Guide to the M. Button & Sons fonds

Home Holdings and Collections Finding Aids Guide to the M. Button & Sons fonds

Guide to the M. Button & Sons fonds

Arranged and described by Heather Wareham

Finding aid number 4
Location Bank 54

Title statement M. Button & Sons fonds, 1892-1964
5.1 metres of textual records

Administrative history
Moses Button (d.1901) came to Russell's Cove, now New Melbourne, Trinity Bay, from Old Perlican in the 1860s to become the community's first school teacher. Button was also a fisherman and a Methodist lay preacher, but by 1893 he had opened a general store and was involved in supplying the fishery and general trading. In that same year he was appointed District Justice of the Peace, a position that was inherited by both his sons and that remained in the family for years. In the mid-1890s, Moses' sons, William James (1871-1938) and Elisha, became partners in the business along with their father. Under William's management, M. Button & Sons grew and soon included a lobster canning factory, cod-liver oil factory, saw mills, several wharves, stages, and other auxiliary buildings in addition to the general store. At its peak, the firm had the largest general store between Hant's Harbour and Old Perlican. In addition, the firm had two schooners and up to 26 cod-traps which it leased to fishermen. The firm suffered financial decline in the 1930s but continued until 1953. After the death of Mrs. Lucy Button in that year, the family closed the business.

Note: Administrative history prepared by Jennifer Button from An Outport Journal: The Diary of W. J. Button by Jennifer Button.

Scope and content
The fonds consists of personal papers of Moses Button and William Button, and business records of the firm of M. Button & Sons. The business papers consist of ledgers, account books and correspondence relating to the operation of the firm from 1892 to its closure in 1953. The personal material includes daily diaries kept by William Button which contain entries on weather, community events, births and deaths, and happenings in St. John's and New Melbourne.

The fonds is arranged in five series: Correspondence, 1892-1951; Financial records, 1894-1951; Miscellaneous (legal records, lists and accounts, and published material) 1892-1964; Advertising and price lists, 1912-1942; Personal papers, 1892-1938.

Notes
Supplied title based on contents.
Donated by Mrs. Nancy Button and Jennifer Button of New Melbourne in 1987.
Copyright is held by the creator or his/her heirs.
Maritime History Archive finding aid 4
Related material can be found in Button Family, Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, MG 380.

1. Correspondence

Subseries 1.01 - Correspondence (Box 1)

Letters - No Dates 1.01.001
Letters - 1907-1909 1.01.003
Letters - 1910-1920 (for insert see file 1.01.004A/Box2) 1.01.004
Letters - 1921-1929 1.01.005
Letters - 1930-1934 1.01.006
Letters - 1935-1939 1.01.007
Letters - 1940-1946 1.01.008
Letters - 1951 1.01.009
Letters - Dept. Public Health & Welfare 1930's 1.01.010
Note: For other Letters - see also Letter Books

Subseries 1.02 - Telegrams (Box 1)

1911-1936 (incomplete) 1.02.001
Accounts for Telegrams 1928 & 1932 1.02.002

Subseries 1.03 - Letter Books (Box 1)

1934 1.03.001

2. Financial Records

Subseries 2.01 - Ledgers (all books)

