Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
Finding Aid for William B. Wesson Jr. papers, 1846-1919
03533
Table of Contents
- Summary Information
- Biographical/Historical note
- Administrative Information
- Controlled Access Headings
- Other Finding Aids note
- Collection Inventory
- Series I: William Wesson's Correspondence, 1846-1884
- Series II: Albert Crane's Correspondence, 1853-1854.
- Series III: Order and Receipts from William Wesson's Real Estate Business Ventures. 1848— 1883.
- Series V. William Wesson Estate. 1892-1919
Summary Information
- Repository
- Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
- Creator - Creator
- Wesson, William Brigham, 1820-1890
- Title
- William B. Wesson Jr. papers
- ID
- 03533
- Date
- 1846-1919
- Extent
- 3.5 linear ft. (7 boxes)
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- This collection contains various materials pertaining to the professional life of Mr. William Brigham Wesson Jr. Included are original correspondences between Wesson and his business partners, order and receipts from Wesson's real estate business, an assortment of different types of land contracts from Wesson's real estate business, and materials pertaining to the sale of the Wesson estate after his death.
Biographical/Historical note
William Brigham Wesson Jr. was born in 1820 in Hardwick, Massachusetts, the son of Rev. William B. Wesson, pastor of the Congregational Church of Hardwick. Mr. Wesson Jr. cane to Detroit at the age of thirteen and eventually attended the University of Michigan, but was forced to leave the school early in 1842 as a sophomore due to poor health. Wesson quickly rose to prominence in Detroit business and held positions at the Detroit Medical College, the Wayne County Savings Bank, the Trust, Security and Safe Deposit Company, Hargreaves Manufacturing Company, the First National Bank and the D.L. & L.M. Railroad. He went into partnership with Albert Crane in the real estate and insurance business, forming the Crane and Wesson Real Estate Company. Wesson was most notably a prominent Detroit landowner, and the materials contained within this collection pertain primarily to his real estate office which was located on the corner of Congress and Griswold Streets in Detroit. Wesson was a member of the Michigan State Senate from 1872 to 1874. In 1873, the University of Michigan awarded him the degree he never received in the 1840s. William Brigham Wesson Jr. died in the year 1890.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
Conditions Governing Access note
This collection is open for research use.
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
- Correspondence -- aat
- Legal documents -- aat
Subject(s)
- Real estate agents.
Other Finding Aids note
Finding aid and white index cards available in the Burton Historical Collection and on the World Wide Web.
Collection Inventory
Series I: William Wesson's Correspondence, 1846-1884Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence between William Wesson, his business partner Albert Crane, and their various business acquaintances. Most letters and notes were written to William Wesson at his real estate office in Detroit. |
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BOX 1 |
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1:1 Wesson Correspondence 1846 — 1851 |
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1:2 Wesson Correspondence 1852 |
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1:3 Wesson Correspondence 1853 |
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1:4 Wesson Correspondence 1854 |
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1:5 Wesson Correspondence 1855 — 1856 |
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1:6 Wesson Correspondence 1860 — 1884 (primarily 1884) |
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Series II: Albert Crane's Correspondence, 1853-1854.Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence from Albert Crane in Chicago written primarily to his real estate business partner William Wesson in Detroit. The letters contain a variety of business information and updates. |
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BOX 1 (continued) |
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1:7 Crane Correspondence Jan — Apr 1853 |
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1:8 Crane Correspondence May — Aug 1853 |
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1:9 Crane Correspondence Sep 1853, Nov 1853, and Jan 1854 |
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Series III: Order and Receipts from William Wesson's Real Estate Business Ventures. 1848— 1883.Scope and Contents noteVarious orders and receipts from Wesson's real estate business for things such as building materials, cash payments, and food goods. Materials range from written letter-style receipts sent through postal mail with brief text statements, to inventories of items purchased or sold. Also included are items such as payment schedule lists reflecting amounts owed and received for mortgages, loans, etc. |
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BOX 2 |
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2:1 Orders / Receipts 1848 — 1857 |
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2:2 Orders / Receipts 1858 — 1860 |
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2:3 Orders / Receipts 1861 — 1865 |
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2:4 Orders / Receipts 1866 #1 |
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2:5 Orders / Receipts 1866 #2 |
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2:6 Orders/Receipts 1867 #1 |
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Box 3 |
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3:1 Orders / Receipts 1867 #2 |
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3:2 Orders / Receipts 1867 #3 |
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3:3 Orders / Receipts 1868 #1 |
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3:4 Orders / Receipts 1868 #2 |
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3:5 Orders / Receipts 1868 #3 |
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Box 4 |
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4:1 Orders / Receipts 1868 #4 |
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4:2 Orders / Receipts 1869 #1 |
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4:3 Orders / Receipts 1869 #2 |
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4:4 Orders / Receipts 1869 #3 |
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4:5 Orders / Receipts Receipts 1870 #1 |
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4:6 Orders / Receipts 1870 #2 |
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4:7 Orders / Receipts 1871 —1883 |
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Series IV: Real Estate Land Contracts from William Wesson's Real Estate Business, 1847-1890 |
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BOX 5Scope and Contents noteVarious land contracts, quit claim deeds, lease contacts, bonds, mortgage contracts, land contact cancellations, warranty deeds, sheriffs deeds, and certificates of error issued by William Wesson's real estate business. Many of the contracts had receipts, letters, etc. folded within them which have been retained in acid free envelopes next to the contracts. Most contracts are signed by Wesson and contain beautiful stamps from the United States Internal Revenue Service. |
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5:1 Land Contracts 1847 — 1851 |
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5:2 Land Contracts 1852-1856 |
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5:3 Land Contracts 1857 — 1861 |
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5:4 Land Contracts 1862 — 1864 |
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5:5 Land Contracts 1865 |
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5:6 Land Contracts 1866 |
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5:7 Land Contracts 1867-1868 |
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5:8 Land Contracts 1869 — 1870 |
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5:9 Land Contracts 1871 |
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Box 6 |
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6:1 Land Contracts 1872 |
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6:2 Land Contracts 1873 —1874 |
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6:3 Land Contracts 1875 — 1876 |
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6:4 Land Contracts 1877-1878 |
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6:5 Land Contracts 1879 — 1880 |
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6:6 Land Contracts 1881 #1 |
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Box 7 |
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7:1 Land Contracts 1881 #2 |
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7:2 Land Contracts 1882 |
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7:3 Land Contracts 1883 |
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7:4 Land Contracts 1884-1886 |
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7:5 Land Contracts 1887 — 1890 |
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7:6 Miscellaneous documents General noteMainly undated or illegible. Includes a certificate from the National Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut appointing William B. Wesson as agent of the company for Detroit and its vicinity, dated 29 June 1883 and signed by the president of the company. |
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Series V. William Wesson Estate. 1892-1919Scope and Contents noteDocuments pertaining to the sale and upkeep of the William B. Wesson estate after Wesson's death in 1890. The trustee of the estate was Lamed, Carter, and Company of Detroit. Documents vary widely, but include such items as letters from the city of Detroit regarding inspections, receipts from payments made for the estate, etc. |
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BOX 7 (continued) |
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7:7 William Wesson Estate 1892-1911 |
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7:8 William Wesson Estate 1912-1914 |
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7:9 William Wesson Estate 1915 - 1919 |
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