View Document |
printer-friendly version |
Finding Aid of the Perea Bros. Mercantile Co. Letterpress Copybook, 1883 June 2-1896 June 19The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for Southwest ResearchEmail: cswrref@unm.eduURL: http://eLibrary.unm.edu/cswr ©2000 The University of New Mexico
Background InformationThe Perea brothers (Jesus Maria, Jacobo, Pedro, and Mariano) owned and ran the Perea Bros. Mercantile Co. in the late 1800s. They provided general merchandise to inhabitants of Bernalillo (trading center and county seat, 17 miles north of Albuquerque) and Copper City during the early years of this mining settlement. The Perea family is known for its land ownership and large scale participation in the sheep industry in New Mexico. The family has always been an influential Spanish-American family in the political circles of the region, and one of the Perea Brothers, Pedro Perea, represented New Mexico in Congress between 1899-1901. Scope and ContentPage from the Perea Bros. Mercantile Co. Letterpress Copybook. The collection consists of one water-damaged letterpress copybook in which correspondence with clients, suppliers, creditors, banks, and the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad is recorded. The letters copied into this book reflect the type of goods sold locally (basic needs such as food, clothing, oil, and fabric) as well as the sales of wool and sheep pelts (and the delayed collection for these items). It is evident that this small business dealt with companies all over the country (including St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Boston) and with notable businesses such as Levi-Strauss and Co. The Perea Bros. Mercantile Co. dealt with other local businesses and merchant families including the Charles Ilfeld Company and the Spiegelberg Brothers. While they seemed to provide general goods for local residents (both in Bernalillo and in the mining town, Copper City), this business was involved in the export of wool and pelts throughout the country. The business worked with the First National Banks of Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque as well as the Banco Mexicano in Chihuahua, Mexico. Letters explaining delays in payment to suppliers and creditors due to the difficulty of collecting payment from miners reflect the economic situation of the era. The ledger contains letters in Spanish as well as in English. RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThe collection is open for research. Copy RestrictionsDuplication is not permitted, due to preservation concerns. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution. Preferred CitationPerea Bros. Mercantile Co. Letterpress Copybook (MSS 30), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Related Archival MaterialCharles Ilfeld Company Records Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries Flora Spiegelberg Papers Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries William Jackson Parish Papers Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries Solomon Luna Papers Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries Nicolas T. Armijo Family Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Access TermsFamily-owned business enterprises -- New Mexico Frontier and pioneer life -- New Mexico General stores -- New Mexico -- History Hides and skins industry -- History Merchants -- New Mexico -- History New Mexico -- Business -- History Contents List
Relevant Secondary SourcesBaxter, John O., "Salvador Armijo: Citizen of Albuquerque, 1823-1879," New Mexico Historical Review 53 (3): 219-237, 1978. Dargon, Marion, "New Mexicos Fight for Statehood, 1895-1912," New Mexico Historical Review XIV (1): 1-33, 1939. Espinosa, J. Manuel, "Memoir of a Kentuckian in New Mexico," New Mexico Historical Review XIII (1): 1-13, 1938. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
