Summary Information
Peterson Grocery Store Records
1881-1920
- Peterson Grocery Store (Eau Claire, Wis.)
Eau Claire Mss W
15.2 c.f. (38 archives boxes)
UW-Eau Claire McIntyre Library / Eau Claire Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Records of a Wisconsin grocery store and its predecessor firms, consisting mainly of financial records including invoices of wholesale purchases and daily customer orders. Also included is a small amount of business and personal correspondence, 1888-1920, in Danish and English; wholesaler's price lists and advertisements, 1879-1920; and “poor orders” listing the grocery orders filled for the city's poor, 1897-1909.
English, Danish
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-ec000w ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
In 1881, Hans Mason and his brother-in-law, Hans Peterson, formed a partnership to operate the Mason and Company Grocery Store at the corner of Seventh and Water Streets (642 Water Street) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The store later was known as Mason and Peterson's Grocery, and, when Peterson bought out his partner after a few years, as the Peterson Grocery Store. Peterson continued to operate the business until his death of a heart ailment on September 2, 1920.
Born near Copenhagen, Denmark, August 29, 1843, Peterson married Kirsten Peterson in 1866. In 1868, the couple immigrated to Eau Claire where during his first thirteen years in America, Peterson worked at the Steven Marston Saw Mill and later at the Empire Lumber Company before going into the grocery business.
Peterson was an alderman representing Eau Claire's Seventh Ward, and, at one time, President of the Common Council of that city.
There is no information at hand on the disposition of the store after Peterson's death in 1920.
Scope and Content Note
The records extant of the Peterson Grocery Store, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1881-1920, consist mainly of financial records, e.g. orders, invoices, receipts, account books, and day books. There is also one folder of general correspondence written both in Danish and English, and a general file of miscellaneous business records. These files are often incomplete.
This collection is representative of a retail grocery store operation, 1880-1920, in a small community (17,800) in west central Wisconsin, consequently the records have been retained in their entirety, except for duplicates and obvious ephemera. However, considerable selection was apparently practiced in preservation of the records by Hans Peterson, his heirs, or consignees before their donation to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
The CORRESPONDENCE, 1888-1920, is general and scanty, both personal and business, some written in Danish (not translated). There is one letter, dated February 20, 1905, from Wisconsin Assemblyman Chris N. Saugen of Cleghorn, Eau Claire County, referring to the “Dells dam question.” The Correspondence is in chronological sequence.
The GENERAL FILE consists of Advertisements and Price Lists of miscellaneous wholesalers, 1879-1920; blank forms used in the operation of the store; a few papers relating to the Mutual Reserve Fund Life Association - Mortuary Calls, 1890-1892; “Poor Orders,” 1897-1909; and miscellaneous business papers, cards, and customer orders.
The “Poor Orders” list, by name, those of the city's “poor” for whom Peterson was grocer, and the amount of each order. There is also a tabulation for the year 1909, by month.
Filed under Miscellaneous Business Papers, 1890, 1896, 1908-1909, is a “Claim For Rebate Under the Act of December 15, 1890, of Taxes Paid on Tobacco and Snuff;” two printed items on the Sugar Tariff, 1908; and a list of tares compiled by the Wisconsin Wholesale Grocers' Association for the “retail trade.”
The Miscellaneous Business Cards are for accounts, orders, receipts for shipment, and salesmen's appointments. Miscellaneous Customer Orders are loose single sheets and two small order pads, which do not fit readily with the Day Books, in which most of the customer orders are recorded.
Folders of manuscripts included in the General File are in alphabetical order by type of material. The Advertisements and Price Lists are separated into two periods, 1879-1892 and 1900-1920, and arranged alphabetically by advertiser within each time period. The Blank Business Forms are in alphabetical sequence. The other categories of the General File have a chronological arrangement.
The bulk of the collection are the FINANCIAL RECORDS consisting of Invoices and Receipts, 1885-1920; Railroad Freight Bills, 1897, 1910, and 1919; Account Books, 1881-1917; a Cash Book, 1893-1910; a Journal, 1893; a Ledger, 1887-1894; and Day Books, 1884-1919.
