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122

Page 122

Appendix
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT COPYRIGHT RECORDS, 1790-1870

A. Records in the Library of Congress

The following inventory of the records now located in the Rare Book Division of the Library of Congress has been prepared as an aid to bibliographers who wish to check the copyright facts about a particular book but have no idea what sort of record exists for the period and district involved. Dates given by month or day below refer to the original entry books; those given only by years are the "duplicates" (often submitted in yearly batches), which may consist of full copies of the original entries, or of abbreviated lists, or of both. Records of copyright assignments, when kept in separate volumes from the title entries, are indicated by "A." The approximate size of each record is suggested by the number of volumes, but considerable quantities of material remain as unbound sheets (indicated by "u"). For the original volumes the presence (+) or absence (-) of three characteristics is recorded: whether they usually contain copy-deposit dates after 1831 (D) in addition to title-entry dates; whether they occasionally have printed title pages and labels pasted in (T); and whether they are indexed (I) by names of proprietors and/or authors (n) or by titles (t). The "duplicates" usually lack all three of these features, and exceptions may occasionally be found in the original volumes to the general attributes assigned them here:

  • Alabama (Mobile): 1837, 1839, 1858-59 (u).
  • Alabama (Montgomery): 1850-51, 1855, 1857-58 (u).
  • Arkansas: 1837-70 (u).
  • California: 23 July 1851-9 July 1870 (2 vols; -D, +T, -I); 1865-66(u). A 12 Sept. 1854-19 July 1870.
  • Colorado: 14 Oct. 1864-6 May 1870 (1 vol; -D, +T, -I).
  • Connecticut: 10 Sept. 1804-9 July 1870 (4 vols; -D, +T, +In); 1831-53 (3 vols + u). A 29 March 1837-2 Sept. 1868 (1 vol).
  • Delaware: 1849-54, 1855-56, 1865 (u).
  • District of Columbia: 16 April 1829 (u), 8 Aug. 1845-6 July 1870 (2 vols; +D, +T, +In); 1818-45, 1848-53, 1855, 1858-64, 1866-67, 1869-70 (u).
  • Georgia (Atlanta): 23 Feb. 1849-20 June 1870 (1 vol; -D, +T, -I).
  • Georgia (Savannah): 30 Dec. 1800-10 July 1870 (4 vols + u; -D, +T, -I); 1856-59 (u).
  • Illinois (Chicago): 24 Aug. 1821-7 July 1870 (7 vols; +D, +T, +In); 1861-63, 1865-69 (u).
  • Illinois (Springfield): 9 July 1855-12 July 1870 (1 vol; +D, -T, +In); 1864-69 (u).
  • Indiana: Oct. 1822-24 June 1870 (3 vols; +D, -T, +In); 1853-60, 1866-67 (u).
  • Iowa: 20 May 1868-6 July 1870 (1 vol; -D, +T, -I).
  • Kansas: 1865-69 (u).
  • Kentucky: 22 Nov. 1860-8 July 1870 (1 vol; -D, +T, +Int); 1807-45, 1849-55, 1857-70 (u).
  • Louisiana: 14 Nov. 1833 (u), 25 March 1835, 17 Nov. 1851-23 Sept. 1856, 13 Aug. 1863-17 June 1870 (3 vols; +D, +T, -I); 1832, 1838-44 (u).
  • Maine: 14 Aug. 1790-1 July 1870 (2 vols; +D, -T, +In); 1792, 1819-28, 1832-55, 1857-69 (2 vols + u).
  • Maryland: 24 Feb. 1831-5 July 1870 (6 vols; +D, -T, +In); 1831-55, 1867-69 (2 vols + u).
  • Massachusetts: 10 July 1790-18 June 1870 (45 vols; +D, -T, +In except Feb. 1804-July 1806, April 1814-1825, 1829-30); 1831-70 (13 vols + u). A 1834-70 (4 vols).
  • Michigan (Detroit): 5 May 1824-9 July 1870 (5 vols; +D, +T, -I); 1833-70 (5 vols + u).
  • Michigan (Grand Rapids): 23 Sept. 1863-18 June 1870 (2 vols; -D, +T, -I); 1863-66 (u).
  • Minnesota: 20 July 1858-4 June 1870 (2 vols; +D, +T, +In after 24 Sept. 1866); 1858-62 (u).

