1888-1889 2M435 1892 2M435 1899 2M435 1906 2M435 Papers concerning loans, payment and collection of notes, 1900 2M435 Recapitulations book, 1893-1896 2M435 Shipping receipts books, 1886-1887 2M436 Shipping record books, 1891-1893 2M436 Collections book, 1878 2M436 Delinquent accounts books: 1877, 1887-1889 2M436 Odd entries books, 1869-1897 2M437 Accounts payable and receivable books, 1887-1902 2M437 Claims books, 1881-1902 2M438 Credit memorandum book, 1899 2M438 Book listing lumber dealers 2M438 Freight bills, 1903 2M439 Receipts, 1902-1903 2M440 Receipts, 1903-1904 2M441 Corporation record of Lemon Lumber Company, 1901-1902 2M441 Stock book of Lemon Lumber Company, 1901 2M441 Stock book of Yoakum Opera House Company, 1902 2M441 Secretary's register book of Southern Mutual Building and Loan Association, Orange Branch, 1889-1890 2M442 Reference books of Lumbermen's Credit Association, 1899-1900 2M443 Reference books of Lumbermen's Credit Association: 1901, 1903 2M444 Manufacturers's catalogs, 1884-1906 2M445 Papers in account with suppliers: 2M445 1882-1901 2M446 1882-1901 2M447 Bills, 1877-1901 2M448 Saw mill orders, 1899-1900 2M449 Saw mill orders, 1901 2M449 Filled saw mill orders, 1899 2M450 Filled saw mill orders: 2M450 1899 2M451 1899 2M452 1899 2M453 Order books, 1889-1894 2M454 Order books, 1896 2M454 Day books, 1878 2M455 Day books: 2M455 1878 2M456 1878-1879 2M457 Day books: 2M457 1879-1880 2M457 1886-1889 2M457 Tally books, 1877-1878, undated 2M458 Tally books: 2M458 1890-1893 2M458 1897 2M458 1899 2M458 Secretary's cash book, 1886 2M459 Cash books: 2M459 1898-1899 2M459 1901-1902 2M459 1905-1906 2M459 Time books: 2M459 1886-1892 2M460 1896-1898 2M460 1901-1902 2M460 Weekly payroll books: 2M460 1892 2M460 1898-1899 2M460 Stocksheets, inventories, and tallies: 2M460 1897 2M461 1898 2M462 1898-1899 2M462 Stockbooks: 2M462 undated 2M462 1892 2M462 1895 2M462 1897-1899 2M463 1894-1900 2M464 1899-1904 2M464 Inventory books: 2M464 undated 2M464 1888 2M464 1900 2M465 Letter presses: 2M465 1885-1888 2M466 1887-1888 2M467 1888-1890 2M468 1889-1890 2M469 1890-1891 2M470 1891-1892 2M471 1892-1893 2M472 1893-1894 2M473 1894-1895 2M474 1895 2M475 1895-1896 2M476 1896-1897 2M477 1896-1897 2M478 1897 2M479 1897-1898 2M480 1898 2M481 1898-1899 2M482 1899 2M483 1899-1900 2M484 1900-1901 2M485 1901 2M486 1901-1902 2M487 1902-1903 2M488 1903-1905 2M489 1903-1904 2M490 1904-1905 2N1 1905 2N2 1905-1907 2N3 Expense account books: 2N3 1877-1878 2N4 1878-1879 2N4 1885-1886 2N4 1889-1892 2N5 1890-1892 2N5 1896-1897 2N5 1899 2N5 undated 2N6 1904 2N6 1907 2N6 Business account books: 2N6 1869-1873 2N6 1883 2N7 1881-1884 2N7 1894-1896 2N7 1897-1899 2N8 1900 2N8 Treasurer's book of Sabine Tram Company: 1889-1890, 1891 2N8 Supply books, 1890 2N8 Order book, 1890 2N9 Business account books: 2N9 1903-1906 2N9 1914-1916 2N10 1917-1921 2N10 undated 2N11 Business letters: 2N11 1892 2N11 1902 2N12 1902 2N12 1904 2N12 1895-1909 2N13 Circulars and papers from Lumbermen's Associations, 1888-1904 2N13 Wage papers of Lemon Lumber Company, 1901 2N14 Business papers of Lemon Lumber Company, 1901-1902 2N15 Business papers of Lemon Lumber Company, 1902 2N15 Form papers of Lemon Lumber Company, 1902 2N16 Lemon Lumber Company form papers: 2N16 1902 2N17 1903 2N18 1903 2N18 undated 2N19 Abstracts of title to lands, 1902 2N19 Registry receipts, 1884-1899 2N19 Envelopes 2N19 Notes 2N19 