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Home Guide to the business collections of A.H. Murray and Company A.H.
Murray and Company Limited (St. John's) fonds[text]
1902 -1970 (inclusive dates)
Administrative
history
While fish and flour were the staples of the mercantile trade, not all firms had their roots in this import and export business. The Murrays' initial venture was in the production of hard bread, known in local parlance as "hard tack," a staple of the Newfoundland diet. Early in the nineteenth century, practically all of the hard bread consumed in Newfoundland was imported from Hamburg, Germany. However, in 1836, hard bread was produced locally by Messrs. W.F. and D.S. Rennie at their Rennie's River Mill in St. John's. In the 1840s, the bakery was leased to a Scottish immigrant and former member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly, James Murray of Perth, Scotland, who had come to St. John's several years earlier. By 1845, James Murray had begun to engage in more general trading and was also involved in the seal fishery. He operated the business until his death in 1864. His son, James Murray Jr. (1843-1900), founded a separate venture as a commission merchant and by 1871, was importing food, general supplies, and coal. In the 1880s, he entered the fish trade and the business expanded rapidly, exporting 26,500 quintals of salt dried codfish from Newfoundland in the banner year of 1889. Murray experienced disaster, however, along with many other Water Street merchants, in the Great Fire of 1892, which razed much of St. John's. While the firm's premises were spared, the records were destroyed when the safe in which they were stored was opened too quickly after the conflagration. Murray's business went bankrupt, and he withdrew from the trade. The Great Fire also affected the next generation of the Murrays. Upon completing his education at Edinburgh, Andrew H. (1877-1965) had intended, along with brother David (ca.1877-1971), to join his father in the family business. Instead, Andrew returned to St. John's in 1893 and became an office boy for Bowring Brothers. Five years later, at the age of twenty-one, he earned several hundred dollars in his own venture by importing cheap German sugar as ballast cargo. Perhaps inspired by this success, he left Bowring Brothers to form his own enterprise. In 1918, the firm was incorporated as A. H. Murray and Company Limited. David left Harvey & Company Limited, where he had been employed, and brought his natural flair for engineering to Andrew's enterprise. Together, Andrew and David created one of the most successful fishery and general supply businesses on the Island. The company was heavily involved in the Labrador fishery, being one of the largest buyers, processors, and exporters of Labrador fish. Each year they supplied up to one hundred or more schooners with food, clothing, and fishing gear. Murray's was one of the first companies to charter a steamer, instead of the typical schooners, to take fish to the Mediterranean markets. In 1922, they purchased the 2800 ton HMS Calypso (later the Briton) from the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve of the Royal Navy and converted it into a salt hulk. A.H. Murray and Company Limited formed a number of subsidiary operations to further its interest in the fish trade. In 1935, the company expanded its operation to St. Anthony on the Northern Peninsula, where it established a retail store and salt fish plant under the masthead, A.H. Murray & Company (St. Anthony) Limited, which operated from 1935 to 1969. This branch enabled the company to purchase fish from that area and to process it at the plant. From there the fish was shipped to foreign markets and sold by another subsidiary, Murray Agencies & Transport Co., Ltd. (1924-1974). Selling salt to fishing people on the Northern Peninsula became an important aspect of the St. Anthony business. The company also had ties to a fishery supply business at Sound Island, Placentia Bay. Initially David Murray and Walter Beck had an informal partnership but Sound Island Stores Limited was incorporated in 1921 and continued to be active until circa 1933. Additionally, there were several other shipping companies created to serve the interest of the business: Newfoundland Shipping Company, Limited, 1911-1925; Annzac Steamship Company, Limited, 1916-1923; Baccalieu Shipping Company, Limited, 1917-1922; and Salmonier Shipping Company, Limited, 1947-1962. A.H. Murray and Company Limited also diversified into areas outside the fishery. They had a marine engines operation, which sold a popular brand of engine to fishermen. This was the cornerstone of the firm's industrial division. In 1930s, as a means of maintaining their customers' patronage, A.H. Murray and Company Limited accepted de-limbed trees and various grades of lumber in lieu of money. As a result, they founded a building supply division. Other enterprises which the Murrays owned or were directors of include: Salt Importers Association, 1940-1966; Newfoundland Coal Company, 1948-1963; Blu-Flame Gas Company Ltd., 1963; Newfoundland Agency Ltd., n.d.; and Colonial Cordage Company, 1959-1962. Undoubtedly, there were many others. In 1952, A.H. (Bill) Crosbie, Murray's
son-in-law and the youngest son of Sir John Crosbie, joined A.H. Murray
and Company Limited as a director. From 1953 to 1963 he was responsible
for Murray Agencies & Transport Co., Ltd. When A.H. Murray died in
1965, Crosbie took over the main company as managing director and reorganized
it. He supervised the relocation of the lumber division to Ropewalk Place
so that the enterprise would have room to grow and moved the other branches
of the firm to a large building on Mundy Pond Road. On January 1, 1979,
A.H. Murray and Company Limited amalgamated its wholly owned subsidiaries
A.H. Murray & Company (St. Anthony) Limited and Murray Agencies &
Transport Co., Ltd. under the masthead Murray Industrial, which continues
to operate in St. John's today.
Biographies
of the Murray family
His two sons, James Jr. (1843-1900) and
William C. Murray (1845-1874) were both involved in the commission business.
James became interested in politics and was several times elected an Independent
Member for Burgeo-La Poile. In 1873 James married Jennie, daughter of Andrew
Ritchie of Edinburgh, Scotland. They had two sons, Andrew H. (1877-1965)
and David H. ( 18? -1971).
Andrew was educated in Edinburgh and returned
to St. John's after his father's business was destroyed in the fire of
1892 to work for Bowring Brothers as an office boy. When he was twenty-one,
he formed his own company.
In 1924 Andrew Murray married Janet M.
Ayre (nee Miller), the widow of Captain Eric S. Ayre who was killed at
Beaumont Hamel on July 1st, 1916. As Janet M. Miller, she was the first
woman to read law in Newfoundland. Their only daughter, Gertrude, born
in 1925, married Alexander Harris (Bill) Crosbie (1919-1981), youngest
son of Sir John Crosbie.
When Andrew Murray died on August 10, 1965
at the age of eighty-eight, Bill Crosbie became the managing director of
A.H. Murray and Company Limited and continued the business.
Custodial history
Scope
and content
Terms of use and reproduction
Notes
1.01 Local correspondence, 1904-1970
2.0 Financial records, 1902-1966
2.01 Ledgers, 1907-1963
3.0 Insurance records, 1912-1966
4.01 Payroll ledgers and time books, 1931-1960
5.0 Miscellaneous records, 1936-1970
5.01 Advertising, 1951-1964
6.0 Shipping records, 1925-1954
6.01 Schooner accounts, 1933-1952
7.0 HMS Briton
8.0 Catalogues, service manuals and price
lists
9.0 Directorships and associated companies,
1911-1966
9.01 Salt Importers Association, 1940-1966
Series and sub-series descriptions
Series 1.0 Correspondence, 1904-1970
Scope and content:
This series is organized following the original filing system of A.H.
