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Creator
Bonner, Robert, 1824-1899
Call number
MssCol 335
Physical description
7.8 linear feet (19 boxes)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Robert Bonner papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

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

Robert Bonner (1824-1899) was a newspaper publisher and trotting horse breeder. He owned and published the New York Ledger. Collection consists of general correspondence, trotting horse papers, financial documents, writings, photographs, and artifacts. General correspondence includes letters to Bonner as proprietor of the New York Ledger, with a few drafts of his replies, mostly from contributors offering stories, suggesting plots, soliciting money, acknowledging remuneration, and relating to personal matters; letters from Presbyterian clergymen about church affairs; and letters from the owners of the New York Sun, New York Herald, and New York Times, revealing Bonner's willingness to lend financial aid to those newspapers. Papers relating to the breeding, development, and shoeing of trotting horses contain letters from owners, breeders, veterinarians, editors of sporting journals, and others from all parts of the United States, especially Kentucky; notes on horses; accounts; scrapbooks of newspaper clippings containing biographical data and other material on the horse and on the Scotch Irish Society of America; and photographs, sketches and artifacts.

Biographical/historical information

Robert Bonner (1824-1899) was born near Londonderry (modern name Derry), Northern Ireland on April 28, 1824 He immigrated to the United States with his family as a child At the age of fifteen, Bonner apprenticed at the Hartford Courant for five years This Connecticut newspaper (started in 1764) is currently the country's oldest newspaper in continuous publication Following this apprenticeship, Bonner moved to New York City as a correspondent, working for the Evening Mirror Having accumulated enough money during this period, Bonner purchased the Merchant Ledger a financial weekly paper in 1851 Four years later, Bonner changed the name to the New York Ledger At the helm of the newspaper, Bonner hired Fanny Fern, a well know author to write One hundred dollar a column story Bonner also hired other popular writers including William Cullen Bryant and Henry Ward Beecher Thus, Bonner changed the focus of the newspaper from a strictly financial newspaper to one of popular interest He succeeded because the New York Ledger attained a circulation of 400,000 copies resulting in Bonner becoming a millionaire When Bonner retired, he turned the paper over to his three sons, Allen, Robert Edwin and Frederick Bonner

Managing and owning trotting horses was Bonner's other main business interest This included breeding and care of trotting horses With regard to family, Bonner married Jane McCanlis in 1850 There were six children from this marriage Bonner died in 1899 and his survivors included his wife, sons and two brothers: William Bonner a farmer in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and David Bonner, a merchant in Stamford, CT

Scope and arrangement

The collection reflects the business side of Robert Bonner, (1824-1899), owner of the New York City newspaper the New York Ledger and his interest in trotting horses The collection also documents his influence as a successful nineteenth century businessman This collection is equally divided between Bonner's two businesses with correspondence being the bulk of the material Prominent correspondents in the General Correspondence include Henry Ward Beecher, Sylvanus Cobb, among others The Trotting Horse Papers correspondence includes materials from breeders, veterinarians and others involved in horse sports and trade support Financial and legal records, writings, printed matter, illustrations, photographs and artifacts support this correspondence.

The Robert Bonner papers are arranged in five series:

  • Series I. General Correspondence

    Letters to Bonner are written to him in the capacity of owner of the Ledger. There are a few drafts of his replies Correspondence includes letters from contributors offering stories for publication, solicitation for money, acknowledgment of remuneration and personal matters There are also letters from the owners of the New York Sun, the New York Herald, and the New York Times Notable correspondents include Henry Ward Beecher, Thomas M Clark, Sylvanus Cobb, John Hall, Leon and Harriet Lewis, and William Henry Peck.

  • Series II. Trotting Horse Correspondence

    The Trotting Horse Correspondence is arranged chronologically. The letters are related to breeding, development and shoeing of horses. Letters are from horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, and editors of sporting journals and other interested individuals from around the country. Excellent examples of nineteenth century typeface and beautifully illustrated letterheads are part of this series.

  • Series III. Financial and Legal Records

    This minor series contains an assortment of financial records, mainly relating to Bonner's horses There are three agreements, 1890; 1894, between Bonner and the New York Horse Manure Co.

  • Series IV. Writings

    This series contains Bonner's notes on horses, notes on shoeing 1874-1897, notes on speed of horse, and horseshoes. The remainder of this series is prescriptions appropriate for horses.

  • Series V. Photographs, Sketches, Artifacts and Miscellany

    This minor series contains a mixture of materials. There are some assorted newspaper articles, calling cards, drawings relating to horses, photographs of individuals and horses, artifacts relating to horses, and miscellany. The ink sketches may have been drawn by Bonner and include an illustration for a racetrack and a wheel for the trotting horse carriage. The hay and metal link artifacts may have been connected to horse carriages.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Purchased from American Autograph Shop and Richard S Wormser (1937)

Processing information

Compiled by Valerie Wingfield, August 2000.

Related Material

General Research Division: Class mark AN++ (Bonner, Robert Scrapbook of newspaper clippings) Bonner, Robert Scrapbook of newspaper clippings 2 volumes Subject: Horses

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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

Alternative form available

General correspondence and Trotting horse papers; available on microfilm; New York Public Library; *ZL-359