Descriptive Inventory forthe Collection at Chicago History Museum, Research Center
By Richard Popp, 1982; rev. 2013
Please address questions to:
Chicago History Museum, Research Center
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614-6038
Web-site: http://www.chicagohistory.org/research
© Copyright 2013, ChicagoHistorical Society, 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614-6038
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131 linear ft. (245 boxes, 3 v., 15 pkgs.)
28 microfilm reels : neg. ; 35 mm. (Camera negative ofaccount books).
28 microfilm reels ; 35 mm. (Reader copy of account books).
Access:This collectionis open for research use.
Provenance statement:Gift of the Leiter Liquidation Trust (M1971.0005). Three Levi Leiter letterswere purchased from L.E. Dicke of Evanston in May 1949 (accn. 1949.0011). Theyare listed individually in the card catalog and interfiled chronologically inBox 46 of this collection.
Terms governing use:Copyright may be retained by the creators ofitems, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law,unless otherwise noted.
Please cite this collection as: Levi Z. Leiter papers and Leiterestate records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, andbox/folder number of a specific item.
This descriptive inventory includes:
Brief biographies of Levi Z. Leiter, Joseph Leiter, andhistory of the estate of L. Z. Leiter,
Summary description of the collection,
Description of some materials related to this collection,
Arrangement of the collection,
Detailed description of archival series in the collection,
List of online catalog headingsabout the collection,
List of contents of thecollection.
Biographical/historicalnote:
Levi Leiter: LeviLeiter, one of Chicago's leading nineteenth-century businessmen, was an earlypartner of Marshall Field and Potter Palmer in dry goods merchandising and,later, a major investor in real estate, stocks, and securities. He was bornNovember 2, 1834, in Leitersburg, Maryland, the son of Joseph Leiter and AnnZeigler. After moving to Chicago in 1855, Levi Leiter met Marshall Field whileboth were employed as clerks for Cooley, Wadsworth and Company, a wholesaledrapery house in which they soon became partners. In 1865 they sold theirinterest to John V. Farwell and purchased controlling interest in a dry goodsfirm founded by Potter Palmer, which became the department store known asField, Palmer and Leiter. Palmer retired in 1867, and the name was changed toField, Leiter and Company. Field was the merchandiser, and Leiter specializedin credit and finance.
Levi Leiter also began investing in land and buildings, andin 1881 sold his share of the dry goods business to Marshall Field. Over theyears Leiter invested heavily in downtown Chicago real estate, including an8-story building on State Street known as the Leiter Building, which wascompleted in 1893 and leased to Siegel, Cooper & Company, a departmentstore. In addition, he owned 7500 acres of coal lands in Franklin and Williamsoncounties in southern Illinois, half interest in 13,000 acres of ranch lands inWyoming, mine claims in several western states. His diverse investments instocks and securities included major holdings in the Chicago City Railroad,Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, the Grand Pacific Hotel, and Pullman PalaceCar Company.
An active promoter of Chicago business and philanthropicinterests, Leiter served as director of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society from1874 to 1880, helped fund the erection of a new Chicago Historical Societybuilding in 1874, helped to organize the Commercial Club in 1881, and becamethe second president of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1881.
Levi Leiter married Mary Theresa Carver of Chicago in 1866.They had one son, Joseph, and three daughters: Mary Victoria, who marriedGeorge, Lord Curzon of Kedleston, one-time viceroy of India; Nancy LathropCarver (“Nannie”), who married Col. Colin Campbell; and Marguerite Hyde(“Daisy”) who married the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire. The Leiters spent muchof their time at homes in Washington, D.C., and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, andtraveled extensively.
Levi Leiter died June 9, 1904, at Bar Harbor, Maine. At hisdeath his estate was valued at approximately $14 million.
Joseph Leiter,1868-1932: Joseph Leiter, LeviLeiter's only son, was born December 4, 1868, in Chicago. He attended school atSt. Paul's, Concord, New Hampshire, and graduated from Harvard in 1891. Hebecame an agent in his father's office in 1893 and managed the business affairsof his father and, then, of his father's estate beginning in 1904.
Joseph Leiter is known for his attempt to corner the wheatmarket in 1897-1898. At one time he owned 22,000,000 bushels in futures and hadpushed the price up from 64 cents to $1.86 a bushel. The market broke, however,and Leiter was forced to sell at a loss of $10-$12 million. His fatherpersonally covered the debts incurred. Undaunted, Joseph soon became involvedin a combine of Chicago street railways, a milk trust, and a Canadian meat trust.
Although Joseph shared trusteeship of his father's estatewith his mother and sisters, most of the practical management of estateproperties devolved upon him, as he was the only one of the family to remain inChicago. He also was given specific control of the coal lands in southernIllinois. Leiter founded the town of Zeigler, named after his father's mother'sfamily, and was president of Zeigler Coal Company and the Chicago, Zeigler andGulf Railroad, which connected the mines to other railroad lines atChristopher, Illinois. A series of costly and bloody strikes resulted in Leiter'sleasing the mines to another company to operate after 1910. Leiter was alsodirector at various times of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, ofCommonwealth Edison, of the Zeigler Store Company, and of the Washington GasLight Co.
Leiter married Juliette Williams in 1908, and they had threechildren: Joseph Jr. (who died in childhood), Thomas, and Nancy (subsequentlyMrs. Charles Thomas Clagett).
Joseph Leiter received considerable publicity in the 1920sbecause of a lawsuit claiming mismanagement of the estate brought against himby one of his sisters, Lady Suffolk, and by Lord Curzon, the husband of anothersister (who had died in 1906). Estate income had dwindled, and Leiter, with theapproval of his third sister Nancy Campbell, had used trust monies to developcertain properties in order to increase their income potential. Leiter tried tohelp the ailing Siegel, Cooper & Company, which had leased the Leiter Building,and after it folded in 1918, tried a new format for the building by reopeningit as Leiter Stores, with 117 retail tenants. Leiter used estate money to buyland adjacent to the coal property in Zeigler (Ill.), claiming it was necessaryfor the operations there. He also bought a lake in Wyoming, hoping to irrigateestate lands and make them profitable and to sell water to neighboring ranches.These projects were not very successful. The Cook County Superior Court ruledthat Leiter had acted in good faith in managing the estate and refused toremove him as trustee although he was required to pay back a large sum of moneyto the estate for investments he had made without proper authority. The rulingwas upheld on appeal. Following settlement of the suit in 1931, both Leiter andLady Suffolk resigned as trustees, leaving the management of the estate tonon-family members.
