Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Hagan Brothers Carriage Works Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1154
Creators:
Hagan, Henry
Hagan Brothers Carriage and Wagonmakers (Frederick, Md.).
Carmen D. Valentino, American Historical Manuscripts.
Hagan, Charles
Dates:
1882-1903
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.5 Cubic feet
9 boxes, 21 volumes
Repository:
In 1882, brothers Charles and Henry Hagan established a carriage, coach, and wagon business in Frederick, Maryland. This collection represents approximately two decades of business transactions through 21 volumes of daybooks and ledgers.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of twenty-one manuscript account books documenting the company's carriage, wagon and horseshoeing business. Three volumes are ledgers, the rest are daybooks. Volumes often contain overlapping dates or missing periods of time, and ledgers have varying dates for each customer. In some instances, the weather for Christmas Day is recorded.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into one series.
  • Series 1, Account Books, 1882-1903

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
In 1882, brothers Charles and Henry Hagan founded the Hagan Brothers, Carriage & Wagonmakers and Horseshoers Company with Charles A. Hagan as president.
Horse-drawn vehicles were crucial to American transportation before railroads, and the industry that supplied these vehicles was a major factor in the economy. Most of these firms were never vertically integrated, although some later developed into the "accessory industry," or specialized production of components. Major sources of revenue for businesses like the Hagan Brothers included general blacksmithing work, carriage and wagon repair, and manufacturing carriages to the customer's specifications.
The later history of the company is not known. There are no directories for Frederick County between 1911 and 1922, and there is no listing for Hagan Brothers in the 1923 directory.

Administration

Author
Beatrice Kelly (intern); supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was purchased from Carmen D. Valentino, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rare books and manuscripts dealer, by Craig Orr, archivist in April 2009.
Processing Information
Processed by Beatrice Kelly (intern), April, 2009; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Preferred Citation
Hagan Brothers Carriage Works Account Books, dates, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution

Related Materials
One account book covering the period from April 16, 1908 to November 23, 1908 is held at the Historical Society of Frederick County, Maryland. See website at: http://www.hsfcinfo.org/ .

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Daybooks -- 1880-1910 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Carriage industry -- Maryland Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Carriage and wagon making -- 1880-1910 -- Maryland Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Account books -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Family-owned business enterprises -- 1880-1910 -- Maryland Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Horse-drawn vehicles -- Maryland Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Horseshoeing Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ledgers (account books) -- 1880-1910 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu