Guide to the Espy Family Business Records, 1904-1959

Record Group 051

Date Span: 1904 - 1959

Extent: 9 cubic feet

Biographical Sketch: Dr. Curtis Espy (1876-1950) was a prominent businessperson from Midland City, Dale County, Alabama.  He held the Alabama Certificate of Medicine and briefly practiced as a local physician.  Dr. Espy gave up his medical career and became involved in several businesses that included owning and operating a local mercantile as well as cotton gin.  Dr. Espy purchased land and leased it for sharecroppers.  Dr. Curtis Espy died in 1950 and his son, Jim Espy, became owner and operator of the business.

Dr. Espy was married to Flowers Kelly Espy and they had three children, a son, Jim Byrd, and two daughters, Nell and Virginia.  The family rests in the Midland City Cemetery.

The old Espy mercantile building was demolished in the mid 1990's.

Scope / Content: The Espy Family Business Records documents daily business activities of the Espy Mercantile and the Espy Cotton Gin.  This includes business transactions with local and national businesses, documents federal and state taxes, provides evidence that the business had a credit system with customers and documented transactions with local banks.  The Espy Family Records present evidence of the family's estate, will information, and loan papers.

Organized into three subgroups, then into series:  

Subgroup 1: Espy Mercantile Store served the needs of local farmers for goods, agricultural supplies, and credit.  Records in this subgroup document daily business activities of the Mercantile and divided into three series: 

• Series 1.1, Business Receipts and Correspondence 1922—1956, 52 file folders:  Receipts from daily business transaction from the Espy Mercantile Store.  Includes receipts for orders placed with national and local wholesalers as well as bills of lading from transportation companies.  In addition the series also includes correspondence from business advertising services and goods to Dr. Espy, records of goods purchased by the Midland Vocational School, torn pages from various journals, one blank fertilizer ledger, various envelopes, store purchase orders, Dr. Espy's personal memo books, and hand written correspondence involving customer credit issues.  Some of the receipts cross-reference with the Subgroup 2: Espy Cotton Gin, and Subgroup 3: Personal Papers of the Espy Family
  
  
• Series 1.2, Cleared Checks, 1921—1958, ca. 1 cubic foot:  Cancelled checks and monthly bank statements that document payments and purchases made by the Espy business.
  
  
• Series 1.3, Business Ledgers,1920—1958 2 file folders + 38 ledgers:  The ledgers recorded daily business transactions and included customer credit, fertilizer sold, business costs, one sawmill journal, payment records, invoice records, and a check voucher register.  The journals document that farmers sometimes traded crops for goods at the store.  This series sometimes cross-reference to Subgroup 2: Espy Cotton Gin.  The business ledgers are hardbound books and vary in size.

Subgroup 2: Espy Cotton Gin was a significant business of the Espy family.  Dr. Espy's son Jim ran the gin after World War 2.  These records documents the daily activities of the Cotton Gin.  There is some overlap in series with Espy Mercantile, and the Subgroup is organized into three series.

• Series 2.1. Ledgers and Receipt Books, 1906 - ca. 1950s, 3 file folders + 3 ledgers:  Records of cotton bought, examples of check books drawn against gin and seed accounts at Dothan bank, shipping journals, monthly reports of activities (Federal forms).
  
  
• Series 2.2. Loose Receipts, 1924 - 1936, ca. ½ cubic foot:  Receipts for cotton bought from local farmers by the Gin Company.
  
  
• Series 2.3. Artifacts, mid-20th century, 6 items:  Various tags, weights, etc., used in transacting cotton purchases and hauling.

Subgroup 3: Espy Family Papers, 1904 – 1959, 19 file folders:  Documents other business ventures, such as peanut farming and breeding cows, conducted by the Espy Family. The subgroup also includes Dr. Curtis Espy's Medical Certificate, a cattle herd genealogy, and some records of their peanut farm.  These business ventures cross reference with the Subgroup 1: Espy Mercantile and Subgroup 2: Espy Cotton Gin.

