William Sims papers, 1770-1860

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Summary

Creator:
Sims, William
Extent:
3.6 Linear Feet
385 Items
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.01197

Background

Scope and content:

Correspondence, financial papers, and legal documents, concerning William Sims' extensive plantation holdings in South Carolina. Includes two account books. Correspondence is primarily related to business matters, including cotton trade and prices; the price and availability of slaves; and the beginnings of a textile industry on the plantation. Local and state politicians in South Carolina are often mentioned, as is the general economic plight of the Southern planter in the period (ca. 1819-1830), and currency problems in the state (ca. 1826-1830). One personal letter effusively describes newly settled land in Mississippi and the quality of the cotton grown there.

Detailed financial papers form the bulk of the collection, and concern the cotton trade (including weights, bale numbers, shipping, prices, and sales), and household and plantation expenses. Legal papers are confined to deeds, documents of land litigation, military commissions, and documents relating to slaves, such as indentures and lists of slaves on the plantation. Also includes genealogical information on the Sims family.

Biographical / historical:

William Sims was a cotton grower in Union County, South Carolina.

Acquisition information:
The William Sims papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchased between 1978-1990. This collection forms part of the Harry L. and Mary K. Dalton Collection, 1695-1955, undated.
Processing information:

Processed by Rubenstein Library staff

Encoded by Kimberly Sims, March 2011

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], William Sims Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.