ACCOUNT BOOKS
While business or personal account books initially look quite boring with little useful information, a careful examination of the data can uncover important financial and business activities.
You Might Learn:
• If a business was profitable and for how long
• What kind of products the person or company made and sold
• How important the business was to the community
• How many employees the business had and who they were
• How much supplies cost
• If it was a cash- or barter-based business
• Where and with whom the company did business
• What kind of equipment was used Where to Find These Sources
• Family collections
• Local history library
• State library
• Historical society
• University library special collections
• Business library For more information, check out: Learning to “Read” and Account Book
at Memorial Hall Museum Online
