Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
MS006 |
Title |
Green's Drug Store Collection, 1864-1965 |
Scope & Content |
Summary Ledgers, correspondence, inventories, sales records, prescription books, and other records (1882-1965), including prescription books, narcotics prescriptions, and opium order books, of Green's Drug Store; records (1864-1888) of Thacher's Drug Store; records of the confectionery business of Green's brother, Ralph Green; inventory (1957) of the estate of Frank McMahon; and other records. Scope and Content The Green's Drug Store records consist almost entirely of the store and financial records of three businesses: J. H. Thacher's Drug Store, Green's Drug Store and Ralph Green's Confectionary business; the collection is separated into these three subgroups. There are 23 archival boxes of material and 23 record books in phase boxes. The Joseph Haven Thacher records (1864-1888) consist of store and financial records, including prescription books, store purchases and accounts, and sales books. One record book contains accounts with Dickman's and Littlefield's, maker of court plaster, for whom Thacher seems to have been a supplier. The records of Green's Drug Store (1882-1965) make up the bulk of this collection, and contain primarily the store, financial, and prescription records of the business. There are four series: Store and Financial (1882-1965), including account records and books, accountant's statements, supplier's accounts, a store inventory, tax records, wage books, sales records, and bills and receipts; Correspondence (1896-1907), consisting of business correspondence from suppliers, advertising circulars, and letters from individuals requesting prescriptions (most correspondence from the period 1896-1897 is addressed to J. H. Thacher); Prescription Records (1889-1964), which includes prescription books, narcotics prescriptions, and opium order books; and Miscellaneous (1957, 1963), consisting of the 1957 inventory of the estate of Frank McMahon and a 1963 census of business. There are two items in the third subgroup containing Ralph Green's Confectionary records (1891-1893): an income and expenses book, and a daily sales book. Biographical Notes Joseph Haven Thacher (Feb. 10,1825-Jan.5, 1892), the son of Henry S. Thacher of Biddeford, Maine, and Elizabeth Haven Wardrobe, began his druggist's business at the corner of State and Pleasant Street, Portsmouth, NH, before 1851 (according to directories). In 1860 he purchased his brother Nathan Parker Thacher's business at 12 Market Square, though Nathan continued to operate it until his death in 1867. J.H. Thacher also owned a store at 51 Congress Street, Portsmouth, which was operated by F.B. Coleman from 1873 and purchased by Coleman in 1886. Thacher was married to Anna M. Thompson. He was buried in Harmoney Grove Cemetery. Benjamin Green (April 26, 1867 - c1952-1955) was born in Portsmouth, the second son of Ephraim and Leah Fellerman Green, both Jewish immigrants from Poland. He married Josephine Bodge (d. October 17, 1927) of Greenland on October 29, 1891, in the Greenland Congregational Church by Rev. Robie. They had one son, Phillip Bodge Green (February 18, 1895 - December 18, 1934). They lived at 142 State Street, Portsmouth, until 1897, moving to 381 Middle Street. Green graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1882 and worked as a clerk in J.H. Thacher's drug store at 12 Market Square. In 1888 he purchased Thacher's business and shortly thereafter remodeled the store, installing a soda fountain. In 1898 he moved the business to 1 Market Square, completely remodelling the store. The new store was described in detail as 'one of the most elegantly equipped drug stores east of Boston' by the Portsmouth Herald (6/18/1898). Green retired in 1939, selling the business to Frank McMahon, who had been a clerk for Green since about 1903 and the pharmacist since about 1934. Green was proprietor (share 88) of the Portsmouth Athenaeum from 1922-1949. Ralph Green (August 10, 1869-1942), the third son of Ephraim and Leah Felleman Green, married Elizabeth Anne Gardner (1871-1939), daughter of Samuel and Albina Gardner, on October 15, 1895, married by Episcopalian minister Henry E. Hovey. Their daughter, Ruth Gardner Green Copeland, was born April 29, 1901. At the age of twelve, Green was taken out of school and sent to Boston to serve as an apprentice to a German caterer named Roebeck. He opened his own catering business in Portsmouth and catered the affairs connected with the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905. At that time, Green also had a second shop in the old Octagon House in York Harbor. In 1894 Green wrote and published 'Receipt Book' , a collection of his recipes. He died in Portsmouth. Series List I. Joseph Haven Thacher’s Drug Store II. Green’s Drug Store A. Store and Financial Records B. Correspondence C. Prescription Records D. Miscellaneous III. Ralph Green Confectioner’s Records I. Joseph Haven Thacher’s Drug Store Box 1 Folder 1 Store Purchases and Account Book, 1864-1877 and Supplier Accounts with Dickman’s and Littlefield’s, 1884-1888 Folder 2 Sales Journal Book, 1878-1886 Folder 3 Ledger, undated Phase Box 1-2 Prescription Books, 1866-1876 II. Green’s Drug Store A. Store and Financial Records Box 2 Folder 1 Waste Book, 1887-1889 Folder 2-5 Distribution of Sales Books, 1933-1957 Folder 6 Petty Cash Book, 1937-1941 Box 3 Folder 1 Petty Cash Book, 1942-1951 Folder 2-3 Store Accounts Books, 1944-1953 Folder 4 Annual Finances Book, 1939-1959 Folder 5 Accountant’s Annual Statements, 1948-1949 Folder 6 Accountant Correspondence, 1957-1958 Folder 7 Wage Book, 1943 Box 4 Folder 1-2 Wage Books, 1944-1959 Folder 3 Taxes: