Guthrie-Caperton Family Papers, 1780-1939
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Guthrie-Caperton family
Title: Papers, 1780-1939
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 9 cubic feet
Location Number: Mss. A G984
Scope and Content Note
James Guthrie (1792-1869), lawyer, member of the Kentucky legislature, U.S. senator, and secretary of the treasury, and John Caperton (1837-1900), lawyer, California pioneer, businessman, landowner, and Guthrie’s son-in-law, are the focal points of the collection.
Guthrie’s papers consist of correspondence, 1811-1871; land papers, 1780-1867; legal papers, 1802-1870; accounts, 1812-1866; bills, receipts, and promissory notes, 1801-1871; papers of Guthrie’s estate; stock certificates; commission as secretary of the treasury; and steamboat papers, 1819-1857. Small groups of the papers of John Rowan, Joseph Hamilton Daviess, John C. Fremont, William Kenton (son of Simon Kenton), William C. Buck, John and William Aull Co., 1815-1837, John and Samuel Thomas Co., 1823-1835, James Craig and William Culver, and Paschal D. Craddock and Thomas Hundley are included in Guthrie’s papers.
The correspondence discusses law activities of James Guthrie and Levi Tyler, Guthrie’s interest in the Louisville Hotel, the Peters Colony of Texas, politics, Congressional activity, railroads, land in Ill., operation of steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi, duties while secretary of treasury (including John C. Fremont’s account of his 1845 expedition in California and his claims against the government), news, and family matters. Guthrie’s correspondents include Leven L. Shreve, Thomas Hicks, E. G. Minor, Charles J. Meng, John D. Colmesnil, Adam Guthrie, John W. Stevenson, and John C. Breckinridge.
The papers of John Caperton consist of correspondence, 1846-1892; letterbook of Caperton, 1859-1860; land papers, 1832-1893; legal papers, 1851-1892; accounts, 1847-1882; bills, receipts, and promissory notes, 1843-1894; stock certificates; two household account books, 1872-1880, of Mary E. Caperton; maps; pamphlets; and newspaper clippings. Small groups of the papers of J. Guthrie Coke (b. 1841), J. Lawrence Smith (1818-1883), Sarah Julia Smith
(1827-1901), and John Hays Caperton (1857-1923) are included in Caperton’s papers.
Correspondence discusses life and explorations in Texas during the 1840s, an overland trip to California in 1849, life in California in the early 1850s, work as deputy sheriff of San Francisco County, business in Louisville, lands in Texas and California, politics, railroads, mining, Louisville real estate development, and news of family and friends.
Caperton’s correspondents include Colonel John C. “Jack” Hays, J. A. Freaner, W. H. Glascock about affairs in California, and Harry Thompson Hays, Allen T. Caperton, J. H. Rhorer, John H. Caperton, C. J. Benham, James Guthrie, G. R. Arbegust, Hugh Caperton, J. M. Preston, A. B. Gray, and Horatio D. Newcomb.