1895-1896 (Also incl. Veterinary Columns #3.02.001) 2.01.001
1896-1897 2.01.002
1899-1900 2.01.003
1900-1901 2.01.004
1901-1902 2.01.005
1902-1903 2.01.006
1903-1904 2.01.007
1904-1905 2.01.008
1905-1906 2.01.009
1906-1907 2.01.010
1907-1908 (Also incl. a Diary for 1908) 2.01.011
1908-1909 2.01.012
1909-1910 (Also incl. a recap of Trap Fish. 1908-1910) 2.01.013
1910-1911 (Also incl. a Diary for 1911) 2.01.014
1911-1912 2.01.015
1912-1913 (Also incl. a Diary for 1913) 2.01.016
1913-1914 (Also incl. a Diary for 1914) 2.01.017
1914-1915 (Also incl. a Diary for 1915) 2.01.018
1915-1916 2.01.019
1916-1917 2.01.020
1917-1918 (Also incl. a Diary for 1918) 2.01.021
1918-1919 (Also incl. a Diary for 1919) 2.01.022
1919-1920 (Also incl. a Diary for 1920) 2.01.023
1920-1921 (Also incl. a Diary for 1921) 2.01.024
1921-1922 (Also incl. a Diary for 1922) 2.01.025
1922-1923 (Also incl. a Diary for 1923) 2.01.026
1923-1924 (Also incl. a Diary for 1924) 2.01.027
1924-1925 (Also incl. a Diary for 1925) 2.01.028
1925-1926 2.01.029
1926-1927 2.01.030
1927-1928 2.01.031
1928-1929 2.01.032
1929-1930 2.01.033
1930-1931 2.01.034
1931-1932 2.01.035
1932-1933 2.01.036
1933-1934 2.01.037
1934-1935 2.01.038
1935-1936 2.01.039
1936-1937 2.01.040
1937-1938 2.01.041
1938-1941 2.01.042
Ledgers (Suppliers)
1927-1929 2.01.043
1929-1931 2.01.044
1932-1933 2.01.045
1933-1937 2.01.046
1937-1938 (Missing) 2.01.047
1946-1947 2.01.048

Subseries 2.02 - Day Books (All book but 2.02.014/box 1)

N.D. 2.02.001
1903 02 - 1903 08 2.02.002
1915 07 - 1916 03 2.02.003
1919 11 - 1920 11 2.02.004
1920 12 - 1921 11 2.02.005
1922 01 - 1923 04 (Incl. relief accts 1923/wood bought in winter/labour 2.02.006
accts/trap accts)
1923 05 - 1924 02 2.02.007
1927 07 - 1928 11 (Incl. men employed on road/flour shipped) 2.02.008
1928 11 - 1930 03 (Incl. cod oil accts/men employed on road/flour accts) 2.02.009
1930 04 - 1931 09 2.02.010
1931 09 - 1933 05 (Incl. unsettled accts 1932/seals, birch bought/dole, 2.02.011
flour, butter accts)
1933 05 - 1934 08 (Incl. birch, salmon bought/dole recipients/cod liver 2.02.012
oil accts/church expenditures and income)
1934 08 - 1935 10 (Incl. cod, barter, salmon, berry & dole accts/repairs) 2.02.013
1935 12 - 1936 01 2.02.014
1936 01 - 1936 09 (Incl. salmon accts/old age pensions/flour accts/ 2.02.015
orphans and widows)
1936 09 - 1937 04 (Incl. wood bought/widows and orphans cheques) 2.02.016
1937 01 - 1937 09 (Incl. accts payable/cheque register) 2.02.017
1937 04 - 1937 08 (Incl. salmon accounts) 2.02.018
1937 08 - 1938 06 2.02.019
1938 06 - 1938 09 2.02.020
1940 04 - 1941 06 2.02.021
1941 06 - 1942 02 2.02.022
1945 10 - 1946 01 (Incl. fresh fish bought June-July 1945) 2.02.023

Subseries 2.03 - Inventory Books (all books)

1940-1946 2.03.001
1946-1949 (Incl. accts for 1950) 2.03.002

Subseries 2.04 - Bank Records (box 1)

Bank Book, Royal Bank Heart's Content 2.04.001
Bank Statements & Cheques 1918-1941 2.04.002

Subseries 2.05 - Invoices (box 1)

Invoices 1910-1919 2.05.001
Invoices 1920-1924 2.05.002
Invoices 1925-1929 2.05.003
Invoices 1930-1934 2.05.004
Invoices 1935-1939 2.05.005
Invoices 1941-1942 2.05.006
Invoices 1950 2.05.007

Subseries 2.06 - Statements (box 1)