Joseph Leiter became a horse racing fan and owned a$5,000,000 stable in his later years. He died in Chicago on April 11, 1932, ofcomplications resulting from a cold he caught while attending races in NewOrleans.
History of the estateof L.Z. Leiter, 1904-1971:
In 1904, following the provisions of Levi Leiter's will, atrust was created to manage his property holdings after his death. The incomewas to be divided between his wife and children in their lifetimes, and whenthe last of his children died, the principal was to be divided among his heirs.
The original trustees of the estate were Leiter's widow,Mary T. Leiter, his son Joseph Leiter, daughters Nancy Campbell and MargueriteSuffolk, and Seymour Morris. Morris was later also a trustee of three otherlarge estates (Albert Keep, Lambert Tree, and Charles Couselman) and a vicepresident of the Chicago Railways Company. Mary Victoria Curzon was not part ofthe trust because a separate $1,000,000 trust had been set aside for her at thetime of her marriage. Joseph Leiter had been manager of his father's propertiesprior to his death. His father's will indicated that he intended for Joseph tocontinue in that capacity, even though the will gave the other trusteesnominally equal status in the management of his estate.
Levi Leiter's estate consisted of real estate, stocks,bonds, and other personal property. Properties held by Levi Leiter at the timeof his death were kept basically intact under the estate, although some weresold and others purchased from time to time to maintain the value of the trust.
After eight years of litigation concerning the management ofthe estate, Joseph Leiter retired as trustee in 1931. At that point theoperation of the estate was turned over to non-family agents. The lastsurviving child of Levi Leiter, Lady Suffolk, died in 1968, and a liquidationtrust was set up to dispose of the properties of the estate, with the proceedsgoing to the living descendants. The estate offices closed in 1971.
Summary descriptionof the collection:
The papers and records of Levi Leiter, Joseph Leiter, andthe Leiter estate include correspondence, account books, financial statements,minutes of meetings of the estate trustees, real estate accounts (includingplat maps, deeds, leases, appraisal reports, and building maintenance records),and records of investments in stocks, bonds, mines, and other businessventures. Records cover the period from 1852 to 1969 although the main body ofthe collection documents the operation of the Leiter estate from 1904 to the1940s. They concern mainly the management of properties that had been acquiredby Levi Leiter and managed by his estate after his death. Occasionally, theestate sold some investments and added others, but to a considerable extent,the estate retained Leiter's holdings.
The papers of Levi and Joseph Leiter relate almost entirelyto these business dealings and seldom touch on other matters. A notableexception to this generalization is the Joseph Leiter letterbook, 1897-1915(Box160A) which begins with a series of letterpress copies of Leiter's lettersof 1897 to John R. Tanner, newly elected Republican Governor of Illinois.Leiter is extremely candid in writing to Tanner of political dealings as wellas of his nation-wide financial interests. Leiter also refers to the New Yorkfinancier J. P. Morgan and Chicago industrialists and entrepreneurs, NelsonMorris, Charles Yerkes, John Gates, Armour, and Mitchell. The development oftraction railway systems is the most frequently recurring subject. Also ofinterest are Leiter's letters to his sister Mary Curzon (May 1906), her Englishtrustee (June 1906), and, following her death, to her widower, Lord Curzon(November 1906). Mutual distrust between Leiter and his sister andbrother-in-law is quite apparent in Leiter's letters to them.
Levi Leiter's business records constitute a small part ofthe collection but do give a good picture of the pattern of his investmentsbefore they came under the management of the estate and his son Joseph. Theseinvestments included land and buildings in downtown Chicago, housing tracts inthe suburban areas of Englewood and La Grange, coal properties in southernIllinois, mines and mining companies in the West, and ranch lands in Wyoming,as well as a diverse portfolio of stocks and bonds. Materials concerning Leiter'sbusiness affairs may be found throughout the collection and include copies ofhis outgoing correspondence, 1903-04; incoming correspondence, stockcertificates, deeds and mortgage notes, 1852-1904; account books, 1880-1904;lease records, 1888-1904; and miscellaneous property records (plat maps, taxnotices, insurance records, building income and expenses, etc.).
Description of somematerials related to the collection:
Related materials at Chicago History Museum, ResearchCenter, include the Architectural records for Leiter estate properties andrelated sites (1971.0375); the Levi Leiter photograph collection (1985.0464);individual photographs of family members filed by name; and individual lettersby family members cataloged separately. Some printed works cataloged separatelyin the library include a book by Mrs. Mary Theresa Leiter, Levi Leiter's will,two catalogs of rare books he owned, and items on legal disputes between JosephLeiter and others.
Four journals or notebooks, 1865-1891, of Mary TheresaLeiter (Mrs. Levi Z. Leiter) and one journal, 1882, of her daughter, MaryVictoria Leiter (later Lady Curzon) are cataloged separately from thiscollection. They were the gift of Eugene R. Pike in 1932.
Annual reports of companies in which the Leiter Estate ownedstock, publications concerning Illinois taxes and railroads, and a volumeshowing real estate assessments for the Town of South Chicago for 1892 and 1897were received with the Levi Z. Leiter papers and Leiter estate records andtransferred to the library.
List of online catalog headings about the collection:
The following entries were placed in the online catalog forthis collection:
Main entry: Leiter, Levi Z. (Levi Ziegler), 1834-1904
Subjects:
Leiter, Levi Z. (Levi Ziegler), 1834-1904--Archives.
Leiter, Joseph, 1869-1932.
Campbell, Nancy (Nancy Lathrop Carver), 1872-1930.
Suffolk and Berkshire, Marguerite Hyde, Countess of,d1879-1968
Curzon, Mary, Lady, 1870-1906.
Curzon, George Nathaniel Curzon, Marquis of, 1859-1925
Erlanger Theater (Chicago, Ill.
Grand Pacific Hotel (Chicago, Ill.)
Leiter Building (Chicago, Ill.)
