Financial records are undoubtedly one of the most valuable primary sources that historians can use for their studies. In 1912, Norman M. Paterson recorded his first ledger book entitled "Grain Transfer Ledger" (container 846, file 1) - a practice that he would continue until his death in 1983. He maintained meticulous, accurate, and precise financial records on income and expenditures. A total of 1000 distinct documents are preserved in this series, which provide details on the financial activities made by Norman M. Paterson and his children from 1912 to 2001. Every transaction - from money lost, to money spent on grain, shipping, investment and personal activities - were recorded. These documents are quite in-depth - detailing every aspect of the family's business enterprises from personal account books to books kept by officers of the company. Officers were responsible for keeping records on ongoing operations to facilitate decision-making and efficient service delivery. Every year, they maintained a complete set of registers, cashbooks, ledgers and reports (both monthly and quarterly). These records also include balance sheets, income statements and annual accounts. They provide a wealth of data on all aspects of the company's operations and offer additional insight to its overall evolution.
There are three major categories of financial documents in this series:
1st - Operating statements (general and detailed) produced by the company N. M. Paterson & Sons Limited; 2nd - Financial statements from investments received from various companies that the Paterson family owned or had interest in; 3rd - Private statements maintained by members of the Paterson family (Norman M. Paterson, Eleanor Paterson, John N. Paterson, Catherine C. Paterson, etc.).
Some statements of particular value can be found in the set of old company ledgers. They detail an inventory of assets (as they were) from the beginning of Paterson Company's to 1930. These statements were maintained during the Great Depression of 1930s, which offer interesting insight to how a company had to operate and survive during periods of economic crises. An interesting one in particular, titled "Schedules showing advances to farmers for 1930, 1931", was produced during such a period (containers 833 and 971).
From 1920 to the late 1980s, financial statements were produced for all company activities: vessel operations, grain elevator operations, mining investments, lumber investments, hotel investments, etc. All of these records present a profile of the company's financial position by given summaries of net earnings, projected operating rates, costs and earnings, etc.
This series also contains synoptic ledgers of personal finances maintained by members of the Paterson family. The personal ledgers of Norman M. Paterson are available in containers 950 (file 1) and 968 (files 1 to 4). The ledgers of his wife, Eleanor M. Paterson are in container 970 (files 5 to 7). John N. Paterson's ledgers are preserved in containers 811 (file 1), 947 (file 2), 951 (files 1 to 2), 952 (files 1 to 2), 953 (files 1 to 3), 954 (file 1) and 956 (file 1). The family maintained several other ledgers on: the Paterson Estate (container 968 file 3), on trust accounts (containers 972, 973, 979, 980 and 1009), on donations (container 944 file 29), on personal income taxes, on personal dividends ledgers (container 977 file 1) and on stock records.
The first ledgers of accounts produced by The Paterson Foundation are available in this series.
The small quantity of photographic records pertains to the Paterson Marine Management Systems Audit, which document the preparation of audit vessel reports.
