Records of Ratsey & Lapthorn

Overview of the Records
	Repository:	G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
	Creator:	Ratsey & Lapthorn
	Title:	Records of Ratsey & Lapthorn
	Dates:	ca. 1810-1970
	Extent:	10,187 items
	Abstract:	Records (ca. 1902-1977) of the company’s American business; together with more historical papers (ca. 1813-1900) regarding the Ratsey family and their sailmaking work in England. Includes ledgers, cashbooks, daybooks, account books, journals, sail and estimate books, roping books, sail data calculations, and drawings. Family members represented include George R., Thomas W., and Ernest Ratsey.
	Identification:	Coll. 236

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History of Ratsey & Lapthorn

Ratsey & Lapthorn were sailmakers in England and the U.S. in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Available for use in the Manuscripts Division.

Restrictions on Use

Various copying restriction apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts Division.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the G. W. Blunt White Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

 Persons:

Ratsey family
Ratsey, Ernest
Ratsey, George R.
Ratsey, Thomas W.

Subjects:

Rope
Sailmakers–United States
Sails

Document Types:

Account books
Cashbooks
Daybooks
Drawings
Journals (accounts)
Ledgers

Occupations:

Sailmakers–Great Britain

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 236, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.

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Detailed Description of the Records

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

 

Ratsey Family and Business History; ca. 1813-1936
Box	Folder
1	1		Waste Book; 1813
	2		Letter Book; 1814
	3		Accounts, “Mr. Ratsey w/ Wm. Hornwood”; 1815
	4		Account, George Ratsey w/ Messrs. Swell & Hearn; 1829
	5		Roping Book; 1833
	6		Robert Ratsey Estate – division with sons George, “E”, & “N”; ca. 1840
	7		Certificate commemorating “Ocean Race from N. Y. to Cowes” given to George Ratsey; ca. 1866
	8		Letters written by George R. Ratsey; 1869-1870
	9		Letter written by Thomas W. Ratsey; 1878 Mar
	10		Sail book, Gosport; ca. 1874-1875
	11		Papers re. Patent # 22,970 for “Improved Diagonal Sails”; 1892-1893
	12		Letter re. yacht AMERICA’s Cup Race, with reprint of original newspaper article; 1851 Aug 22
	13		Directions for bending mainsail, small yawl; 1901 May 17
	14		Poem, “The Channel-Racers, SAPPHO v. CAMBRIA”, or “An International Song” (re. American’s Cup Race, 1851); undated
	15		Four-Figure Tables; 1914
	16		Newspaper clipping re. sinking of yacht BRITANNIA; 1936
	17		Letter of Introduction, Thomas Ratsey for his “nephew & partner”, George E. Ratsey; 1903
	18		Seam Scale; 1901
	19		George Ratsey Membership Certificate, Freemasons of England; 1906
Ratsey & Lapthorn Co., business papers; 1903-1970
Box	Folder
2	1		Balance Sheets; 1903-1908
	2		Balance Sheets; 1909-1911
	3		Balance Sheets; 1912-1915
	4		Accounts Reports and Balance Sheets; 1916-1926
	5		Accounts Reports; 1920-1921, 1924-1927
	6		Accounts Reports; 1928-1935
	7		Accounts Reports; 1942-1949
Box	Folder
3	1		Accounts Reports; 1950-1959
	2		Accounts Reports; 1960-1965
	3		Letter to Ernest Ratsey from “Stanley”; 1937 Feb 15
	4		Letter to Ernest Ratsey from Peter Lapthorn aboard HMS HOOD; 1940 Aug 15
	5		Two telegrams re. war damage to Cowes Sail Loft; 1941-1942
	6		Report, “Our Part in the War Effort” by Ernest Ratsey; ca. 1942
	7		Certificate of Honorable Service presented by U.S.C.G. to the vessel ZAIDA; ca. 1945
	8		Ratsey & Lapthorn, Certificate of Incorporation & By-Laws; ca. 1947
	9		Feasibility Study & Plans for a proposed building; ca. 1970
	10		Samples of sail cloth; ca. 1950
	11		Certificate from City Island Chamber of Commerce for efforts to preserve maritime character of the area; 1977
