Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company (Fremont, Neb.) [RG3711.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3711.AM: Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company (Fremont, Neb.)

Records: 1893-1922
Fremont, Dodge County, Neb.: Educational publications and supplies business
Size: 57 volumes and 1 box

BACKGROUND NOTE

Ross L. and Frank Hammond first became involved in the printing business in 1879, when their father, George Hammond, became part-owner of the Fremont Tribune. George Hammond soon became the sole owner of the enterprise and Frank became editor. The business was known as “Hammond and Son” until 1882, when Ross L. Hammond secured half interest and the firm was transformed into “Hammond Brothers.” Frank served as business manager and Ross became editor. Their publishing business grew, and in 1901, it was incorporated as the Hammond Printing Company, with Ross L. Hammond serving as president.

A totally separate publishing business was begun in 1894 when Dan Vorhees Stephens organized the publishing house of Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company. This company was devoted specifically to the publication of educational books and supplies. D.V. Stephens served as president of the company, Ross L. Hammond was vice-president, and Frank Hammond became treasurer. By 1921 Stephens was the principal owner of a business which extended into many states. At the time of his death in 1939, Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company was one of the largest businesses of its kind in the Midwest.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of fifty-seven volumes and one box of manuscript material arranged in eleven series: 1) Annual Reports, 1895-1920; 2) Ledgers, 1895-1910; 3) Cash Books, 1892-1920; 4) Journals, 1894-1920; 5) Diploma Ledgers and Orders, 1902-1922; 6) Stock Record, 1902-1915; 7) Bill Registers, 1895; 8) Customer Indexes; 9) Letterbooks, (Outgoing Correspondence), 1893-1915; 10) Incoming Correspondence, 1896-1916; and 11) Miscellany. This collection consists of the business records, including account books, customer listings, and correspondence, of the Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company, publishers of educational books and supplies of Fremont, Nebraska.

The Annual Reports, 1895-1920 of Series 1 contain a compilation of accounts, bills receivable, stock merchandise, cash, office materials, assets, and dividends. There is also a further breakdown of the diploma business, expenses, advertising costs, salaries, and profits. Debits and credits, primarily for the years 1907-1915, are shown in sections designated with the subject headings of bills receivable, personal and petty claims, and county business claims.

Series 2, Series 3 and Series 4, consisting of Ledgers, Cash Books, and Journals, are designed to be used together. They are cross-referenced by page number, with the cash book and journal transactions also found as ledger entries. Therefore, all ledger entries can be found in either a cash book or journal, and every cash and journal entry is entered into a ledger.

The Ledgers, 1895-1910, of Series 2 are arranged by date of transaction. They detail financial changes regarding merchandise, expenses, freight, interest and discount, postage, stationery, merchandise losses, salaries, fixtures, revenues, individual and county board of education accounts, and petty accounts.

Series 3 consists of Cash Books, 1892-1920, which provide a daily accounting of money taken in and expended. Entries show the items and expenses, freight costs, and salaries. Some entries are arranged by individual account and then chronologically by date of transaction.

The Journals, 1894-1912, of Series 4 are arranged chronologically by transaction. Entries show the date, who the order was placed by, items ordered, cost, and a monthly statement. Beginning with Volume 4, a listing of purchasers and their locations are included.

Series 5 is comprised of Diploma Ledgers and Orders, 1902-1922. These are arranged by state and they show the date of the transaction, purchaser, location, number of diplomas being ordered, engrossing and type desired, cost, and date billed and paid.

The Stock Record of Series 6 is an inventory of some of Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company merchandise dating from 1902-1915. There is no particular order to this inventory, but entries show the date the survey is being made, the item inventories, the stock, the quantity held, and the cost.

Series 7 consists of two Bill Registers dating from 1895. Volume 1 is a collection register, arranged alphabetically, which shows the name of the purchaser, location, date of bill, amount owed, and date paid. Volume 2 is a chronologically arranged bill register which shows the same type of information. An alphabetical index is also provided.

Two volumes of Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company’s Customer Indexes comprise Series 8. Volume 1 is arranged by state, and then alphabetically by county. Volume 2 is arranged alphabetically. Superintendents of county boards of education and their addresses are shown.