Monthly Statements from suppliers:
Statements 1910-1919 2.06.001
Statements 1920-1924 2.06.002
Statements 1926-1929 2.06.003
Statements 1930-1934 2.06.004
Statements 1935-1939 2.06.005
Statements 1940-1944 2.06.006
Statements 1946-1947 2.06.007
Statements 1950-1951 2.06.008
Miscellaneous Statements:
Statements of Fish Received 1906 2.06.009

Subseries 2.07 - Relief Accounts (some books/and box 1)

1935 November - 1936 September 2.07.001
1936 November - 1948 January 2.07.002
List of Poor Orders 1911-1912, 1916, 1920 (See also Correspondence 2.07.003
- Dept. of Public Health & Welfare, 1930's)
Fish Received on Acct. of Government Guarantee, 1933 2.07.004

Subseries 2.08 - Expenses (some books/and box 1)

Expenses for Cod Oil Factory 1894-1895 2.08.001
Expenses for Methodist Church at New Melbourne 1903-1912. 2.08.002
Expenses for Methodist Church (Copy) 1903-1911 2.08.003
Expenses for School at New Melbourne 1911-1937 2.08.004
Expenses incurred in the building of the new school room at 2.08.005
New Melbourne, 1911-1912.

Subseries 2.09 - Credit Notes (box 1)

Miscellaneous 1908-1950 2.09.001

Subseries 2.10 - Receipts (box 1)

Receipts from Suppliers 2.10.001
Receipts for Fish Purchased 2.10.002

3. Miscellaneous

Subseries 3.01 - Legal Documents (box 1)
Deed Poll, Bertha Callahan and Sarah Clarke to Amelia Ann Mansfield 3.01.001
re release interest in the estate of Frederick Mansfield, March 1938.
Indenture between Amelia Mansfield, Bertha Callahan, Sarah Clarke 3.01.002
and Archibald Goodwin re Sale of Land, 1944.
Indenture between Charles Eddy and Pauline Anthony re sale of land 3.01.003
at Sibley's Cove, 1938.
Indenture between Carman Button and The Farm Development Loan 3.01.004
Board re loan.1964
Agreement between the Harbor Breton Fish Co. Ltd. and William J. 3.01.005
Burns and E.R. Watson re Sale of Hr. Breton Fish Co. 1918.

Subseries 3.02 - Miscellaneous Files (some books/and box 1)

Veterinary Columns from Newspapers Incl. in Ledger # 2.01.001
Trap Accts. and Fish Bought 1908-1947 (Also includes accounts of 3.02.001
St. John's)
Field Book, 1939 (Contains sketches of land grants) 3.02.002
Shareholders Certificate, Imperial Butter 3.02.003
Claims for Rebates on gasoline used in the prosecution of the fishery 3.02.004
Names of persons to whom gasoline was sold for the fishery 3.02.005
Bills for supplies to Highroad Camps 1950 3.02.006
Freight shipped by Schooner Grilse 1935 3.02.007
Cost of station for 1926 3.02.008
Authorization from Dept. of Natural Resources to sell ammunition 3.02.009
Fur purchases/shipments 1925 3.02.010
Supplies for fishery on Account (Government Guarantee) 3.02.011
Business Profits Tax Act 1917 Statement Box 3.02.012
Dept. of Natural Resources Salt Rebate Policy 1938-1939 3.02.013
Railway - Notifications of Freight 3.02.014
Some Schooner Records" by Capt. Ellis Janes 3.02.015
Notes on the Credit System (1934-1935?) 3.02.016
Physiography Exam Grade XI, 28 June 1932 3.02.017
Stamps 3.02.018
List of Tea and Leather customers 3.02.019
License to sell gasoline from Dept. of Customs 3.02.020
NF Fisheries Board Fish Processing Licenses 1940's 3.02.021
Statement from Capt. Herbert Mansfield re wreck of schooner Hobson 3.02.022
18 Sept. 1907
Indenture between Martin Bragg & others re fishing voyage, 3.02.023
June 8, 1907
Certificates of land cleared for bonus 3.02.024
Application for Mining locations - Henry Strong, 1912 3.02.025
Newspaper extract: Cottage hospitals in NF, July 1938-June 1939. 3.02.026
Statistical information
Sections from an Outport Journal: The Diary of W.J. Button by 3.02.027
Jennifer Button