Provenance:  William Holman, Executive Director of the Dothan Landmarks Foundation, Inc., came into possession of these records when he visited the old livery (Espy Mercantile) in downtown Midland City.  Due to the condition of the building, Dr. Espy's daughter, Virginia, gave Mr. Holman permission to move the records to the Dixie Rail Depot in Dothan Alabama.  The records stayed at the Depot for a time then accessioned by the Wiregrass Archives.

Processing Notes:  The collection was in a dilapidated building and exposed to harsh weather conditions. Most pieces have severe damage due to insects, decay, water and heat.  Some of the records were unsalvageable.

Publications about this collection:  Marty Olliff, "It Came from the Archives: The Life and Times of Dr. Espy," TroyToday (blog), April 30, 2019, https://today.troy.edu/perspectives/it-came-from-the-archives-the-life-and-times-of-dr-espy/.

Preferred Citation:  Espy Family Business Records, RG 051.  The Wiregrass Archives, Troy University--Dothan Campus, Dothan, AL. 

Access:  Open per donor agreement (030, DLF, Inc.) and e-mail confirmation, 6-27-2007

Date processed:   2/11/2004

Processed By: Mike Heer

---

 

Inventory

 

Subgroup 1: Espy Mercantile Store:   Records in this subgroup document daily business activities of the Mercantile that served the needs of local farmers for goods, agricultural supplies, and credit.  Organized into 3 series:  1.1. Business Receipts and Correspondence ; 1.2. Cleared Checks ; 1.3. Business Ledgers.

Series 1.1: Business Receipts and Correspondence, 1922 - 1956, 52 file folders - Warehouse receipts, correspondence, and Midland Vocational School purchase orders for 1922.

File I.D.                             File Label

051-04-0211-001-001     Warehouse Receipts, 1923-1924

051-04-0211-001-002     Warehouse Receipts, 1925

051-04-0211-001-003     Warehouse Receipts, 1925

051-04-0211-001-004     Warehouse Receipts, 1926

051-04-0211-001-005     Warehouse Receipts, 1926

051-04-0211-001-006     Warehouse Receipts, 1927

051-04-0211-001-007     Warehouse Receipts, 1927

051-04-0211-001-008     Warehouse Receipts, 1927

051-04-0211-001-009     Warehouse Receipts, 1934

051-04-0211-001-010     Warehouse Receipts, 1934

051-04-0211-001-011     Warehouse Receipts, 1934

051-04-0211-001-012     Warehouse Receipts, 1934

051-04-0211-001-013     Warehouse Receipts, 1934

051-04-0211-001-014     Warehouse Receipts, 1934

051-04-0211-001-015     Warehouse Receipts, 1934

051-04-0211-001-016     Warehouse Receipts, 1935

051-04-0211-001-017     Warehouse Receipts, 1936

051-04-0211-001-018     Warehouse Receipts, 1936

051-04-0211-001-019     Warehouse Receipts, 1936

051-04-0211-001-020     Warehouse Receipts, 1936

051-04-0211-001-021     Warehouse Receipts, 1936

051-04-0211-001-022     Warehouse Receipts, 1936

051-04-0211-001-023     Warehouse Receipts, 1936

051-04-0211-001-024     Warehouse Receipts, 1937

051-04-0211-001-025     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-001     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-002     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-003     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-004     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-005     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-006     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-007     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-008     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-009     Warehouse Receipts, 1938

051-04-0211-002-010     Warehouse Receipts, 1939

051-04-0211-002-011     Warehouse Receipts, 1940

051-04-0211-002-012     Warehouse Receipts, 1941

051-04-0211-002-013     Warehouse Receipts, 1941

051-04-0211-002-014     Warehouse Receipts, 1941

051-04-0211-002-015     Warehouse Receipts, 1941

051-04-0211-002-016     Warehouse Receipts, 1941

051-04-0211-002-017     Warehouse Receipts, 1941

051-04-0211-002-018     Warehouse Receipts, 1951-1953

051-04-0211-002-019     Warehouse Receipts, 1954

051-04-0211-002-020     Warehouse Receipts, 1954

051-04-0211-002-021     Warehouse Receipts, 1955

051-04-0211-002-022     Warehouse Receipts, 1956

051-04-0211-002-023     Warehouse Receipts, 1956

051-04-0211-003-001     Hand Written Correspondence to Curtis Espy, 1938

051-04-0211-003-002     Business Advertisement Correspondence to Curtis Espy, 1922-1950

051-04-0211-003-004     Various Envelopes, 1932-1938

051-04-0211-003-009     Midland Vocational School Purchase Orders, 1922

 

Series 1.2. Cleared Checks, 1921—1958, ca. 1 cubic foot:  Cancelled checks and monthly bank statements that document payments and purchases made by the Espy business.