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  • Mississippi: 12 Aug. 1850-27 April 1870 (1 vol; -D, +T, -I).
  • Missouri (Jefferson City): 10 Oct. 1857-22 June 1870 (1 vol; -D, -T, -I); 1840-49, 1852-53, 1860, 1865-70 (u). A Dec. 1869-May 1870 (1 vol).
  • Missouri (St. Louis): 24 March 1857-9 July 1870 (2 vols; +D, -T, +In); 1854-59, 1861-62 (u).
  • Nebraska: 29 Feb. 1868-13 July 1870 (1 vol; -D, -T, +In).
  • New Hampshire: 4 Sept. 1848-21 June 1870 (2 vols; +D, -T, +Int); 1848-61, 1867-70 (u).
  • New Jersey: 8 Jan. 1846-9 July 1870 (2 vols; -D, +T, -I); 1863-69 (u).
  • New York (Brooklyn): 24 March 1865-9 July 1870 (2 vols; +D, +T, +Int). A 29 Dec. 1866-21 Oct. 1869 (1 vol).
  • New York (Buffalo): 21 Sept. 1813-8 July 1870 (16 vols; +D after June 1861, -T, +In); 1853-68 (3 vols + u).
  • New York (New York City): 30 April 1791-11 July 1870 (112 vols; +D, +T before 1834, +In through 4 Feb. 1831 except for 4 May 1820-11 Sept. 1824, +Int after 14 Feb. 1831); 1831-62, 1869 (136 vols + u; + I 1831-53). A 4 Oct. 1834-7 Oct. 1870 (3 vols; +Int).
  • North Carolina (Cape Fear): 30 Sept.-14 Nov. 1853, 4 Jan. 1859(u), 28 Nov. 1865-10 May 1870 (1 vol; +D, +T, -I).
  • North Carolina (Pamlico): 1865-68 (u).
  • Ohio (Cincinnati): 12 March 1806-9 Oct. 1828, 13 Sept. 1841-9 July 1870 (10 vols; +D from 1841, +T before 1828, +In from 1841, +Int from 1859); 1816-53, 1859-70 (2 vols + u). A 18 April 1843-13 April 1870 (2 vols).
  • Ohio (Cleveland): 20 March 1855-20 June 1870 (3 vols; +D, -T, +In); 1859, 1861-69 (u).
  • Pennsylvania (Erie): 1 April 1867-1 Aug. 1870 (1 vol; +D, -T, -I).
  • Pennsylvania (Philadelphia): 9 June 1790-8 July 1870 (36 vols; +D, -T, +Int 1805-31, +In after 1831); 1831-38, 1842-46, 1850-59, 1861-69 (26 vols; +I 1831-53). A 12 Aug. 1834-10 May 1870 (2 vols).
  • Pennsylvania (Pittsbugh): 6 Jan. 1819-5 July 1870 (5 vols; +D, +T, -I); 1839-41, 1856-60, 1863-68 (1 vol + u).
  • Rhode Island: 23 April 1831-23 June 1870 (2 vols; +D, +T, +In); 1831-59, 1861-70 (1 vol + u).
  • South Carolina: 1831-59, 1866-70 (u).
  • Tennessee (Knoxville): 1831, 1834, 1855, 1857-60 (u).
  • Tennessee (Memphis): 31 Oct. 1865-22 June 1870 (1 vol; -D, +T, +In).
  • Tennessee (Nashville): 5 Jan. 1865-6 June 1870 (1 vol; -D, +T, +Int); 1831-34, 1839-55, 1857 (u).
  • Texas (Austin): 1857 (u).
  • Texas (Galveston): 5 June 1867-8 April 1870 (1 vol; -D, -T, -I).
  • Texas (Tyler): 1858 (u).
  • Vermont: 21 March 1831-28 May 1870 (1 vol; +D, +T, -I); 1831-59 (1 vol + u).
  • Virginia (Norfolk): 15 Sept. 1837-20 April 1870 (1 vol; -D, -T, -I); 1831-32, 1844-59 (u).
  • Virginia (Richmond): 9 May 1867-22 June 1870 (1 vol; -D, -T, -I); 1831-32, 1834-36, 1838-39, 1847-48, 1864, 1866-70 (1 vol + u).
  • Wisconsin: 26 Dec. 1848-2 June 1870 (1 vol; +D, -T, +Int); 1848-55, 1857, 1860-69 (u).

B. Records Not in the Library of Congress

  • District of Columbia: Title pages, 1854-63. In the National Archives — Record Group 21, Series NC-2, Entry 40.
  • Kentucky: Copyright entries, 13 Sept. 1800-15 July 1864 (2 vols). In the United States Courthouse, Frankfort. See American Imprints Inventory, No. 38 (1942).
  • Maryland: Index (by proprietor and title) to copyright record, 1831-56 (2 vols); copyright assignment record, 1834-70 (1 vol). See Inventory of Federal Archives in the States, Series 2 (Federal Courts), No. 19 (1938), p. 18, items 127-28.
  • North Carolina: Copyright entries, 4 March 1796-30 July 1802, 2 Oct. 1811-10 Sept. 1831, 13 Aug 1857 (2 vols). In the National Archives — Record Group 21, Series NC-21, Entry 122.
  • Ohio: Copyright entries, 20 Nov. 1829-29 Oct. 1842 (1 vol). See Inventory of Federal Archives in the States, Series 2, No. 34 (1938), p. 81, item 691.

