T. G. Parsons Lumber Company records

Finding Aid

Prepared by Merrit D. Betts, April 8, 1981; Prepared for the Web by Shauntya Jones, June 24, 1999; Last Updated: February 2024

Inclusive Dates: 1827-1935
Extent: 11 cubic feet (11 boxes)
Physical Location: Storage

Storage Note: This collection is housed in a climate-controlled environment off site and requires at least up to three weeks for retrieval. Please call or email the department with requests for this material prior to planning your visit. Items marked hf or shelf remain on-site in Special Collections and Archives

Historical Note: When the Parsons Lumber Company closed its doors in 1970 it had been under continuous family operation for over a century. It was on September 25, 1865, that T. G. Parsons and his brother E. A. Parsons formed a partnership to "carry on the Business of Dealing in Lumber, Shingle, and Lath and Running the Planning Mill," that business to be known as "E. A. Parsons and Bro." (see box 10, folder five). At some later time, E. A. Parsons appears to have left the business to become treasurer of the Railway Speed Recorder Company in Kent. The firm then became known as the T. G. Parsons Lumber Company, run by T. G. Parsons with the assistance of his sons. The sons, E. S., and Dwight, took over the management of the business after their father's death in 1923. It is the company as these three men knew it, from 1892 through the 1920s, which is reflected in the bulk of the collection.

Some biographical information about the Kent members of the Parsons family can be found in PORTAGE HERITAGE (1957), pages 638-641, including a biographical sketch of Dwight's son, Charles, the last Parsons to manage the company. Not included is a third son of T. G. Parsons, John T. Parsons. John was also involved in the lumber business, working for a time for the Nicola, Stone Lumber Company in Cleveland and, after 1910, as a partner in the Myers-Parsons Lumber Company of Pittsburgh. His letters to the family in Kent are generally filed with the correspondence of his firm in this collection.

Scope and Content: This collection is comprised of financial records, correspondence, cashbooks, day books, and other records produced by and about the Parsons Lumber Company.

Acquisition Information: The records of the T. G. Parsons Lumber Company and property rights to them were transferred to Kent State University Special Collections and Archives on February 3, 1978, by the Kent Historical Society. As noted in the inventory, a few items were also donated on January 8, 1979, by Dorothy Parsons of Sebring, Ohio, grand-daughter of Timothy Graves (T. G.) Parsons and daughter of Edward Sawyer (E. S.) Parsons.

Arrangement: The collection is divided by type of material into two main sections: papers and bound volumes. The papers, or financial records, were originally stored in cardboard filing cases. The list of possible contents suggested by the filing case manufacturer provides, in fact, a very accurate description of the contents of the Parsons' files: "invoices, orders, bills, receipts, special agents, city bills, personal, lading, quotations, statements, reports." All of these varied items were filed alphabetically by year usually with the records of the first half of the year in one case and those of the second half in another. For the most part the original arrangement has been preserved, although the contents of both boxes for a single year have been interfiled and the items placed in strict rather than random alphabetical and chronological order. Only when an item seemed obviously misfiled, or various like items were filed inconsistently; or, in a few instances, when related items were widely dispersed by the Parsons' filing system, has the processor refiled materials. In all instances of refiling, however, the original location has been pencilled in brackets on the item. In some cases cross-references have been made to assist the researcher in locating interrelated materials. A few items with no apparent alphabetical location have been filed under "miscellaneous items" at the end of each year. These include automobile certificates, and all tax material which were originally filed variously under state or county or merely under "I" for "income tax." Post cards have been filed ahead of other materials from the same source in order to prevent misplacement of these smaller items. One oversized item, marked (hf) in the inventory, has been placed in the horizontal file (map case).

