Correspondence, 1880-1940 and undated, bulk 1900-1911

Scope and content:

Primarily personal and business letters and telegrams received and sent by James B. Duke or his agents, with letters sent or received by Benjamin N. Duke scattered throughout the correspondence. Letters related to philanthropic ventures, including contributions to Trinity College (later Duke University) and requests for donations and other forms of aid, are also present. Since the series includes several bound letterbooks, the correspondence was not divided between personal and business subjects. Richard B. Arrington, a secretary and agent for Benjamin N. Duke and James B. Duke, is the principal correspondent on behalf of James B. Duke in the letterbook dated from August 1, 1900 to January 30, 1906. Alexander H. Sands, another secretary and agent for Benjamin N. Duke and James B. Duke, is the principal correspondent on behalf of James B. Duke in the letterbook dated from February 20, 1920 to January 17, 1923. Major correspondents include Lida Duke Angier (Mrs. J.C. Angier), Richard B. Arrington, W.T. Blackwell, Bettie Roney Dailey (Mrs. John C. Dailey), Benjamin Newton Duke, Washington Duke, George W. Hill, Maude Duke Karnes, William R. Perkins, and Alexander H. Sands.

Loose correspondence dated after 1923 is primarily concerned with Benjamin N. Duke' s effort to identify and, in some cases, financially assist first and second cousins on the Roney side of the family. The main correspondents in this matter are Benjamin N. Duke, Bettie Roney Dailey, Alexander H. Sands, and Edna L. Vaughan.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically, with loose correspondence first.

Contents

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