Special Collections: Guide to the Bussell Family Papers

Arranged and described by Brenda Howitson Steeves

Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department

September 2004

Introduction and Summary Information

Collection Title: Bussell Family Papers.
Dates of the Collection: 1856-1912 (inclusive); 1883-1904 (bulk).
Provenance: Unknown.
Collection Number: MS 80.
Box Numbers: 1 (formerly Box 864).
Size and Arrangement: The collection consists of one document box of material (0.5 cubic feet).
Conservation Note: The collection has been re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes.
Preferred Citation: Bussell Family Papers, Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University of Maine.
Restrictions on Access and Use: Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval.

Biography

The collection contains papers and business records of Alfred W. Bussell of Argyle, Maine, and John B. Bussell of Old Town, Maine. Very little biographical information is available about either man and their relationship to each other is unknown. Alfred Bussell appears to have been the tax collector and perhaps constable for Argyle in the 1860’s and 1870’s. He and his wife, Julia, also owned property in the area.

John B. Bussell, whose papers make up the majority of the collection, seems to have been in the logging business. He submitted scale bills and was associated with the Penobscot Lumbering Association, perhaps with Samuel Low or Lowe. In the 1910-1911 town directory for Old Town, he is listed as manager for the S.F. Hersey Land Company although there are no documents from this company in the collection. He and his wife, Martha E. Bussell, also owned, leased and rented residential property in Old Town.

Scope and Content Note

This small collection is organized into four groups: papers of Alfred W. Bussell, papers of John B. Bussell, logging records of John B. Bussell, and miscellaneous.

Alfred Bussell’s papers include a small amount of incoming correspondence; deeds; receipts for food, payments on notes, taxes, etc.; plus tax receipts and documents, 1862-1878.

John B. Bussell’s papers contain personal and business correspondence, 1883-1910; financial information; and receipts for groceries and other personal items as well as for taxes paid and for services such as horseshoeing, etc. His logging records include memo books, payroll lists for the Penobscot Lumbering Association, and scale bills.

The collection ends with miscellaneous material not identified as belonging to either man. It includes tax receipts from Argyle, deeds, descriptions of land, and family and legal documents.

Box 1

Folder

Papers of Alfred W. Bussell

1                      Correspondence, etc., 1881, 1904

2                      Deeds, Alfred W. and Julia A. Bussell, 1856-1875

3                      Receipts, 1864-1908

4                      Tax receipts and other tax documents, 1862-1878

Papers of John B. Bussell

5                      Cancelled checks, 1898-1900

6                      Correspondence, 1883-1910

7                      Legal documents: deeds, insurance policies, etc., 1886-1913

8                      Notes, 1880’s-1890’s, 1909

9                      Photos, Old Town and Argyle

10-11               Receipts and invoices, 1876, 1884-1906, undated

12                    Receipts, Lowe, Bussell & Co., 1893

13                    Stock certificate, 1910, American Educational Alliance, Inc.

Logging records of John B. Bussell

14                    Memo books, 1889, 1891, 1908, undated

15                    Penobscot Lumbering Assoc. payroll lists #1-52, undated

16                    Writs against Penobscot Lumbering Assoc., Bussells, et al., 1897

17                    Scale bills, etc., 1880’s-1890’s

Miscellaneous

18                    The Bangor Loan and Building Association [advertising leaflet, undated]

19                    Sadie J. Barrows, Argyle tax receipts, 1889-1904

20                    Deeds, Freese-Foster, 1889, 1909, 1912

21                    Descriptions of land

22                    Miscellaneous family and legal documents

Finding Aids for selected manuscript collections in the Special Collections Department at Fogler Library are accessible online in URSUS, in a browsable Guide to Manuscript Collections. Please contact Special Collections at spc@umit.maine.edu or (207) 581-1686 for further information.

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Special Collections Staff: spc@umit.maine.edu | Revised: 01/10/2013