Scope and arrangement
Dr. Powell's physician's ledgers reflect his work in Halifax County from 1836-1839 and 1840-1842. The ledgers include each patient's name, often their relationship to other patients, date of visit, medication prescribed, charge, date paid, and estate payments. Visits to enslaved persons were noted under the enslaver's family name.
The general account ledgers document purchases and payments for general merchandise and supplies, cotton-picking, buying and selling (1877-1880), and wages paid and purchases against them (1874) in Edgecombe County, N.C.
Administrative information
Custodial History
November 3, 1982, 6 volumes; Halifax County, N.C. Physician's ledgers (1836-1842) and Edgecombe County, N.C., general account ledgers (1873-1888). Deposited by Miss Mary Collins Powell and Mr. Joseph Clay Powell, Tarboro, N.C.
April 2,1993 (addition 1), ca. 50 items; Halifax County, N. C. physician's ledgers (1832-1835, 1846-1851), personal ledger (1849-1855), letter press books (1883-1912), writing ledger (1830, 1873-1876), receipt book, farm ledgers (1877-1945), and miscellaneous materials. Donor: Miss Mary Collins Powell.
Source of acquisition
Gift of Miss Mary Collins Powell
Gift of Mr. Joseph Clay Powell
Processing information
Processed by M. Boccaccio, March 1986; Updated by N. Hardison, July 2025
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, May 2023
Copyright notice
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Container list
Box 1 Folder a
Correspondence, 1856-1912
Box 1 Folder c
Clippings and a Notebook on Recipes and other Domestic Subjects, undated
Box 1 Folder d
Miscellaneous Items such as Greeting Cards, a Booklet, a Drawing, and various Forms, undated
Box 1 Folder e
Notebook labeled, "School Expense Book 1873" containing actual quotations, 1853-1912
Box 2 Folder a
Medical School Notebook, 1783-1832
Box 2 Folder b
Physician's Ledger, 1832-1835
Box 2 Folder c
Physician's Ledger, 1836-1839
Box 2 Folder d
Physician's Ledger, 1840-1842
Box 2 Folder e
Medical Daybook Ledger containing Labor and Ag Purchases, 1846-1849
Box 2 Folder f
Accounts Ledger, 1850-1854
Box 2 Folder g
Accounts Daybook Ledger, 1872-1874
Box 3 Folder a
Ledger containing Information on Cotton Crops, 1873-1874, 1877-1880
Box 3 Folder b
Ledger showing Expenses, 1874-1875, 1877-1878
Box 3 Folder c
Farm Scrapbook and Ledger listing Powell Expenses and Labor Information, 1874, 1877-1880
Box 3 Folder d
Ledger listing Expenses by Individuals, 1884-1886, 1888-1889
Box 4 Folder a
Ledger listing Labor and Purchases as well as Information on Cotton and other Expenses. Cash Expenses are also included., 1884-1896, 1900
Box 4 Folder b
Cotton Ledger with Information on Field Planting, 1885-1890, 1938
Box 4 Folder c
Agricultural Ledger, 1887-1890, 1933-1935
Box 5 Folder a
Ledger listing Coolman Farm Improvements, Money Borrowed, Insurance and a Church Pledge, 1889-1939
Box 5 Folder b
Ledger Listing Individual Accounts and Information on Coolmore Farm, 1891-1892, 1938-1946
Box 6 Folder a
Ledger titled, "J. C. Powell 1900", 1900-1932
Box 6 Folder b
Ledger containing listings of Individual Accounts, 1919-1926
Box 7 Folder a
Ledger with Listings of Individual Accounts and one Account for Kimberley Farm, 1926-1935
Box 7 Folder b
Coolmore Farm Ledger, 1936-1939, 1941, 1943-1945
Box 7 Folder c
Ledger containing Information on Various Farms, 1939-1946
Box 8 Folder a
Letterpress Book containing Correspondence and Business Expenses, 1883, 1891-1899
Box 8 Folder b
Letterpress Book containing Correspondence and Business Expenses, 1900-1912