Leiter Building II (Chicago, Ill.)
Leiter Stores (Chicago, Ill.)
Siegel, Cooper & Company
Zeigler Coal Company.
Businessmen--Illinois--Chicago.
Coal mines and mining--Illinois--Zeigler.
Family--Illinois--Chicago.
Hotels--Illinois--Chicago.
Leiter estate lawsuits, Chicago, Ill., 1923-1931.
Mineral industries--West (U.S.)
Ranches--Wyoming
Real property--Illinois--Chicago.
Real estate investment--United States
Chicago (Ill.)--Commerce.
Zeigler (Ill.)--Commerce.
Lake DeSmet (Wyo.)
Wyoming--Economic conditions
Genre:
Account books.
Appraisals.
Letterpress copy books.
Maps.
Plat maps.
Added entries:
Leiter, Joseph, 1869-1932.
Curzon, George Nathaniel Curzon, Marquis of, 1859-1925
Suffolk and Berkshire, Marguerite Hyde, Countess of,1879-1968
Erlanger Theater (Chicago, Ill.
Grand Pacific Hotel (Chicago, Ill.)
Leiter Building (Chicago, Ill.)
Maksawba Club (Ind.)
United States--Illinois--Cook County--Chicago.
Arrangement of the collection"
Series 1. Correspondence 1852-1969 (box 1-155)
Subseries 1. Outgoing correspondence 1903-1946 (box 1-45)
Subseries 2. Incoming correspondence and papers, 1852-1969(box 46-155)
Series 2. General estate administration, 1881-1969 (box156-182)
Subseries 1. Trustees minutes, 1906-1969 (box 156-159)
Subseries 2. Miscellaneous estate papers, 1904-1961 (box159-163)
Subseries 3. Financial records 1881-1964 (on shelf & box164-182)
Series 3. Property records, 1852-1965 (box 183-223)
Subseries 1. General records 1852-1963 (box 183-191)
Subseries 2. Chicago properties 1880-1963 (box 192-204)
Subseries 3. Wyoming ranches 1880-1961 (box 205-216)
Subseries 4. Miscellaneous properties 1883-1945 (on shelfand box 217-223)
Detailed descriptionof archival series in the collection:
The collection is arranged in three series: 1.Correspondence, 1852-1969; 2. General estate administration, 1881-1969; and 3.Property records, 1852-1963.
A major portion of the materials in all three seriesconcerns properties owned by Leiter--and later by his estate--in the ChicagoLoop area; a hotel, a theater, a department store, and a number of otherbuildings leased to retail shops and commercial exhibitions and to offices ofbusinesses, unions, and government agencies. These records provide a detailedcross-section of business activity in the central area of Chicago for a periodof nearly fifty years because they frequently contain information about theoperations of the businesses that leased the properties as well as informationabout building construction, maintenance, modification, insurance, rent, andtaxes.
Series 1.Correspondence 1852-1969 (box 1-155):
Series 1 contains the major body of correspondence of thecollection, filed chronologically. Most of the correspondence dates from 1903to the 1940s, and details day-to-day business activities and management of alarge number of properties, particularly lands and buildings in downtownChicago, as well as coal properties in southern Illinois, the Wyoming ranches,and other investments and financial matters. Letters concern lease agreementsand negotiations, building maintenance and improvements, and on-going effortsto make the properties profitable.
Subseries 1, Outgoing correspondence 1903-1946, consists of139 volumes of letterpress copies of Levi Leiter's outgoing letters, 1903-1904,and, from 1904 on, of agents of his estate. The correspondence pertains to theadministration of the diverse holdings of Leiter and his estate; much of itconcerns routine matters, but major investments and decisions are alsodocumented. The letterbooks contain a few letters written by Joseph Leiter,some of which deal with his opposition to labor unions in the Zeigler, Illinoiscoal mines. Additional correspondence of Joseph Leiter and of Seymour Morris, atrustee of the estate, are located in Series 2, and a series of letterbooksdealing with the Wyoming ranch property is located in Series 3 Subseries 3.
Subseries 2, Incoming correspondence 1852-1969, includesincoming letters, stock certificates, and miscellaneous papers of Levi Leiterdated 1852-1904. The rest of the subseries is a file of letters and papersreceived by the estate office 1904-1969. Much of the material concerns tenantrelations, lease negotiations, and maintenance and alterations of Chicago Loopbuildings owned by the estate. Other properties are also documented, includingthe Ziegler coal mines and related properties, the Wyoming ranches, mines inMontana, Colorado and Utah, and a large number of stocks and bonds.Administrative matters such as distribution of income to family members andreplacing trustees of the estate are covered as well. Letters in Subseries 1are often answered by letters in Subseries 2, and vice versa.
Series 2. Generalestate administration, 1881-1969 (box 156-182):
Series 2 contains papers relating to the generaladministration of the estate of Levi Leiter. Included in this series are papersand correspondence concerning estate trustees and their activities as well asheirs of the estate and the settlement that they received. Also present aresets of account books and financial records documenting the disposition ofestate income and expenses as well as certain account books of Levi Leiterwhich detail the management of some of his investments that became part of hisestate.
Subseries 1, Trustees minutes, contains minutes of meetingsof the trustees of the Leiter estate from 1906 to 1969. The set is incomplete.The minutes contain reports on properties and investments, purchases and salesof major holdings, income distribution, and other administrative matters.
Subseries 2, Miscellaneous estate records, includesletterpress copies of outgoing correspondence of Joseph Leiter, 1897-1915;letterbooks of Seymour Morris, an estate trustee; correspondence with WilliamScott Bond, Lady Suffolk's legal representative in Chicago; and correspondenceand papers concerning other trustees and heirs of the estate and administrativematters. Court transcripts and briefs of Lady Suffolk's suit against JosephLeiter in the 1920s for mismanagement of the estate are also contained in thissubseries.