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1892. A and B.
2. Financial records: 1892. C, D, and F.
3. Financial records: 1892. G.
4. Financial records: 1892. H, I , J, K and L.
5. Financial records: 1892. M.
6. Financial records: 1892. N and O.
7. Financial records: 1892. P, R and S.
8. Financial records: 1892. T.
9. Financial records: 1892. V and W.
10. Financial records: 1892. Miscellaneous items.
11. Financial records: 1893. A and B.
12. Financial records: 1893. C and D.
13. Financial records: 1893. E and F.
14. Financial records: 1893. G.
15. Financial records: 1893. H.
16. Financial records: 1893. I, J, K. and L.
17. Financial records: K and L.
18. Financial records: 1893. M.
19. Financial records: 1893. N.
20. Financial records: 1893. O.
21. Financial records: 1893. P.
22. Financial records: 1893. R and S.
23. [contents unknown]
24. Financial records: 1893. T.
25. Financial records: 1893. U, V, W, and Y.
26. Financial records: 1893. Consists of freight bills, Erie and Western Railroad Company.
27. Financial records: 1893. Consists of freight bills, various railroad companies.
28. Financial records: 1893. Miscellaneous items.
29. Financial records: 1894. A and B.
30. Financial records: 1894. C.
31. Financial records: 1894. D.
32. Financial records: 1894. E and F.
33. Financial records: 1894. G.
34. Financial records: 1894. H and I.
35. Financial records: 1894. J, K, and L.
36. Financial records: 1894. M.
37. Financial records: 1894. N and O.
38. Financial records: 1894. P.
39. Financial records: 1894. R and S.
40. Financial records: 1894. T.
41. Financial records: 1894. W, X and Y.
42. Financial records: 1894. Miscellaneous items.
43. Financial records: 1895. A and B.
44. Financial records: 1895. C.
45. Financial records: 1895. D and E.
46. Financial records: 1895. F and G.
47. Financial records: 1895. H.
48. Financial records: 1895. I and J.
49. Financial records: 1895. K and L.
50. Financial records: 1895. M.
51. Financial records: 1895. N and O.
52. Financial records: 1895. P.
53. Financial records: 1895. R and S.
54. Financial records: 1895. T.
55. Financial records: W and Y.
56. Financial records: Miscellaneous items.

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1896. A and B.
2. Financial records: 1896. C.
3. Financial records: 1896. D, E and F.
4. Financial records: 1896. G and H.
5. Financial records: 1896. J.
6. Financial records: 1896. K and L.
7. Financial records: 1896. M.
8. Financial records: 1896. N.
9. Financial records: 1896. O.
10. Financial records: 1896. P.
11. Financial records: 1896. R and S.
12. Financial records: 1896. T.
13. Financial records: 1896. U, V, and W.
14. Financial records: 1897. A and B.
15. Financial records: 1897. C and D.
16. Financial records: 1897. E and F.
17. Financial records: 1897. G, H, and J.
18. Financial records: 1897. K and L.
19. Financial records: 1897. M.
20. Financial records: 1897. N and O.
21. Financial records: 1897. P.
22. Financial records: 1897. R and S.
23. Financial records: 1897. T.
24. Financial records: 1897. U and W.
25. Financial records: 1898. A.
26. Financial records: 1898. B.
27. Financial records: 1898. C.
28. Financial records: 1898. D.
29. Financial records: 1898. E and F.
30. Financial records: 1898. G.
31. Financial records: 1898. H and I.
32. Financial records: 1898. J.
33. Financial records: 1898. K.
34. Financial records: 1898. L.
35. Financial records: 1898. M.
36. Financial records: 1898. N.
37. Financial records: 1898. O.
38. Financial records: 1898. P.
39. Financial records: 1898. R and S.
40. Financial records: 1898. T.
41. Financial records: 1898. U and W.
42. Financial records: 1899. A.
43. Financial records: 1899. B.
44. Financial records: 1899. C.
45. Financial records: 1899. D.
46. Financial records: 1899. E and F.
47. Financial records: 1899. G.
48. Financial records: 1899. H, I and J.
49. Financial records: 1899. K and L.
50. Financial records: 1899. M.
51. Financial records: 1899. N.
52. Financial records: 1899. O.
53. Financial records: 1899. P.

