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[Identification of item], James Martin Bell Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
The James Martin Bell Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library in 1956.
Processed by Rubenstein Library staff
Encoded by Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, May 2008
Accession from 1956 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
Correspondence and business papers reflecting the major part played by Bell and his family in the economic development of central Pennsylvania and other areas. Among the subjects dealt with are the building of internal improvements, the charcoal iron industry in the Juniata Valley, land titles and speculation, and early growth of the Pennsylvania Railroad under J. Edgar Thomson and others, tariff bills, the economic cycle of booms and depressions, the evolution of the monetary and banking system, telegraph companies, coal mining, Lake Superior copper mining, and Bell’s active interest in Whig and Republican Party politics. Papers of the Civil War period illustrate the impact of the conflict on the business community in the North, and on the people of Pennsylvania during Confederate raids and invasions. Some papers relate to tests of Pennsylvania iron made at the Washington Navy Yard by Captain Dahlgren, to Bell’s service as agent of Jay Cooke in floating Federal loans in Pennsylvania, and to the effect of the war on the banking system. Included are two early railroad broadsides from Bellefontaine and Indiana Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad (1856 and 1867).
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
Two railroad broadsides: opening of Union Pacific westward line to San Francisco, prob. 1867 (large); announcement for Bellefontaine and Indiana Railroad/Penssylvania Railroad, 1856 (small). Both are in black, white, and red print.