There are only scattered invoices and receipts for the years 1885, 1887-1892, 1894, 1897, 1908-1912, and 1914 through June 1917. From 1893 to 1910 invoices have been preserved in account with Girnau and Dohrman, an Eau Claire “wagon and carriage works,” with itemized listings of parts and repair costs. For the years of United States involvement in World War I, 1917-1918, and the following year, 1919, probably the majority of invoices sent to the Peterson Grocery Store have survived. For 1920 there are only three statements, January to April, of Peterson's account with Franklin MacVeah and Company of Chicago.
Peterson recorded customer accounts in two account books, 1881-1883 and 1883-1889. Thereafter, for the period 1889-1917, these records are kept in individual customer account books. He also kept a cash book, 1893-1910; a journal, 1892; and a ledger, 1887-1894. The mainstay of Peterson's records was the daybook, in which individual customer's purchase orders, with prices, were recorded daily. There are some gaps in these records and some duplication of concurrent day books, especially for the latter half of the period documented in these records, 1884-1919.
The order of arrangement of the Financial Records has been determined by the original progression of usage from invoices on wholesale purchase and freight bills to the account books, cash book, journal, and ledger. However, the thirty-three archives boxes of day books have been placed at the end of the collection, because of the large number of volumes in this classification. Within the individual categories of this series the arrangement is chronological.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Thomas Barland, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, June 26, 1963 and August 16, 1963. Accession Number: M63-133, M63-133-1
Processed by Joanne Hohler, September 8, 1972.
Contents List
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Series: Correspondence, General, 1888-1920
: In Danish and English
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Series: General File
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Advertisements and Price Lists, Miscellaneous Wholesalers
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Box
1
Folder
2
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1879-1892
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Box
1
Folder
3
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1900-1920
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Forms, Blank Business, 1880-1900
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Insurance, Mutual Reserve Fund Life Association, Mortuary Call, 1890-1892
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Box
1
Folder
6
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“Poor Orders,” 1897-1909; undated
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Miscellaneous
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Business Papers, 1890, 1896, 1908-1909
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Cards and Customer Orders, undated
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Series: Financial Records
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Invoices and Receipts
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Box
2
Folder
1
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1885; 1887, January-December
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Box
2
Folder
2
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1888, January-June
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Box
2
Folder
3
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1888, July-December
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Box
2
Folder
4
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1889
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Box
2
Folder
5
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1890, January-May
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Box
2
Folder
6
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1890, June-December
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Box
2
Folder
7
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1891
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Box
2
Folder
8
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1892, 1894, 1897
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Girnau and Dohrman - Eau Claire Wagon and Carriage Works, 1893-1910
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Box
2
Folder
10
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1908-1912
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Box
2
Folder
11
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1914-1916
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Box
2
Folder
12
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1917, January-May
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Box
2
Folder
13-18
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1917, July-December
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Box
3
Folder
1-12
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1918, January-December
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Box
4
Folder
1-11
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1919, January-November
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Box
4
Folder
12
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1920
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Railroad Freight Bills
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Box
4
Folder
13
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1897, March-June
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Box
4
Folder
14
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1897, July-December
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Box
4
Folder
15
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1910, July-November
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Box
4
Folder
16
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1919
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Account Books
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Box
5
Folder
1-2
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Book #1, Pages 1-428 (some gaps), 1881-1883
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Box
5
Folder
3-4
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Book #2, Pages 1-332, 1883-1889
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Box
5
Folder
5
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Individual Customer Accounts, 1889-1917
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Box
5
Folder
6
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Cash Book, 1893-1910
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Box
5
Folder
7
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Journal, 1893
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Box
5
Folder
8
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Ledger, 1887-1894
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Day Books
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Box
6
Folder
1
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1884, April 11-June 27
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Box
6
Folder
2
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1884, June 27-August 26
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Box
6
Folder
3
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1884, August 27-October 19
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Box
6
Folder
4
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1884, October 20-December 26
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Box
6
Folder
5
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1885, January 1-March 25
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Box
6
Folder
6
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1885, March 26-May 14
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Box
6
Folder
7
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1886, September-1887, February 17
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Box
6
Folder
8
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1887, October 4-November 10
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Box
6
Folder
9
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1887, November 10-December 31
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Box
7
Folder
1
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1888, January 2-February 25
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Box
7
Folder
2
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1888, February 25-April 7
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Box
7
Folder
3
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1888, April 7-May 15
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Box
7
Folder
4
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1888, May 15-June 15
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Box
7
Folder
5
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1888, June 15-July 16
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Box
7
Folder
6
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1888, July 16-August 17
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Box
7
Folder
7
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1888, August 17-September 18
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Box
7
Folder
8
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1888, September 18-October 22