Box 3
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1899. R.
2. Financial records: 1899. S.
3. Financial records: 1899. T.
4. Financial records: 1899. U, V and W.
5. Financial records: 1899. Miscellaneous items concerning insurance and taxes, dated 1892 - 1899, originally filed together under the letter I.
6. Financial records: undated item from the 1890's.
7. Financial records: 1900. A.
8. Financial records: 1900. B.
9. Financial records: 1900. C and D.
10. Financial records: 1900. E and F.
11. Financial records: 1900. G.
12. Financial records: 1900. H.
13. Financial records: 1900. I and J.
14. Financial records: 1900. K and L.
15. Financial records: 1900. M.
16. Financial records: 1900. N.
17. Financial records: 1900. O and P.
18. Financial records: 1900. R.
19. Financial records: 1900. S.
20. Financial records: 1900. T.
21. Financial records: 1900. U, V and W.
22. Financial records: 1901. A.
23. Financial records: 1901. B.
24. Financial records: 1901. C.
25. Financial records: 1901. D, E and F.
26. Financial records: 1901. G.
27. Financial records: 1901. H.
28. Financial records: 1901. J.
29. Financial records: 1901. K and L.
30. Financial records: 1901. M.
31. Financial records: 1901. N.
32. Financial records: 1901. O.
33. Financial records: 1901. P.
34. Financial records: 1901. R.
35. Financial records: 1901. S.
36. Financial records: 1901. T.
37. Financial records: 1901. U and V.
38. Financial records: 1901. W and Z.
39. Financial records: 1901. Tax materials.
40. Financial records: 1902. A, B and C.
41. Financial records: 1902. D, E and F.
42. Financial records: 1902. G.
43. Financial records: 1902. H, J and K.
44. Financial records: 1902. L and M.
45. Financial records: 1902. N.
46. Financial records: 1902. P.
47. Financial records: 1902. R and S.
48. Financial records: 1902. T.
49. Financial records: 1902. V and W.

Box 4
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1910. A and B.
2. Financial records: 1910. C.
3. Financial records: 1910. D.
4. Financial records: 1910. E and F.
5. Financial records: 1910. G, H and J.
6. Financial records: 1910. K and L.
7. Financial records: 1910. M.
8. Financial records: 1910. N, O and P.
9. Financial records: 1910. R and S.
10. Financial records: 1910. T.
11. Financial records: 1910. V, W and Y.
12. Financial records: 1911. A.
13. Financial records: 1911. B.
14. Financial records: 1911. C.
15. Financial records: 1911. D.
16. Financial records: 1911. E and F.
17. Financial records: 1911. G.
18. Financial records: 1911. H.
19. Financial records: 1911. I and J.
20. Financial records: 1911. K.
21. Financial records: 1911. L.
22. Financial records: 1911. M.
23. Financial records: 1911. N and O.
24. Financial records: 1911. P.
25. Financial records: 1911. R and S.
26. Financial records: 1911. T.
27. Financial records: 1911. U and V.
28. Financial records: 1911. W and Y.
29. Financial records: 1912. A.
30. Financial records: 1912. B.
31. Financial records: 1912. C.
32. Financial records: 1912. D.
33. Financial records: 1912. E and F.
34. Financial records: 1912. G.
35. Financial records: 1912. H and J.
36. Financial records: 1912. K.
37. Financial records: 1912. L.
38. Financial records: 1912. L (hf).
39. Financial records: 1912. M.
40. Financial records: 1912. N and O.
41. Financial records: 1912. P and Q.
42. Financial records: 1912. R and S.
43. Financial records: 1912. T.
44. Financial records: 1912. U, W and Y.
45. Financial records: 1912. Miscellaneous items.
46. Financial records: 1913. A and B.
47. Financial records: 1913. C.
48. Financial records: 1913. D.
49. Financial records: 1913. E and F.
50. Financial records: 1913. G.
51. Financial records: 1913. H and J.
52. Financial records: 1913. K.
53. Financial records: 1913. L.
54. Financial records: 1913. M.
55. Financial records: 1913. N and O.
56. Financial records: 1913. P and Q.
57. Financial records: 1913. R and S.
58. Financial records: 1913. T.
59. Financial records: 1913. V.
60. Financial records: 1913. W and Y
61. Financial records: 1913. Miscellaneous items.

