B. R. Strong Papers
This collection houses correspondence, invoices, receipts, lease agreements, mortgages, and other materials documenting B. R. Strong's business activities between 1880 and 1918.
Dates
- 1880-1950s
- Majority of material found within 1880-1918
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.75 Linear Feet (2 boxes [1 half box, 1 quarter box])
Abstract
This collection houses correspondence, invoices, receipts, lease agreements, mortgages, and other materials documenting B. R. Strong's business activities between 1880 and 1918.
Biographical/Historical Note
Benjamin Rush Strong was born to Joseph Churchill and Sophronia (Marrs) Strong near McMillan's (Knox County), Tennessee on March 24, 1848. He was one of nine children, including Robert N. (born about 1834), John (born about 1835), Martha Ann (Strong) Monday (born about 1839), Joseph Churchill (born about 1841), Mary (Strong) Borches (1843-1911), Gideon Hazen Strong (1850-1919), William E. (born about 1854), Albert N. Strong (1856-1930), and Horace. B. R. Strong studied at Spout Hollow, Walnut Grove Academy, the University of Tennessee, and Eastman's Business College in New York. He began his business career by investing in a sawmill with his brother-in-law, W. O. Monday, but sold his share after six months. He then invested in a store in Ellistown. Construction exhausted his finances, and in order to earn money to buy stock, Strong taught school in Spout Hollow. He later moved to Straw Plains and finally to Knoxville where he opened a shop on Market Square. Strong made his first sale, a can of lard, to a farmer on December 16, 1876 and celebrated 'Lard can day' for the rest of his life. Strong later took on a partner and changed the store's name to Strong & Co. He eventually sold the enterprise and entered the real estate business with W. M. Epps and Barnabas Braine under the firm name Strong, Braine, Epps, Monday, & Nelson. B. R. Strong was also active in banking and wrote articles for local papers under the pen name Gnorts (Strong spelled backwards). B. R. Strong died on March 2, 1915 in Daytona Beach, Florida and is buried in Old Gray Cemetery.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single box.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository