Will, copy, 1892

This collection consists of personal papers belonging to the Atkinson and Smith families as well as business papers related to the Baltimore Chemical Works, a firm operated from 1833-1851 by James E. Atkinson (d. 1851) and his brother-in-law, Robert Marsh Smith (1813-1893). The company was involved in the wholesale trade of drugs, paints, and oils as well as other merchandise. After Atkinson's death in 1851, Smith continued the operation of the firm with a new partner, Philip S. Chappell (1830-1875).

The business papers in the collection primarily consist of incoming correspondence (1837-1866) and several account books, including inventories (1851, 1856), lists of balances (1850, 1856), expense accounts (1870s), and checkbooks (1860). The bulk of the collection, however, is comprised of family papers, namely correspondence, diaries, travel accounts, passports, school books, expense accounts, bills, receipts, and estate papers.

The individuals represented from the Atkinson family are: James E. Atkinson (d. 1851), his wife Hannah Smith Atkinson, their son Matthew Smith Atkinson (d. 1906), their daughter-in-law Eliza Blow (d. 1931), and their grandchildren, Lisa Blow Atkinson (1886-1974), Allmand Blow Atkinson, and Matthew Smith Atkinson Jr. (1881-1948).

Included from the Smith family are the papers of Matthew Smith (1779-1865) and his wife Catharine Marsh (fl. 1806-1857) as well as their children Hannah Smith Atkinson (fl. 1839), Thomas Marsh Smith (1810-1877), Anthony Marsh Smith (fl. 1839-1906), Mary Marsh Smith (1823-1882), and Robert Marsh Smith (1813-1893). In addition, there are several items related to Robert's wife Rebecca C. Jones (1815-1860) and their son, Matthew Smith (1842-1883).