Murray and Company Limited and is arranged in five sub-series: local, Canadian,
foreign, American and telegrams. Within each sub-series the folders are
arranged chronologically and alphabetically within each year. Incoming
and outgoing correspondence are filed together. Correspondence with government
departments is filed under and broken down alphabetically by the name of
the department. The sub-series are described in detail below.
The correspondence files in this series are arranged alphabetically
by year. Telegrams are arranged chronologically. Box and folder lists are
found in Appendix A. Letter books are listed at the sub-series level.
1.01 Local correspondence, 1904-1970
Scope and content:
Original order has been maintained. Correspondence is filed alphabetically
with incoming/outgoing correspondence filed together. Telegrams are sometimes
filed with correspondence and sometimes filed separately. Government correspondence
is filed under "G".
Volumes: bank 13, shelf 1
1.01.392 Letterbook, Mr. Arch. Christian, Trinity, 1904-1907
1.02 Canadian correspondence, 1912-1970
Scope and content:
1.03 Foreign correspondence, 1904-1966
Scope and content:
1.04 American correspondence, 1904-1967
Scope and content:
1.05 Telegrams, 1910-1966
Scope and content:
Series 2.0 Financial records, 1902-1966
Scope and content:
2.01 Ledgers, 1907-1963
Scope and content:
2.02 Journals, 1902-1965
Scope and content:
2.03 Daily cash books, 1910-1946
80 centimetres (15 v.)
Volumes: bank 14, shelf 4
Scope and content:
The daily cash books in this sub-series record transactions of incoming
cash to the firm.
2.04 Cash books, 1918-1956
65 centimetres (9 v.)
Volumes: bank 14, shelves 4-5
Scope and content:
The cash books in this sub-series record cash transactions with the
firm, both incoming and outgoing, in a ledger type format. Information
on cash transactions with employees, customers and suppliers, and even
payments to the paper boy are included.
2.05 Petty cash book, 1947-1959
2 centimetres (1 v.)
Volume: bank 14, shelf 5
Scope and content:
The petty cash book in this sub-series records transactions in the firm's
petty cash account.
2.06 Bank cash books, 1921-1961
100 centimetres (12 v.)
Volumes: bank 14, shelf 6; bank 15, shelves 1-2
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains bank cash books which record cash deposits
in the firm's bank accounts. Sources of cash are identified.
2.07 Cheque registers, 1909-1917
26 centimetres (9 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 2
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains cheque registers which record information on
cheques written by the firm.
2.08 Cheque disbursements, 1954-1966
10 centimetres (3 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 2
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains cheque disbursements. These are a slightly
different format of the cheque register, but include information on cheques
written by the firm.
2.09 Statements, 1908-1960
36 centimetres (15 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 5; boxes 63-64
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes bank statements, monthly expenses statements
and Newfoundland Telephone Company statements.
2.10 Dunn's Bulletin, 1956, 1958
18 centimetres
Bank 17, shelf 5, box 65
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains Dunn's Bulletin (financial newsletter), 1956
and extracts from Dunn's Bulletin on Newfoundland debtors, 1956 and 1958.
2.11 Coal account ledgers, 1924-1948
90 centimetres (10 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelves 2-3
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains coal account ledgers which record all financial
transactions relating to coal sales including the customer's name, address
and amount and type of coal purchased. These may have been a part of the
records of the Newfoundland Coal Company (see sub-series 9.05).
2.12 Trial balance ledgers, 1938-1958
24 centimetres (5 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 4
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains trial balance ledgers, 1938-1958. A trial balance
is a listing, in ledger account order, of the ledger accounts and their
respective net ending debit or credit balances. The ending balance shown
for each account is the difference between the total of the debits and
the total of the credits in the account. The trial balance ledgers were
prepared to record the trial balances and offered financial data in a convenient
form for preparation of the financial statements.
2.13 Stock books, 1926-1958
21 centimetres (11 v., 5 folders)
Volumes: bank 20, shelf 8
Folders: bank 17, shelf 5, box 64
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains stock books which list the inventory of various
divisions of the firm (grocery, engine, lumber) for a specific year.
2.14 Fish collection journals, 1911-1922
10 centimetres (4 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 4
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains fish collection journals which record fish
purchases by the firm and include the date of purchase, folio number (possibly
to a ledger), name of person or business from which fish was purchased,
vessel name, type or grade of fish, total quintals and the price.
2.15 Engine adventure, 1917-1948
15 centimetres (8 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 4
Scope and content:
The records in this sub-series appear to be related to a division of
the Murray enterprise which was responsible for the sale and supply of
parts for marine engines and includes a journal, stock books and price
books.
2.16 Miscellaneous financial records, 1909-1966
58 centimetres (19 v., 9 folders)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 5
Folders: bank 17, shelf 5, box 66
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes miscellaneous accounts, receipt books and currency
exchange rates.
Series 3.0 Insurance records, 1912-1966
36 centimetres (33 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, boxes 67-68
Scope and content:
This series contains documentation relating to all matters concerning
insurance for A.H. Murray and Company Limited in St. John's and includes
correspondence regarding insurance and policies for vessels, cargo and
property.
The files are arranged chronologically and are not broken into sub-series.
Series 4.0 Labour records, 1931-1965
28 centimetres (6 v., 18 folders)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 5
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 69
Scope and content:
This series contains payroll ledgers and time books, files covering
the labour dispute between the Newfoundland Employees Association and the
Longshoremen's Protective Union 1964/65 and miscellaneous files including
a list of trade unions, 1958/59 and T4 slips for employees of A.H. Murray
and Company Limited.
4.01 Payroll ledgers and time books, 1931-1960
16 centimetres (6 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 5
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains payroll ledgers and time books, recording wages
of A.H. Murray and Company Limited employees.
4.02 Labour disputes, 1962-1965
8 centimetres (14 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 69
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains correspondence which includes correspondence
between the Newfoundland Employers Association and the Longshoremen's Protective
Union concerning a labour dispute, April 1964-April 1965.
4.03 Labour-miscellaneous, 1941-1959
4 centimetres (4 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 69
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains a list of Newfoundland trade unions, 1958/59
and T4 slips for A.H. Murray and Company Limited employees.
Series 5.0 Miscellaneous records,
1936-1970
19 centimetres (21 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 70
Scope and content:
This series contains correspondence relating to Murray's advertising
accounts; Murray's personal involvement with the Kinsmen Club; Maps and
plans; Building Division estimates and other miscellaneous files.
The records are grouped into five sub-series: Advertising, 1951-1964;
Kinsmen Club, 1947-1960; Maps and plans, 1953-1961; Building Division,
1969-1970; and Other, 1936-1962.
5.01 Advertising, 1951-1964
10 centimetres (9 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 70
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains correspondence relating to radio and newspaper
advertising for A.H. Murray and Company Limited.
5.02 Kinsmen Club, 1947-1960
2 centimetres (2 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 70
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains minutes of the St. John's Branch of the Kinsmen
Club, 1947 and 1949, and minutes of a meeting from the national executive
council of the Kinsmen Club, 1959-1960.
5.03 Maps and plans, 1953-1961
2 centimetres (2 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 70
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains two maps of the premises of the waterside premises
of A. H. Murray and Company Limited, n.d., and a copy of the 1958 municipal
plan for Mount Pearl.
5.04 Building division, 1969-1970
1 centimetre (2 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 70
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains detailed estimates for residential construction
projects sponsored by the building division of A.H. Murray and Company
Limited; Correspondence and inventory lists relating to the building division.
5.05 Other, 1936-1962
4 centimetres (6 folders)
Folders: bank 17, shelf 6, box 70
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains a list of saw mill operators in Newfoundland;
list of United Church Board of Education Chairs; list of A.H. Murray and
Company Limited employees who where given turkeys, Christmas, 1957; Donations
made to St. John's Boys and Girls Club, 1961-1962.
Series 6.0 Shipping records, 1925-1954
65 centimetres (4 v., 79 folders)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 5
Folders: bank 18, shelf 1, boxes 73-74
Scope and content:
This series includes schooner accounts, mortgages, bills of sale, manifests,
shipping invoice books, and sharemen's agreements.
The records are in five sub-series and are arranged alphabetically by
vessel name.
6.01 Schooner accounts, 1933-1952
25 centimetres (41 folders)
Folders: bank 18, shelf 1, boxes 73-74
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains invoices and expense accounts relating to individual
fishing voyages of each vessel owned by Murray in one year. Also included
are accounts of men employed on the voyages. Accounts are for the Fish
Hawk, Lucille M. Colp, Modern Flapper, Commission, Golden Glow, I'm Alone,
Bellaventure, Humber Flyer, Josephine Walsh, Flapper, Maggie Murphy, Harper,
Winston Churchill, Arthur Maxwell, Bassilour, P.L.M. XIII, Appian,
Gunvor Maersk, Effie Maersk, Carl Gorthon.,
6.02 Mortgages, 1933-1940
2 centimetres (10 folders)
Folders: bank 18, shelf 1, box 74
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains mortgage agreements between A.H. Murray and
Company Limited and vessel owners. Murrays funded the construction or purchase
of a vessel and established a payment schedule including interest with
the owner. Vessels include B.A. Blackwood, Bellaventure, Flora MacIvor,
Hannah, Mary Healey, I am Alone Second, Josephine Walsh, Oakland, Maggie
M. Murphy, Seagull, Walter Rogers
6.03 Bills of sale, 1925-1942
10 centimetres (26 folders)
Folders: bank 18, shelf 1, box 74
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains H.M. Customs Form 10a - Bill of Sale - recording
the sale of a vessel by A.H. Murray and Company Limited to a new owner.
Usually the sale represents the final transfer of a vessel where Murrays
had funded the mortgage. Vessels include: B.A.
Blackwood, Blanche Currie,
Catherine, E.P. Wellman, Edward VII, Energy,
Fish Hawk, Flora MacIvor, George A. Butler,
Golden Glow, Humber Flier, Maggie
M. Murphy, Maggie Stone, Mary Greta, I Am Alone Second,
Marion Rogers, Modern Flapper, Morelos, Nina &
Beatrice, Nora S., Petrel, ,Primavista, Rio
Sama, Oakland, Shag.
6.04 Manifest, 1925
3 mm (1 folder)
Folder: bank 18, shelf 1, box 74
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains a manifest and freight list of the S.S. Tento's
1925 voyages, plus correspondence, 1926.
6.05 Sharemen's agreements, 1940-1942
3 mm (1 folder)
Folder: bank 18, shelf 1, box 74
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains agreements signed
between the master of a vessel (usually owned by Murrays) and the sharemen
who were to work for the duration of a fishing voyage. Details of how men
were to be paid, deductions, etc. are included.
6.06 Miscellaneous shipping records,
1935-1954
30 centimetres (4 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 5
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains shipping invoice
books detailing shipments of cod fish and cod oil, and a voyage inward
book which lists consignee, freight prepaid/collect, when paid, plus wharfage
fees.
6 v.
R93-9 A/B/C
Scope and content:
The H.M.S. Briton (formerly HMS
Calypso) was purchased by Murrays in 1922 and was used for storing
and carrying salt. The records in this series appear to belong to the vessel
before she was owned by Murrays and consist of a troop register (name,
religion, next of kin and address), wine book, deck log book and day books.
These volumes are not part of the A.H.
Murray and Company Limited fonds, and have been removed from the collection
and stored separately.
Series 8.0 Catalogues,
service manuals and price lists
36 centimetres (55 v.)
Volumes: bank 17, shelf 6, boxes 71-72
Scope and content:
This series contains the catalogues found
in the A.H. Murray and Company Limited fonds. Also some price lists and
manuals are included. The majority of material covers engines, motors and
other types of equipment.
Volumes (in folders): bank 17, shelf
6, box 71
8.0.001 A.C.E. Machinery Ltd., Brixton,
London, Sales Pamphlets.
8.0.002 Alexander Murray & Company
Limited, Dealer Co-operative Advertisements, catalogue.
8.0.003 Anaconda, Copper and Copper Alloys,
Data book.
8.0.004 Arthur N. Pratte Ltee-Ltd., Montreal,
Wholesale Price List & Order Form.
8.0.005 B.F. Goodrich (Pamphlet & Price
List).
8.0.006 British Hoist & Crane Company
Ltd., Sales Pamphlets.
8.0.007 Brush Electrical Engineering
Co. Ltd., Square Path Alternators: Operating and Maintenance Instructions.
8.0.008 Burgess Battery Company,
Niagara Falls, Canada, price lists and catalogues.
8.0.009 Canada Food Directory, Sales Flyer,
1956-1957.
8.0.010 The Canadian Fairbanks-Morse
Company Limited, General Catalogue No. 20 (Montreal: Canadian Fairbanks-Morse
Co. Ltd.), 1919.
8.0.011 Carpenters Fir Plywood Handbook
(Vancouver: Plywood Manufacturers Association of British Columbia).
8.0.012 Chantier Maritime de St-Laurent
LTEE, (New Orleans Winch), Repair Parts List.
8.0.013 Dormer Tools of Canada Ltd.
Suggested Price Schedule, November 1962.
8.0.014 Eagle Manufacturing Company, Catalogue
No. 64-C, West Virginia.
8.0.015 Engine Instructions and Parts
List for Lathrop Engineers' Model Four-Cycle Marine Engines (No. E-35)
(Boston: Fidelity Press).
8.0.016 Engine Instructions and Parts
List for Lathrop Standard Model Four Cycle Marine Engines (No. S-48)
(Boston: Fidelity Press).
8.0.017 Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited,
Windsor, Ontario, Reference Book-Passenger & Commercial Cars,
1939.
8.0.018 Fractional-Horsepower Motors
by BTH (Rugby: The British Thomson-Houston Company Limited), 1955.
8.0.019 Gravely Tractors - Sales Information.
Hoists Information from various firms including Ace Machinery Ltd. (London),
Wickham Engineering Co. Ltd. (London), etc. (Includes Price List).
8.0.020 A.C. Horn Company Limited. Horn
Construction Data Book, 1946.
Volumes (in folders): bank 17, shelf
6, box 72
8.0.021 Imperial Quilt Manufacturing Ltd.,
Montreal, Sales Flyer.
8.0.022 Installation and Care of Electric
Motors by BT-H (Rugby: The British Thomson-Houston Company Limited),
1953.
8.0.023 Irwin Specialties Limited,
Fall & Winter, 1957, Toronto, 1956 Price List.
8.0.024 Jos. Cote Incorporee Manufacturiers-Manufacturers,
St. Ephrem - Cté Beauce, Qué., Sales Pamphlets.
8.0.025 Lantic Sugar Price List, March
30, 1955. Price Lists for Mops by Superior Cotton Products Co. (Anderson,
South Carolina), Sept. 1955, Price List and Order Blank, Arthur
T. Wood, Ltd., St. John's, 1950.
8.0.026 Lathrop Engines, Bulletins, D6-04,
D-42, No. F-28, No. M-35, No. S-40, O-36, D-93, No. E-35. Mystic Connecticut:
Lathrop Marine Engines (Includes Price List).
8.0.027 Marine & Industrial Hardware
Catalogue No. 90-5. (Portland: The Thomas Laughlin Co.), 1930.
8.0.028 De Laval Separators and Purification
Systems, Booklets, Alfa-Laval Co. Ltd., Middlesex.
8.0.029 Leytonstone Jig & Tool Co.
Ltd., Leyton, London, Catalogue.
8.0.030 London Concrete Machinery Co.,
Limited, London, Canada, Catalogue and Price List.
8.0.031 Lunenburg Foundry Co. Ltd. Lists
of Parts & Equipment Supplied, Lunenberg, N.S., (Includes Price List).
8.0.032 M. Herman Co., Montreal, 1956 Catalogue.
8.0.033 Manual of Instructions and Repair
Parts List, The Lauson Company, Wisconsin.
8.0.034 Manufacturers' Numbers to BCA
Ball Bearings, Bower Roller Bearings. Federal-Mogul Service, Detroit,
1964 Catalogue.
8.0.035 Master Manufacturing Co., Hutchinson,
Kansas, U.S.A., Catalogue.
8.0.036 Miller's Display Fixtures Ltd.,
Catalogue No. 50, Montreal.
8.0.037 Modern Display Fixtures, inc.,
Montreal (Catalogue).
8.0.038 Muller Machinery Company, Inc.,
Metuchen, N.J., Sales Pamphlet.
8.0.039 A.H. Murray and Company Limited,
St.John's, Wholesale Groceries and Provisions: Price List. Nov.
26, 1952.
8.0.040 Neos Forest Products Ltd., Produits
Forestiers Ltée, Montreal, Envelope-Questionnaire.
8.0.041 Oil Seals: Manufacturers Numbers
to National. Federal-Mogul Service, Detroit, 1964, Catalogue.
8.0.042 The Operation and Care of Petter
Oil Engines: Types AV1 and AV2 (Middlesex: Associated British Oil Engines
Ltd.).
8.0.043 Oxford Foundry & Machine
Co. Ltd., Oxford, Nova Scotia. Sales Pamphlets.
8.0.044 Page-Hersey Tubes, Limited, Crowland,
Ontario, Annual Report, 1957.
8.0.045 Parts Price List for Lathrop
Standard Model Four-Cycle Marine Engines (Boston: Fidelity Press),
April 1949.
8.0.046 Perfection in Precision, Verdict
Dial Jest Indicators Crayford, Kent: A. Capp & Son Ltd.).
8.0.047 Phillips Sales: Wholesale General
Merchandise (Montreal: 1954-55), Catalogue #59.
8.0.048 Avery Weighing Machines,
(Birmingham: W. & T. Avery, Limited).
8.0.049 The Plee-Zing Answer, Catalogue,
December, 1953.
8.0.050 Practical Ideas for the Home
& Farm with Weatherply (The All-Weather Plywood), Canadian Western
Lumber Co. Ltd., British Columbia.
8.0.051 The Schebler Carburetor (Model
D), Price List for Parts (1917), The Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Co. Inc.,
Indianapolis.
8.0.052 Shopsmith Mark 5 Advertising
Booklet (1956), How to Use Hacksaw Blades (Sheffield: James Neill
& Co. (Sheffield) Ltd.), Lextools are Quality Tools (London:
Lextool Works).
8.0.053 Specifications Manual (3rd ed.)
Size, Design, Installation Data. Federal Mogul Service, Detroit, 1965.
8.0.054 Thornycroft Engines - Information
& Manuals, John I. Thornycroft & Co., Limited, Thornycroft House,
London. (Includes Price List).
8.0.055 Weatherhead Co. of Canada Ltd.
(Catalogue), St. Thomas, Ontario.
Series 9.0 Directorships
and associated companies, 1911-1966
138 centimetres (17 v., 101 folders)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 6
Folders: bank 18, shelves 1-2, boxes 75-75F
Scope and content:
This series contains records relating to
A.H. Murray's personal involvement as a director of other companies or
business ventures. It includes records from the Salt Importers Association,
1940-1966; Newfoundland Agency Ltd., no date; Colonial Cordage Company,
1959-1962; Blu-Flame Gas Company Limited, 1963. Correspondence, accounts,
minutes, legal documents and reports may all be included.
9.01 Salt Importers Association, 1940-1966
10 centimetres (16 folders)
Folders: bank 18, shelf 1, box 75
Administrative history:
The Salt Importers Association appears
to have been made up of group of prominent St. John's businesses who were
involved in the fishery supply/export business and who had formed a consortium
for the importation of salt. Much of the correspondence relates to Lewisporte,
as it was a distribution centre for the salt used in the fishery on the
North East coast and possibly Labrador. The HMS Briton was used
as a salt carrier/storage at Lewisporte. The operation was managed by A.
Potter.
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes correspondence,
minutes of meetings, statements of accounts, invoices, etc. created by
A.H. Murray during his term as a director with the Association.
9.02 Newfoundland Agency Ltd., n.d.
.5 centimetre (1 folder)
Folder: bank 18, shelf 1, box 75
Administrative history:
The Newfoundland Agency Ltd. was established
to buy, sell and deal in fish of all kinds, to receive and sell on consignment
fish and fish products and to advance moneys and negotiate loans upon consignments
or sales of fish.
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains memorandum and
articles of association of the Newfoundland Agency Ltd.
9.03 Colonial Cordage Company, 1959-1963
.5 centimetre (1 folder)
Folder: bank 18, shelf 1, box 75
Administrative history:
The Colonial Cordage Company was established
in 1882 and manufactured ropes, lines, twines and netting. A. H. Murray
was a director of the company.
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes minutes of meetings,
financial records and correspondence.
9.04 Blu-Flame Gas Co. Ltd., 1962-1963
.5 centimetres (1 folder)
Folder: bank 18, shelf 1, box 75
Administrative history:
The Blu-Flame Gas Co. Ltd. sold propane
gas for industrial, commercial and household use in St. John's and Gander
and in five centres in Nova Scotia. The relationship between A.H. Murray
and the company cannot be determined from the contents of the file.
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes sales reports,
minutes of meetings and correspondence.
9.05 Newfoundland Coal Company, 1946-1963
.3 metres (4 v., 48 folders)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 6
Folders: bank 18, shelf 1, boxes 75B-75C
Administrative history:
The first meeting of the Newfoundland Coal
Company was held in 1948 with A.H Murray, J.P. Steinhauer, E.L. Hickman
and A.H. Crosbie as directors. In 1963 the company was reorganized and
renamed "Newfoundland Coal and Oil Company."