Magazines, 1904, 1923 2N19 Inner office papers, 1883-1898 2N19 Notebook 2N19 Mill and Yard Logbook, 1879-1885 2N20 Yard book, 1892-1893 2N20 Log cut books, 1894-1897 2N20 Mill log book, 1897-1899 2N20 Sawing record book, 1899-1901 2N20 Board book, 1906-1907 2N21 Letters and papers concerning lumber machinery: 2N21 1882-1890 2N22 1891-1893 2N23 1894-1895 2N24 1895-1897 2N25 1897-1898 2N26 1898-1899 2N27 1900-1901 2N27 undated 2N27 Lumber machinery catalogs and advertisements 2N28 Papers concerning fire losses, property and fire insurance, 1888-1901 2N28 Papers concerning office supplies, 1894-1901 2N29 Letters and papers of Sabine Tram Company, 1888-1896 2N29 Sabine Tram Company, letter press, 1895-1898 2N29 Sabine Tram Company, financial papers: 2N29 1889-1890 2N30 1891-1898 2N31 Cancelled checks, 1889-1896 2N32 Letters: 2N32 1891-1896 2N33 1897-1899 2N34 Sabine Tram Company Letters, 1900-1901 2N34 Mill reports, 1891-1901 2N34 Mill reports, 1891-1901 2N34 Monthly statements, 1891-1896 2N35 Book of invoices for Carey Lombard Lumber Company, 1892-1893 2N35 Unused letter press 2N36 Papers concerning rentals and repairs, 1883-1901 2N36 Employees, 1902-1903 2N36 Convict labor, 1893-1894 2N37 Applications for employment, 1882-1901 2N37 Applications for white collar employment, 1887-1896 2N38 Applications for white collar employment, 1888-1901 2N38 Papers concerning wages, 1877-1897 2N39 Papers concerning wages, 1897-1901 2N39 Cancelled checks, 1892-1897 2N39 Papers concerning strikes, 1891-1893 2N39 Papers concerning casualty insurance, 1892-1901 2N39 Papers concerning land transactions: 1872-1894 2N40 Papers concerning land transactions: 1895-1901 2N40 Papers concerning land-lumber trades, 1891-1897 2N41 Papers and correspondence concerning legal matters, 1874-1901 2N41 Letters and orders from Beeville yard, 1890-1895 2N42 Letters, orders, and papers from Cuero yard, 1892-1900 2N43 Letters and orders: 2N43 Halletsville yard, 1896-1901 2N43 Kansas City yard, 1892-1896 2N44 Karnes City yard, 1897-1901 2N44 Runge yard, 1892-1897 2N45 Runge yard, 1898-1901 2N45 Velasco yard, 1891-1895 2N46 Velasco yard, 1896-1901 2N46 Victoria yard, 1894-1896 2N47 Victoria yard, 1897-1901 2N47 Yoakum yard, 1892-1894 2N48 Letters and orders from Yoakum yard, 1895-1901 2N48 Letters concerning W. A. Fink Lumber Company of Yoakum, 1898-1899 2N49 General reports: 2N49 Beeville yard, 1891-1895 2N49 Cuero yard, 1892-1899 2N49 Halletsville yard, 1896-1900 2N49 Karnes City yard, 1893-1896 2N50 Karnes City yard, 1897-1900 2N50 Runge yard, 1893-1900 2N51 Velasco yard, 1892-1900 2N51 Victoria yard, 1894-1900 2N51 Yoakum yard, 1892-1900 2N52 Orange yard, 1883-1896 2N52 Purchase and sale of yards and changes in personnel, papers concerning, 1892-1900 2N53 Papers: 2N53 Traveling salesmen, 1887-1901 2N54 1894-1901 2N55 R. M. Williamson: 1895-1900 2N56 R. M. Williamson: 1901 2N56 Transportation bills: 2N56 1888-1890 2N57 1892-1896 2N58 1897-1899 2N59 1900-1901 2N59 Papers concerning railroad shipments, 1881-1893 2N60 Papers concerning railroad shipments, 1894-1901 2N61 Papers of R. S. Stephens, 1890-1901 2N61 Employment agency letter, 1893 2N61 Papers concerning machinery, 1882-1895 2N62 Papers concerning Gilmer estate, 1919-1924 2N63 Papers concerning Gilmer estate, 1925-1929 2N64 Poll tax receipts, City of Orange, 1914, 1916, 1918 2N64 Telegrams, 1883-1896 2N65 Post cards, 1892-1901 2N65 Mail