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R. G. Dun and Company (1841-)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1841-

Biography

Founded in 1841 by Lewis Tappan, the Mercantile Agency—later known as R.G. Dun and Company—was the first successful commercial reporting agency in America. The company pioneered the new industry of credit reporting, an important tool in the development of American commerce during the 19th century. Dun & Bradstreet resulted from the 1933 merger of R. G. Dun & Company and its chief competitor, J. M. Bradstreet & Company. It continues to be an innovator in business information into the 21st century.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

R. G. Dun Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 601.1
Scope and Contents The six volumes in this collection contain hand-written "credit reports" compiled by St. Louis area correspondents or reporters for the R. G. Dun Company from the early 1840s to the mid 1880s. These correspondents would usually file a report twice a year about numerous individual businesses in St. Louis (and other cities) to record information on the condition of each business. The reports would also be sent to the Dun Company's office in New York City.  An entry on a particular business...
Dates: 1841-1885