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Philip H. Burford papers

 Collection
Identifier: LH-0035

Scope and Contents note

This account book is missing its covers and the sewn pages have broken down into sections with several pages completely separate. A complete photocopy has been made of the pages for easier research use and to save the fragile book parts from handling. It appears to show Burford's business trade in goods and products such as molasses, brandy, cider and tobacco, as well as his accountings as administrator of various men's estates in Oglethorpe, Putnam, and deKalb counties, along with several pages of remedies for things like neuralgia, venereal disease and dropsy. It appears he paid medical visits to families and performed medical procedures, but does not use the title Doctor with his name. A sworn statement on one page signed by J.H. Rooker refers to Burford as "Dr." His procedures included bleeding patients, applying mustard plasters and administering purges. Burford charged for his services and for his mileage traveling to homes. An entry for 20 November 1824 shows Burford received for the estate of Peter Smith, which he administered, $56.16 from the estate of Michael Elsberry "in consequence of the claims against the Creek Nation of Indians."

Dates

  • bulk 1817-1861

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open to all users; no restrictions.

Biographical/Historical note

Philip H. Burford appears in Georgia federal census records beginning in 1820 in Lexington, Georgia, in Oglethorpe County. The name appears as P.H. Burford in the 1830 census in deKalb County, Georgia, and in the 1840 census in deKalb County as Phillip Burford. In the 1850 census, his name appears in DeKalb with a wife (?), Nancy, his occupation listed as farmer, and his land value at $2,000. The 1850 census also lists this Burford's birth year as 1774 and North Carolina as the place of birth. The name does not appear in the 1860 census, but the latest entries appearing in this accounts book are dated 1861. Another name, D. Burford and Daniel Burford, appears in the ledger accounts, but it is not apparent how this person might be related.

Extent

0.21 Linear feet (1 box)

Language

English

Overview

This account book spans the years 1817 to 1861 and is a record of payments received for medical services, goods and products, and for the estates of several men, which Philip H. Burford appears to have administered. It also contains several recipes for remedies of ailments such as affected lungs, neuralgia, dropsy and venereal disease. There is no reference to Carroll County in these pages, but the book was found in the attic of the Coleman home on Newnan Street in Carrollton nearly 100 years ago.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Collection donated by Vachel Zachary, 1981; handwritten note says "This book came from the attic of Mrs. A.W. Coleman's home on [606] Newnan Street, the site of the present Episcopal Church. Mrs. Coleman was cleaning out the attic at the time in preparation to move to Honduras c. 1914 or 1915." A scrap from an old Christmas card has typed on it "Account Book of Dr. P.H. Burford 1817 Loaned by Mr. Vachel Zachary."

Processing Information note

Processed by Suzanne Durham in October 2008.

Title
Guide to the Philip H. Burford papers LH-0035
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Written by Suzanne Durham
Date
2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the University of West Georgia Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections, Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton GA 30118-2000 United States