Description:

Peugeot

Archive comprised of correspondence (130+ letters), business and legal contracts, stockholder certificates and statements, genealogical research, and newspaper clippings related to the Peugeot Company and its early business partners, the Jackson Freres.

The bulk of the archive consists of personal correspondence exchanged between William Stackhouse Jackson (1796-1858) and his wife Sophie Louise Peugeot Jackson (1811-1878). Included are approximately seventy-two William Jackson ALS dating from November 1838 to February 1858, and fifty-one Louise Peugeot Jackson ALS dating from May 1854 to February 1858. Letters are pen inscribed in French on cream and pale blue single sheet and bifold paper. In mixed but generally very good to near fine condition. Expected wear includes paper folds, isolated bleach spots and foxing, minor edge wear, and a few tears. A few integral address sheets bearing philatelic markings as well as mourning stationery are also included.

William Jackson was one of the older sons of English industrialist James Jackson (1771-1829). James Jackson introduced molten steel making to France in the 1810s. William and three of his brothers, John (b. 1797), James (1798-1862), and Charles (1805-1857), managed the family forge and steelworks near St. Etienne, where they manufactured household goods and tools ranging from coffee grinders to umbrella spokes, and dress ribbing to scythes. William Jackson and his sister Anna (1801-1860) married two members of another prominent French steel making family, siblings Louise and her brother Georges Peugeot (1805-1864). These marriages effectively merged the Peugeot and the Jackson steel empires. The next generation, including Emile Peugeot (1815-1874), would build the company’s success; the following generation, including Armand Peugeot (1849-1915) and Eugene Peugeot (1844-1907), would ensure the company’s monopoly of the nascent French bicycle and automobile industries.

William and Louise’s letters were exchanged while William traveled for business. He faithfully wrote Louise from Paris, Toulouse, Marseille, Vichy, Point-de-Roide, Bastia, Genoa and other cities. His letters mention over thirty different cities in France, England, Belgium, Italy, Corsica, and Elba. William even sent several letters home from Mont d’Or and Nice where he was rehabilitating from asthma and rheumatism. His letters discuss personal matters like his health, children, local gossip, house furnishings, and Parisian real estate prospects, but more importantly, William’s letters address three significant business topics. These are: the day-to-day operations of the factory; the company’s search for natural resources; and interpersonal tension within the family-run business.

Day-to-day factory operations ‾ as well as the company’s big picture ‾ benefited from William Jackson’s diligence. He closely monitored steel prices, brainstormed about the family business, schmoozed at Commission meetings, and generally served as an industry champion. The manufacturer wrote on March 22, 1845: “I will be able to, I hope, absent myself during the decision to go as far as Le Havre to put in order MM de la Roche’s large debt in the Egly Affair. I present myself to all important people as a true ‘Gentleman’ ‾ before yesterday we had our big meeting in the care of the Commission in the Chamber … I provided … that it was extremely easy to distinguish melted steel from ordinary steel … ” A week later, on March 29, 1845, Jackson wrote: “I am about to announce to the House [the family company] the glorious news of our perfect success ‾ ordinary steel as well as melted steel are unchanged and are still at 60 and 120 ‾ everyone hopes [it will be] at 80 … It’s a complete victory. Ask my brothers after they’ve read about [it] … you will see the proper European reputation that we will have later … ” A diversity of manufactured goods enriched the company. On June 2, 1857, William wrote: “Yesterday I visited the factory, which was in full activity thanks to crinolines that keep us in good business, increasing or doubling the number of ? for the steel … ”

Molten steel manufacturing required securing reservoirs of mineral ore. In late 1851 and early 1852, William Jackson scoped out Mediterranean mines that could supply his company with ore. On November 30, 1851, Jackson wrote: “I’m taking advantage of the courier’s imminent departure to Ajaccio to write to the House [the family company] and to give you my news before my departure tomorrow for Livorno … I leave with courage, full of hope in succeeding to obtain ore from Elba at a favorable price from the Commission, whose seat is in Florence ‾ the more I familiarize myself with Toga’s prospect, the more I see elements of a success that will surpass our expectations ‾ I look at it as a unique bastion for the future of our diverse establishments in France”. Almost three months later, on February 29, 1852, Jackson wrote: “ … everyone [from Bastia] views our arrival with happiness since they know we are serious, and bring an enormous industry to the country … I hope that the day after tomorrow or at latest Wednesday we will visit the Foundry of Filonica and those of Cecirice and then the mines of the island of Elba … ” The Jacksons conducted scientific trials to achieve a more perfect adulterated steel mix. On February 20, 1856, William wrote: “ … we will continue our trials ‾ but I fear that the result will be the same despite the assurance of the Krupp Engineer … ”

William Jackson described family tension between the brothers throughout the spring of 1852, in a way that echoed the commercial split of cousins Armand and Eugene Peugeot over cars four decades later. The exact nature of the brothers’ conflict is unknown, but it involved all four brothers signing a document pertaining to company ownership. The first inklings of conflict were recorded in March 1852. On June 11, 1852, William wrote: “As Charles is hated there even more than me, I must go, but fortunately, M. DelaBouilleuier [seems to offer] very capable advice on how to obtain John and James’ signatures ‾ it is necessary that this note be signed in front of a notary by us four ‾ I can signed for Charles by power of attorney ‾ in order to encourage James to sign, we have prepared everything … ” William viewed the document as the only way “ to avoid trials and reclamations on the part of our heirs after our death”. The brothers apparently paired off in cliques, with John and James armed against William and Charles.

Other items in the archive include public company statutes, stock certificates, stock statements, business and legal documents, genealogical research, newspaper clippings, and a few pieces of miscellaneous correspondence.

Investment materials include booklet form copies of public company statutes from Cycles Peugeot, Peugeot & Cie., Travailleurs Francais, and Pechelbronn, circa 1900-1956; four 1840 stock certificates from the Bellefontaine Foundry Company; and over twenty years of stock statements issued to Jackson-Peugeot descendants Daniel Jackson (1875-1959) and his wife Marie Marguerite Meiner Jackson. From July 1924 to October 1956, Daniel and Marie Jackson received routine earnings statements from Mallet Freres & Company and other brokers who handled their investments. The Jacksons invested in Alaskan, Alsatian, and German mining concerns, manufacturing and electric companies, and railroad concerns including the French nationalized railroad the SNCF.

Business and legal documents, around fifteen pieces, include Louise Peugeot Jackson’s probate inventory from October 31, 1878 estimating her total worth at 2,424,206.68 francs; and a circa 1907 typed copy of Peugeot & Company contract between Peugeot and Jackson family members. Notes, letters, and telegrams relating to Jackson-Peugeot genealogy, numbering around thirty pieces, were collected by William and Louise Jackson’s older son William Fritz Jackson (1841-1895). Includes correspondence from his brother James Jackson (1843-1895), who served as Archivist and Librarian at the Paris Geography Society immediately prior to his death. About a dozen early twentieth-century newspaper clippings include vintage Peugeot automobile advertisements. Miscellaneous correspondence includes around ten pieces exchanged between family and friends. These include an ALS reporting seven-year-old Daniel Jackson’s grades in math, geography, reading, history, public speaking, and behavior in 1882; an ALS addressed to Louise Peugeot Jackson from a business associate in July 1858; a birthday poem entitled “To Grand mama on her 80th Birthday”; and more.

An incredible archive documenting the early family and business history of the Peugeot Company!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000