Box	Folder
4	1		Miscellaneous receipts, etc.; ca. 1903-1906
	2		Receipts, orders, payroll, bills, etc.; 1917-1918
	3		Calculations, sketches, prices, inventory, etc.: re. sail cloth, canvas, & related materials; ca. 1917-1918
	4		Memo of Duties, Customs House, Gray Bros., and Agents; 1914-1916
	5		Capital Stock reports & taxes; ca. 1903-1925
	6		Miscellaneous corporation income tax papers; 1911-1924
	7		Miscellaneous tax information re. state corporate and franchise taxes; ca. 1916-1925
	8		Alien income tax receipts, tax return receipts, and re-entrance into U.S. for George Ratsey; 1925-1926
	9		Estate tax dispute, foreign corporation exemption, and related papers; 1919 Oct-1922 Jul
	10		U.S. War Department, shipping receipts and notices, transfer slips, etc.; 1917 Apr-1918 Aug
	11		U.S. War Department, correspondence, specifications, memos, and instructions to bidders; ca. 1910-1918
	12		List of sails stored at Ratsey & Lapthorn; 1920
	13		Miscellaneous correspondence and papers re. Ratsey & Lapthorn sails, etc.; ca. 1914-1945
	14		Price lists and materials information; ca. 1927-1942
Ledgers; 1902-1977
	Volume
	1		Ledger; 1902-1918
	2		Ledger; 1902-1910
	3		Ledger; 1902
	4		Ledger; 1909-1914
	5		Ledger; 1919-1922
	6		Ledger; 1922-1924
	7		Ledger; 1923-1937
	8		Ledger; ca. 1931
	9		Ledger; ca. 1940
	10		Ledger; ca. 1943
	11		Ledger; ca. 1947
	12		Ledger; ca. 1954
	13		S.E. Ledger; ca. 1960
	14		D.E. Ledger; ca. 1960
	15		S. E . Ledger; ca. 1977
Daybooks; 1902-1924
	Volume
	16		Daybook; 1902-1904
	17		Daybook; 1904-1906
	18		Daybook; 1906-1909
	19		Daybook; 1909-1911
	20		Daybook; 1911-1912
	21		Daybook; 1912-1914
	22		Daybook; 1914-1916
	23		Daybook; 1916-1917
	24		Daybook; 1920-1921
	25		Daybook; 1921-1922
	26		Daybook; 1922
	27		Daybook; 1923-1924
Cash books; 1902-1959
	Volume
	28		Cash book; 1902
	29		Cash book; 1903
	30		Cash book; 1921-1924
	31		Cash book; 1923-1928
	32		Cash book (Mfgrs. Trust); 1940-1942
	33		Cash book; 1940-1942
	34		Cash book (J.P. Morgan & Co.); 1935-1959
Cash Received books; 1942-1957
	Volume
	35		Cash received book; 1942-1949
	36		Cash received book; 1949-1953
	37		Cash received book; 1953-1957
Cash Paid books; 1942-1959
	Volume
	38		Cash paid book; 1942-1949
	39		Cash paid book; 1948-1954
	40		Cash paid book; 1954-1959
Order books; 1901-1928
	Volume
	41		Order book; 1901-1908
	42		Order book; 1908-1913
	43		Order book; 1914-1920
	44		Order book; 1924-1928
Invoice books; 1901-1920
	Volume
	45		Invoice book; 1901-1909
	46		Invoice book; 1910-1917
	47		Invoice book; 1917-1920
Credit books; 1902, 1914
	Volume
	48		Credit book; 1902
	49		Credit book; 1914
Letter books; 1902-1903
	Volume
	50		Letter book; 1902-1903
	51		Letter book; 1902
Account books; 1924-1962
	Volume
	52		Account book; 1924-1929
	53		Account book; 1930-1934
	54		Account book; 1935-1938
	55		Account book; 1939-1941
	56		Account book; 1942-1945
	57		Account book; 1944-1947
	58		Account book; 1947-1949
	59		Account book; 1949-1951
	60		Account book; 1951-1953
	61		Account book; 1953-1956
	62		Account book; 1956-1957
	63		Account book; 1957-1959
	64		Account book; 1959-1960
	65		Account book; 1960-1961
	66		Account book; 1961-1962
Journals; 1924-1958
	Volume
	67		Journal; 1924-1930
	68		Journal; 1931-1941
	69		Journal; 1941-1943
	70		Journal; 1930-1944
	71		Journal; 1944-1950
	72		Journal; 1950-1958
Salary/Wages books; 1918-1942
	Volume
	73		Salary wages book; 1918-1926
	74		Salary wages book; 1923-1924
	75		Salary wages book; 1934-1942
	76		Salary wages book; 1942
Minute books; 1927-1965
	Volume
	77		Minute book; 1927-1930
	78		Minute book; 1938-1946
	79		Minute book; 1959-1965
Petty Cash books; 1902-1953
	Volume
	80		Petty cash book; 1902-1906
	81		Petty cash book; 1913-1918
	82		Petty cash book; 1918-1919
	83		Petty cash book; 1931-1944
	84		Petty cash book; 1944-1953