Subseries 3, Financial records, begins with a set of accountbooks of Levi Leiter, documenting his business dealings from 1880-1904, andincludes both cash journals and ledgers. Following these are journals andledgers of the Leiter estate, which are virtually complete for the years1904-1963. These records give detailed descriptions of all financialtransactions. Cash journals show daily receipts and disbursements, includingrent and interest income and building maintenance expense; accounts payablejournals list each voucher paid and for what purpose; and ledgers tally amountsby account. Auditor's reports and semi-annual financial statements give summaryreports of the financial status of the estate. Other records in the subseriesinclude Joseph Leiter's personal account books 1903-1924, stock and bondrecords of the estate, income tax records, three unidentified account books,and miscellaneous financial reports for some years. Financial records dealingwith specific properties of the estate are found listed under those propertiesin Series 3.
Series 3. Propertyrecords, 1852-1965 (box 183-223):
Series 3 includes record books, financial papers andmiscellaneous files that deal more specifically with the property holdings ofthe estate. Most of the records in the series concern real estate, butbusinesses which leased Leiter properties and the businesses connected with theZeigler coal field are also documented.
Subseries 1 contains chronologically arranged recordsincluding plat maps, tax notices, insurance records, building maintenance andrepair records, appraisal reports, deeds, mortgages, and lease records. Therecords in this subseries pertain to the properties as a whole or list thevarious properties together. Much of the material concerns Chicago Loopbuildings and land, since those are the major holdings and income producers forthe estate. Also mentioned are the Zeigler coal mines, Wyoming ranches, andlands in Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, and Montana.
Subseries 2 contains records concerning individual Chicagoproperties (in the Loop as well as in Englewood, Kensington and La Grange),listed alphabetically by the name of the property. Included are appraisalreports, financial records, details of building repairs and alterations, andother records. Properties include the Leiter Building on State and Van Buren(which became the flagship store of Sears, Roebuck and Company in 1932), theCity Hall Square Building and Erlanger Theater at 139 N. Clark, the Loop CenterBuilding at 105 W. Madison, and the Grand Pacific Hotel at 226-242 S. Clark, aswell as a number of smaller office buildings and other property.
Subseries 3 contains materials concerning the Wyomingranches owned by the Leiter estate. A large ranch located near Clearmont,Wyoming, was managed by the estate and several others were leased out. The landwas first used for pasturing cattle, then sheep, and subsequently leased totenants for growing sugar beets and small grains. Houses and grain elevatorswere constructed for the tenants. Constant water shortages led to the purchaseof Lake DeSmet and the construction of a ditch system for irrigation. In lateryears much of the land was leased for oil and gas rights. The subseriesincludes a series of letterbooks containing copies of letters from the estateoffice in Chicago to ranch mangers in Wyoming 1907-1929. Correspondence fromWyoming to the estate office (more correspondence can be found in Series 1),reports concerning the Lake DeSmet irrigation project, land patents and taxrecords, financial records, and other records regarding various aspects ofranch operations. Materials cover routine operations as well as specificprojects attempted to make the lands profitable.
Subseries 4 contains records of other properties of theLeiter estate--mainly properties in Zeigler, Illinois (Zeigler Coal Company,Zeigler Store Company, and Chicago, Zeigler and Gulf Railroad, which connectedthe mines to other railroad lines), the Maksawba Club (the Leiters were majorstockholders of this recreational club for businessmen, and managed itsproperties in Indiana), mines in Montana, Colorado and Utah, and otherproperties in California, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. The records arearranged alphabetically by name of property.
List of contents of the collection:
Abbreviations used inthis list:
Shelf= large volumes or packages, not in boxes. Request by title and nearest box#.
Series 1.Correspondence 1852-1969 (box 1-155)
Subseries 1. Outgoingcorrespondence, 1903-1946 (box 1-45)
box 1 Subject indexto letterbooks, 1916-18 (1 vol.)
box 2 May-Dec. 1903(4 vols.)
box 3 Dec. 1903-May1904 (4 vols.)
box 4 May-Oct. 1904(4 vols.)
box 5 Oct. 1904-Feb. 1905(4 vols.)
box 6 Feb-July 1905(4 vols.)
box 7 July-Dec. 1905(4 vols.)
box 8 Dec. 1905-Oct. 1906(4 vols.)
box 9 Oct. 1906-Jan1908 (4 vols.) (Jan-Apr. 1908 missing)
box 10Apr. 1908-May1909 (4 vols.)
box 11May 1909-Apr. 1910(4 vols.)
box 12May 1910-Feb. 11(4 vols.)
box 13Feb-July 1911 (3vol.)
box 14July 1911-Feb. 1912(3 vols.)
box 15Feb-July 1912 (3vols.)
box 16July 1912-May1913 (3 vols.)
box 17May 1913-mar1914 (3 vols.)
box 18Mar-Dec. 1914 (3vols.)
box 19Dec. 1914-Aug. 1915(3 vols.)
box 20Aug. 1915-May1916 (3 vols.)
box 21May 1916-Mar1917 (3 vols.)
box 22Mar-Oct. 1917 (3vols.)
box 23Oct. 1917-Aug. 1918(3 vols.)
box 24Aug. 1918-June1919 (3 vols.)
box 25June 1919-Jan1920 (3 vols.)
box 26Jan-Oct. 1920 (3vols.)
box 27Oct. 1920-Aug. 1921(3 vols.)
box 28Aug. 1921-May1922 (3 vols.)
box 29May 1922-mar1923 (3 vols.)
box 30Mar-Dec. 1923 (3vols.)
box 31Dec. 1923-Aug. 1924(3 vols.)
box 32Aug. 1924-July1925 (3 vols.)
box 33July 1925-Sept. 1926(3 vols.)
box 34Sept. 1926-Nov. 1927(3 vols.)
box 35Nov. 1927-Aug. 1929(3 vols.)
box 36Aug. 1929-Oct. 1931(3 vols.)
box 37Oct. 1931-Oct. 1933(3 vols.)
box 38Oct. 1933-Jan1935 (3 vols.)
box 39Jan 1935-(Oct. 1936(3 vols.)
box 40Oct. 1936-June1938 (3 vols.)
box 41June 1938-May1940 (3 vols.)
box 42May 1940-Sept. 1941(2 vols.)
box 43Sept. 1941-May1943 (2 vols.)
box 44May 1943-May1945 (2 vols.)
box 45May 1945-Dec. 1946(2 vols.)