File I.D.                              File Label

051-04-0211-005              Bank Statement and Cleared Checks, 1921-1926

051-04-0211-006              Bank Statement and Cleared Checks, 1926-1928

051-04-0211-007              Bank Statement and Cleared Checks, 1930-1937

051-04-0211-008              Bank Statement and Cleared Checks, 1938-1958

051-04-0211-011              Returned Checks, 1930-1936

 

Series 1.3. Business Ledgers,1920—1958, 2 File Folders + 38 Ledgers:  The ledgers recorded daily business transactions and included customer credit, fertilizer sold, business costs, one sawmill journal, payment records, invoice records, and a check voucher register.  The journals document that farmers sometimes traded crops for goods at the store.

File I.D.                             File Label

051-04-0211-002-024     Account Ledger (Torn Pages), 1940 - 1947

051-04-0211-002-025     Fertilizer Sales Ledger, 1923 - 1924

051-04-0211-003-003     Personal Debit / Credit Ledger, 1933 - 1941

051-04-0211-003-005     Store Purchase Orders, 1949

051-04-0211-003-006     Store Purchase Orders, 1949

051-04-0211-003-007     Store Purchase Orders, 1949

051-04-0211-003-008     Blank Receipt Ledgers, n.d.

051-04-0211-004-001     Credit Ledger, 1920

051-04-0211-004-002     Credit Ledger, 1933 - 1934

051-04-0211-004-003     Credit Ledger, 1937

051-04-0211-004-004     Credit Ledger, 1940

051-04-0211-004-005     Credit Ledger, 1940

051-04-0211-004-006     Credit Ledger, 1943

051-04-0211-004-007     Credit Ledger, 1948 - 1949

051-04-0211-004-008     Credit Ledger, 1954

051-04-0211-004-009     Credit Ledger, 1955

051-04-0211-004-010     Saw Mill Ledger, 1948

051-04-0211-004-011     Business Costs, 1941

051-04-0211-004-012     Fertilizer Ledger, 1942 - 1946

051-04-0211-004-013     Fertilizer Ledger, 1954

051-04-0211-004-014     Torn Ledger Pages, 1924

051-04-0211-ITEM-001   Credit Ledger, 1922

051-04-0211-ITEM-002   Credit Ledger, 1924

051-04-0211-ITEM-003   Credit Ledger, 1930

051-04-0211-ITEM-004   Credit Ledger, 1934

051-04-0211-ITEM-005   Credit Ledger, 1936

051-04-0211-ITEM-006   Credit Ledger, 1937

051-04-0211-ITEM-007   Credit Ledger, 1937

051-04-0211-ITEM-008   Credit Ledger, 1938

051-04-0211-ITEM-009   Credit Ledger, 1938

051-04-0211-ITEM-010   Credit Ledger, 1939

051-04-0211-ITEM-011   Credit Ledger, 1939

051-04-0211-ITEM-012   Credit Ledger, 1941

051-04-0211-ITEM-013   Credit Ledger, 1941

051-04-0211-ITEM-014   Invoice Ledger, 1936

051-04-0211-ITEM-015   Check Voucher Register, 1944 - 1953

051-04-0211-ITEM-016   Cash Payment Ledger, 1953

051-04-0211-ITEM-017   Farmers Union Receipt Ledger, 1924 - 1956

051-04-0211-ITEM-018   Farmers Union Receipt Ledger, 1934 - 1940

051-04-0211-ITEM-019   Farmers Union Receipt Ledger,1941

051-04-0211-ITEM-021   Union Warehouse Receipt Book, 1922

051-04-0211-ITEM-022   Union Warehouse Receipt Book, 1922

 

---

Subgroup 2: Espy Cotton Gin, 1906 - 1950s,  was a significant business of the Espy family.  Dr. Espy's son Jim ran the gin after World War 2.  These records documents the daily activities of the Cotton Gin. Organized into 3 series:  2.1. Ledgers and Receipt Books ; 2.2. Loose Receipts ; 2.3. Artifacts.

