Burroughs Corporation Records. Langhorne Family Correspondence, 1886-1900. Finding Aid.

Summary Information

Title: Burroughs Corporation records. Langhorne family correspondence.
Dates: 1886-1900
Creator: Langhorne family
Extent: 1 box (0.4 cubic feet)
Language: English
Collection Number: CBI 90, Series 53
Abstract:

Collection consists of correspondence to and from various members of the Langhorne family.

Repository: University of Minnesota Libraries. Charles Babbage Institute.

Access and Use

Acquisition Information:

The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by Unisys Corporation in 1991, accession 991-35.

Access Restrictions:

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

Copyright:

The Charles Babbage Institute holds the copyright to all materials in the collection, except for items covered by a prior copyright (such as published materials). Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provisions of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Preferred Citation:

Burroughs Corporation Records, Langhorne Family Correspondence (CBI 90), Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Arrangement

The materials in this collection are arranged into the following groups:

• Incoming Correspondence
• Outgoing Correspondence

Biographical Note

The Langhorne brothers (Edmund, James and John) were quite involved in the early business of the American Arithmometer Company, until a power struggle with Joseph Boyer forced them out. They were involved in upper management when the company was still located in St. Louis, MO (1886-1904).

Edmund G. Langhorne was appointed Secretary and General Manager of the American Arithmometer Company about 1893-1894. He became President in 1900, although he also kept his position as General Manager. He was forced out in 1902 and moved over to become president of the Universal Adding Machine Company, taking almost half of the Arithmometer employees with him. (Universal was acquired by Burroughs in 1908). Edmund moved to Pike Adding Machine Company as president and general manager in 1905. (Pike was acquired by Burroughs in 1909). Edmund G. Langhorne also served as an attorney for American Arithmometer beginning in 1907. He remained in this position until he left the company.

James C. (or Q.) Langhorne was designated as Director of the American Arithmometer Company about 1889-1890, and was also the General Manager for a short time in 1893. He resigned as Director of the company in 1895.

John T. Langhorne was appointed Assistant General Manager of American Arithmometer Company in 1900. He left in 1902 to became General Manager of the British Company in Nottingham. Burroughs got the English rights back in 1908.

Collection Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of correspondence to and from various members of the Langhorne family. Most of the correspondence relates to company business, including letters from various salesmen. The collection also includes a large binder filled with family and business correspondence (1897-1898), and a few sheets containing excerpts (1887, 1895, 1897) from the Langhorne letterbook. The papers in the binder are extremely thin and fragile. About half are written and half typed.

The Langhorne family appears to have been quite large, with letters addressing another brother named Ned, and sisters named Jennie, Kate, Sallie, Agnes, and Mary. A few letters appear to be from John to women he was interested in, including Hannah, and a Miss Parrish (possibly the same person).

Related Material

This is one series of the Burroughs Corporation Records (CBI 90). Please see the other series finding aids for further information regarding the Burroughs Corporation.

Subject Terms

Index Terms

• This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
• Langhorne, Edward G.
• Langhorne family.
• American Arithmometer Company -- Correspondence.

Box and Folder List

Location		Title
		Incoming Correspondence
Box 1		Banks and Businesses to E.G. Langhorne, 1894-1900.  Box 1, Folder 1
		Langhorne, J.P. to E.G. Langhorne, 1894.  Box 1, Folder 2
		Manny, Walter B. to E.G. Langhorne, 1894-1896.  Box 1, Folder 3
		Mason, W.H. to E.G. Langhorne, 1894.  Box 1, Folder 4
		Spiekerman, Frank to E.G. Langhorne, 1900.  Box 1, Folder 5
		Weatherly, R.H. to E.G. Langhorne, 1900.  Box 1, Folder 6
		Wendling, G.H. (Re: Adam Hoch Machine) correspondence to E.G. Langhorne, 1900.  Box 1, Folder 7
		Wyeth, H.B. to E.G. Langhorne, 1894.  Box 1, Folder 8
		Outgoing Correspondence
Box 1		From John T. Langhorne, 1887-1899.  Box 1, Folder 9
		Binder of various correspondence, 1897-1898.  Box 1, Folder 10
		Excerpts from Langhorne Letterbook, 1887, 1895, 1897.  Box 1, Folder 11