These papers are a comprehensive set of Huntsville business papers of Dr. Thomas Fearn and James J. Donegan during their years (1837-1854) as cotton commissioners (cotton factors). The office in New Orleans particularly kept a steady business correspondence between the two offices. Included are papers one might expect to maintain a business at the times.
Included in Box 1 is a copy of a paper delivered by Dr. Roberts to the Alabama Historical Association in 1974, "Fearn, Donegan and Company: A Case Study of the Cotton Factorage System in the Tennessee Valley." Original partners of the company included Thomas Lockhart, Dr. Thomas Fearn, and James J. Donegan. Later Isaac W. Moon and Albert Crenshaw of New Orleans were partners, and then William P. Atwood. Matthew W. Steele and Arthur Mosley Hopkins of Huntsville joined the company, and still later Donegan's son, James H. Donegan after his graduation from Georgetown College worked for them.
These papers are sorted by year and then grouped as accounts, receipts, and statements; bills of lading receipts; correspondence from Liverpool, England, the New York office and balance sheets; business correspondence with local customers, then sorted generally by area; some few personally related correspondence (e.g. Weakley, Fearn, Donegan) court case; and a few telegrams.