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains articles of association,
minutes, directors files, accounts and correspondence (incoming/outgoing).
9.06 Baccalieu Shipping Co., 1917-1922
14 centimetres (6 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 6
Administrative history:
The Murrays incorporated this shipping
company in 1918, possibly to consolidate their efforts in the coasting
trade. One of the company's objectives was, "to purchase goods, produce,
and any other merchandise whatsoever for the purpose of freighting the
said vessel or other vessels and to dispose of the same by sale or otherwise."
The company was incorporated, "to carry into effect ... an agreement which
was already been prepared ..." between Andrew Murray, Joseph Sellars, and
David Murray "on behalf of the company." The capital of the company was
set at $100,000.00 divided into one thousand shares of $100.00 each. Andrew
Murray, Sellars and master mariner, Isaac Robert Rendell subscribed to
one share each. The company was "wound up voluntarily" as a result of a
resolution passed at an extraordinary meeting of the company held on December
4, 1921. A.H. Murray was appointed liquidator.
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes a ledger, two
journals and three vessel account books for the Baccalieu Shipping Co.
All documents relate to three vessels (Rosalie Belliveau, Eva C. and
W.C. McKay) owned by A. H. Murray and Company Limited and registered
in Barbados.
9.07 Newfoundland Shipping Co., 1911-1914
4 centimetres (1 v.)
Volume: bank 15, shelf 6
Administrative history:
A number of mercantile firms pooled their
resources to form this company which was designed to provide steamship
service for the export of fish to foreign markets, "... and generally to
do all and every such things as appertain to the business of shipowners,
charterers, freight agents, and brokers." Each of the ten shareholders,
who also served as directors, subscribed to ten shares valued at $100.00
each, providing the company with a nominal capital of $10,000.00. The shareholders
were: A.H. Murray, A.E. Hickman, G.M. Barr, W.S. Monroe, G.C. Fearn, J.C.
Crosbie, A.G. Goodridge, G.J. Carter, and R.K. Bishop, all of St. John's,
and Philip Templeman of Bonavista. The registered office was located at
A.H. Murray's "Commercial Chambers" on Water Street. As a result of a resolution
passed at a director's meeting on August 4, 1925, the firm was wound up
voluntarily. F.W. Bradshaw was appointed liquidator.
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains a manifest book
for the Company. The manifest book includes columns indicating marks, number
of packages, description, shipper, consignee, weight, destination, freight,
wharfage, etc.
9.08 Annzac Steamship Company Limited,
1916-1925
12 centimetres (3 v.)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 6
Administrative history:
This Murray company was formed in 1916
principally, "to purchase or otherwise acquire the steamship Annzac
together with all requisite equipment for the same," and generally to carry
on all other aspects of the shipping business. The capital of the company
was set at $150,000.00 divided into fifteen hundred shares at $100.00 each.
A.H. Murray and Joseph Sellars each subscribed to twenty shares while D.H.
Murray held one. The company appears to have ceased operation in the early
1920s.
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains a ledger, a journal
and a petty cash.
9.09 Salmonier Shipping Co. Ltd., 1947-1965
30 centimetres (25 folders)
Folders: bank 18, shelves 1-2, boxes 75D-75E
Administrative history:
Incorporated in 1947, the Salmonier Shipping
Company resembled the Newfoundland Shipping Company in that it attracted
investors from outside the Murray fold. A.H. Murray, D.H. Murray, and Gerald
B. Ayre were the original shareholders, each subscribing to one share.
At the time of the company's dissolution in 1962, Sir J.D.W. Thomson, John
McDonald Miller, J. Oliver Grieve, and Michael Francis Strachan of Edinburgh
were also listed as shareholders and directors, along with Harry S. Ford
from A.H. Murray and Company Limited. The company's principal objective,
as noted in the incorporation documents, was "to construct, build, charter,
hire, purchase, and work steamships and other vessels of any class." The
company was wound up voluntarily as a result of a resolution passed at
a meeting on August 9, 1962. A.H. Murray voted by proxy on behalf of A.H.
Murray and Company Limited and A.H. Crosbie presented a proxy for the out
of town shareholders. A.H. Murray and A.H. Crosbie were appointed liquidators.
Scope and content:
The records in this sub-series include
minutes of meetings, ledgers, share certificates, correspondence, draft
specifications and ships plans for the construction of a single screw ocean-going
dry cargo vessel.
Box 75D contains minutes, share certificates,
ledgers and correspondence arranged alphabetically. Box 75E contains material
relating to the construction of the vessel - plans, draft specs., correspondence
relating to the construction and financing of the vessel.
9.10 Sound Island Stores Ltd., 1925-1932
18 centimetres (3 v., 9 folders)
Volumes: bank 15, shelf 6
Folders: bank 18, shelf 2, box 75F
Administrative history:
The company was incorporated in 1921 to
take over an existing business which operated as a partnership between
David Murray and Walter Beck under the name, Sound Island Store. Beck lived
at Sound Island, Placentia Bay and likely managed the store for the company.
The earlier arrangement may have been typical of the relationship between
St. John's and outport merchants with Beck actually being an agent for
Murray. The principal functions of the company were: to engage in all aspects
of the fishery, to export fish and import goods, and to "carry on the supplying
business in relation to the fisheries, lumbering, mining, and all other
industries in Newfoundland and Labrador." Essentially, the business operated
general stores and purchased fish products such as cod, cod oil, herring,
and lobsters. Apparently, it was also an agent for Fairbanks-Morse machine
and stationary engines. The firm was based at Sound Island with branch
stores at Arnold's Cove and Woody Island.
At the time of incorporation, Murray, Beck,
and accountant Edward Collingwood each held one share. In 1941, Beck and
Collingwood were out of the picture, and Isaac R. Randell of St. John's
and Arch Brinston of Sound Island joined Murray as directors of the company.
By then, however, the company was inactive, having ceased operation about
1933.
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes correspondence,
stock books for branch stores at Arnold's Cove and Woody Island, bank statements
and stock accounts (similar to general ledgers).
Murray
Agencies & Transport Co., Ltd. fonds [text] 1923-1966 (inclusive dates) Extent, 32.6 metres of textual material
Administrative history
The Murray Transport Company Limited was incorporated on 3 April 1924
and had its registered office at Beck's Cove. A.H. Murray, D.H. Murray
and I.R. Randell served as directors, and the shareholders were A.H. Murray
(1), D.H. Murray (1), I.R. Randell (1) and A.H. Murray and Co. (147). The
company was established to build and/or purchase vessels, to charter or
load these or other vessels on commission, to purchase goods, produce,
and any other merchandise for the purpose of freighting, and to act as
ships' agents for their own vessels or for other companies. At the time
of incorporation, the capital of the company was one hundred thousand dollars
divided into one thousand shares of $100.00 each.
On May 2nd, 1952, The Murray Transport Company Limited officially filed
for change of name to Murray Agencies & Transport Co., Ltd. The head
office was still located at Beck's Cove, and there were no officially recorded
changes in the functions of the firm. A.H. Murray & Company Limited
continued to own the majority of the shares, along with Andrew H. Murray,
David H. Murray, Alexander H. Crosbie, and Henry S. Ford.