registry and express receipts, 1880-1890 2N65 Business letters, 1892-1904 2N65 Assorted business papers, undated 2N66 Assorted business papers, undated 2N67 Books concerning lumbering: 2N67 1897 2N67 1905 2N68 1890 2N68 1895 2N69 1887 2N69 1892 2N69 1906 2N70 1885 2N70 1891 2N70 1895 2N71 Papers concerning credit ratings, 1883-1901 2N71 Special letter file concerning lumber industry, politics, 1891-1904 2N71 Papers concerning periodicals subscriptions, 1882-1901 2N71 Papers concerning Orange Board of Trade, 1900-1901 2N71 Papers concerning water hyacinths, 1897-1899 2N71 Assorted papers concerning Gilmer family, 1888-1901 2N72 Alexander Gilmer personal financial papers, 1882-1895 2N73 Alexander Gilmer personal financial papers, 1896-1901 2N74 Business letters: 2N74 Out-of-state and abroad: 2N74 1887-1898 2N75 1898-1900 2N76 1901 2N76 Texas and Louisiana: 2N76 1873-1888 2N77 1890-1891 2N78 1891 2N78 From Carey-Lombard Lumber Company, 1892 2N79 Texas and Louisiana: 2N79 1892 2N80 1892-1893 2N81 1893 2N82 1893-1894 2N83 1894 2N84 1895 2N85 1895 2N86 1896 2N87 1896-1897 2N88 1897 2N89 1897-1898 2N90 1898 2N91 1898 2N92 1898-1899 2N93 1899 2N94 1899 2N95 1899 2N96 1899-1900 2N97 1900 2N98 1900-1901 2N99 1901 2N100 1901 2N101 1901 2N102 1902 2N103 1902-1903 2N104 1903 2N105 1903 2N106 1903 2N107 1903 2N108 1904 2N109 1904 2N110 1904 2N111 1904 2N112 1904 2N113 1904 2N114 1904 2N115 1905 2N116 1905 2N117 1905 2N118 1905 2N119 1905-1906 2N120 1906 2N121 1906 2N122 1906 2N123 1907 2N124 1908-1911 2N124 From Union Lumber Company of Texarkana, Arkansas, 1895-1896 2N125 Empty envelopes 2N125 Assorted business papers and letters, 1879-1926 2N125 Papers concerning land, 1904 2N126 Assorted business papers, 1898-1899 2N126 Papers concerning local lumbermen's associations, 1887-1897 2N126 Papers concerning journal subscriptions and credit ratings, 1880-1896 2N126 Papers concerning business accounts, 1873-1895 2N127 Papers concerning advertising, 1894-1899 2N127 Assorted business papers, 1892-1904 2N127 Papers concerning lumber transactions, 1872-1901 2N128 Log scale bills, 1895-1901 2N128 Obituary, 1906 2N128 Index of Alex Gilmer collections 2N128 Newspaper clippings, 1934 2N128 Papers concerning acquisition of Gilmer collection, 1933-1942 4K343 Payroll book, December 31, 1887 - September 29, 1888 4K344 Payroll book, October 6, 1888 - May 31, 1889 4K380 Sales book, August 1, 1890 - March 11, 1891 4K381 Business account book, ledger number 11, 1888-1890 4K345 General Ledger, January 1, 1898 - January 1903 4K346 Business account book, ledger, 1892-1893 4K347 Timber book, 1885-1887 4K382 Business account book, ledger, 1898-1904 4K383 Cash book, June 1, 1888 - April 29, 1895 4K384 Payroll book, December, 1890 - March, 1893 4K385 Payroll book, June, 1889 - November, 1890 4K348 Timber book, March, 1880 - March, 1888 4K349 Trial balance book, 1899 4K350 Trial balance book, 1898 4K351 Collection register, November 18, 1896 - September 29, 1899 4K352 Trial balance book, 1899-1905 4K352 Lemon Lumber Company, financial statement, 1903 4K353 Register of notes and drafts, 1894-1904 4K386 Saw mill book, number 2, January 1876 - January 1878 4K387 Recapitulation of shipments book, July 1895 - April 1, 1901 4K388 Payroll book, December 3, 1898 - January 25, 1902 4K389 Payroll book, July 1895 - November 1898 4K390 Sales book, March 12 - November 23, 1891 4K391 Sabine Tram Company