Scope and arrangement
The collection dates from 1876 to 1960 (bulk dates 1901-1933), and contains the records of the law firm of Bard & Calkins. The majority of the files are case records, which reveal the clients that Bard & Calkins represented, and the legal matters the firm's partners handled. The collection also holds professional correspondence and financial records.
The Bard & Calkins records are arranged in three series:
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1876-1960
Series I contains files of cases litigated by Bard & Calkins, as well as legal matters in which the firm's partners were involved. The files hold agreements, attorney work product, background research, contracts, correspondence, court papers, legal filings, and wills. These papers detail the legal work done by the firm, and provide insight about the clients they represented. The files address individual estate cases, and the proceedings of large companies the firm represented. A large portion of these files are dedicated to Bard & Calkins' work with the United Finishing Company, which offer insight into the American Cotton and Textile industry in the first half of the twentieth century, and document various mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring. All files in this series are arranged alphabetically by client name or subject matter. The original file names were preserved.
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1899-1953
Series II is arranged chronologically, and holds Bard & Calkins' incoming and outgoing business and professional correspondence. These correspondence files address the day-to-day operations of the firm, as well as communications with clients. The majority of the correspondence is bound in letter books that were assembled by Bard & Calkins. Each book contains an alphabetical index of individuals and corporations whose letters are held in the volume.
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1901-1937
The Bard & Calkins financial records contain bill books, cash books, journals, ledgers, financial statements, tax information, and trial balance sheets. These files address the firm's finances, operating costs, billing information, and accounting practices. The financial records are arranged chronologically by format.