Box 5
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1914. A.
2. Financial records: 1914. B.
3. Financial records: 1914. C and D.
4. Financial records: 1914. E and F.
5. Financial records: 1914. G.
6. Financial records: 1914. H, I and J.
7. Financial records: 1914. K.
8. Financial records: 1914. L.
9. Financial records: 1914. M.
10. Financial records: 1914. N and O.
11. Financial records: 1914. P and Q.
12. Financial records: 1914. S.
13. Financial records: 1914. T.
14. Financial records: 1914. U, V, W and Y.
15. Financial records: 1914. Miscellaneous items.
16. Financial records: 1915. A and B.
17. Financial records: 1915. C and D.
18. Financial records: 1915. F and G.
19. Financial records: 1915. H, I, J, K and L.
20. Financial records: 1915. M.
21. Financial records: 1915. N and P.
22. Financial records: 1915. S.
23. Financial records: 1915. T.
24. Financial records: 1915. V, W and Y.
25. Financial records: 1916. A.
26. Financial records: 1916. B and C.
27. Financial records: 1916. D.
28. Financial records: 1916. E and F.
29. Financial records: 1916. G and H.
30. Financial records: 1916. I, J and K.
31. Financial records: 1916. L.
32. Financial records: 1916. M.
33. Financial records: 1916. N and O.
34. Financial records: 1916. P, Q and R.
35. Financial records: 1916. S.
36. Financial records: 1916. T.
37. Financial records: 1916. V, W and Y.
38. Financial records: 1916. Miscellaneous items, including income tax form, and several items originally filed together under G.
39. Financial records: 1917. A.
40. Financial records: 1917. B.
41. Financial records: 1917. C.
42. Financial records: 1917. D.
43. Financial records: 1917. E and F.
44. Financial records: 1917. G.
45. Financial records: 1917. H.
46. Financial records: 1917. I, J and K.
47. Financial records: 1917. L.
48. Financial records: 1917. M.
49. Financial records: 1917. N.
50. Financial records: 1917. O and P.
51. Financial records: 1917. R.
52. Financial records: 1917. S.
53. Financial records: 1917. T.
54. Financial records: 1917. V, W and Y.
55. Financial records: 1917. Miscellaneous items, including income tax materials.

Box 6
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1918. A and B.
2. Financial records: 1918. C.
3. Financial records: 1918. D and E.
4. Financial records: 1918. F.
5. Financial records: 1918. G.
6. Financial records: 1918. H, I and J.
7. Financial records: 1918. K.
8. Financial records: 1918. L.
9. Financial records: 1918. M, N and O.
10. Financial records: 1918. P and R.
11. Financial records: 1918. S.
12. Financial records: 1918. T.
13. Financial records: 1918. W and Y.
14. Financial records: 1918. Miscellaneous items, including state and corporation income tax forms.
15. Financial records: 1919. A.
16. Financial records: 1919. B.
17. Financial records: 1919. C.
18. Financial records: 1919. D and E.
19. Financial records: 1919. F.
20. Financial records: 1919. G.
21. Financial records: 1919. H and I.
22. Financial records: 1919. J.
23. Financial records: 1919. K.
24. Financial records: 1919. L.
25. Financial records: 1919. M.
26. Financial records: 1919. N and O.
27. Financial records: 1919. P and R.
28. Financial records: 1919. S.
29. Financial records: 1919. T.
30. Financial records: 1919. U, V, W and Y.
31. Financial records: 1919. Miscellaneous items, including corporation and individual income tax forms.
32. Financial records: 1920. A.
33. Financial records: 1920. B.
34. Financial records: 1920. C.
35. Financial records: 1920. D and E.
36. Financial records: 1920. F.
37. Financial records: 1920. G.
38. Financial records: 1920. H.
39. Financial records: 1920. I and J.
40. Financial records: 1920. K.
41. Financial records: 1920. L.
42. Financial records: 1920. M.
43. Financial records: 1920. N and O.
44. Financial records: 1920. P.
45. Financial records: 1920. R.
46. Financial records: 1920. S.
47. Financial records: 1920. T.
48. Financial records: 1920. U and V.
49. Financial records: 1920. W and Y.
50. Financial records: 1920. Miscellaneous items, including corporation and state tax forms, and related correspondence.

