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Hendricks Family papers

Call Number

MS 295

Date

1713-1976, inclusive

Creator

Hendricks family

Extent

16.52 Linear feet (31 boxes, 25 volumes)

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

The Papers consist of material relating to the Hendricks family, pioneers in the American copper industry and prominent members of the Sepharidc Jewish community in New York, and related families. They begin with the import trade of Uriah Hendricks (1737-1798) and his son Harmon (1771-1838), continuing with the manufacture of copper at the mill begun by Harmon at Belleville, New Jersey, and carried on by their descendants under the name Hendricks Brothers. They include business and family papers, including loose correspondence and business records, ledgers and account books, letterbooks, indentures, mortgages, deeds, maps, blueprints, journals, scrapbooks, photographs, memorabilia, and ephemera. Among later additions to the collection, the correspondence of Henry Solomon Hendricks (1892-1959), president (parnas) of Congregation Shearith Israel, reveals the daily operations of the oldest synagogue in the United States for the period 1927-1951.

Historical Note

Chronology of the Hendricks Family Copper Business

1755 Uriah Hendricks arrives in New York City from London to start a mercantile trade in dry goods. The business soon expands to include metals and other materials for the carrying trade with the West Indies and the shipping trade with England.
1792 His 20-year old son, Harmon, completes his apprenticeship and begins working alongside Uriah.
1798 November Uriah Hendricks dies at 61 of yellow fever. Harmon takes over his father's business interests, discontinuing the West Indian trade to focus exclusively on the carrying trade with England and inland trade, particular in copper and other metals.
1803-1814 Because it is harder to obtain English copper during the Napoleonic Wars due to embargoes, duties, and travelling difficulties, the demand from American shipbuilders and craftsmen, prospering during the war, increases. Harmon becomes more interested in the manufacture of American copper, especially with the outbreak of the War of 1812. Works with Paul Revere, Robert Fulton, and other American merchants and manufacturers to find solutions for the shortage and produce quality copper.
1814 May Harmon buys the Soho Copper Works in Belleville, NJ, and invites his brother-in-law and former apprentice and agent, Solomon I. Isaacs to oversee mill operations as his partner. Renamed the Solomon I. Isaacs and Soho Copper Company, the mill begins operation in October.
1815-1824 Harmon recommences trade with England after the war. Soho mill becomes involved primarily in supplying the booming maritime industry, particularly steamboats, engineering companies, merchant vessels, and the Navy - as well as providing for the general consumer. Mill undergoes continuous improvements and expansion, bringing prosperity and employment to Belleville.
1826 Hendricks homestead (summer residence) built near Soho mill.
1827 Harmon's sons Uriah and Henry become full partners and mill name is shortened to Soho Copper Company.
1830 April Partnership among Harmon, his sons, and Isaacs is dissolved. Isaacs establishes new business as copper broker, Harmon retires, and Uriah, Henry, and another son Washington form new partnership: Hendricks & Brothers, with Uriah as senior partner. The reorganized firm finds new success in supplying the growing railroad industry, and adds mining, banking, and brokerage to their business interests.
1838 April Harmon Hendricks dies age 67.
1841 March Washington dies; brother Montague becomes partner.
1861 Spring Henry dies age 47; Uriah's son Joshua becomes partner. Hendricks & Brothers shortens its name to Hendricks Brothers. Wartime demands for copper keep business booming. Brother Edmund joins firm, becoming partner in January 1866.
1869 March Uriah Hendricks dies age 67; Montague retires from firm; Joshua becomes senior partner. Joshua's brothers Edmund and Harmon Washington become his partners and brother Francis joins firm, dissolving a partnership with Thomas Jefferson Tobias in Charleston.
1874 Soho mill renamed Belleville Copper Rolling Mills. Fire destroys much of the mill's machinery, structure, and many records. A new mill built within 8 weeks.
1882 Lull in copper manufacture and trade is relieved with Edison's invention of the lightbulb. Use of copper as a conductive metal provides a new market for Hendricks Brothers.
1884 Montague Hendricks, last member of the original firm of Hendricks & Brothers, dies.
1892 Joshua Hendricks dies; Edmund becomes senior partner. Brothers joined by nephews Edgar, Clifford, and Henry Harmon.
1895 Edgar Hendricks dies age 38. Clifford dies a few years later at 39.
1904 Henry Harmon Hendricks dies age 44.
1905 Edmund Hendricks dies age 45.
1912 Francis Hendricks dies. The remaining partner, Harmon W., retains sole control over the firm's interests. None of the bachelor's many nephews wish to join the family company.
1924 July Harmon W. transfers ownership of the Hendricks homestead at Belleville to the Park Commission of Essex County.
1928 March Harmon W. Hendricks dies age 82.
1938 December Instead of admitting outsiders to its leadership, the Belleville Copper Rolling Mills finally closes after 10 years of gradually reducing its operations.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged chronologically unless otherwise noted in the individual series' notes. Oversized materials have been removed to two oversize (OS) boxes noted in the container lists below.