When A.H. Murray died on August 10, 1965 his son-in law, A.H. (Bill)
Crosbie became the managing director of both A.H. Murray and Company Limited
and Murray Agencies and Transport Company. And Mrs. A.H. Crosbie, Francis
Lawlor (office manager) and Eric Crummell became shareholders. The last
share certificates for the company were filed in 1974 and on December 29,
1978 Murray Agencies and Transport Company was wound up voluntarily. Gordon
Ryder was liquidator.
Scope and content
This fonds contains the records of Murray Agencies & Transport Co.,
Ltd., a subsidiary company of A.H. Murray and Company which was formed
to build and charter vessels on commission and to transport freight to
and from St. John's. It contains correspondence with local, Canadian and
foreign suppliers, financial records, labour records and an extensive collection
of shipping manifests and disbursement accounts.
The records are arranged in four series: Correspondence 1924-1966; Financial
records, 1924-1965; Labour records, 1948-1966; and Shipping records, 1923-1964.
The majority of the records are for the 1950s to 1966.
Notes
Accession No. 0000-0163
Location, Collection 9, Storage banks 18-21
Series and Sub-series Listing
1.01 Local correspondence, 1952-1966
1.02 Canadian correspondence, 1952-1964
1.03 Foreign correspondence, 1924-1927, 1951-1964
1.04 Telegrams, 1953-1962
2.0 Financial records, 1924-1965
2.01 Ledgers, 1930-1965
2.02 Journals, 1953-1963
2.03 Cash books, 1924-1928, 1957-1963
2.04 Freight account book, 1953
2.05 Trial balances, 1925-1957
2.06 Solicitation reports, 1953-1957
2.07 Postage stamp book, 1956
2.08 Miscellaneous financial records, 1953-1960
3.01 UIC records, 1953-1964
3.02 Workmen's Compensation Board, 1953-1963
3.03 T4 forms, 1949-1966
3.04 L.S.P.U. deductions ledgers, 1949-1960
3.05 Payroll ledgers & time sheets, 1955-1962
3.06 Miscellaneous labour records, 1953-1964
4.0 Shipping Records, 1923-1964
4.01 Shipping manifests, 1954-1963
4.02 Bills of lading, 1937-1957
4.03 Disbursement accounts, 1953-1961
4.04 Port logs, 1958-1962
4.05 Cargo examination reports, 1953-1962
4.06 Claims records, 1953-1959
4.07 Miscellaneous shipping records, 1923-1924, 1953-1964
Series and sub-series descriptions Series 1.0 Correspondence,
1924-1966
2.8 metres (663 folders)
Folders: bank 18, shelves 2-8; bank 19,
shelves 1-2, boxes 76-121
Scope and content:
This series includes communications with
customers and suppliers for the period, 1924-1966. Letters, orders, invoices,
statements and receipts are included.
The correspondence is organized following
the original filing system of Murray Agencies & Transport Co., Ltd.
and is arranged in four sub-series: Local, Canadian, Foreign and Telegrams.
Within each sub-series the records are arranged alphabetically within each
year. Incoming and outgoing correspondence are filed together. Correspondence
with government is filed under "G" and then broken down alphabetically
by the name of the department.
1.01 Local correspondence, 1952-1966
2 metres (248 folders)
Folders: bank 18, shelves 2-4, boxes 76-86
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes incoming and outgoing
correspondence with local suppliers and customers.
1.02 Canadian correspondence, 1952-1964
5.4 metres (361 folders)
Folders: bank 18, shelves 4-8; bank 19,
shelf 1, boxes 87-116
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains incoming and outgoing
correspondence with Canadian suppliers and customers.
1.03 Foreign correspondence, 1924-1927,
1951-1964
.3 metres (21 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelf 1, boxes 117-118
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains incoming and outgoing
correspondence with suppliers and customers outside Newfoundland and Canada.
Correspondence 1924-1927 also includes cables and correspondence to The
Shippers Mutual Association, St. John's. It appears that David or Andrew
Murray may have been a director, or had some close association with this
group.
1.04 Telegrams, 1953-1962
.5 metres (33 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelves 1-2, boxes 119-121
Scope and content
This sub-series contains outgoing telegrams
to suppliers and customers usually regarding orders. Telegrams are sometimes
filed with correspondence.
Series 2.0 Financial
records, 1924-1965
178 centimetres (26 v., 12 folders)
Volumes: bank 21, shelves 1, 3-4
Folders: bank 19, shelf 2, box 122
Scope and content:
This series includes ledgers 1930-1965,
journals 1953-1963, cash books 1924-1928, 1957-1963, bank books 1953-1954,
trial balances 1925-1957, solicitation reports 1953-1957, postage stamp
book 1956, and miscellaneous financial records 1953-1960.
The records are arranged in eight sub-series
and are arranged chronologically within each sub-series.
2.01 Ledgers, 1930-1965
85 centimetres (8 v.)
Volumes: bank 21, shelf 3
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains customer account
ledgers for Murray Agencies and Transport customers in St. John's combined
with schooner account ledgers for several of their vessels. Other financial
records relating specifically to shipping are included in sub-series 4.03.
2.02 Journals, 1953-1963
60 centimetres (13 v.)
Volumes: bank 21, shelf 4
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains journals which
record the daily transactions in the business.
2.03 Cash books, 1924-1928, 1957-1963
10 centimetres (4 v.)
Volumes: bank 21, shelf 1
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains four volumes which
record daily cash transactions for the firm.
2.04 Freight account book, 1953
5 centimetres (1 folder)
Folder: bank 19, shelf 2, box 122
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains a freight account
book for incoming voyages listing the name of the consignee and whether
the freight has been unpaid/paid.
2.05 Trial balances, 1925-1957
3 centimetres (3 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelves 2, box 122
Scope and content:
This sub-series includes trial balances.
A trial balance is a listing, in ledger account order, of the ledger accounts
and their respective net ending debit or credit balances. In this sub-series
the trial balances are recorded on sheets - there are no trial balance
ledgers.
2.06 Solicitation reports, 1953-1957
8 centimetres (4 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelf 2, box 122
Scope and content:
This sub-series documents that Murray Agencies
called St. John's firms that imported goods to identify their shippers
and to solicit work from them in the coming year.
2.07 Postage stamp book, 1956
3 centimetres (1 v.)
Volume: bank 21, shelf 1
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains a postage stamp
book that records purchases of postage stamps for the firm for the year
1956.
2.08 Miscellaneous financial records,
1953-1960
4 centimetres (4 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelf 2, box 122
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains bank statements
1953-1960, cash sheets 1954-1955, and other miscellaneous records.
Series 3.0 Labour
records, 1949-1966
162 centimetres (15 v., 46 folders)
Volumes: bank 21, shelves 1-2; bank 19,
shelves 2-3, boxes 126-127
Folders: bank 19, shelves 2-3, boxes 123-125,
128
Scope and content:
This series contains official records including
Workers Compensation Board files, Union deduction ledgers, and Revenue
Canada T4 forms. Also included are payroll statements.
3.01 UIC records, 1953-1964
8 centimetres (10 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelf 2, box 123
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains correspondence
with the Unemployment Insurance Commission mostly relating to the submission
of payroll deductions for employees of the firm.
