Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Agency Sketch | Scope and Contents | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

Records from the J. A. Paisley Steamship Company and the Morrow Steamship Company were acquired by Bowling Green State University on July 9, 1973 and transferred to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes in 1976.

Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public. Photocopying is permitted for conservation and research purposes.

Agency Sketch

The J. A. Paisley Steamship Company and the Morrow Steamship Company were founded in the early twentieth century to participate in the Great Lakes coal trade. The Paisley organization, named for James A. Paisley, was founded in 1915 as a subsidiary of the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The Morrow Steamship Company was formed as another Cleveland Cliffs subsidiary in 1916.

In 1926 the Cleveland Cliffs management sold the Paisley and Morrow fleets to the Valley Camp Coal Company for inclusion in the fleet managed by the Valley Camp Steamship Company. The Paisley and Morrow lines transported coal under this arrangement until 1935 when the Columbia Transportation Company acquired them through a merger with the Valley Camp Steamship Company.

The Paisley name became directly involved in managing both the Paisley and Morrow fleets when Robert J. Paisley , son of James A. Paisley, became president of both lines after the 1935 merger. Robert Paisley had been managing the fleet for the Valley Camp Steamship Company. Paisley's business skills directed the Paisley and Morrow lines through successful years until his death in 1952. Robert Paisley simultaneously directed the fleets of the Columbia Transportation Company, including Paisley and Morrow vessels, the Oglebay Norton Company and the Lake Carriers' Association.

In 1954 the Oglebay Norton Company purchased the vessels of the Columbia Transportation Company and its Paisley and Morrow subsidiaries. The J. A. Paisley Steamship Company and the Morrow Steamship Company were merged with the Oglebay Norton fleet and ceased to operate under their own names.

Scope and Content

Financial Records for the J. A. Paisley and Morrow Steamship Companies are the complete content of this collection. The 2.25 cubic feet of records date from 1922 to 1953. The majority of these files, two cubic feet, are in the series of Vessel Expense Vouchers for the Paisley company. Dating from 1952-1953, these files document daily expenditures involved in operating the vessels in the fleet.

The remaining part of the collection contains three ledgers for the Paisley and Morrow companies. Wage expenses are recorded in separate volumes for each company from 1943-1953. The ledgers contain employee names and wages. A ledger with general financial information for the Morrow company completes the collection. The years 1922-1948 are covered in this volume of accounts for payments regarding companies with which Morrow conducted business. Letters and invoices appear for mining companies, towing services, grocers and other businesses.

Series Description

FINANCIAL RECORDS

J. A. PAISLEY STEAMSHIP COMPANY
Vessel Expense Vouchers
1952-1953
Arranged by voucher numbers from 1-750
Contains company vouchers documenting expenses for fleet vessels. Included with the numbered vouchers are invoices and occasional memoranda pertaining to the expenses recorded on the vouchers. Transactions with grocery services, telephone companies, insurance brokers and other companies providing services for the fleet vessels are recorded.

J. A. PAISLEY STEAMSHIP COMPANY
Wage Expense Ledger Book
1943-1953
Arranged chronologically
Contains one ledger book recording wage expenses for employees of the J. A. Paisley Steamship Company. Information varies from year to year. Usually recorded are names, social security numbers, wages paid, taxes deducted, and the month of the pay period. Dates of hire and number of weeks worked are sometimes present.

MORROW STEAMSHIP COMPANY
Wage Expenses Ledger Book
1943-1953
Arranged chronologically
Contains one ledger book recording wage expenses for employees of the Morrow Steamship Company. Information varies from year to year. Usually recorded are names, social security numbers, wages paid, taxes deducted, and the month of the pay period. Dates of hire and number of weeks worked are sometimes present.

MORROW STEAMSHIP COMPANY
General Financial Expenses Ledger
1922-1948
Arranged chronologically within each account
Contains one ledger book recording general financial expenses for the Morrow Steamship Company. Included are accounts for the company and for boats in the fleet. Credits and debits on a monthly basis are compiled for accounts with mining companies, towing services, groceries and other businesses providing services to the Morrow Company.

Inventory

Box 1: J. A. Paisley Steamship Company

Folders 1-15: Vessel Expense Vouchers 401-445, 451-502, 504-741, July 31-December 31, 1952
Folders 16-25: Vessel Expense Vouchers 1-8, 10-114, 116-221, 223-242, January 31-June 30, 1953

Box 2: J. A. Paisley Steamship Company

Folders 1-42: Vessel Expense Vouchers, 243-305, 307-330, 340-449, 451-736, 738-750, June 15-December 31, 1953

Bound volumes

Ledger 1: J. A. Paisley Steamship Company. Wage Expenses Ledger Book, 1943-1953
Ledger 2: Morrow Steamship Company. Wage Expenses Ledger Book, 1943-1953
Ledger 3: Morrow Steamship Company. General Financial Expenses Ledger Book, 1922-1948

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