Folder List
Box 1
1 James Guthrie correspondence, 1811-1819.
2 James Guthrie correspondence, 1820.
3 James Guthrie correspondence, 1822-1823.
4 James Guthrie correspondence, 1824-1826.
5 James Guthrie correspondence, 1827.
6 James Guthrie correspondence, 1828-1829.
7 James Guthrie correspondence, 1830-1831.
8 James Guthrie correspondence, 1832.
9 James Guthrie correspondence, 1833-1834.
10 James Guthrie correspondence, 1835.
11 James Guthrie correspondence, 1836.
12 James Guthrie correspondence, 1837.
13 James Guthrie correspondence, 1838.
14 James Guthrie correspondence, 1839.
Box 2
15 James Guthrie correspondence, 1840 Feb.-June.
16 James Guthrie correspondence, 1840 July-Dec.
17 James Guthrie correspondence, 1841 Jan.-June.
18 James Guthrie correspondence, 1841 July-Dec.
19 James Guthrie correspondence, 1842 Jan.-June.
20 James Guthrie correspondence, 1842 July-Dec.
21 James Guthrie correspondence, 1843 Feb.-June.
22 James Guthrie correspondence, 1843 July-Dec.
23 James Guthrie correspondence, 1844 Jan.-May.
24 James Guthrie correspondence, 1844 June-Dec.
25 James Guthrie correspondence, 1845 Jan.-Apr.
26 James Guthrie correspondence, 1845 May-Dec.
27 James Guthrie correspondence, 1846.
28 James Guthrie correspondence, 1847.
Box 3
29 James Guthrie correspondence, 1848 Jan.-Aug.
30 James Guthrie correspondence, 1848 Sept.-Dec.
31 James Guthrie correspondence, 1849 Jan.-Aug.
32 James Guthrie correspondence, 1849 Sept.-Dec.
33 James Guthrie correspondence, 1850 Jan.-Mar.
34 James Guthrie correspondence, 1850 Apr.-June.
35 James Guthrie correspondence, 1850 July-Dec.
36 James Guthrie correspondence, 1851 Jan.-Apr.
37 James Guthrie correspondence, 1851 May-July.
38 James Guthrie correspondence, 1851 Sept.-Dec.
39 James Guthrie correspondence, 1852 Jan.-May.
40 James Guthrie correspondence, 1852 June-Dec.
41 James Guthrie correspondence, 1853 Jan.-June.
Box 4
42 James Guthrie correspondence, 1853 July-Dec.
43 James Guthrie correspondence, 1854.
44 James Guthrie correspondence, 1855.
45 James Guthrie correspondence, 1856 Jan.-June.
46 James Guthrie correspondence, 1856 July-Dec.
47 James Guthrie correspondence, 1857.
48 James Guthrie correspondence, 1858-1859.
49 James Guthrie correspondence, 1860-1861.
50 James Guthrie correspondence, 1862-1865.
51 James Guthrie correspondence, 1865-1871.
52 James Guthrie correspondence, n.d.
53 James Guthrie land papers, 1780-1813.
54 James Guthrie land papers, 1814-1819.
55 James Guthrie land papers, 1820-1829.
Box 5
56 James Guthrie land papers, 1830-1831.
57 James Guthrie land papers, 1832-1834.
58 James Guthrie land papers, 1835-1836.
59 James Guthrie land papers, 1837-1838.
60 James Guthrie land papers, 1839.
61 James Guthrie land papers, 1840.
62 James Guthrie land papers, 1841.
63 James Guthrie land papers, 1842.
64 James Guthrie land papers, 1843.
65 James Guthrie land papers, 1844.
66 James Guthrie land papers, 1845.
67 James Guthrie land papers, 1846.
68 James Guthrie land papers, 1847 Jan.-May.
Box 6
69 James Guthrie land papers, 1847 July-Dec.
70 James Guthrie land papers, 1848.
71 James Guthrie land papers, 1849.
72 James Guthrie land papers, 1850.
73 James Guthrie land papers, 1851.
74 James Guthrie land papers, 1852.
75 James Guthrie land papers, 1853.
76 James Guthrie land papers, 1854-1857.
77 James Guthrie land papers, 1858-1860.
78 James Guthrie land papers, 1861-1863.
79 James Guthrie land papers, 1864-1867.
80 James Guthrie land papers, n.d.
Box 7
81 James Guthrie legal papers, 1802-1816.
82 James Guthrie legal papers, 1817-1819.
83 James Guthrie legal papers, 1820-1822.
84 James Guthrie legal papers, 1823-1826.
85 James Guthrie legal papers, 1827-1828.
86 James Guthrie legal papers, 1829-1831.
87 James Guthrie legal papers, 1832.
88 James Guthrie legal papers, 1833.
89 James Guthrie legal papers, 1834.
90 James Guthrie legal papers, 1835-1836.
91 James Guthrie legal papers, 1837.
92 James Guthrie legal papers, 1838.
93 James Guthrie legal papers, 1839.
94 James Guthrie legal papers, 1840-1841.
Box 8
95 James Guthrie legal papers, 1842.
96 James Guthrie legal papers, 1843-1845.
97 James Guthrie legal papers, 1846-1847.
98 James Guthrie legal papers, 1848-1849.
99 James Guthrie legal papers, 1850.
100 James Guthrie legal papers, 1851.
101 James Guthrie legal papers, 1852.
102 James Guthrie legal papers, 1853-1854.
103 James Guthrie legal papers, 1855-1856.
104 James Guthrie legal papers, 1857-1859.
105 James Guthrie legal papers, 1863-1870.
106 James Guthrie legal papers, n.d.
107 James Guthrie legal papers, n.d.
Box 9
108 James Guthrie accounts and memoranda, 1812-1835.
109 James Guthrie accounts and memoranda, 1836-1839.
110 James Guthrie accounts and memoranda, 1840-1844.
111 James Guthrie accounts and memoranda, 1845-1850.
112 James Guthrie accounts and memoranda, 1851-1866.
113 James Guthrie accounts and memoranda, n.d.
114 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1801-1829.
