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American Settlement Company letter and constitution

 Collection
Identifier: W-0135

Scope and Contents

This constitution and letter is related to The American Land Settlement Company, a New York-based company which sold plots of land to settlers moving to the Kansas territory.

The company's constitution outlines the company's intent to purchase 240 acres of land in the Kansas territory and form a county, providing settlers with support to create a municipal government and a community infrastructure. The constitution is signed by G. W. Brown, a company agent, and dated 1854.

The letter, written by company agent Theodore Dwight, is dated June 11, 1855, and describes a trip taken by Dwight to visit relatives in Newtown, Kansas.

Dates

  • 1855-06-11

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Biographical / Historical

Modeled after earlier emigrant aid organizations, such as the New England Emigrant Aid Company, the American Settlement Company was founded in approximately 1855 to sell plots of land in the Kansas territory and provide support to new settlers. The company, based in New York, purchased 240 acres of land in the Kansas territory and founded Council City (later renamed Burlingame). The company's charter assured potential settlers that the American Settlement Company would provide support in founding a municipal government and that they could expect to enjoy "the literary, social and civil privileges of the old States" in the Kansas territory.

Source: Johnson, Samuel A. "The Emigrant Aid Company in Kansas." Kansas Historical Quarterly, www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-the-emigrant-aid-company-in-kansas/12561.

Extent

0.05 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Overview

Constitution of the American Settlement Company (a subscription company which sold plots of land to Kansas settlers) and a letter written by a company representative

Physical Location

The A. S. Williams Americana Collection, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, The University of Alabama

Provenance

Gift of A. S. Williams III, 2010

Related Materials

The A. S. Williams III Americana Collection has another collection dealing with land development. See W.0002 Southern Alabama Emigration and Development Company Letters, A. S. Williams III Americana Collection, University Libraries Division of Special Collections, The University of Alabama

General

Title on box: A. S. Williams III Americana Collection - Small Collections

Processed by

Haley Aaron, 2013

Creator

Source

Title
Guide to the American Settlement Company letter and constitution
Status
Completed
Date
January 2014
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0266
205.348.0513