The Collection is arranged in nine series:

Missing Title

  1. Series I. Uriah Hendricks Papers (1758-1828)
  2. Series II. Harmon Hendricks Papers (1794-1863)
  3. Series III. Hendricks Family and Partnership Businesses (1794-1928)
  4. Series IV. Hendricks Property Records (1794-1911)
  5. Series V. Hendricks and Related Families' Papers (1713-1966)
  6. Series VI. Related Families' Business Records (1821-1869)
  7. Series VII. Printed Material (1796-1875)
  8. Series VIII. Manuscript Copper for America, by Maxwell Whiteman (1971)
  9. Series IX. Hendricks and Related Families Supplement (1790-1976)

Scope and Contents

The Hendricks Family Papers consist of material relating to the Hendricks family, pioneers in the American copper industry and prominent members of the Sephardic Jewish community in New York. The material spans over 250 years, beginning with the import trade of Uriah Hendricks (1737-1798) and his son Harmon (1771-1838), continuing with the manufacture of copper at the mill begun by Harmon at Belleville, New Jersey, and carried on by their descendants under the name Hendricks Brothers. It contains both business and family papers, including loose correspondence and business records, ledgers and account books, letterbooks, indentures, mortgages, deeds, maps, blueprints, journals, scrapbooks, photographs, memorabilia, and ephemera. Among later additions to the collection is the correspondence of Henry Solomon Hendricks (1892-1959), president (parnas) of Congregation Shearith Israel, which highlights the day-to-day operations of the oldest synagogue in the United States for the period 1927-1951. Henry Solomon Hendricks married a cousin, Rosalie Gomez Nathan (1894-1986), and through her the collection extends to papers of various interrelations, among them the Gomez, Hays, Levy, Seixas, Solis, and Nathan families.

Provenance

Acquired by donation from Rosalie Nathan Hendricks (Mrs. Henry S. Hendricks) in 1965, other Hendricks family members, Maxwell Whiteman, and by purchase. The supplemental material in Series IX was donated by Ruth (Hendricks) Schulson (daughter of Rosalie Nathan Hendricks), circa 2001. The bills of lading in Sub-series III.B, Box 12, Folder 4, are the gift of Peter A. Rabinowitz, in memory of Ruth Hendricks Schulson, daughter of Rosalie Nathan Hendricks, December 2019 (accession no. MS.2019.055).

Related Archival Materials in Other Collections

The American Jewish Historical Society includes collections of papers from the Hendricks and Tobias families also donated by Hendricks family members.

Related Materials at New-York Historical Society

The N-YHS Library holds one folder of Harmon and Henry Hendricks papers, 1824-1866 (AHMC - Hendricks, Harmon and Henry), and a letter book of Tobias I. Tobias, 1827-1839 (BV Tobias).

The Museum's collections include portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Harmon Hendricks, Mrs. Alfred Tobias, and Mrs. Tobias I. Tobias.

Collection processed by

Meaghan Dwyer, 2000; EAD finding aid prepared by Celia Hartmann, 2010; revisions and additions by Joseph Ditta, June-July 2017 and January 2020.

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:46:54 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: English

Repository

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