Subseries 3.03 - Petitions (box 1)

Petition re railway extension, 1893 3.03.001
Petition to Government re Magistrate Replacement, 1895. 3.03.002

Subseries 3.04 - Periodicals (box 2)

Daily News 3.04.001
Daily News, December 22, 1930 3.04.002
Daily News, March 1, 1934 3.04.003
Daily News, August 30, 1937 3.04.004
Daily News, September 7, 1937 3.04.005
Daily News, February 24, 1938 3.04.006
Daily News, March 12, 1938 3.04.007
Daily News, July 20, 1938 3.04.008
Daily News, November 16, 1938 3.04.009
Daily News, November 17, 1938 3.04.010
Daily News, May 8, 1939 3.04.011
Daily News, June 19, 1940 3.04.012
Daily News, September 3,1940 3.04.013
Daily News, December 31, 1942 3.04.014
Daily News, March 14, 1953 3.04.015
Evening Herald, March 7, 1899 3.04.016
Evening Telegram, February 11, 189 3.04.017
Evening Telegram, March 1, 1895 3.04.018
Evening Telegram, September 10, 1895 3.04.019
Evening Telegram, October 14, 1895 3.04.020
Evening Telegram, December 30, 1899 3.04.021
Evening Telegram, April 20, 1900 3.04.022
Evening Telegram, May 10, 1907 3.04.023
Evening Telegram, March 19, 1931 3.04.024
Evening Telegram, March 27, 1931 3.04.025
Evening Telegram, March 28, 1931 3.04.026
Evening Telegram, June 14, 1933 3.04.027
Evening Telegram, June 16, 1933 3.04.028
Evening Telegram, December 22, 1936 3.04.029
Evening Telegram, June 28, 1938 3.04.030
Evening Telegram, January 23, 1940 3.04.031
Evening Telegram, January 27, 1940 3.04.032
Family Fireside, March, 1927 3.04.033
Fisherman Workers Tribune, February, 1938 3.04.034
Free Press, January 15, 1902 3.04.035
Intermediate - Senior Quarterly, 1938 3.04.036
Miscellaneous Clippings 3.04.037
Miscellaneous Clippings 3.04.038
Newfoundland Trade Review, March 26, 1938 3.04.039
Newfoundland Trade Review, April 29, 1939 3.04.040
Newfoundland Trade Review, May 6, 1939 3.04.041
Sentinel, December 15, 1925
Teacher's Monthly, December 1927 3.04.043
Teacher's Monthly, September 1938 3.04.044
Weekly News, February 5, 1896 3.04.045
World Wide, June 24, 1922 3.04.046
World Wide, February 2, 1929 3.04.047
World Wide, February 16, 1929 3.04.048
World Wide, February 23, 1929 3.04.049
World Wide, March 9, 1929 3.04.050
World Wide, March 30, 1929 3.04.051
World Wide, April 6, 1929 3.04.052
World Wide, April 13, 1929 3.04.053
World Wide, April 20, 1929 3.04.054
World Wide, May 18, 1929 3.04.055
World Wide, May 25, 1929 3.04.056
World Wide, August 3,1929 3.04.057
World Wide, May 17, 1930 3.04.058
World Wide, October 3, 1931 3.04.059
World Wide, April 2, 1932 3.04.060
World Wide, September 10, 1932 3.04.061
World Wide, November 26, 1932 3.04.062
World Wide, December 24, 1932 3.04.063
World Wide, March 25, 1933 3.04.064
World Wide, February 4, 1933 3.04.065
World Wide, February 18, 1933 3.04.066
World Wide, February 25, 1933 3.04.067
World Wide, January 27, 1934 3.04.068
World Wide, February 3, 1934 3.04.069
World Wide, July 6, 1935 3.04.070
World Wide, January 1, 1927 3.04.071
World Wide, March 26, 1927 3.04.072
World Wide, November 5, 1927 3.04.073
World Wide, January 19, 1929 3.04.074
World Wide, October 15, 1927 3.04.075

