Washington County Abstract Records

Collection

Identifier: MC 1848

Staff Only
Select files to request

Content Description

The collection primarily contains Washington County, Arkansas abstract books. These records were created and maintained by several abstract companies, which included the Berry Abstract Company; Washington County Banking & Trust Co.; A. F. Wolf Realty Co. Abstracts, Real Estate, and Insurance; and the Pollard-Pettigrew Abstract Company.

The abstract books' standard form fields include: Grantor; Grantee; Kind of Instrument; Date; Date Filed; Record (Volume) and Page number; Consideration (in dollars); If Mortgage Amount Secured; Date of Acknowledgment; Before Whom Acknowledged; and Description of Property and Remarks.

The collection also includes abstract index records; Washington County court records; and ephemera.

Dates

1838-1949

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Conditions Governing Use

Use Restrictions Apply: Abstract books are brittle and fragile; handle with care. For preservation reasons, any scanning of materials in this collection must be done by Libraries staff.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical / Historical

Millard Berry founded the Berry Abstract Company in Springdale, Arkansas around 1885; the business later expanded to Fayetteville. In 1908, Millard Berry sold part of his interest in the company to Ben F. Greer, and the company became the Berry-Greer Abstract Co. In 1943, Berry's interest was bought out by Ben F. Greer's son, James R. Greer, and the company became the James R. Greer Abstract Co. Washington County Abstract & Title Company also traces its history back to the Berry Abstract Company.

A. F. Wolf & Company was a Fayetteville-based abstract and realty company for which W. S. Pollard ran the abstract side of the business. In 1907, Pollard joined with George Pettigrew to form the Pollard-Pettigrew Abstract Company, which had its offices in the Washington County Courthouse.

Extent

16.27 Linear Feet (21 boxes and 2 folders)

Additional Description

Arrangement

Abstract books have been arranged according to their original numbering. Books are numbered first in an alphabetical series, B-Z (there is no Volume A), then from A2-Z2 (there are no Volumes F2 or G2), then numerically from 53-109 (there are no Volumes 1-52 or 98). Entries in most volumes are recorded chronologically by date filed; in some cases books were bound out of page order. Additional collection materials were arranged by format or, in the case of loose materials removed from abstract books, in order of the abstract books they were removed from; the original abstract book location has been noted at the item level.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Washington County Abstract Records were donated to Special Collections by Tony Wappel, Washington County Archivist, on behalf of the Washington County Archives on September 28, 2009. Some of the collection materials were donated to the Washington County Archives by the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in December 2008.

Processing Information

Processed by Katrina Windon; completed in March 2024.

Date ranges for each abstract book have generally been assigned based on the "Date Filed" field on the first and last entries in each book; however, in some cases entries may have been entered non-chronologically, or supporting documents may have been bound in with the abstract records, and actual date ranges for some volumes may be more extensive than the dates reflected in the finding aid.