Business records and personal papers of several generations of the Heard family. The oldest group of papers, 1770-1834, is that of John Heard, who made his wealth from the manufacture and sale of rum, the outfitting of privateers, and trade with the West Indies. The largest and most important group of papers in the collection is that of Augustine Heard and his various partnerships. His papers cover, first, his travels as supercargo for Boston and Salem merchants who were trading in the Far East, then his activities as partner in the great shipping firm of Russell and Company. In 1836 he left Russell and Company. By 1840 he had become the head of his own firm, Augustine Heard and Company, founded with Joseph Coolidge.

• Is available on microfilm (670 reels, 35mm) from Historical Collections, Baker Library. Contact Reference Staff for order numbers.

Merchant family from Ipswich, Mass. principally engaged in the China trade. Augustine Heard (1785-1868) established Augustine Heard and Company in 1840 and the business was carried on by four of his nephews. The firm's main office was at first in Canton; from 1857 in Hong Kong. Branch offices were established in treaty ports of China and Japan such as Foochow, Shanghai, and Yokohama. The firm finally wound up in bankruptcy in 1875.