mums237 Hubbard and Lyman Daybook, 1844-1847 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Ken Fones-Wolf. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, MA

2003

Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric Cartier. 2003-05-08 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mu129 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Hubbard and Lyman Daybook, 1844-1847 Finding Aid Manuscript Number 237 Compiled by Ken Fones-Wolf Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Hubbard and Lyman Hubbard and Lyman Daybook 1844-1847 MS 237 1 volume Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Partners who manufactured harnesses, saddles, and trunks in Springfield, Massachusetts. Includes the prices paid for harnesses, whips, trunks, valises, and a variety of repair jobs such as splicing, coupling, and repairing of the hoses of the Springfield Fire Department. Also contains method and form of payment (principally cash, but also wood, leather, and leather thread in exchange) and twenty pages of clippings with the names of Lyman's daughters, Mary and Frances, written on them. English. Historical Note

Hubbard and Lyman was a manufacturing partnership in Springfield, Massachusetts. The two principals -- Moses Lyman and Jason Hubbard, both Massachusetts natives born in 1815 -- were listed in the 1850 census as harnessmakers, and harnesses accounted for the bulk of their business. The 1850 manufacturing census lists the partnership as doing an annual business of about $10,000. Hubbard and Lyman employed eight workers (to whom they paid wages of about $300 per month) and had about $3,000 invested in the business.

Early in the 1850s the partnership ended when Jason Hubbard disappeared, either through death or desertion. His wife Sarah (born in Massachusetts in 1820) continued to appear in the Springfield directories into the 1860s. Moses Lyman then went into business with Arthur Moore. However, by 1860, Moses was dead, leaving his widow Nancy (age 38) and at least three children -- George (14), Mary (13), and Frances (11).

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The account book documents the Hubbard and Lyman business between 1844 and 1847, although about 20 pages in the front of the daybook are pasted over with clippings. The clippings were probably pasted in by Lyman's daughters Mary and Frances, since their names were written on the pages. The daybook offers a glimpse into the world of small-shop harness and trunk-making, including the prices paid for harnesses ($15-$35), whips ($4-$5), trunks and valises ($1.50-$5) as well as a variety of repair jobs, including the splicing, coupling, and repairing of the hoses of the Springfield Fire Department in 1846 (p. 405). Although most of the business was done on a cash basis, Hubbard and Lyman also accepted wood, leather, and leather thread in exchange.

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Hubbard and Lyman Daybook (MS 237). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Processed by Ken Fones-Wolf.

Search Terms Hubbard, Jason, b. 1815. Lyman, Moses, b. 1815. Hubbard and Lyman. Springfield (Mass.) Fire Dept. Harness making and trade--Massachusetts--Springfield--History--19th century--Sources. Harnesses--Prices--History--Sources. Trunks (Luggage)--Prices--History--Sources. Whips--Prices--History--Sources. Wages--Leatherworkers--Massachusetts--Springfield--History--19th century--Sources. Barter--Massachusetts--Springfield--History--19th century--Sources. Springfield (Mass.)--Economic conditions--19th century--Sources. Account books. Clippings. Hubbard, Jason, b. 1815. Lyman, Moses, b. 1815.