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Box
7
Folder
9
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1888, October 22-December 6
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Box
7
Folder
10
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1888, December 7-1889, February 2 1889
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Box
8
Folder
1
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1889, February 2-April 20
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Box
8
Folder
2
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1889, April 20-June 14
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Box
8
Folder
3
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1889, June 14-August 5
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Box
8
Folder
4
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1889, August 5-September 23
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Box
8
Folder
5
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1889, September 25-November 20
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Box
8
Folder
6
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1889, November 20-1890, February 5
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Box
9
Folder
1
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1890, March 24-May 24
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Box
9
Folder
2
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1890, May 24-July 11
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Box
9
Folder
3
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1890, July 11-August 27
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Box
9
Folder
4
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1890, August 27-October 14
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Box
10
Folder
1
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1890, October 14-December 1
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Box
10
Folder
2
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1891, February 21-April 24
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Box
10
Folder
3
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1891, April 24-June 11
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Box
10
Folder
4
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1891, June 11-August 10
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Box
11
Folder
1
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1891, August 10-October 19
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Box
11
Folder
2
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1891, October 19-November 30
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Box
11
Folder
3
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1891, December 1-1892, February 5
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Box
11
Folder
4
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1892, February 5-April 7
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Box
11
Folder
5
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1892, April 7-May 19
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Box
12
Folder
1
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1892, May 20-June 28
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Box
12
Folder
2
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1892, June 29-August 5
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Box
12
Folder
3
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1892, August 6-October 4
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Box
12
Folder
4
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1892, October 4-December 23
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Box
13
Folder
1
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1892, December 23-1893, March 26
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Box
13
Folder
2
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1893, March 27-May 28
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Box
13
Folder
3
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1893, May 28-July 20
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Box
13
Folder
4
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1893, July 20-September 9
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Box
14
Folder
1
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1893, September 9-November 6
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Box
14
Folder
2
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1893, November 6-1894, January 23
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Box
14
Folder
3
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1894, January 23-April 4
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Box
14
Folder
4
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1894, April 4-May 28
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Box
14
Folder
5
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1894, May 28-July 8
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Box
15
Folder
1
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1894, July 18-September 5
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Box
15
Folder
2
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1894, September 5-October 10
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Box
15
Folder
3
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1894, October 30-1895, January 10
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Box
15
Folder
4
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1895, January 10-March 25
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Box
15
Folder
5
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1895, March 25-May 21
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Box
16
Folder
1
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1895, May 21-July 13
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Box
16
Folder
2
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1895, July 13-September 7
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Box
16
Folder
3
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1895, September 7-November 7
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Box
16
Folder
4
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1895, November 7-1896, January 27
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Box
16
Folder
5
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1896, January 27-April 11
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Box
17
Folder
1
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1896, April 11-June 13
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Box
17
Folder
2
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1896, June 13-August 11
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Box
17
Folder
3
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1896, August 11-October 13
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Box
17
Folder
4
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1896, October 13-1897, January 16
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Box
17
Folder
5
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1897, January 16-April 17
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Box
18
Folder
1
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1897, April 17-June 29
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Box
18
Folder
2
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1897, June 29-September 8
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Box
18
Folder
3
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1897, September 8-November 22
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Box
18
Folder
4
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1897, November 22-1898, February 12
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Box
18
Folder
5
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1898, February 14-April 23
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Box
19
Folder
1
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1898, April 23-June 27
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Box
19
Folder
2
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1898, June 27-August 24
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Box
19
Folder
3
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1898, August 24-October 28
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Box
19
Folder
4
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1898, October 28-1899, January 11
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Box
20
Folder
1
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1899, January 11-March 31
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Box
20
Folder
2
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1899, March 31-June 5
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Box
20
Folder
3
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1899, June 5-August 5
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Box
20
Folder
4
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1899, August 5-October 6
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Box
21
Folder
1
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1899, October 6-December 22
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Box
21
Folder
2
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1899, December 22-1900, March 23