3.02 Workmen's Compensation Board, 1953-1963
10 centimetres (11 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelf 2, boxes 123-124
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains correspondence
with the Workmen's Compensation Board mostly relating to submission of
payroll deductions and claims.
3.06 Miscellaneous labour records, 1953-1964
18 centimetres (10 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelf 3, box 128
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains applications for
employment, payroll information on the office staff, voyage wage lists,
surveys of wage rates and working conditions and miscellaneous labour memos
and correspondence.
Series 4.0 Shipping
records, 1923-1964
13 metres (7 v., 1523 folders)
Volumes: bank 21, shelf 4
Folders: bank 19, shelves 3-8; bank 20,
shelves 1-7, boxes 129-200
Scope and content:
This series contains shipping records including:
shipping manifests, 1954-1963; bills of lading, 1937-1957; disbursement
accounts, 1953-1961; port logs, 1958-1962; cargo examination accounts,
1953-1962; claims records, 1953-1959; and miscellaneous shipping records,
1923-1924, 1953-1964.
4.01 Shipping manifests, 1954-1963
11.5 metres ( 1161 folders)
Folders: bank 19, shelves 3-8; bank 20,
shelves 1-5, boxes 129-192
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains 1035 manifests.
Each manifest contains a complete specification of the goods loaded by
a vessel for various destinations. The manifests were drawn up by the agents
in the ports of loading based upon the bills of lading. The headings on
the manifests show the ship's name, sailed from, date, sailed for, date,
shippers, consignees, a detailed breakdown of merchandise, weight, ocean
rate, steamer's rate and prepaid freight. Often bills of lading are included
with the manifests.
4.02 Bills of lading, 1937-1957
50 centimetres (235 folders)
Folders: bank 20, shelf 6, boxes 193-195
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains 235 folders of
bills of lading. A bill of lading is a receipt for goods, usually signed
acknowledging the receipt on board of the goods described in the bill,
and undertaking to deliver them at the port of destination.
4.03 Disbursement accounts, 1953-1961
70 centimetres (108 folders)
Folders: bank 20, shelves 6-7, boxes 196-199
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains disbursement accounts
or statements of all charges associated with a single shipment and usually
refers back to a particular manifest. Each disbursement form includes information
on the port, agent, vessel and voyage. Other documents such as invoices
and telegrams may be attached. There are 747 files listed in the index
(see 4.03.001). This sub-series contains some of the files between file
number 172-679.
SS Viva
SS Helmwood
Helmwood
Teal
SS Storfjeld
SS Helmswood
SS Berylstone
SS Menastone
MW Goodwood
C.C.S.,
SS Bestwood
SS Vignes
MV Diala
Edenwood
MV Bestwood
MV Berylstone
SS Goodwood
M/V Applan
M/V Ivan Gorthon
S/S Goodwood
SS Helmwood
M/V Bestwood
SS Peterland
Blue Peter
Blue Cloud
Birdwood
Blue Trader
Mayfall
Woodcock
Blue Cloud
Mayfall,
M/V Dorsetbrook
MV Hudson Sound
Trans Northern
San Stefano
M/V Germont
Roland Russ
MV Irish Rose
MV Derby
MV Dorset Brook
MV Columbia
MV Columbia
MV Germont
Avonwood
Edenwood
Star of Assuan
Canadian Conqueror
Belnor
Botne,
Uskport,
Lapland,
Aquila,
4.04 Port logs, 1958-1962
10 centimetres (5 folders)
Folders: bank 20, shelf 7, box 200
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains port logs for vessels employed by Murray Agencies
& Transport Co., Ltd. They include the name of the vessel, voyage #,
date, time of arrival, line (shipping), and the time of start/finish of
unloading each hatch, total number of hours and the time of departure.
The port logs are arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by
vessel name within each file.
4.05 Cargo examination reports, 1953-1962
4 centimetres (3 folders)
Folders: bank 20, shelf 7, box 200
Scope and content:
This sub-series contains examination report forms 'on cargo taken delivery
of as in apparent good order & condition'. Information is included
on the date & place of examination, consignee, vessel name, date of
arrival & voyage no., itemized shipment, type and condition of container,
dates of delivery and examiner's general remarks.
4.06 Claims records, 1953-1959
4 centimetres (3 v.)
Volumes: bank 21, shelf 4
Scope and content:
Claims records contain the information for damaged or missing goods
on a particular voyage, including the claim no., date received, claimants,
amount, particulars, date paid, etc.
4.07 Miscellaneous shipping records, 1923-1924, 1953-1964
10 centimetres (4 v., 11 folders)
Volumes: bank 21, shelf 4
Folders: bank 20, shelf 7, box 200
Scope and content:
The records in this sub-series include passenger lists, correspondence,
stevedoring statements, freight rates, transhipment records, and freight
accounts, including a ledger listing costs associated with shipping and
receiving freight divided into two categories, schooner accounts and general
account.
The files are not arranged in any particular order.
A.H. Murray & Company (St.
Anthony) Limited fonds, 1934-1969 Extent 4.6 metres of textual material Administrative history Incorporated in 1935, A.H. Murray & Company (St. Anthony) Limited was established to expand Murray's influence on the Great Northern Peninsula and Labrador. Apart from the typical retail and fish storage facilities, the Murrays also constructed a salt fish drying plant at St. Anthony. This gave them greater access to Labrador fish. Labrador fishermen could catch, salt, and discharge their catch at nearby St. Anthony and return for another voyage and avoid the time consuming drying process. Drying the fish at the St. Anthony premises offered a couple of advantages: artificial drying provided a standardized cure, and the produce was exported directly from St. Anthony without first having to be transhipped to St. John's. The establishment of the Newfoundland Associated Fish Exporters Limited (NAFEL) in 1947 changed the focus of the St. Anthony operation. The Commission of Government awarded that organization the sole right to export fish from Newfoundland. This meant that, henceforth, all fish was shipped to St. John's for storage and exported by NAFEL according to a quota system. No longer could fish be shipped directly to foreign markets from St. Anthony and thus, the firm ceased to perform that function. It did, however, continue to supply fishermen on the Great Northern Peninsula and purchase their fish. The firm operated until 1969. Scope and content This fonds contains the records of A.H. Murray & Company ( St. Anthony) Limited, 1934-1969, a subsidiary company which was established to expand Murray's influence in the fishery on the Northern Peninsula and Labrador. It includes correspondence with suppliers 1951-1964, journals 1939-1957, ledgers 1934-1954, profit and loss statements 1935-1955, cash books 1936-1955, stock books 1934-1959, salt reports 1935-1959, operating accounts 1935-1949, insurance policies 1952-1961, Workmen's Compensation Board records 1951-1959, employee income tax returns 1949-1952, payroll ledger 1949-1958, trawler accounts with Furness Withy and Harvey & Company Limited 1957-1959, CN bills of lading 1957-1960, and diary extracts 1937. The fonds is arranged in seven series: Correspondence, 1935-1964; Financial records, 1934-1964; Insurance records, 1952-1961; Labour records, 1935-1959; Legal records, 1934-1969; Shipping records, 1957-1959; Miscellaneous records, 1936-1960. Series and sub-series Listing: 1.01 Canadian/Foreign correspondence, incoming/outgoing, 1951-1959 1.02 Local correspondence, incoming/outgoing, 1935-1964 1.03 Telegrams, incoming/outgoing, 1943-1964 2.0 Financial records, 1934-1964 2.01 Ledgers, 1934-1954 2.02 Journals, 1939-1957 2.03 Cash books, 1936-1955 2.04 Petty cash books, 1952-1960 2.05 Journal of expenditures, 1934-1960 2.06 Stock books, 1934-1959 2.07 Salt reports, 1935-1959 2.08 Operating accounts, 1935-1949 2.09 Financial statements, 1938-1956 2.10 Miscellaneous financial records, 1935-1964 3.0 Insurance records, 1952-1961 6.0 Shipping records, 1957-1959 Series and sub-series descriptions Series 1.0 Correspondence, 1935-1964 75 centimetres (61 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 7, boxes 201-204 Scope and content: This series contains incoming and outgoing correspondence and telegrams regarding general business matters. The files in this series are arranged chronologically by year with each incoming document filed together with the reply. 