Series 1.Correspondence 1852-1969 (box 1-155)
Subseries 2. Incomingcorrespondence and papers, 1852-1969 (box 46-155)
box 46
folders:
1-2 1852-1896(includes 3 letters acquired from Dicke collection and described at end of thisdescriptive inventory)
box 47
1-8 1897-1899 and1900s undated; 1900-1903
box 48
1-6 1903-1904
box 49
1-6 1904-05
box 50
1-7 1905
box 51
1-7 1905-06
box 52
1-7 1906-07
box 53
1-7 1907-08
box 54
1-8 1908-09
Box55
1-8 1909
Box56
1-8 1909
box 57
1-7 1909-10
box 58
1-8 1910
box 59
1-7 1910
box 60
1-7 1910
box 61
1-7 1910-11
box 62
1-7 1911
box 63
1-7 1911
box 64
1-7 1911
box 65
1-7 1911
box 66
1-7 1911
box 67
1-7 1911-12
box 68
1-6 1912
box 69
1-7 1912
box 70
1-6 1912
box 71
1-7 1912
box 72
1-8 1912-13
box 73
1-6 1913
box 74
1-7 1913
box 75
1-6 1913
box 76
1-6 1913-1914
box 77
1-6 1914
box 78
1-6 1914
box 79
1-6 1914-15
box 80
1-6 1915
box 81
1-7 1915
box 82
107 1915
box 83
1-6 1915-16
box 84
1-6 1916
box 85
1-6 1916
box 86
1-6 1916
box 87
1-6 1916-17
box 88
1-6 1917
box 89
1-6 1917
box 90
1-6 1917-18
box 91
1-6 1918
box 92
1-6 1918
box 93
1-6 1918
box 94
1-6 1919
box 95
1-6 1919
box 96
1-6 1919
box 97
16 1919
box 98
1-6 1920
box 99
1-6 1920
box 100
1-6 1920
box 101
1-6 1921
box 102
1-6 1921
box 103
1-6 1921
box 104
1-6 1921
box 105
1-6 1922
box 106
1-5 1922
box 107
1-6 1922
box 108
1-6 1922-23
box 109
1-6 1923
box 110
1-6 1923
box 111
1-6 1924
box 112
1-6 1924
box 113
1-6 1924
box 114
1-6 1925
box 115
1-6 1925
box 116
1-6 1925
box 117
1-6 1926
box 118
1-6 1926
box 119
1-6 1926-27
box 120
1-6 1927
box 121
1-6 1927
box 122
1-6 1928
box 123
1-6 1928-29
box 124
1-6 1929
7 ca. 1920sandn.d.
box 125
1-6 1930
box 126
1-5 1930-331
box 127
1-6 1931
box 128
1-6 1931
box 129
1-6 1932
box 130
1-6 1932-33
box 131
1-6 1933
box 132
1-6 1934
box 133
1-6 1934
box 134
1-7 1934-35
box 135
1-6 1935
box 136
1-6 1936
box 137
1-6 1936
box 138
1-4 1937
box 139
1-6 1937
box 140
1-6 1937
box 141
1-6 1938-39
box 142
1-6 1939
box 143
1-7 1940
box 144
1-6 1941
box 145
1-6 1941-42
box 146
1-6 1942
box 147
1-6 1943
box 148
1-6 1944
box 149
1-6 1945
box 150
1-6 1946
box 151
1-6 1947-48
box 152
1-6 1948-49
box 153
1-6 1950-51
box 154
1-7 1952-56
box 155
1-10 1957-69
Series 2. Generalestate administration, 1881-1969 (box 156-182)
Subseries 1. Trusteesminutes, 1906-1969 (box 156-159)
box 156
Folders:
1-7 1906-27
box 157
1-4 1928-29
box 158
1-5 1930-31
box 159
1 1931
2 1944,1946
3 1951
4 1952
5 1943, 1955
6 1966-69
Series 2. Generalestate administration, 1881-1969 (box 156-182)
Subseries 2.Miscellaneous estate papers, 1904-1961 (box 159-163)
box 159 continued
Folders:
