Colonial America gave little thought to life insurance selling. The colonists secured protection against marine risks from private underwriters, first in London, eventually at home. It has been asserted that Philadelphia had no fire insurance until 1752; Boston none before 1795. The first corporations formed in this country for insuring lives were those of the Presbyterian Ministers Fund (1759) and a similar company organized for the benefit of Episcopal ministers (1769). Neither of these corporations offered insurance to the general public. In the last decade of the eighteenth century many insurance companies were formed in the United States. At least five were chartered to underwrite life risks, but only one, The Insurance Company of North America, appears to have accepted any. There is no basis for saying that any of these early companies tried to sell life insurance.

Through the kindness of Professor Herbert Heaton of the University of Minnesota the editor has learned of a valuable set of business papers recently found in Leeds, England. The Yorkshire Post of March 25, 1938, tells of the discovery of the papers of John Wilson & Sons, of Leeds, which date from the middle of the eighteenth century. This collection, according to the Post, consists of “nearly 200 volumes, comprising day books, cash books, company ledgers, district ledgers, inventories, stock books, warehouse and delivery books, and others of a miscellaneous character.” The papers have been placed in the municipal Reference Library of Leeds.

Through the kindness of Professor Herbert Heaton of the University of Minnesota the editor has learned of a valuable set of business papers recently found in Leeds, England. The Yorkshire Post of March 25, 1938, tells of the discovery of the papers of John Wilson & Sons, of Leeds, which date from the middle of the eighteenth century. This collection, according to the Post, consists of “nearly 200 volumes, comprising day books, cash books, company ledgers, district ledgers, inventories, stock books, warehouse and delivery books, and others of a miscellaneous character.” The papers have been placed in the municipal Reference Library of Leeds.