115 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1830-1834.
116 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1835-1836.
117 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1837.
118 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1838.
119 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1839.
120 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1840.
Box 10
121 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1841.
122 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1842.
123 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1843.
124 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1844.
125 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1845.
126 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1846-1847.
127 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1848-1849.
128 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1850.
129 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1851.
130 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1852.
Box 11
131 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1853 Jan.-June.
132 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1853 July-Sept.
133 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1853 Oct.-Dec.
134 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1854 Jan.-Apr.
135 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1854 May-Dec.
136 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1855.
137 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1856.
138 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1857-1859.
139 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1860-1862.
140 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1863-1865.
141 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1866.
142 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1867.
Box 12
143 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1868-1869.
144 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, 1870-1871.
145 James Guthrie bills, receipts, promissory notes, and orders to pay, n.d.
146 James Guthrie stock certificates, 1818-1865.
147 James Guthrie insurance policies, 1843-1863.
148 James Guthrie commission as Secretary of the Treasury, 1853 Mar. 7. Opinion on the powers of the Secretary.
149 James Guthrie checkbook, 1853 and canceled checks.
150 James Guthrie estate papers, 1869-1870.
151 Photographs of James Guthrie. Transferred to Photographs and Prints Dept.
152 James Guthrie: newspaper clippings and printed material.
153 James Guthrie miscellaneous material.
154 James Guthrie miscellaneous material.
Box 13
155 James Guthrie steamboat receipts, 1826-1856.
156 James Guthrie steamboat legal papers, 1819-1840.
157 James Guthrie steamboat legal papers, 1845-1851.
158 James Guthrie steamboat legal papers, 1852.
159 James Guthrie steamboat legal papers, 1854-1857.
160 James Guthrie will and estate papers, 1818-1857.
161 Constitution and by-laws of the Ohio and Mississippi Mail Line. Minutes, 1833 July 11. Miscellaneous papers.
162 Lexington and Ohio Railroad Co. legal papers, 1836-1837.
163 Little Rock and White River Railroad-an address, 1851 Nov. 28. Charter of the Grand Gulf Railroad and Banking Co.
164 The Miami Exporting Co. account book, 1805-1822.
165 James McGregor patent, 1840 July 15. Acknowledgment of application of William Gilbert for a patent, 1866 June 11.
166 Declaration of Sebastian Bellar, France, of his intention to become a citizen of the U.S., 1835 Jan. 7.
167 John Rowan papers, 1812-1842.
168 Joseph Hamilton Daviess legal papers. Will and estate papers, 1803-1843.
Box 14
169 John C. Fremont: Letters and statements about his part in the California expedition, 1855-1856.
170 Simon Kenton land and pension papers. William Kenton correspondence, 1857-1865.
171 Reverend William C. Buck correspondence, 1845-1851.
172 Reverend William C. Buck notes and accounts, 1845-1850 and n.d.
173 Reverend William C. Buck: Recommendations of the Baptist Hymn Book.
174 Reverend William C. Buck legal papers: Buck v.Monsarrat etc.
175 Reverend William C. Buck legal papers: Buck v.Monsarrat etc.
176 Culver & Craig correspondence, 1832-1840.
177 Craddock-Hundley legal papers, 1835-1849.