Subseries 3.05 - Printed Materials (all have been removed from the collection for cataloguing, with the exception of 3.05.011-this is in box 2)

Books:
Consolidated Statutes of NF (Second Series) Being a Consolidation of the Statute Law of the Colony down to & incl. the first Session of the Legislature, 1892
Consolidated Statutes of NF, "Private Acts", 1919.
Census of Newfoundland and Labrador 1911: Table III. Church Buildings, Superior and Board Schools and other Institutions.
Census of Newfoundland & Labrador 1921: Table I. Inhabitants of Various Ages, Numbers engaged in Various professions.
Census of Newfoundland & Labrador 1921: Table II. Fisheries, Ships and Boats.
Journal of the House of Assembly of NF, 1910. Second Session of the Twenty-Second Assembly.
The Justices Manual or Guide to the Ordinary Duties of a Justice of the Peace in Newfoundland. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Account of the Consolidated Revenue Fund & Revenue & Appropriation Accounts for the Year ended 30 June 1942.
Around NF with a Camera. Stories by Ewart Young, \pictures by Bill Davis. 1947.
Land Settlement at Mortier Bay on the South Coast of NF. Publisher Unknown, Date Unknown.
The actual Expenditure for the year 1934-1935 and for the Nine Months, July 1935 to March 1936, the approved and revised estimates for the year 1935-1936, and the estimated expenditures for the year 1936-1937.
NF official Post Office Guide, 1948.

4. Advertising/Price Lists

Subseries 4.01 - Flyers (Box 1)

Advertising Flyers from Suppliers 4.01.001
Advertising Blotters & Envelopes 4.01.002

Subseries 4.01 - Price Lists (Box 1)

A.L.Merrill & Co., N.D. Toronto Stationery 4.02.001
Atwater Kent, N.D. Phil. Radios 4.02.002
Ayre & Sons St. John's Watches 4.02.003
Bowring Bros. Ltd., 1912 St. John's Fish, Grocs. 4.02.004
Colin Campbell Ltd., 1919 St. John's Wall Paper 4.02.005
Colin Campbell Ltd., 1921 St. John's Grocs., Tar 4.02.006
Colin Campbell Ltd., 1929 St. John's Soap 4.02.007
Colin Campbell Ltd., 1933 St. John's General 4.02.008
Colin Campbell Ltd., 1935 St. John's General 4.02.009
Gerald S. Doyle, 1938 St. John's Bulletin4.02.010
Gerald S. Doyle, 1942 St. John's Medicine4.02.011
Goodyear, N.D. Unknown Rubber Heels 4.02.012
Harvey & Co., 1930 St. John's General 4.02.013
J.B. Orr Co. Ltd., 1920 St. John's Soap4.02.014
Neyle-Soper Hardware , 1931 St. John's Enamelware 4.02.015
Parker & Monroe Ltd., 1919 St. John's Footwear 4.02.016
Purity Factories Ltd. 1931 St. John's Biscuits, etc. 4.02.017
Soper & Moore, 1929 St. John's Groceries4.02.018
Soper & Moore, 1931 St. John's Groceries4.02.019
White Clothing Co. Ltd. 1931 St. John's Clothing 4.02.020

5. Personal

Subseries 5.02 - Poem, Photographs (box1) 5.02.001
Photographs removed and placed in the photo catalogue, PF-332

Subseries 5.03 - Insurance Policies (box 1)

1930's 5.03.001