Guide to the French River Textile Company Records, 1897-1928

Rhode Island Historical Society
121 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Tel: 401-273-8107
Fax: 401-751-7930
email: reference@rihs.org

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title:	French River Textile Company records
Date range:	1897-1928
Creator:	French River Textile Company
Extent:	15 linear feet
Abstract:	The French River Textile Company was incorporated first in Rhode Island in 1897 by Frank A. Sayles, Alfred M. Coats, John Simson, and James B. Kirkaldy. Although the mill itself was located in Mechanicville, the business seat was in the Slater Trust Company in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The records reflect manufacturing costs, sales, and finances of a Rhode Island and Connecticut firm manufacturing worsted cloth, silk cloth, cotton cloth, remnants and waste. The mill also sold water-generated electric power to the Putnam Light & Power Company, serving communities in northeast Connecticut.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Rhode Island Historical Society
Collection number:	MSS 6 SG 12

Scope & content

The records in this sub-group reflect manufacturing costs, sales, and finances of a Rhode Island and Connecticut firm manufacturing worsted cloth, silk cloth, cotton cloth, remnants and waste. The mill also sold water-generated electric power to the Putnam Light & Power Company, serving communities in northeast Connecticut.

Access Points

Subject Names

Subject Organizations

Subject Topics

Business

Arrangement

The records are arranged in one series.

Historical note

The French River Textile Company was incorporated first in Rhode Island in 1897 by Frank A. Sayles, Alfred M. Coats, John Simson, and James B. Kirkaldy. Although the mill itself was located in Mechanicville, the business seat was in the Slater Trust Company in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. A charter of incorporation was granted in September, 1916, by the State of Connecticut to Charles O. Read, Andrew E. Jencks, and Edward E. Dodge, all officers of the company in Rhode Island. Frank A. Sayles was the principal shareholder and was president of the company until his death in 1920.

Like most large textile companies, French River maintained a sales office in New York City. The company also owned and operated the French River Inn and the Sayles Farm, both of which were also located in Mechanicsville and were run as adjuncts of the mill. The mill was sold in 1920, with other properties, to meet state and federal tax liabilities arising on the death of F.A. Sayles. The inn and the farm were sold, along with some inventory goods, in April 1923, to the Beachmont Worsted Company of Guerin Mills, Inc., of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Remaining assets after the sales were assigned to the TARSCO Corporation of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access.
Use of the materials:	Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Preferred citation:	French River Textile Company records, MSS 6 SG 12, Rhode Island Historical Society.
Contact information:	Rhode Island Historical Society 121 Hope Street Providence, RI 02906 Tel: 401-273-8107 Fax: 401-751-7930 email: reference@rihs.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	This collection was a gift from the Sayles Finishing Plants on 25 December 1971.


ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Harold E. Kemble, Jr., August 1977.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Mark Chepkwony 2008 November 18
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Bibliography:

Rhode Island Historical Society, Manuscript Collections. Inventories of record group MS 6, Sayles Finishing Plants, sub-groups 1, 3, 12A, 12B, and 33.

Inventory

Item 1

Company record - Minutes, by-laws, etc.

1897 Nov-1928 Jun

Item 2

Stock Register - Capital stock issued.

1897 Dec-1915 Mar

Item 3

Stock Register - Common and preferred stock issued

1917 Nov-1922 May

Item 4

Abstract Balance Sheets

1903 Sep-1906 Sep

Item 5

Trial Balance - Profit and Loss - Annual Reports

1911 Feb-1912 Sep

Item 6

Trial Balance - Profit and Loss - Annual Reports

1912 Dec-1913 Mar

Item 7

Trial Balance - Profit and Loss - Annual Reports

1917 Dec-1921 Jun

Item 8

Journal

1905 May-1915 Jan

Item 9

Journal

1913 Dec-1915 Nov

Item 10

Journal

1915 Feb-1917 Jun

Item 11

Journal

1917 Jul-1917 Dec

Item 12

Journal Voucher

1918 Jul-1918 Dec

Item 13

Journal Voucher

1919 Jan-1919 Dec

Item 14

Journal Voucher

1920 Jan-1920 Dec

Item 15

Journal Voucher

1921 Jan-1921 Dec

Item 16

Journal Voucher

1922 Jan-1923 Dec

Item 17

Ledgers - Book A

1897 Dec-1903 Jun

Item 18

Ledgers - Book B

1903 Jul-1904 Aug

Item 19

Ledgers

1904 Aug-1911 Aug

Item 20

Ledgers

1909 Jan-1911 Apr

Item 21

Ledgers - Transfer Ledger #1

1911 Oct-1918 Dec

Item 22

Ledgers - Current Ledger #2

1919 Jan -1919 Dec

Item 23

Ledgers - General Ledger

1920 Jan-1920 Dec

Item 24

Ledgers - General Ledger

1921 Jan-1921 Dec

Item 25

Ledgers

Jan 1922 - Dec 1923

Item 26

Ledgers - Transfer Ledger

1910 Sep-1906 Jun

Item 27

Cash Records

1907 Jan-1909 Jan

Item 28

Cash Records

1911 Jul-1916 Feb

Item 29

Cash Records

1914 May-1916 Feb

Item 30

Cash Records - Cash Transfer

1916 Mar-1919 Dec

Item 31

Cash Records

1919 Dec-1921 Dec

Item 32

Cash Records

1922 Jan -1923 Dec

Item 33

Journal Cash - Book A - Mechanicsville

1897 Dec-1901 Oct

Item 34

Journal Cash - Book B - Mechanicsville

1901 Nov-1904 Mar

Item 35

Journal Cash - Book C - Mechanicsville

1904 Apr-1905 Aug

Item 36

Petty Cash Disbursements - New York Office

1919 Sep-1921 Oct

Item 37

Petty Cash Disbursements - New York Office

1921 Nov-1923 Jun

Item 38

Transfer Cloth Sales Credits - Mechanicsville

1916 Nov-1918 Dec

Item 39

Transfer Miscellaneous Invoices

1913 Jan-1915 Jun

Item 40