1.01 Canadian/Foreign correspondence, incoming/outgoing, 1951-1959 12 centimetres (8 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 7, box 201 Scope and content: Letters to the company in St Anthony from various suppliers etc., together with a copy of the reply. 1.02 Local correspondence, incoming/outgoing, 1935-1964 24 centimetres (24 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 7, boxes 201-202 Scope and content: This sub-series contains local business related correspondence to St. Anthony, many including a copy of the reply. 1.03 Telegrams, incoming/outgoing, 1943-1964 36 centimetres (29 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 7, boxes 203-204 Scope and content: This sub-series contains incoming and outgoing telegrams, some includes incoming message and reply. Series 2.0 Financial records, 1934-1964 136 centimetres (21 v., 83 folders) Volumes: bank 21, shelves 1, 3-6 Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, boxes 205-206 Scope and content: This series contains bulk of the material in the fonds. There are several bound volumes of financial records including: Ledgers, 1934-1954; Journals, 1939-1957; Cash books, 1936-1955; Petty cash books, 1952-1960; Stock books, 1934-1959; and Journals of expenditures, 1934-1960. There are also miscellaneous bound and unbound financial records including: Financial statements, 1938-1956; Profit and loss statements, 1935-1955; Internal accounts, 1935-1949; Salt reports, 1935-1959; and Produce reports, 1935-1949. There is also an assortment of financial records containing various accounts, balances, price lists, shipping receipts, cheques, cooperage reports, and customs records. 2.01 Ledgers, 1934-1954 80 centimetres (10 v.) Volumes: bank 21, shelves 3-5 Scope and content: This sub-series contains account ledgers for customers in the St. Anthony area. 2.02 Journals, 1939-1957 5 centimetres (2 v.) Volumes: bank 21, shelf 6 Scope and content: This sub-series contains two journals for the business in St. Anthony. They record the daily transactions with their customers, employees, and their suppliers. 2.03 Cash books, 1936-1955 3 centimetres (2 v.) Volumes: bank 21, shelf 1 Scope and content: Cash books contain a daily chronological record of all cash receipts and disbursements at the firm. These books can be regarded as the Cash account of the firm for each year since the transactions were recorded in a running account with disbursements on the debit side and receipts as credits. 2.04 Petty cash books, 1952-1960 6 centimetres (2 v.) Volumes: bank 21, shelf 6 Scope and content: Petty cash books contain a chronological listing of the firm's cash receipts. 2.05 Journal of expenditures, 1934-1960 5 centimetres (3 v.) Volumes: bank 21, shelf 6 Scope and content: This sub-series includes three journals of expenditures which lists various expenses debited to A.H. Murray. 2.06 Stock books, 1934-1959 4 centimetres (2 v., 5 folders) Volumes: bank 21, shelf 6 Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 205 Scope and content: This sub-series includes lists of inventory (stock on hand) at St. Anthony, including cooperage, store, cod oil, staff house, and coal. 2.07 Salt reports, 1935-1959 4 centimetres (25 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 205 Scope and content: The Salt Reports are also an important set of documents. A key aspect of the firm's business at St. Anthony was the sale of salt to dealers (heads of fishing crews) on the Northern Peninsula. The salt reports were compilations of financial data concerning the various salt cargoes imported to St. Anthony in a season, prepared for the head office at St. John's. The Reports also contain the records pertaining to the purchase, importation, shipping, sale, and delivery of salt for each year. 2.08 Operating accounts, 1935-1949 10 centimetres (16 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 205 Scope and content: The firm's operating accounts are among the most valuable documents since they provide comprehensive reports about the accounts, specifically those relating to the salt fish trade. The operating accounts were not compiled by an external auditor, but prepared internally for the head office at St. John's. The numbers for each account are provided, but usually there is also a discussion concerning the firm's degree of success in the salt fish trade for the year. 2.09 Financial statements, 1938-1956 5 centimetres (5 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 206 Scope and content: The financial statements differ in that they provide year end assessments of the firm's operating accounts, including the profit and loss account. Like the operating accounts, these documents appear to have been prepared internally for the head office at St. John's. 2.10 Miscellaneous financial records, 1935-1964 14 centimetres (32 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 206 Scope and content: This sub-series contains deposit books, records of various accounts, cooperage reports and fish landings shipments purchases and prices. Series 3.0 Insurance records, 1952-1961 5 centimetres (2 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 207 Scope and content: The Insurance records series comprises only a small portion of the records in the fonds. It consists of policies for the firm's premises and automobiles as well as a very detailed description of the firm's St. Anthony premises including all wharves, flakes, outbuildings, and equipment. Series 4.0 Labour records, 1935-1959 6 centimetres (1 v., 11 folders) Volume: bank 21, shelf 6 Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 207 Scope and content: This series contains official records including payroll statements for the Workmen's Compensation Board, employee income tax returns, and semi-annual reports of hirings and firings for the Unemployment Insurance Commission returns, as well as correspondence with these government agencies. There are also records generated by the firm for its own use such as a payroll ledger, reports of wages paid, and employees' salaries. In addition, there is a copy of Roy Ash's employment contract with the firm as manager of the St. Anthony store, and applications from Ash and others who sought the position. Series 5.0 Legal records, 1934-1969 20 centimetres (3 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 208 Scope and content: All of the documents in this series concern the purchase or lease of land by A.H. Murray and Company Limited for its premises at St. Anthony. Series 6.0 Shipping records, 1957-1959 3 centimetres (3 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 207 Scope and content: The only shipping records in this fonds consist of the trawler accounts held by Furness Withy and Harvey & Company Limited at A.H. Murray and Company (St. Anthony) in the period 1957-1959. All goods and services supplied by Murray when the trawlers were in St. Anthony as well as expenses incurred by Murray on behalf of the trawlers were subsequently invoiced to the respective firms. The documents are an itemized accounts of these expenses. Series 7.0 Miscellaneous, 1936-1960 4 centimetres (6 folders) Folders: bank 20, shelf 8, box 207 Scope and content: This series contains a comparison of freight
rates to St. Anthony for 1952-1953, bills of lading covering the period
1954-1960, diary extracts for 1937, instructions to the manager from the
head office for 1936 and an undated account of fish cargoes delivered to
the St. Anthony plant by various dealers.
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