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Box
21
Folder
3
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1900, March 23-May 31
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Box
21
Folder
4
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1900, May 31-July 28
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Box
22
Folder
1
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1900, July 28-September 24
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Box
22
Folder
2
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1900, September 24-October 23
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Box
22
Folder
3
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1900, October 23-December 24
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Box
22
Folder
4
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1900, December 24-1901, March 8
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Box
23
Folder
1
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1901, March 8-May 8
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Box
23
Folder
2
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1901, May 8-July 11
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Box
23
Folder
3
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1901, July 11-October 5
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Box
23
Folder
4
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1901, October 5-November 19
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Box
24
Folder
1
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1902, January 11-March 10
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Box
24
Folder
2
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1902, March 10-May 30
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Box
24
Folder
3
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1902, May 30-August 12
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Box
24
Folder
4
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1902, August 12-October 28
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Box
24
Folder
5
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1902, August 11-November 7
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Box
24
Folder
5
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1902, April 30-1903, February 11
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Box
25
Folder
1
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1902, October 28-1903, January 27
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Box
25
Folder
1
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1902, November 7-1903, February 16
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Box
25
Folder
3
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1903, January 25-May 2
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Box
25
Folder
4
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1903, February 16-June 15
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Box
25
Folder
5
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1903, May 12-July 20
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Box
26
Folder
1
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1903, June 15-October 31
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Box
26
Folder
2
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1903, July 20-October 12
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Box
26
Folder
3
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1903, October 12-1904, January 14
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Box
26
Folder
4
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1903, November 3-1904, March 15
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Box
26
Folder
5
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1904, January 14-April 20
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Box
27
Folder
1
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1904, March 15-July 1
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Box
27
Folder
2
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1904, April 20-July 12
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Box
27
Folder
3
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1904, July 1-October 21
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Box
27
Folder
3
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1904, December 6-1905, April 14
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Box
27
Folder
3
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1905, April 14-August 15
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Box
27
Folder
4
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1905, August 16-December 16
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Box
27
Folder
4
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1905, December 19-1906, April 18
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Box
27
Folder
5
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1906, January 1-April 21
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Box
28
Folder
1
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1906, April 19-August 28
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Box
28
Folder
2
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1906, April 21-June 27
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Box
28
Folder
3
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1906, June 27-September 1
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Box
28
Folder
4
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1906, September 1-November 12
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Box
28
Folder
5
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1906, November 12-1907, January 31
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Box
29
Folder
1
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1907, January 31-May 10
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Box
29
Folder
2
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1907, May 10-August 9
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Box
29
Folder
3
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1907, August 9-November 8
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Box
30
Folder
1
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1907, November 8-1908, February 19
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Box
30
Folder
2
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1908, February 19-May 22
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Box
30
Folder
3
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1908, May 22-August 19
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Box
31
Folder
1
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1908, August 19-November 20
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Box
31
Folder
2
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1909, March 8-June 19
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Box
31
Folder
3
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1909, June 19-September 21
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Box
32
Folder
1
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1909, September 21-December 24
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Box
32
Folder
2
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1909, December 24-1910, April 8
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Box
32
Folder
3
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1910, April 8-July 9
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Box
33
Folder
1
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1910, July 9-October 5
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Box
33
Folder
2
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1912, September 12-December 29
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Box
34
Folder
1
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1914, May 18-September 8
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Box
34
Folder
2
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1914, September 8-1915, January 8
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Box
35
Folder
1
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1915, January 8-May 19
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Box
35
Folder
2
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1915, May 19-September 23
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Box
36
Folder
1
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1915, September 23-1916, March 2
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Box
36
Folder
2
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1916, March 2-June 12
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Box
37
Folder
1
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1916, June 12-October 24
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Box
37
Folder
2
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1917, March 13-August 1
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Box
37
Folder
3
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1918, January 19-June 13
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Box
38
Folder
1
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1918, June 13-October 16
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Box
38
Folder
2
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1919, August 21-December 27
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