Skip to main content Skip to main navigation

Astor family papers

Call Number

MS 25

Date

1719-1943, inclusive

Creator

Astor family

Extent

30.8 Linear feet (34 boxes, 102 volumes, 26 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

The documents in this collection are in English.

Abstract

A collection of documents and bound volumes belonging to the Astor family and its dependents, primarily concerned with their vast real estate holdings in New York City. Includes deeds, leases, mortgages, releases, agreements, receipts, repair orders, surveys, property maps, abstract of titles, ledgers, daybooks, letterbooks, estate statements, and rent rolls.

Biographical / Historical

For years, the Astor family was the wealthiest family in the world thanks to both the fur trade and real estate market.

The Astor family was established in New York City by John Jacob Astor in 1784. Although Astor bought his first piece of land in 1799, he derived most of his wealth from his American Fur Company (founded in 1808) until the 1830's. At that point, foreseeing the rapid northward expansion of New York City, Astor began to buy and develop large tracts of Manhattan real estate.

His son, William Backhouse Astor, followed in his father's footsteps, and was rumored to know every single inch of land in his possession -- not as farfetched as it sounds, as he kept precise books detailing these properties which can be found in this collection.

The Astor family largely remained in New York, although in 1891, William Waldorf Astor moved his family to Britain, creating an Astor lineage in Europe. Even after moving, William Waldorf Astor kept a close eye on the family's real estate dealings, depending a great deal on correspondence between John Coode-Adams, his London agent, and C.W. Baldwin, his agent in New York. Many of their letters concerning the business transactions of the Astor family are also found in this collection of documents.

The family's land holdings were not limited to New York, and they had properties stretching across the country to Oregon, where there is a city named after the original trading post John Jacob Astor had established in 1811, Astoria, located at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Arrangement

This collection is organized in two series:

Series I. Property Documents: Leases, Deeds, Mortgages, Maps
Series II. Letterbooks, Daybooks, Rent Rolls, Journals, and Ledgers

Scope and Contents

This collection spans a time period from 1758-1943 of the Astor family real estate business. It includes deeds, leases, agreements, receipts, work orders, lease renewals, mortgages, ledgers, balances, daybooks, letterbooks (both personal and business), ticklers, and maps of Astor owned properties. Individual documents in boxes are organized alphabetically, and volumes are organized alphabetically by person. Oversize documents are organized in each folder alphabetically by location listed on the document.

Areas of interest in the Astor Family Papers collection:

1. Copy of assignment and lease from Aaron Burr to John Jacob Astor 1803. In an infamous purchase, Astor was able to provide Burr with quick cash he needed after killing Alexander Hamilton.

2. William Backhouse Astor's Letterbook, dated 1852-1855. In a letter addressed to Robert Neilson, London, February 16, 1854, Astor references political unrest in Europe during the time and speculates that should war break out, America would most likely remain a neutral party as it was in its best interest, until other 'Powers' joined in the war and put pressure on the United States. In March, France declared war on Russia, marking the start of the Crimean War. Astor's prediction of US neutrality proved true.

3.William Backhouse Astor's Letterbook, dated 1859-1864. There are two letters addressed to Salmon P. Chase, the Secretary of Treasury in Abraham Lincoln's cabinet, regarding transfer of moneys. (Pages 187 and 278) In a letter to his friend Robert Neilson in November, 1862, Astor makes references to the new form of currency (the 'Greenback') that had been released in April of that year and assures him that the banks would be able to cover this expansion. He also comments that the banks had been the government's principal creditors since the 'rebellion commenced.' Civil War. (Page 270) In another letter to Neilson, Astor comments on the Astor library, still a relatively new institution at the time, encouraging him to return for a visit as there were more volumes than when Neilson had previously visited it.

4. Map Book, dated 1891-1892. Includes newspaper clippings of articles from this time period concerning the Astor family history, John Jacob Astor III, William Waldorf Astor, and the scandal of the false reporting of WW Astor's death.

5. James Madison commission to soldier John Bateman. Includes James Madison's signature from during his tenure as president.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

Citations of this collection: The Astor Family Papers, MS 25, The New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Related Materials

N-YHS holds other papers of William Waldorf Astor within its American Historical Manuscripts Collection (AHMC). See call phrases "AHMC-Astor, William Waldorf papers" and "AHMC-Astor, William Waldorf"

Collection processed by

Sherry Cortes; finding aid created by Sherry Cortes

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:47:39 -0400.
Language: Description is in English

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024