Commerce in Appalachia has been diverse from the early colonial period. The records of businesses provide details of the day-to-day lives of the region's inhabitants. The Archives of Appalachia's collection includes the records of flour mills, general stores, hotels, and a variety of family businesses.

Browse our Suggested Reading List for books of interest.

Manuscripts

Broylesville Flour Mill Records Contains ledgers, receipt books, a day book, price lists, order forms, and an advertisement documenting the operation of this Washington Co., Tenn. mill between 1912-52.

Jacob Cameron Store Ledger Contains an account ledger and day book (1834-62) of the Cameron store which operated in Elizabethton, Tenn. Information includes customer's names, date and amount of transactions, and items purchased.

Cass Family Business Collection Included are financial records, correspondence, and advertising materials related to the East Tennessee Medicine Company and the Ferguson Drug Company (1891-1925) which operated in Johnson City, Tenn.

Finley P. Curtis, Sr. Papers Contains daybooks and account books of Curtis and his partner, David J. Farthing, for their business activities (1888-1921) involving a Carter Co., Tenn. store, mining, sawmill, bark trading, and poultry enterprises.

David Diehl Collection Contains an account book (1850-82) recording Diehl's business as a cooper and Washington Co., Tenn. farmer.

Frederick S. Heiskell Papers Includes correspondence, financial records, and clippings of this prominent 19th century East Tennessee businessman and politician related to such topics as agricultural production, railroads and transportation, livestock trade, and the newspaper business.

William C. Hicks Papers Contains personal and business correspondence, receipts, accounting ledgers, and a cash book documenting Hicks' business activities (1894-1927). Included are material related to his ownership of the "Midget" Roller Flour and Corn Meal Company of Morristown, Tenn. and the Virginia Rural Retreat Water Mills, Rural Retreat, Va.

Hotel Windsor Collection Contains correspondence, advertising materials, a floor plan, a financial report, and other items related to the operation of this Johnson City, Tenn. hotel. Material covers the period 1937- 54.

J. W. Hunter and Brother General Store Ledger The ledger of this Johnson City, Tenn. store consists of entries detailing customer purchases in 1886-87.

Johnson City Press Newsclippings Newsclipping files (1936-86) include many business related topics as well as material on individual Johnson City, Tenn. area businesses and industries.

Lewis Family Papers Includes an account book (1890-95) for the Lewis family store in the Stoney Creek community of Carter Co., Tenn.

Miller Family Papers Papers of this prominent Johnson City, Tenn. family include material related to the Miller Brothers Company and the building of the Central Tobacco Warehouse.

Robert M. Shank Collection Includes Shank's account book (1899-c. 1949) related to business activities in Sullivan Co., Tenn., including the purchase and sale of agricultural products.

Appalachian Photographic Archive

The Appalachian Photographic Archive includes photographs on: Commerce; Corn Milling; Johnson City, Tenn.--Commerce; Johnson City, Tenn.--Hotels and Motels; Kingsport, Tenn.--Commerce.

Appalachian Publication Files

Issues of the following periodicals are available: Johnson City Business and Kingsport Business.

Appalachian Vertical Files

Vertical file material is available under the following subject headings: Appalachian Region--Economic Conditions; Central business districts--Johnson City, Tenn.; Johnson City, Tenn.-- Commerce; Johnson City, Tenn.--Economic Conditions; Kingsport, Tenn.--Commerce; Tennessee, East--Economic Conditions; Tennessee, East--Industries; Virginia--Economic Conditions; Washington Co., Tenn.--Commerce; Washington Co., Tenn.--Economic Conditions; Washington Co., Va.--Economic Conditions; Washington Co., Va.-- Industries.

The following is a list of selected titles relating to business and commerce. For a complete listing, please consult Sherrod Library Online Catalog.

Kearfott, Clarence B. Highland Mills. 1970.

Lay, Elery A. An Industrial and Commercial History of the Tri-Cities in Tennessee-Virginia. 1982.

Resources and Enterprises of Upper East Tennessee. 1885.