Box 7
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1921. A.
2. Financial records: 1921. B.
3. Financial records: 1921. C.
4. Financial records: 1921. D.
5. Financial records: 1921. E.
6. Financial records: 1921. F.
7. Financial records: 1921. G.
8. Financial records: 1921. H.
9. Financial records: 1921. I and J.
10. Financial records: 1921. K.
11. Financial records: 1921. L.
12. Financial records: 1921. M.
13. Financial records: 1921. O.
14. Financial records: 1921. P.
15. Financial records: 1921. R.
16. Financial records: 1921. S.
17. Financial records: 1921. T.
18. Financial records: 1921. U and V.
19. Financial records: 1921. W.
20. Financial records: 1921. Y.
21. Financial records: 1921. Miscellaneous items, including individual and corporation income tax forms.
22. Financial records: 1922. A.
23. Financial records: 1922. B.
24. Financial records: 1922. C.
25. Financial records: 1922. D.
26. Financial records: 1922. E.
27. Financial records: 1922. F.
28. Financial records: 1922. G.
29. Financial records: 1922. H.
30. Financial records: 1922. I.
31. Financial records: 1922. J.
32. Financial records: 1922. K.
33. Financial records: 1922. L.
34. Financial records: 1922. M and N.
35. Financial records: 1922. O.
36. Financial records: 1922. P, Q and R.
37. Financial records: 1922. S.
38. Financial records: 1922. T.
39. Financial records: 1922. U, V, W and Y.
40. Financial records: 1922. Miscellaneous items, including individual and corporation income tax forms.
41. Financial records: 1923. A.
42. Financial records: 1923. B.
43. Financial records: 1923. C and D.
44. Financial records: 1923. E.
45. Financial records: 1923. F.
46. Financial records: 1923. G.
47. Financial records: 1923. H.
48. Financial records: 1923. I.
49. Financial records: 1923. J.
50. Financial records: 1923. K.

Box 8
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1923. L.
2. Financial records: 1923. M and N.
3. Financial records: 1923. O.
4. Financial records: 1923. P.
5. Financial records: 1923. R.
6. Financial records: 1923. S.
7. Financial records: 1923. T and U.
8. Financial records: 1923. W and Y.
9. Financial records: 1923. Miscellaneous items, including several tax related items.
10. Financial records: 1924. A and B.
11. Financial records: 1924. C and D.
12. Financial records: 1924. E and F.
13. Financial records: 1924. G and H.
14. Financial records: 1924. I.
15. Financial records: 1924. J and K.
16. Financial records: 1924. L, M and N.
17. Financial records: 1924. O.
18. Financial records: 1924. P.
19. Financial records: 1924. R and S.
20. Financial records: 1924. T and U.
21. Financial records: 1924. W and Y.
22. Financial records: 1924. Miscellaneous items, including several tax related items.
23. Financial records: 1925. A and B.
24. Financial records: 1925. C and D.
25. Financial records: 1925. E and F.
26. Financial records: 1925. G and H.
27. Financial records: 1925. I.
28. Financial records: 1925. K and L.
29. Financial records: 1925. M.
30. Financial records: 1925. N and O.
31. Financial records: 1925. P.
32. Financial records: 1925. R and S.
33. Financial records: 1925. T and U.
34. Financial records: 1925. W and Y.
35. Financial records: 1925. Miscellaneous items, including several tax related items.
36. Financial records: 1926. A.
37. Financial records: 1926. B.
38. Financial records: 1926. C.
39. Financial records: 1926. D and E.
40. Financial records: 1926. F.
41. Financial records: 1926. G and H.
42. Financial records: 1926. I.
43. Financial records: 1926. J and K.
44. Financial records: 1926. L and M.
45. Financial records: 1926. N.
46. Financial records: 1926. O and P.
47. Financial records: 1926. R.
48. Financial records: 1926. S.
49. Financial records: 1926. T and U.
50. Financial records: 1926. W and Y.
51. Financial records: 1926. Miscellaneous items, including several tax related items.