Series 2.1. Ledgers and Receipt Books, 1906—ca. 1950s, 3 file folders and 3 items:  Records of cotton bought, examples of check books drawn against gin and seed accounts at Dothan bank, shipping journals, monthly reports of activities (Federal forms).

File I.D.                             File Label

051-04-0211-003-010     Cotton Bills and Checks Ledger (re: Espy Gin Account) [nd]

051-04-0211-003-011     Cotton Gin Check Book [Blank] (re: Espy Seed Acct) [nd]

051-04-0211-003-014     Record Monthly Returns of Ginner of Cotton, 1938

051-04-0211-ITEM-020   Cotton Shipping Journal [nd]

051-04-0211-ITEM-023   Cotton Weight Journal [nd]

051-04-0211-ITEM-024   Cotton Weight Journal, 1906

 

Series 2.2. Loose Receipts, 1924 - 1936, ca. ½ cubic foot:  Receipts for cotton bought from local farmers by the Gin Company.

File I.D.                                      Box Label

051-04-0211-Box 009              Cotton Warehouse Receipts, 1924-1936

 

Series 2.3. Artifacts, mid-20th century, 6 items:  Various tags, weights, etc., used in transacting cotton purchases and hauling.

File I.D.                             Item Label

051-04-0211-003-012     Cotton Weight Tags [nd]

051-04-0211-003-013     Cotton Invoices [nd]

051-04-0211-010-001     Small flag w/ 3-piece pole [nd]

051-04-0211-010-002     Weight w/ hook for Scale, Lever [Cotton bale] [nd]

051-04-0211-010-003     2 @ Shot, Case [Iron Spheres, @ ca. 2.5" dia.] [nd]

051-04-0211-010-004     Holder, String [Made of Iron] [nd]

 

Subgroup 3: Espy Family Papers, 1904 – 1959 [14 File Folders]: Documents other business ventures, such as peanut farming and breeding cows, conducted by the Espy Family. The subgroup also includes Dr. Curtis Espy's Medical Certificate, a cattle herd genealogy, and some records of their peanut farm.

File I.D.                             File Label

051-04-0211-003-015     Upland Cotton Marketing Cards Identifying Espy Estate as Authorized Cotton Grower, 1954

051-04-0211-003-016     Upland Cotton Marketing Cards Identifying Espy Estate as Authorized Cotton Grower, 1956

051-04-0211-003-017     Jim Espy Business Records, 1953

051-04-0211-003-018     Jim Espy Business Records, 1956-1958

051-04-0211-003-019     Domestic Corporation Return for Franchise Taxes, 1920

051-04-0211-003-020     Tax Return List on Personal Property, 1937

051-04-0211-003-021     Tax Return List on Personal Property, 1938

051-04-0211-003-022     Personal Loan Statement, 1949

051-04-0211-003-023     Personal Loan Statement, 1955

051-04-0211-003-024     Personal Loan Statement, 1956

051-04-0211-003-025     Personal Loan Statement, 1957

051-04-0211-003-026     Virginia Espy's Assets, 1957-1959

051-04-0211-003-027     Jim Espy's Assets and Legal Documents, 1948-1957

051-04-0211-003-028     Curtis Espy's Assets and Legal Documents, 1919-1959

051-04-0211-003-029     Flower Espy's Assets, 1956

051-04-0211-003-030     Transaction of Medical Association of the State of Alabama, 1920

051-04-0211-003-031     Herd Breeding Records, 1917-1922

051-04-0211-003-032     A. I. Ward Accounts, 1936-1944

051-04-0211-OS-001       Dr. Curtis Epsy's Medical Certificate, 1904

Contact Us

Wiregrass Archives
Troy University Dothan Campus
Everett 128
502 University Dr.
Dothan, AL  36303

Phone: 334-983-6556 x21327
Email: wiregrassarchives@troy.edu