178 Craddock-Hundley legal papers, 1850-1865.
179 Craddock-Hundley land papers, 1839-1846.
180 Craddock-Hundley receipts, 1837-1855.
181 Craddock-Hundley miscellaneous.
Box 15
182 John and WilliamAullCo. correspondence, 1815 Nov.-1816 Feb.
183 John and WilliamAull Co. correspondence, 1816 Mar.-June.
184 John and WilliamAull Co. correspondence, 1816 July-Dec.
185 John and WilliamAullCo. correspondence, 1817 Jan.-Mar.
186 John and WilliamAull Co. correspondence, 1817 Apr.-July.
187 Aulland Thomas legal papers, 1817-1833.
188 John and WilliamAull Co. receipts, 1815 Feb.-1816 Feb.
189 John and WilliamAull Co. receipts, 1816 Mar.-May.
190 John and William Aull Co. receipts, 1816 June-Dec.
191 John and WilliamAullCo. receipts, 1817-1837.
192 MiscellaneousAull papers. Article about James and Robert Aull, 1936.
Box 16
193 John and Samuel Thomas correspondence, 1824 Feb.-1825 Feb.
194 John and Samuel Thomas correspondence, 1825 Mar.
195 John and Samuel Thomas correspondence, 1825 Apr.
196 John and Samuel Thomas correspondence, 1825 May.
197 John and Samuel Thomas correspondence, 1825 June.
198 John and Samuel Thomas correspondence, 1825 July.
199 John and Samuel Thomas correspondence, 1825 Aug.-1835.
200 John and Samuel Thomas legal papers, 1823-1826.
201 John and Samuel Thomas receipts, 1823-1824.
202 John and Samuel Thomas receipts, 1825.
203 John and Samuel Thomas receipts, 1826-1830 and n.d.
204 John Thomas miscellaneous material.
Box 17
205 John Caperton correspondence, 1846-1849.
206 John Caperton correspondence, 1850.
207 John Caperton correspondence, 1851.
208 John Caperton correspondence, 1852.
209 John Caperton correspondence, 1853-1854.
210 John Caperton correspondence, 1855.
211 John Caperton correspondence, 1856.
212 John Caperton correspondence, 1857.
213 John Caperton correspondence, 1858.
214 John Caperton correspondence, 1859-1861.
215 John Caperton correspondence, 1862-1863.
216 John Caperton correspondence, 1864.
217 John Caperton correspondence, 1865.
218 John Caperton correspondence, 1866.
219 John Caperton correspondence, 1867 Jan.-June.
220 John Caperton correspondence, 1867 July-Dec.
Box 18
221 John Caperton correspondence, 1868 Jan.-June.
222 John Caperton correspondence, 1868 July-Nov.
223 John Caperton correspondence, 1869 Jan.-June.
224 John Caperton correspondence, 1869 July-Sept.
225 John Caperton correspondence, 1869 Oct-Dec.
226 John Caperton correspondence, 1870 Jan.-Mar.
227 John Caperton correspondence, 1870 Apr.-June.
228 John Caperton correspondence, 1870 July-Sept.
229 John Caperton correspondence, 1870 Oct.-Dec.
230 John Caperton correspondence, 1871.
231 John Caperton correspondence, 1872 Apr.-July.
Box 19
232 John Caperton correspondence, 1872 Aug.
233 John Caperton correspondence, 1872 Sept.
234 John Caperton correspondence, 1872 Oct.-Dec.
235 John Caperton correspondence, 1873 Jan.-June.
236 John Caperton correspondence, 1873 July-Dec.
237 John Caperton correspondence, 1874 Jan.-Mar.
238 John Caperton correspondence, 1874 Apr.-May.
239 John Caperton correspondence, 1874 June-July.
240 John Caperton correspondence, 1874 Aug.-Oct.
241 John Caperton correspondence, 1874 Nov.-Dec.
242 John Caperton correspondence, 1875 Jan.-Feb.
243 John Caperton correspondence, 1875 Mar.-Apr.
244 John Caperton correspondence, 1875 May-June.
Box 20
245 John Caperton correspondence, 1875 July-Aug.
246 John Caperton correspondence, 1875 Sept.-Dec.
247 John Caperton correspondence, 1876 Jan.-June.
248 John Caperton correspondence, 1876 July-Oct.
249 John Caperton correspondence, 1877-1892.
250 John Caperton correspondence, n.d.
251 John Caperton correspondence, n.d.
252 John Caperton land papers, 1832-1868.
253 John Caperton land papers, 1871-1877.
254 John Caperton land papers, 1881-1893.
255 John Caperton land papers, n.d.
Box 21
256 John Caperton legal papers, 1851-1859.
257 John Caperton legal papers, 1860-1870.
258 John Caperton legal papers, 1871-1892.
259 John Caperton legal papers, n.d.
260 John Caperton legal papers, n.d.
261 John Caperton accounts, 1847-1865.
262 John Caperton accounts, 1866-1872.
263 John Caperton accounts, 1872-1882.
264 John Caperton accounts, n.d.
265 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1843-1862.