Series 9 consists of Letterbooks (Outgoing Correspondence) dating from 1893-1915. The letters in this series discuss the company’s billing and shipping policies, orders, answers to customers’ requests, and prices and descriptions of merchandise. All but one of the volumes provide an alphabetical index of the correspondents. Two folders of loose letters are also included.

The Incoming Correspondence, 1895-1916, of Series 10 deals primarily with warrants, accounts, and billing practices. The Miscellany of Series 11 includes a record of future orders, 1917-1922, an advertising notebook, a bank account book, loose receipts, and a construction account record. An oversize catalogue of diplomas, ca. 1926, produced by Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company is also included.

INVENTORY

Series 1 – Annual Reports, 1895-1920

Volume

1. 1895-1920

Series 2 – Ledgers, 1895-1910

Volume

1. 1895-1900
2. 1901-1910

Series 3 – Cash Books, 1892-1900

Volume

1. 1892-1895, Aug. (The Western Teacher?)
2. 1894, May – 1895, Mar.
3. 1895, Sept. – 1900, May
4. 1900, June – 1904, July
5. 1904, Aug. – 1907
6. 1908-1911, Feb.
7. 1912, Jan. – 1913, Jan.
8. 1913, Jan. – 1914, Aug.
9. 1914, Aug. – 1916, Apr.
10. 1916, Apr. – 1917, Nov.
11. 1917, Dec. – 1919, July
12. 1913-1920

Series 4 – Journals, 1894-1912

Volume

1. 1894, May 30 – 1896, May 29
2. 1896, June 1 – 1899, May 27
3. 1899, June 7 – 1900, Dec. 29
4. 1901, Jan. 15 – 1904, May
5. 1904, June 4 – 1908, June
6. 1908, July – 1912, Feb.

Series 5 – Diploma Ledgers and Orders, 1902-1922

Volume

1. 1902-1904
2. 1902-1904
3. 1905
4. 1906
5. 1907
6. 1908
7. 1909
8. 1910
9. 1911
10. 1912
11. 1913
12. 1914
13. 1915-1920, Diploma Orders
14. 1915
15. 1916
16. 1918
17. 1919
18. 1920
19. 1921-1922

Series 6 – Stock Record, 1902-1915

Volume

1. Inventory, 1902-1915

Series 7 – Bill Registers, 1895

Volume

1. Collection Register, 1895
2. Copies of bills, 1895, Apr.-Oct.

Series 8 – Customer Indexes

Volume

1. Subscription Book (by State)
2. Index

Series 9 – Letterbooks (Outgoing correspondence), 1893-1915

Volume

1. 1893, July 25 – 1894, Feb. 27; 1894, Oct. 17
2. 1894, June 5 – 1895, Aug. 24
3. 1895, Aug. 28 – 1896, May 5
4. 1896, May 5 – July 18
5. 1896, July 20 – 1898, Feb. 22
6. 1898, Feb. 23 – 1899, Dec. 28
7. 1899, Dec. 26 – 1900, Nov. 22
8. 1900, Nov. 24 – 1902, Aug. 29
9. 1902, Sept. 2 – 1903, Mar. 25

Box 1
Folder

1. 1894-1902
2. 1903-1915

Series 10 – Incoming Correspondence, 1895-1916

Folder

1. 1895-1898
2. 1899-1902
3. 1903-1916

Series 11 – Miscellany

Folder

1. Record of Future Orders, 1917-1922
2. Advertising Notebook
3. Bank Account Book, 1901-1902
4. Loose Receipts and Construction Account Record
5. Catalogue of Diplomas, ca. 1926 (see oversize)

Subject headings:

Education — Nebraska
Fremont (Neb.) — Businesses
Hammond, Frank, 1858-1952
Hammond, Ross L., 1861-1930
Hammond Brothers and Stephens Company (Fremont, Neb.)
Publishers and publishing — Nebraska
Stephens, Dan Vorhees, 1868-1930

Revised 03-05-2008 TMM