journal, January 1, 1892 - September 30, 1895 4K354 Sales book (with shipment in back), 1892-1895 4K392 Sales book (with shipment in back), 1895-1897 4K393 Sales book (with shipment in back), January 1, 1898 - January 14, 1901 4K394 Purchase book, July 1, 1895 - February 1, 1899 4K395 Sales book, January 1901 - July 1907 4K355 Cash book, December 12, 1855 - September 24, 1887 4K396 Business account journal, December 27, 1888 - December 31, 1890 4K397 Business account journal, January 1, 1891 - December 31, 1897 4K398 Cash book, May 1, 1895 - November 9, 1898 4K399 Orange County account ledger, 1888-1890 4K400 Day book, January 1, 1887 - December 26, 1888 4K401 General ledger, number 11, 1891-1897 4K356 Business account journal, 1876-1877 4K402 Business account journal, January 1, 1885 - December 31, 1887 4K357 Petty ledger, 1891-1897 4K358 Petty ledger, number 12 4K403 Cash book, January 12, 1883 - May 31, 1888 4K404 Cash book, February 12, 1901 - June 1903 4K405 Payroll book, August 8, 1892 - July 6, 1895 4K406 Business account ledger: 4K406 1885-1888 4K407 1906 4K408 1904-1905 4K409 1879-1880 4K410 1901-1903 4K411 1878-1879 4K412 Business account book, 1878-1879 4K413 Order book: 4K413 March 8, 1890 - November 11, 1891 4K414 January 1, 1890 - June 22, 1891 4K415 January 2, 1893 - April 1895 4K416 June 29, 1891 - June 12, 1892 4K417 Business account journal, January 1900 - January 1902 4K418 General ledger, number 10, 1885-1888 4K419 Order book, November 25, 1891 - December 31, 1892 4K420 Sales book: 4K420 March 28 - July 31, 1890 4K421 October 18, 1889 - March 27, 1890 4K422 May 25 - October 18, 1889 4K423 October 16, 1888 - May 25, 1889 4K436 March 1 - October 18, 1888 4K437 June 1, 1887 - February 29, 1888 4K438 Business account journal, number 13, January 3, 1898 - January 31, 1903 4K439 Cash book, July 1, 1901 - April 29, 1905 4K440 Cash book, November 12, 1898 - July 1, 1901 4K441 Business account ledger, 1903-1906 4K442 Order book, July 1, 1896 - October 2, 1897 4K443 Order book, April 1, 1895 - June 29, 1896 4K359 Order book, 1890-1893 4K444 Index to ledger number 11 4K445 Statements book, September 1897 4K446 Drafts, January 7, 1887 - March 25, 1896 4K447 Checks: Numbers 1-296, February 4, 1891 - February 29, 1892 4K448 Checks: Numbers 1-289, February 26, 1891 - July 11, 1892 4K449 Index to petty ledger, 1889 4K360 Business account ledger, 1896-1899 4K450 Order book, November 23, 1885 - December 19, 1887 4K451 Business account journal, March 1 - July 16, 1906 4K452 Order books: 4K452 Dry kiln and planer, December 20, 1888 - June 7, 1889 4K453 Saw mill, October 1, 1888 - May 30, 1889 4K454 March 12 - December 31, 1889 4K455 December 20, 1887 - March 6, 1889 4K456 Business account ledger: Number 5, 1875-1876 4K457 Business account ledger: Number 6, 1877 4K458 Cash book, 1873-1883 4K459 Business account ledger, 1883-1884 4K460 Blank forms 4K460 Miscellaneous papers 4K460 Fragments 4K468 Day book, blotter 21, January 1875 - March 1878 Stored on-site: 4N8d Land book, property 3Y552 Photographs regarding the lumber business 3Y552 Photograph: portrait of Alexander Gilmer, copy from the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, TX [donated by Philip J. Pennington, great-grandson of Alexander Gilmer] 3S177 Insurance certificates 3S193 Mill log scales, balance sheets 3S194 Mill log scales, balance sheets OD1277 Blueprints OD1277 Land plats