Profit and Loss Statements, 1953-1957 Folder 4-5 Taxes: Summary Sheets, 1956-1965 Folder 6-7 Taxes: Employer’s Returns, 1956-1963 Folder 8 Taxes: Excise Tax Forms, 1956-1964 Folder 9 Taxes: Report of Liability Adjustments, 1957 Folder 10 Tax Correspondence, 1957-1965 Folder 11-13 Bills and Receipts, 1893 and undated Box 5 Folder 1-9 Bills and Receipts, 1893, G-W Folder 10-16 Bills and Receipts, 1901, A-N Box 6 Folder 1-6 Bills and Receipts, 1901, O-Y Folder 7-16 Bills and Receipts, June-August 1906, A-W Box 7 Folder 1-10 Bills and Receipts, September-December 1906, A-Y Phase Box 3 Supplier’s Accounts, 1882-1889 Phase Box 4 Store Inventory, 1912 Phase Box 5 - 10 Cash Books, 1939, 1941-1945 Phase Box 11 - 20 Voucher Books, 1940-1953 B. Correspondence Box 7 Folder 11-18 Correspondence, 1896-1899, B-U Box 8 Folder 1-2 Correspondence, 1896-1899, W Folder 3-11 Correspondence, 1906, A-Y Folder 12-16 Correspondence, 1907, A-C Box 9 Folder 1-16 Correspondence, 1907, D-X C. Prescription Records Box 10 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1900-1904 Box 11 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1906-1909, 1911-1913 Box 12 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1914-1920 Box 13 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1920-1926 Box 14 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1926-1936 Box 15 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1936-1943 Box 16 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1943-1946 Box 17 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1946-1949 Box 18 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1949-1951 Box 19 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1951-1955 Box 20 Folder 1-2 Prescription Books, 1955-1964 Box 21 Folder 1 Prescription Books, 1964 Folder 2 Narcotics Prescription Book, 1939-1940 Box 22 Folder 1-5 Narcotics Record Book, 1919-1937 Folder 6 Exempt Narcotics Register, 1940-1941 Folder 7-8 Opium Order Books, 1920-1923 Box 23 Folder 1-10 Opium Order Books, 1930-1940 Phase Box 21 - 23 Prescription Books, 1889-1901 D. Miscellaneous Box 23 Folder 11 Inventory of Estate of Frank McMahon, 1957 Folder 12 Census of Business, 1963 III. Ralph Green, Confectioner’s Records Box 24 Folder 13 Income and Expense Book, 1891-1893 Folder 14 Daily Sales Book, 1891-1893 |
Admin/Biographical History |
Thacher's Drug Store founded by Joseph Haven Thacher in 1864; purchased by his employee, Benjamin Green, in 1888 and renamed Green's Drug Store; in ca. 1950 purchased by Green's pharmacist, Frank McMahon. Joseph Haven Thacher (February 10, 1825 – January 5, 1892), the son of Henry S. Thacher of Biddeford , Maine and Elizabeth Haven Wardrobe, began his druggist’s business at the corner of State and Pleasant Streets before 1851 (according to directories). In 1860 he purchased his brother Nathan Parker Thacher’s business as 12 Market Square , though Nathan continued to operate it until his death in 1867. J. H. Thacher also owned a store at 51 Congress Street , which was operated by F. B. Coleman from 1873 and purchased by Coleman in 1886. Thacher was married to Anna M. Thompson. He was buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery . Benjamin Green (April 26, 1867 – ca. 1952-1955) was born in Portsmouth , the second son of Ephraim and Leah Fellerman Green, both Jewish immigrants from Poland . He married Josephine Bodge (d. October 17, 1927 ) of Greenland on October 29, 1891 in the Greenland Congregational Church by Rev. Robie. They had one son, Phillip Bodge Green (February 18, 1895 – December 18, 1934). They lived at 142 State Street until 1897, moving to 381 Middle Street . Green graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1882 and worked as a clerk in J. H. Thacher’s drug store at 12 Market Square . In 1888 he purchased Thacher’s business and shortly thereafter remodeled the store, installing a soda fountain. In 1898 he moved the business to 1 Market Square , completely remodeling the store. The new store was described in detail as "one of the most elegantly equipped drug stores east of Boston " by the Portsmouth Herald ( 6/18/1898 ). Green retired in 1939, selling the business to Frank McMahon, who had been a clerk for Green since about 1903 and the pharmacist since about 1934. Green was a proprietor (share 88) of the Portsmouth Athenaeum from 1922-1949. Ralph Green (August 10, 1869 – 1942), the third son of Ephraim and Leah Felleman Green, married Elizabeth Anne Gardner (1871-1939), daughter of Samuelo and Albina Gardner, on October 15, 1895 , married by Episcopalian minister Henry E. Hovey. Their daughter, Ruth Gardner Green Copeland, was born April 29, 1901 . At the age of twelve, Green was taken out of school and sent to Boston to serve as an apprentice to a German caterer named Roebeck. He opened his own catering business in Portsmouth and catered the affairs connected with the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905. At that time, Green also had a second hop in the old Octagon House in York Harbor . In 1894 Green wrote and publish Receipt Book, a collection of his recipes. He died in Portsmouth . |
Creator |
Green's Drug Store (Portsmouth, N.H.) |
Collection |
Green's Drug Store Collection, 1864-1965 |
Object Name |
Records |
Date |
1864-1965 |
Extent of Description |
15.5 linear ft. |
Archival History |
Gift of James Barclay. |
People |
Green, Benjamin, 1867-1953 Green, Ralph, 1869-1942 Thacher, Joseph Haven, 1825-1892 McMahon, Frank |
Search Terms |
Green's Drug Store (Market Square) Thacher's Drug Store |
Subjects |
Pharmacists Portsmouth (N.H.) Confectioneries Drugstores Medicine Estates Opium Narcotics Decedents' estates |
Relation |
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