Trial Balance books; 1943-1957
	Volume
	85		Trial balance book; 1943-1945
	86		Trial balance book; 1947-1949
	87		Trial balance book; 1951-1953
	88		Trial balance book; 1956-1957
Sales books; 1902-1944
	Volume
	89		Sales book; 1902-1903
	90		Sales book; 1942-1943
	91		Sales book; 1944
Voucher book; 1923-1957
	Volume
	92		Voucher book; 1923-1928
	93		Voucher book; 1937-1941
	94		Voucher book; 1942-1944
	95		Voucher book; 1945-1951
	96		Voucher book; 1952-1957
Foreign Purchase book; 1923-1949
	Volume
	97		Foreign purchase book; 1923-1949
Stock books; 1902-1928
	Volume
	98		Stock book; 1902-1914
	99		Stock book; 1915-1919
	100		Stock book; 1919-1928
Visitor Register; ca. 1967
	Volume
	101		Visitors register; ca. 1967
Estimate books; 1902-1961
	Volume
	102		Estimate book; 1902-1907
	103		Estimate book; 1902-1906
	104		Estimate book; 1902-1906
	105		Estimate book; 1906-1908
	106		Estimate book; 1908-1909
	107		Estimate book; 1910-1912
	108		Estimate book; 1913-1916
	109		Estimate book; 1916-1919
	110		Estimate book; 1920-1921
	111		Estimate book; 1922-1923
	112		Estimate book; 1923-1924
	113		Estimate book; 1925-1926
	114		Estimate book; 1927-1928
	115		Estimate book; 1928-1929
	116		Estimate book; 1930-1931
	117		Estimate book; 1931-1933
	118		Estimate book; 1933-1935
	119		Estimate book; 1935-1937
	120		Estimate book; 1938-1945
	121		Estimate book; 1945-1954
	122		Estimate book; 1954-1961
	123		Estimate book; 1961
Sail Data & Measurement books; 1902-1940
	Volume
	124		Sail data & Measurement book; 1902-1906
	125		Sail data & Measurement book; 1907-1910
	126		Sail data & Measurement book; 1910-1913
	127		Sail data & Measurement book; 1913-1918
	128		Sail data & Measurement book; 1918-1922
	129		Sail data & Measurement book; 1922-1923
	130		Sail data & Measurement book; 1923-1925
	131		Sail data & Measurement book; 1929
	132		Sail data & Measurement book; 1929-1931
	133		Sail data & Measurement book; 1932-1933
	134		Sail data & Measurement book; 1935-1936
	135		Sail data & Measurement book; 1936-1937
	136		Sail data & Measurement book; 1937-1938
	137		Sail data & Measurement book; 1938-1939
	138		Sail data & Measurement book; 1940
Roping books; 1924-1938
	Volume
	139		Roping book; 1924-1925
	140		Roping book; 1925-1926
	141		Roping book; 1927-1928
	142		Roping book; 1928-1929
	143		Roping book; 1929-1930
	144		Roping book; 1930-1931
	145		Roping book; 1932-1934
	146		Roping book; ca. 1937
	147		Roping book; ca. 1938
Sail Data (i.e. red-covered vols.); 1928-1962
	Volume
	148		Sail data; 1928-1929
	149		Sail data; 1930
	150		Sail data; 1931
	151		Sail data; 1931-1932
	152		Sail data; 1932-1933
	153		Sail data; 1933-1934
	154		Sail data; 1934-1935
	155		Sail data, A; 1935-1936
	156		Sail data, B; 1936-1937
	157		Sail data, D; 1938-1939
	158		Sail data, E; 1939-1940
	159		Sail data, F; 1940-1941
	160		Sail data, G; 1941-1942
	161		Sail data, ?; 1945-1946
	162		Sail data, A; 1946-1947
	163		Sail data, B; 1947-1948
	164		Sail data, C; 1948-1949
	165		Sail data, F; 1951-1952
	166		Sail data, G; 1952-1953
	167		Sail data, H; 1953-1954
	168		Sail data, J; 1954-1955
	169		Sail data, K; 1955-1956
	170		Sail data, A; 1956-1957
	171		Sail data, (Series 58); 1957-1958
	172		Sail data, (Series 60); 1959-1960
	173		Sail data, (Series 61); 1960-1961
	174		Sail data, (Series 62); 1961-1962
Miscellaneous Volumes; 1902-1948
	Volume
	175		Roping Bk./Sail Book; undated
	176		Canvas; 1913-192?
	177		Stock; 1929-193?
	178		Covers Only; ca. 1930-1940
	179		Covers/Awnings Only; undated
	180		Sail Data; ca. 1959
	181		Sail Data; undated
	182		Bank Book; 1923-1942
	183		Sail Data; ca. 1948
	184		Sail Data; 1903 Feb
	185		Drawer 8, Q Boats; undated
	186		Business Records; 1902-1916
	187		Sail Data; 1925 Sep 1
	188		Sail Data; 1937 Mar 5
	189		Business Records; 1913-1915

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