Bailey, Banks, and Biddle Company
Date: 1823-2003, bulk 1880-1980
Collection Abstract: Bailey, Banks & Biddle (BB&B) was a renowned upscale jewelry firm that made and sold high quality merchandise. Joseph Trowbridge Bailey (1806-1854) entered into a co-partnership with Andrew B. Kitchen (died 1850) on September 20, 1832 to establish the Bailey & Kitchen Jewelry Company at 136 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Bailey was an American jeweler and silversmith who is said to have enjoyed the almost unlimited confidence of his customers. The bulk of the collection consists of a fairly complete set of records pertaining to diamond sales and remounting. BB&B diamond sales registers, 1879-1969, list the sale reference number, item description, weight, price, to whom sold, date, and sales person’s number. BB&B diamond remount ledgers, 1924-1947, list customer name, date, description of repair/redesign work and related information. The earliest record is a sales register for Bailey & Kitchen, 1832-1833, listing customers’ last name in alphabetical order with sale reference numbers. Files containing class rings contracts document purchases by military academies and high schools and colleges. Custom design ledgers, 1910-1950, contain descriptions and artwork of pins, medals, and rings for military and civilian organizations. There is also an historical file of selected correspondence (1849-1968), mostly with institutional customers.
Collection Size: 59 linear feet
Access: The collection is open for research. A finding aid (PDF) with a detailed description about the contents of this collection is available online.
Accession Number: 2453
Contact: Ask Hagley or 302-658-2400 ext 330 for more information
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