7 Adam,Vivien Forbes, receipts of estate income, 1949-50
8-9 Bond, WilliamScott (Lady Suffolk's attorney), 1923-50
box 160
1-2 Bond
3 Campbell,
4 Campbell,Colin L., 1940-46
5 Campbell,Nancy correspondence, monthly statement of account, 1911-27
6
7 Clarke, MaryM., 1940-46
8 ContinentalIllinois Bank & Trust, 1942-47
9 Correspondence& financial reports re estate income, Lady Curzon & Nancy Campbell,1905-12
box 160
10 Curzon,Lord, 1907-12
11 Investments
box 160A
1 Leiter,Joseph: letterbook, 1897-1915
box 161
2 Leiter,Joseph: reports of whereabouts, 1904-26
3 Leiter,Levi, last will and testament, 1904
4 Morris,Seymour (trustee): letters, 1912-17
5 Morris,Seymour (trustee): letters, 1914-17
6 Morris,Seymour (trustee): letters, 1917-21
box 162
1 NorthernTrust Company
2 Peck, PhilipF. W.
3
4-6 Suffolk vs. Leiter:legal papers, 1926-41
box 163
1 Suffolk vs.Leiter: legal papers, 1926-41
2 Trustagreements
3 Miscellaneouspapers, 1904-09
4 Miscellaneouspapers, 1921-53
5 Miscellaneouspapers, 1929-53
6 Miscellaneouspapers, 1940-48
7 Miscellaneouspapers, 1949-53
Series 2. Generalestate administration, 1881-1969 (box 156-182)
Subseries 3.Financial records 1881-1964 (On shelf & box 164-182)
Shelf: Account books(oversize):
Levi Leiter: cash journals:
January1881-March 1884
Mar1884-June 1886
June1886-July 1888
July1888-May 1890
May1890-March 1892
March1892-November 1893
November1893-March 1896
March 1896-May 1898
May 1898-May1900
May1900-December 1901
September1903-July 7 1904
Levi Leiter: ledgers:
1880-82
1882-86
1887-93
1893-1900
1900-04
Stock andproperty ledger 1900-04
Leiter estate: cash journals:
June 1907-Nov.1905
July1907-Mar 1909
Mar 1909-Sept.1910
Sept. 1910-Feb.1912
Feb. 1912-Aug.1913
Aug. 1913-May1915
May1915-December 1916
Dec. 1916-Apr.1918
May 1918-Dec.1919
Jan. 1920-Nov.1921
Nov. 1923-July1925
July 61925-June 1927
July 1927-Dec.1929
Jan. 1930-June1932
July 1932-Mar1935
Apr. 1935-Dec.1937
Jan. 1938-Sept.1940
Oct. 1940-Nov.1942
Dec. 1942-Mar1945
Apr. 1945-July1947
Aug. 1947-Dec.1949
Jan. 1950-May1952
June 1952-Nov.1954
Dec. 1954-Nov.1957
Dec. 1957-Apr.1961
May 1961-Dec.1964
Leiter estate: general journals
June 1904-Dec.1919
Jan. 1920-Dec.1932
Jan. 1933-June1943
July 1943-Aug.1955
Aug. 1944-Mar1963
Leiter estate: accounts payable journals:
July 1907-Sept.1989
Oct. 1909-June1911
June 1911-Feb.1913
Feb. 1913-Nov.1914
Nov. 1914-Feb.1917
Mar 1917-Dec.1918
Dec. 1918-Apr.1920
Apr. 1920-Mar1933
Apr. 1922-Nov.1924
Dec. 1924-June1928
Leiter estate: ledgers:
Real estateledger 1904-13
Generalledger 1904-63
Corpusledger 1904-63
Leiter estate: rent ledgers:
1913-17
1918-25
1925-32
1933-42
1943-57
box 164
1-5 Financialstatements: Auditor's reports, 1904-17
6 Financialstatements: Auditor's reports: Comparison figures from financial statements,1904-13, 1918
7 Financialstatements: Auditor's reports: Comparison figures from financial statements, 1918-20
box 165
1-5 Financialstatements: Auditor's reports: Comparison figures from financial statements, 1921-32
box 166
1-6 Financialstatements: Auditor's reports: Comparison figures from financial statements, 1921-44
box 167
1-2 Financialstatements: Auditor's reports: Comparison figures from financial statements, 1945-58
3 Financialstatements: Semi-annual, 1905-06
4 Financialstatements: Semi-annual, 1910-14
5 Financialstatements: Semi-annual, Jan-June, 1922
6 Financialstatements: Semi-annual, July-Dec, 1924
7 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, 1925-28
box 168
1-5 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, 1932-33
box 169
1-5 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, 1934-35
box 170
1-6 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, 1936-37
box 171
1-7 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, 1939-June 1942
box 172
1-7 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, July 1942-45
box 173
1-8 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, 1946-49
box 174
1-9 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, 1950-June 1958
box 175
1 Financialstatements: Miscellaneous reports, July-Dec. 1963
2-3 Joseph Leiteraccount books: journals, 1903-10
4 JosephLeiter account books: ledger, 1907-10
Shelf Joseph Leiteraccount books: journal 1913-24 (vol. 1)
Shelf Ledger1913-24 (vol. 2)
box 176
1 Monthlytrial balances: 1896-1900 (1 vol.)
Shelf Monthly trialbalances: 1913-16 (vol. 3)
Shelf Monthly trialbalances: 1917-20 (vol. 4)
Shelf Monthly trialbalances: 1921-23 (vol. 5)
Shelf Monthly trialbalances: 1926-30 (vol. 6)
folders:
2 Income taxrecords: 1917, 1920
3 Income taxrecords: 1921
4 Income taxrecords: 1924-28
5 Income taxrecords: 1931-38
6 Income taxrecords: 1933-39
7 Income taxrecords: 1936-50
8 Income taxrecords: Report of foreign owned property 1940-42
box 177
1 Income taxrecords: 1946-63
2 Corpus cashjournal and ledger 1920-28 (1 vol.)
box 178
1 Corpus cashjournal and ledger 1920-28 (1 vol..)
box 179
1 Stock andbond records: Bond ledger 1925-47 A-K (1 vol.)
box 180
1 Stock andbond records: Bond ledger 1925-47 L-Z (1 vol.)
2 Stock andbond records: Summary of bonds owned 1930
3 Stock andbond records: Bond ledger 1942-47
box 181
1 Stock andbond records: Bond ledger 1948-55
2 Stock andbond records: Stock ledger
Miscellaneous financial records and reports:
3 1902-08
4 Unidentifiedledger 1913-19
box 182
1 Unidentifiedaccounts 1909-12 (1 vol.)]
2 1911-35
Shelf Unidentifiedledger 1913-19 (vol. 7)
3 1951-55
4 1959-63
Series 3. Propertyrecords, 1852-1965 (box 183-223)
Subseries 1. Generalrecords 1852-1963 (box 183-191)
box 183
Folders:
Deeds, mortgages, notes and leases:
1-9 1852-95
box 184
1-8 1895-1909
box 186
1-7 1917-27
8 1938-41
9 1949, 1952
box 187
Folders:
1 1953
2 1955
3 1958
4 1959-63
Lease record books:
1888-1911
1897-1903
1903-13
1913-19
1919-26
1926-28
Shelf Plat maps andtax notices 1881-1923 (vol. 8)
5-6 Buildingincome and expense records 1887-1906 (2 vols.)
Insurance record books:
7 1892-09
box 188
1 1900-09 (1vol.)
Shelf 1919-28 (vol.9)