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  • Oregon: Copyright entries, 28 Dec. 1865-18 April 1870 (1 vol). In the Federal Records Center, Seattle, Washington 98115. (Microfilm in Library of Congress)
  • Rhode Island: Copyright entries, 1790-1867; card index by author and title; record of copyright assignments, 21 Jan. 1842-20 Jan. 1865 (1 vol). See Inventory of Federal Archives in the States, Series 2, No. 38 (1938), pp. 7, 29 (items 39, 195-6).
  • South Carolina: Copyright entries, 8 July 1794-12 Nov. 1858 (1 Vol.). In the South Carolina Library, Columbia 29208. (Microfilm in Library of Congress.)
  • Texas: Copyright entries, 1840. In the Texas State Library, Austin (Letter Book I, 247). See Journal of Southern History, XII (1946), 215-16.
  • Virginia (Richmond): Copyright entries, 1864-65. In the Virginia Historical Society. See Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, XX (1912), 425-29.

C. Published Records

  • Alabama, 1861-65: Raymond V. Robinson, "Confederate Copyright Entries," William & Mary Quarterly, 2nd ser., XVI (1936), 248-66. [122 entries, including entries from Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina]
  • California, 1851-56: Edith Margaret Coulter, "California Copyrights, 1851-1856, with Notes on Certain Ghost Books," California Historical Society Quarterly, XXII (1943), 27-40. [118 entries]
  • California, 1851-62: Robert Greenwood, S. J. Suzuki, Marjorie Pulliam, "California Copyrights, 1851-1862," in California Imprints, 1833-1862 (1961), pp. 480-504. [293 entries]
  • Georgia, 1861-65: See Alabama above.
  • Illinois, 1821-50: Douglas C. McMurtrie, "Early Illinois Copyright Entries, 1821-1850," Bulletin of the Chicago Historical Society, II (1937), 50-61, 92-101. [84 entries]
  • Kentucky, 1800-54: John Wilson Townsend, Supplemental Check List of Kentucky Imprints 1788-1820 (American Imprints Inventory, No. 38, 1942), pp. 119-97. [448 entries]
  • Massachusetts, 1800-09: Ruth Shaw Leonard, "Transcript of the Copyright Entries for the District Court of Massachusetts, 1800-1809, with Bibliographical Notes," in A Bibliographical Evaluation of the Copyright Records for the United States District Court of Massachusetts, 1800-1809 (Master's thesis, Columbia University, 1944), pp. 69-176. [342 entries]
  • Michigan, 1824-29, 1837-70: William L. Jenks, "Michigan Copyrights," Michigan History Magazine, XI (1927), 110-43, 271-87, 445-58, 630-52; XII (1928), 108-24, 584-89, 740-43; XIII (1929), 121-26, 555-59; XIV (1930), 150-55, 311-13; XV (1931), 126-29. [1472 entries — but the actual total is somewhat smaller, since certain entry numbers are skipped]
  • Mississippi, 1850-70: Charles F. Heartman, "Mississippi Copyright Entries, 1850-1870," Journal of Mississippi History, II (1940), 79-87. [71 entries] See also Alabama above.
  • North Carolina, 1861-65: See Alabama above.
  • Pennsylvania, 1790-94: Frederick R. Goff, "Pennsylvania Registrations for Copyright, 1790-1794," in "The First Decade of the Federal Act for Copyright, 1790-1800," in Essays Honoring Lawrence C. Wroth (1951), pp. 113-28. [80 entries]
  • Rhode Island, 1790-1816: Howard W. Preston, "List of Rhode Island Books Entered for Copyright, 1790-1816," Rhode Island Historical Society Collections, XIII (1920), 69-72, 95-101. [40 entries]
  • Texas, 1840-41: Andrew Forest Muir, "Patents and Copyrights in the Republic of Texas," Journal of Southern History, XII (1946), 204-22 (esp. pp. 215-16). [3 entries]
  • Virginia (Norfolk), 1837-70: Barbara Harris and John Cook Wyllie, Norfolk Copyright Entries 1837, 1851-3, 1856-7, 1858-9, 1864, 1866-71 [i.e., 1870] (Charlottesville: Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia, 1947), 48 pp. [82 entries]
  • Virginia (Richmond), 1790-1844: James H. Whitty, A Record of Virginia Copyright Entries (1790-1844) (Richmond: Davis Bottom, 1911), 54 pp. Also printed as a supplement (52 pp.) to the Seventh Annual Report of the Virginia State Library, 1909-10 (1911). [250 entries, fully indexed]
  • Virginia (Richmond), 1864-65: "Confederate Copyrights," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, XX (1912), 425-29. [28 entries]