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Creator
Stewart, Alexander Turney, 1803-1876
Call number
MssCol 2883
Physical description
5.6 linear feet (14 boxes)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Alexander Turney Stewart correspondence, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Alexander Turney Stewart (1803-1876) was an American merchant and philanthropist. He emigrated to the U.S. from Ireland ca. 1820 and went into the lace business. His wholesale and retail business expanded and he owned stores, stocks and property in New England, New York, New Jersey, and throughout Europe. His philanthropic activities include aid to Ireland during the famine of 1847 and to the victims of the Chicago fire in 1871. Collection consists of letters received by Stewart, a few photographs and miscellaneous materials. Letters, 1862-1875, are mainly from people seeking financial support (some of the writers comment on the presidential campaign of 1872). Most of the letters are from the U.S. with a few from Canada and abroad. There are no copies of Stewart's replies and none of the letters relate to his various business enterprises. Also, photographs and return envelopes enclosed in the letters.

Biographical/historical information

Alexander Turney Stewart (1803-1876) was a capitalist, philanthropist and merchant. Born in northern Ireland, he emigrated to the United States c. 1820 but returned home briefly to claim an inheritance. Stewart first went into the lace business: in New York City in 1823 and in later years expanded into stocks. During the business depression, 1837, he bought up stocks of failed merchants.

Stewart was a profitable businessman and in 1862 he built his 2nd building, which encompassed an entire block. Stewart's wholesale and retail business continued to thrive and at his death, he owned wholesale and retail stores, stocks, interests in New England, New York and New Jersey Mills, offices and warehouses in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany and Switzerland and in New York he owned the Grand Union Hotel, Metropolitan Hotel, the Globe Theatre, etc.

Stewart was also a well known philanthropist. Among his charitable acts was the aid he sent to Ireland during the famine of 1847 and the thousands of dollars he gave to victims of the Chicago fire in 1871. He was appointed Secretary of Treasury by President Grant but could not accept because of a status prohibiting a businessman from holding an appointed position. Stewart was survived at his death by his wife Cornelia Mitchell Clinch. Ironically, his remains were stolen from St, Mark's Cemetery, NYC for ransom and it wasn't until 1880, that Stewart remains were reinterred at Garden City.

Scope and arrangement

The letters, 1862-1875 are from thousands of individuals who sought financial support. These letters are from men and women who describe their personal problems of every description. They come from the poor, middle class, merchant, the illiterate and the well educated. Bulk date letters, 1871 are as a result of the aid he sent to the Chicago fire victims. Other requests were for business ventures, Stewart's autograph, references to Greeley vs. Grant election and advertisements. The majority of the letters are domestic, a few from Canada and abroad written in foreign languages.

Some of the letters are follow up for unanswered replies, others contain return envelopes and photographs of themselves or loved ones. It also should be noted Stewart name was often misspelled "Stuart". There are no copies of replies by Stewart and none of these letters are from his various business enterprises.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

1935, Received from unknown

Processing information

Accessioned by Valerie Wingfield, 9/4/84

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328