2 Maps ofLeiter properties, ca. 1900
3 Buildinginspections, 1900-02
4 Miscellaneousreports, 1904-10
5 Buildingimprovement accounts, 1904-25
6 Real estatetaxes, 1907-26
7 Miscellaneousreports, 1910-16
box 189
1 Insurancerecord, 1910-18 (1 vol.)
2 Summaryreports, 1912-28
3 Real estatetransactions, 1913
4 Estimatesfor repair, work 1913
5 Miscellaneousreports, 1915-19
6 Utilityexpenses, 1915-16
7 Specialassessments, 1917-25
box 190
1 Miscellaneousreports, 1920-28
2 Rentincreases due to taxes, 1920-28
3 Standard OilCo. deliveries, 1922-27
4 South StateStreet Improvement Association, 1924-29, 1940, 1945
5 Inventoryand appraisal of buildings, 1925 (1 vol.)
box 191
1 Real estatetaxes, 1928-46
2 Winston& Co. property reports, 1928
3 Winston& Co., 1930, 1934
4 Plant reportsheets, 1936
5 Descriptionsof properties, 1940
6 Report ofreal estate holdings, 1940 (1 vol.)
7 Laborunion agreements, wage scales & correspondence (elevator operators,janitors, carpenters,painters), 1950-59
8 Insurancesummary reports, 1958-60
Shelf Maps andblueprints of Chicago properties, building alterations and miscellaneous
(3 oversizefolders)
Series 3. Propertyrecords, 1852-1965 (box 183-223)
Subseries 2. Chicagoproperties 1880-1963 (box 192-204)
box 192
1 Adams St.property (168-178 W. Adams): Improvement account, 1909-11
2 Adams St.property (168-178 W. Adams):Spoehr's Confections(lessee), 1922-26
3 Adams St.property (168-178 W. Adams): Midland Club (lessee), 1923-25
4
5 Bailey-EdisonBuilding 167 W. Madison): Improvement account 1914-20
6 City
7 City HallSquare Building (139 N. Clark): Appraisal report 1936, 1945
8 City HallSquare Building (139 N. Clark): Miscellaneous ca. 1939-43
9 City
box 193
1 City HallSquare Building (139 N. Clark): Miscellaneous 1940-48
2 City HallSquare Building (139 N. Clark): Miscellaneous correspondence and papers 1940-56
3 Town CenterBuilding corporation reports 1937-40
4 Auditreports 1943
box 194
1 Auditreports 1944-45
2 Financialreports 1945-62 (semi-annual)
3 Financialreports (monthly) 1946-53
4 Plant reportsheets 1947-54
5 Miscellaneous1950-63
6 ErlangerTheater: Receipts and disbursements 1935-40
box 195
1 ErlangerTheater: Miscellaneous papers and correspondence 1943-58
2 Conroyproperty (719-723 S. State): Appraisal report 1930
3 Conroyproperty(719-723 S. State): Correspondence 1940
4 Corrigan&Schnur property(659-673 S.State): appraisal reports 1930-44
5 EnglewoodBurgess lot 1896-1923
6 Franklin-AdamsBuilding (222 W. Adams) 1962
7 Fullerproperty (418-20 S. Wabash): Improvements 1914-25
8 Fullerproperty (418-20 S. Wabash): Appraisal reports, plant report sheets andcorrespondence 1930-61
box 196 Grand Pacific Hotel (226-42 s. Clark):
1 Directorsminutes 1906-20 (1 vol.)
2 Stockcertificates 1906-15 (1 vol.)
3 Financialreports 1911-17
4 Miscellaneous1897-1920
box 197
1 Correspondence1909-11
Shelf Cash Journal1919-21 (vol. 10)
Shelf Ledger1919-20 (vol.11)
2 Ledger1919-20 (1 vol.)
Isabella Building (19-23 E. Van Buren)
3 Appraisal,insurance and plant reports 1932-48
4 Correspondenceand miscellaneous 1895-1948
5 Jackson property (10-14 E. Roosevelt)correspondence1940
Japanese building (301 S. State):
6 Improvementaccount 1910-13
7 Correspondenceand miscellaneous 1940-46
8 Appraisalreports and plant report sheets 1941-53
box 198
1-8 Kensingtonproperty (119th and Indiana) 1913-1942
9 LaGrange andKensington property leases 1915-18 (1 vol.)
10 LaGrangeproperty deeds 1880-1891
Leiter Building (State and Van Buren):
11 Siegel,Cooper & Company financial reports 1917
12 ChicagoPermanent Exhibition 1918
13 Miscellaneous1920-14
Shelf Daily SalesReports 1921-23 (vol. 12)
Shelf Cashdisbursements 1923-33 (vol. 13)
Shelf Journalvoucher register 1922-23 (vol. 14)
box 199
1 Improvements1908-09
2 Ledger 1923(1 vol.)
BuildingMaterial Exhibit:
3 Correspondence
4-6 Daily reports1922-29
7 LeiterBuilding Stores lease renewal 1925-26
box 200
1 Renovationarchitect's report 1931
2 Miscellaneous1930-36
3 Appraisalreports 1932, 1935
4 State St.subway costs 1938-45
5 Correspondence1940
6 Correspondenceand miscellaneous papers 1942-49
box 201
Leiter Building (State and Van Buren):
1 Congress St.widening 1948-51
2-5 Miscellaneous1952-63
Loop Center Building (105 W. Madison):
6 Miscellaneous1910-48
box 202
1-2 Correspondence1937
3 Appraisalreport
4 Plant reportsheets 1938-55
5 Correspondence1940-43
6 Remodeling1946-47
7 Miscellaneous1961-63
box 203
1-4 Financialreports (monthly) 1933-46
5 Financialreports (semi-annual, annual) 1950-61
6 Yearlyfinancial statements 1939-42
7 Monthlyfinancial statements 1942-53
box 204
Monroe & Wells Building:
1 Appraisalreport 1930, 1936
2 Correspondenceand miscellaneous 1940
3 Financialreports (monthly) 1940-44
4 Oak Parkproperty appraisal report 1944
5 RogersBuilding appraisal report, plant report sheets 1930-44 (519-521 S. State)
6
7 WashingtonDock property 1909-44
Washington St. property (24-30 W. Washington):
8 Miscellaneous1917, 1940, 1953
9 specificationsfor new building 1927
Series 3. Propertyrecords, 1852-1963 (box 183-204)
Subseries 3. Wyomingranches 1880-1961 (box 205-216)
box 205
Letterbooks (letters from Chicago estate office to Wyoming:
1-2 September1907-July 1911
3-4 May1916-April 1918
box 206
1-3 May 1918-Feb.1921
box 207
1-2 Mar 1921-May1922
box 208
1-2 Apr.
box 209
1-3 Jan. 1924-Dec.1929
box 210
Correspondence:
1 1908-09
2-5 1920
6 1921
7 1926
8 1929-33
box 211
1-8 1934-41
box 212
1-4 1942-45
5 Holly SugarCorporation 1936-45
6 1946
7 1948-49
8-10 1957-61
box 213
Lake DeSmet project:
1 Projectreport 1909 (1 vol.)
Lake DeSmetInvestigation 1922:
2 Waterproject (1 vol.)
2 Soilproject (1 vol.)
4 Maps(1 vol.)
box 214
1 Vouchers1921-22
2 Sale ofwater 1937-48
Miscellaneousrecords:
3 Photocopyof survey notes 1881
Shelf Landacquisitions patent memoranda 1883-1921 (vol. 15)
4-5 Propertytax payment record 1899-1924 (2 vols.)
