Collection Materials New by John Risley (1 results)
Published by New York, NY 1914
- Manuscript
Seller: Eclectibles, ABAA, Tolland, CT, U.S.A.Eclectibles, ABAA
Contact seller5-star seller"The personnel and business archives of John Ewing Risley (1840 1912) a prominent New York lawyer, businessman, and real estate mogul, comprised of over 2300 letters and documents. A brief summary of each section follows. For the complete description contact us. Spreadsheets detailing the specifics on the collection are availabl…e upon request. ambassador In 1893, was appoint by President Grover Cleveland to the post of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Denmark. He served in this post until he was recalled by President William McKinley in 1897. During his tenue in Denmark, Risley would become a highly sought-after guest and was popular even amongst the common people of Denmark. This collection has been divided into four categories: Social, Official Business of the Legation, Financials, and Miscellaneous. The collection has an approximate total of 690 pieces, and has been organized either alphabetically or chronologically depending on the category. The dates of the collection range from 1893 to 1898. Additionally, there is an Excel database of the individuals/groups within the collection. Railroads A collection of 450 plus letters and documents relating to the railway business dealing and investments of New York lawyer John Ewing Risley. Although born in 1840 in Indiana, his law practice operated mostly out of New York City. Along with his investments in a variety of railways out west, Risley was known for a variety of high profile legal cases and as Ambassador to Denmark from 1840 1897. Risley's railway dealings showcase what was one of the most was a turbulent time for railway companies, with enterprises both being founded and falling into bankruptcy with remarkable frequency. By the mid-1890s approximately one fourth of railroads in the US had failed. This represented well over 40,000 miles of track. These failures were often the result of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing. While this collection includes a variety material from several railways that Risley invested in, the bulk of the material deals with two railway routes: the Cleveland, St. Louis & Kansas City Railway and the Indianapolis, Decatur, and Western Railway Company. The two railways Risley and his partners invested in, would eventually fail, mainly due to a variety of legal battles. A synopsis of the events of each railway during the time Risley owned them is provided further on in this description. The collection dates from 1870 to 1904, with the bulk of the material from 1889 to 1893. While the majority of the collection is correspondence (letters and telegrams), there is also an assortment of legal agreements and ephemera. In total, the collection has over 250 letters, 65 telegrams, 100 legal documents, 40 pieces of ephemera (misc. envelopes, notes, name cards, etc.), and 2 notebooks. Additionally, there is an excel database available listing the various individuals, railways, and companies associated with this collection. The materials within this collection highlight an important time in US history, and showcases the various back dealing, competition, and political vying that went on as railroad companies rose as fast as they fell. As noted above each section is accompanied by a database. The database in this section includes particulars on the Railroads, Individuals, the Mortgage companies, Construction companies and the Courts involved in the transactions. The railroads include Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern Railroad Co., Central Missouri Railroad, Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway Co., Cincinnati, Hamilton & Indianapolis Railway Co., Cincinnati, Indianapolis, & Western Railway Co., Cleveland, St Louis and Kansas City Railway Co., Cleveland, St Louis, & Kansas City Railroad, Indianapolis and Wabash Railway Co., Indianapolis, Decatur, and Western Railway Co., Indianapolis, Decatur, Springfield Railway Co., Indianapolis, Quincy, and Missouri River Railway, Missouri Midland Railway Co., St. Loui.