Box 9
Folder -- Contents

1. Financial records: 1934. A and B.
2. Financial records: 1934. C, D and E.
3. Financial records: 1934. G.
4. Financial records: 1934. H and K.
5. Financial records: 1934. L and M.
6. Financial records: 1934. N, P and Q.
7. Financial records: 1934. R.
8. Financial records: 1934. S.
9. Financial records: 1934. T.
10. Financial records: 1934. U and V.
11. Financial records: 1934. W, Y and Z.
12. Miscellaneous items donated by Miss Dorothy Parsons, consisting of four tax receipts issued to Henry Sawyer, 1827, 1830, 1831, and 1832; and a deed for property sold by John G. Getz to Edward S. Parsons, 1934.
13. Personal finance record book of T. G. Parsons, 1904 - 1922.
14. Miscellaneous items removed from T. G. Parsons' personal financial record book.
15. Cashbook: May, 1919-December, 1920.
16. Cashbook: August, 1923 - May, 1926.
17. Cashbook: June, 1926 - December, 1928.
18. Miscellaneous items removed from cashbooks.
19. Day book: December, 1914 - February, 1916.
20. Day book R: February, 1917 - October, 1917.

Box 10
Folder -- Contents

1. Day book T: September, 1918 - June, 1919.
2. Day book U: June, 1919 - March, 1920.
3. Day book V: March, 1920 - November, 1920.
4. Miscellaneous items removed from day books P, T, U and V.
5. Day book W: November, 1920 - December, 1921.
6. Day book X: January, 1922 - December, 1922.
7. Day book Y: December, 1922 - October, 1923.

Box 11
Folder -- Contents

1. Day book Z: October, 1923 - October, 1924.
2. Day book A: October, 1924 - July, 1925.
3. Day book B: July, 1925 - April, 1926.
4. Miscellaneous items removed from day books W, Y, Z and B.
5. Day book: September, 1865 - June, 1866. NOTE: Includes statement of partnership between E. A. Parsons and T. G. Parsons, September 25, 1865 (shelf).
6. Annual financial statement and inventory book: January, 1910 - January, 1917.
7. Annual financial statement and inventory book: January, 1918 - January, 1928.
8. Miscellaneous items removed from annual financial statements and inventory books.
9. Ledger number 1 [k]: 1902 - 1912. NOTE: Includes index.
10. Miscellaneous items removed from ledger number 1.
11. Ledger L: 1911 - 1915, with some later entries (shelf).
12. Miscellaneous items removed from ledger L.
13. Index to ledger L.
14. Index to ledger M. (Ledger M not transferred with the collection).
15. Miscellaneous item removed from index to ledger M.
16. Ledger N: 1919 - 1920, with some later entries (shelf).
17. Miscellaneous items removed from ledger N.
18. Index to ledger N (shelf).
19. Ledger O: 1920 - 1922
20. Miscellaneous items removed from ledger O.
21. Index to ledger O (shelf).
22. Ledger P: 1922 - 1927, with some later entries (shelf).
23. Miscellaneous items removed from ledger P.
24. Index to ledger P.
25. Photographs: T. G. Parsons Lumber Company, 1979
    Photographer: Merritt D. Betts
    Scope and Content: 12 photographs and negatives taken of buildings and property of the former T. G. Parsons Lumber.