6 Inheritancetax 1904
7 Auditor'sreports 1906
box 215
1 Incomeledger 1910-24 (1 vol.)
Shelf Real estatesales,Lingle, Wyoming 1910-27 (vol. 16)
2 WyomingSugar and Land Co. development project report 1911 (1 vol.)
Shelf Tabulation ofwater rights 1915 (vol. 17)
Shelf Generaljournal 1920-26 (vol. 18)
3 Miscellaneousfinancial papers 1920-25
box 216
1 Storesissues ledger 1923-28
2 Financialreports 1928-30
3 Employeework record cards 1929
Shelf Maps andblueprints of lands, roads, ditches, etc. (1 oversize folder)
Series 3. Propertyrecords, 1852-1963 (box 183-223)
Subseries 4. Miscellaneousproperties 1883-1945 (on shelf and box 217-223)
Shelf BeverlyFarms, Mass., estate: house and landscaping blueprints (1 oversize folder)
box 217
1 CampbellRanch, Goleta, California 1922-24
Chicago,Zeigler and Gulf Railroad:
2 Articlesof incorporation 1902
3 Notesand bills payable 1905-16 (1 vol.)
4 Financialreports 1905
5 Financialreports and correspondence 1906
6 Correspondence1907
7 InterstateCommerce Commission monthly reports of revenues & expenses 1907-11
8-10 Correspondence1908-10
box 218
1-4 Correspondence1911-12
box 219
1-5 Correspondence1911-12
box 220
1-6 Correspondence1915-25 andn.d.
box 221
Maksawba Club:
1 Stockcertificates 1878 (1 vol.)
Letterbooks:
2 1908-13(1 vol.)
3 1920-29(11 vol.)
4 Cash journal1900-22 (1 vol.)
box 222
1 Ledger1908-21 (1 vol.)
2 Lands ca.1908 (1 vol.)
3 Miscellaneous1911-17
4 Rio BlancoCounty, Colorado property tax notice 1945
5 UniversalFuel Co. minutes 1899-1915
6 Utahproperty 1939-45
Van Meter Lode, Montana:
7 Correspondence1883-1914
box 223
1 Mineralcertificate and leases 1908-24
2-5 Tax receipts1898-1945
6 WashingtonGas Light Co. 1908-14
Wisconsin:
7 Iron countytaxes 1914
8 Walworthfarm property 1916-27
9 WisconsinCreek mines (Montana) bullion returns 1888-1905
Zeigler Coal Co.:
10 Contracts1903-23
11 Miscellaneous1904-09
12 Financialreports and taxes 1917-19
13 Darrow B.Fulton, president, obituary data 1940
Shelf Trialbalancesn.d. (vol. 19)
Shelf Zeigler Stores Co. accounts 1916-19 (vol. 20)
Detailed descriptionof 3 letters by Levi Leiter acquired from Dicke collection:
Letters to William H. A. Spaulding: two from Paris and onefrom Washington D.C. re. establishing a branch house in Chicago. Writes of allthe advantages of Chicago.
1881 Nov. 21: Paraphrases:"Chicago has now obtained a permanent position as the point ofdistribution for the Mississippi Valley--it would not be to the city alone thatyou would be confined … all the large cities such as Milwaukee, Detroit,
“I fully concur in the above,” signed by George M. Pullman.
1882 Jan. 4: Paris.Paraphrases: "re my suggestions in a former letter of the advisability ofyour company establishing a branch in Chicago, beg to say that during thecoming spring there will be vacated by the First National Bank, a building inevery particular suited to your wants … am confident that a carefulinvestigation would convince your Mr. Tiffany and other members of your companythat the occasion is an exceptional one … I would regard it afirst classinvestment …."
1890, Mar. 19: WashingtonD.C. Paraphrases: "… thought much of the question of my building for H. A.Spaulding & Co. … advise that you obtain from Mr. Field his best terms andfromany one else whose property may be desirable foryour purpose …."
List of old cardcatalog headings about the collection:
The following entries were placed in the Manuscripts CardCatalog:
Main entry: Leiter, Levi Zeigler, 1834-1904
Leiter estate.
Subject entries:
Account books--Chicago--1881-1964
Bonds.
Buildings--Chicago.
Businesses--Chicago.
Chicago--Communities--Loop.
Chicago--Communities--Englewood.
Chicago--Transportation--Street--Railroads.
Chicago--Streets--State Street.
Coal Mines and Mining--Illinois.
Colorado.
Department Stores.
Estates and Estate Administration.
Finance--Illinois--Chicago.
La Grange, Illinois.
Illinois--Politics and Government. (esp. Box 161)
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Insurance--Illinois--Chicago.
Land--Taxation.
Land--Taxation--Illinois.
Land--Taxation--Illinois--Chicago.
Leases--Illinois--Chicago.
Massachusetts.
Mining Industry and Finance.
Montana.
Ranching.
Real Property--Chicago.
Real Property--Illinois.
Retail Trade--Chicago.
Stocks.
Strikes and Lockouts--Illinois.
Trade-Unions--Illinois--Chicago.
Trade-Unions--Illinois.
Utah.
Wisconsin.
Wyoming.
Zeigler, Illinois.
Added entries:
1. Campbell, Nancy Lathrop Carver, 1872-1930.
2. Curzon, George Nathaniel, 1859-1925.
3. Hotels, Taverns, etc. Chicago. Grand Pacific Hotel.
4. Leiter, Joseph, 1868-1932
5. Leiter, Levi Zeigler, 1834-1904.
6. Maksawba Club. (esp. Boxes 221-222)
7. Morris, Seymour, 1863-1921.
8. Railroad Lines. Chicago, Zeigler & Gulf Railroad.
9. Siegel, Cooper & Company
10. Suffolk and Berkshire, Marguerite Hyde, Countess of,1879-1968.
11. Theater. Chicago. Erlanger Theater.