Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Provenance

The ledgers were sold on eBay by a seller in Greencastle, Pennsylvania on January 15, 2025, presumably to Tim Abbott Americana.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Baker's Store daybooks, 1861-1878, SC 0403, James Madison University Special Collections, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Tim Abbott Americana, March 2025.

Biographical / Historical

Baker's Store, located in Mount Olive, Virginia in Shenandoah County, operated from 1860 until 2018. Baker's Store sold general merchandise including foodstuffs, perishables, dry goods, fabric, notions, alcohol, tobacco, and sundry items. Ephraim Baker (1836-1919) was the original proprietor of the store until his death when his son William Baker (1895-1989) took over ownership.

Scope and Contents

Two daybooks documenting the mercantile activities of Baker's Store in Mount Olive, Virginia from 1861-1878. The daybooks are organized chronologically and include the names of patrons and itemized accounts of their purchases from the store. Common items purchased include fabric, eggs, butter, coffee, tobacco, pins, needles, camphor, paper, whiskey, sugar, clothing, and shoes. Names present in the daybooks include Rosenberger, Funkhouser, Grove, Hockman, Hamman, Edmonson, Coffman, Keller, Pifer, Clem, Hottle, Eberly, Copp, and others.

Related Material

Baker Store Collection, 2020-0002, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia, USA

Ephraim Baker Records, 1857-1910. Accession 50152. Business records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Account books -- Virginia -- Shenandoah County
• Business records -- Virginia -- Shenandoah County
• Daybooks
• General stores -- Virginia -- Shenandoah County
• Merchants -- Virginia -- Shenandoah County -- Records and correspondence
• Retail trade -- Virginia -- Shenandoah County -- 19th century
• Shenandoah County (Va.) -- Economic conditions -- 19th century
• Shenandoah County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century
• Virginia -- History, Local