266 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1863-1866.
267 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1867-1869.
268 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1870-1871.
269 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1872.
Box 22
270 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1873.
271 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1874.
272 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1875.
273 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1876.
274 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1877.
275 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1878.
276 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1879.
277 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1880.
278 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1881.
279 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1882-1883.
280 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1884.
281 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1885.
282 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1886.
283 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1887.
Box 23
284 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1888.
285 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1889.
286 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1890.
287 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1891.
288 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, 1892-1894.
289 John Caperton bills, receipts, promissory notes and orders to pay, n.d.
290 John Caperton stock certificates, 1853-1875.
291 John Caperton: U.S. survey maps.
292 John Caperton. Pamphlets: San Diego and Southern California, 1870. Compania Esplotadora, 1857.
293 John Caperton newspaper clippings.
294 John Caperton prescriptions, etc.
295 Caperton children school reports. Hugh Caperton composition.
296 Compositions written by Mary E. and Julia Caperton and Augusta Caldwell.
297 Compositions written by Mary E. and Julia Caperton and Augusta Caldwell.
298 John Caperton miscellaneous material.
299 John Caperton miscellaneous material.
Box 24
300 James Guthrie Coke correspondence, 1871.
301 James Guthrie Coke receipts, 1863-1872.
302 White Stone Quarry Co. pamphlet.
303 White Stone Quarry Co. shipping receipts, 1872 May-Aug.
304 J. Lawrence Sarah Julia Smith receipts, 1851-1890.
305 Sarah Julia Smith will. State and county tax receipts, 1883-1887.
306 Sarah Julia Smith state and county tax receipts, 1888-1893.
307 Sarah Julia Smith state and county tax receipts, 1894-1900.
308 John Hays Caperton correspondence, 1889-1911.
309 John Hays Caperton correspondence, 1913-1916.
310 John Hays Caperton correspondence, 1917.
311 John Hays Caperton correspondence, 1918.
312 John Hays Caperton correspondence, 1919-1921.
313 John Hays Caperton correspondence, 1922-1939.
314 John Hays Caperton legal papers, 1908.
Box 25
315 John Hays Caperton receipts, 1889-1892.
316 John Hays Caperton receipts, 1907-1908 Apr.
317 John Hays Caperton receipts, 1908 May-June.
318 John Hays Caperton receipts, 1908 July-Dec.
319 John Hays Caperton receipts, 1912.
320 John Hays Caperton receipts, 1913 Jan.-Feb.
321 John Hays Caperton receipts, 1913 Mar.-May.
322 John Hays Caperton receipts, 1913 June-Dec.
323 John Hays Caperton: Sarah Julia Smith estate papers.
324 John Hays Caperton: Sarah Julia Smith estate papers.
325 John Hays Caperton: Sarah Julia Smith estate papers.
326 Caperton Realty Co. records, 1916-1923.
327 Specifications for apartment building, 4th and Chestnut streets,
Box 26
328 Specifications for alterations to building, South Fourth Street, Jennie C. Benedict & Co., 1911.
329 Proof sheets forThe Killing of Adam Caperton, 1918.
330 John H. Caperton examination books. Hugh J. Caperton prize cards.
331 John Hays Caperton miscellaneous papers.
332 Caperton family: invitations and calling cards.
Box 27
333 John Capertonletterbook, 1859 Jan. 19-1860 Jan. 10.
334 Accountbooklisting the assets of the trust estates of Mary E. Caperton, Julia S. Caperton, John H. Caperton, and Hugh Caperton, 1872.
335 Mary E. Caperton account book of household expenses, 1872 Oct.-1876 Jan.
336 Mary E. Caperton account book of household expenses, 1876 Feb.-1880 May.
337 John Caperton account book, 1873 Dec.-1879 June.
338 John Caperton check stubs, 1869 May 18-1874 Dec. 23.
339 John Caperton check stubs, 1875 Jan. 7-1878 May 16.
340 Mary E. Caperton pass book, Savings Bank of Louisville.
341 John Caperton bank book, Tucker and Co., Bankers. Canceled checks.
