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Sidney E. Stuart Account Book

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0549

Scope and Contents

The Sidney E. Stuart Account Book is an accounting ledger Stuart used to track and record his finances during his time as a cadet at West Point Military Academy beginning in June 1876. Pasted on the inside cover are two printed notes: 1) the “Regulations in regard to Account Books”, a list of six rules pertaining to the use of an account book, such as, “Each Cadet must present his book when he draws any article from the Commissary” or “Each Cadet must paste his receipt from the Treasurer on the flyleaf of his Account Book”; 2) the receipt exacting $85 which was paid by Stuart to the Treasurer’s Office.

Each page of the ledger provides space for recording predetermined credits, such as “Credit at Commissary”, “Pay from ___ to ___ inclusive”; or debits, such as “Laundry”, “Gas Fund’, Use of Dictionary”, “Damages to Mess Commons”, etc. Each adjacent page is blank for the owner to write in any miscellaneous expenditures. On these pages, Stuart records his arbitrary purchases and date acquired, including some recurring items each two-month period -- ten stamps at 30 cents, cake soap at 9 cents, box matches at 2 cents, as well as some one-time purchases such as a helmet for $4.20, or a broom for 28 cents. Many items are initialled off by the treasurer, “JMM”, and some are initialled “BD”.

His recordings end in June 1880. The rest of the ledger remains unfilled, save for a small typed note addressed to Mr. S.E Stuart at Bethlehem, Penn inserted between two unused pages. The note, dated 1892, reads “Sir: The Superintendent believing that you will appreciate the possession of your Cadet Check Book, authorizes me transit it to you, which herewith, I have the honor to do. Very Respectfully, Your obedient servant, WM F. Spurgin / Captain 21st Infantry / Treasurer U.S.M.A”.

Dates

  • Creation: 1876-1892
  • Creation: Majority of material found in 1876-1880

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Biographical Note

Sidney E. Stuart was a cadet at the United States Military Academy. He attended the New York Military Academy West Point in the 1870s under the Treasurer J. M. Mills.

Extent

0.20 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

Unknown

Accruals and Additions

9999-206

Title
Sidney E. Stuart Account Book
Status
Completed
Author
Meghann Herd, Dakota Greenwich
Date
04/26/2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego CA 92182-8050 US
619-594-6791