Fire Insurance Record Collections

version 3.0;  77 collections in 24 states

(as of 11/09/24)

by Robert W. Craig

The following enumeration briefly summarizes collections of old fire insurance agency or company records known to this author.  The list is organized by state, generally based on where the collections are held, which is not necessarily where all of the insured properties were located.  The dates provided relate to the scope of the records themselves, not necessarily to the founding of the companies.  The approximate size of each collection is provided if known, usually as provided in source information.  Some large collections of unknown size are just reported as more than 10,000 records.  Collections generally consist of policy registers, insurance surveys, applications for insurance, insurance agent’s daily reports, policies, or a combination of these record types.  Other types of useful records are indicated where known, but information about the collections is very uneven, like the collections themselves.  Many entries indicate that the content is “unclear.”  This means that while the collection seems likely to contain architecturally descriptive information, and therefore likely to be useful, the types of records present in the collection have not been reported.  

The entries under “Spread” reflect the general geographic distribution of the risks, when known.  In many of the entries, the spread is reported as “unclear,” but very often it will be wider than the company’s name suggests.  The available information about most collections has been written by persons unfamiliar with the workings of insurance agencies and companies, and therefore the entries lack the desired precision.  Smaller percentages of the risks will generally be found the farther one looks geographically from the center of the company’s or agency’s operations, while the most saturated coverage typically occurred in the town or city where the agency or company was headquartered.  Before contacting any repository in this list, first consult the institution’s website.  There may be additional information there, including a collection finding aid.

Some of the collections listed herein are not open to researchers at this time, either because collections have not yet been processed or because their owners do not have the facilities or staff to welcome outside researchers.  Some of the collections are stored off-site, in which case the repository will need advance notice to retrieve them.  Also please note that the owners of these collections retain the right to restrict publication of their materials, and some charge fees for permission to publish.  Readers who can contribute information about other collections of insurance records, or who, from personal examination of these collections can further refine the entries below, may reach me at rcraig@advancedoldbuildingresearch.com

Alabama

FOLSOM INSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS

Cullman, AL

Type: agency records

Policies and applications

1951-1964

Spread unclear

Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, AL

Connecticut

CITY FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY of NEW HAVEN,

MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW HAVEN,

NEW HAVEN FIRE INSURANCE OFFICE, 

OCEAN INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW HAVEN, and 

SECURITY INSURANCE COMPANY of NEW HAVEN

(also material about several other insurance companies.)

Type and content unclear

Spread unclear

Repository: New Haven Colony Historical Society, New Haven, CT

[NUCMC 80-116]

Delaware

ASSOCIATED FACTORY MUTUALS COLLECTION

HDQ:  Boston, MA

Type:  company records

1874-

Factory surveys

Approx: 900 surveys

Scope:  U.S.

Contact:  Hagley Library and Museum

Open to researchers:  yes

Idaho

CONSOLIDATED INSURANCE AGENCY RECORDS

Wallace, Idaho

Type: agency records

Content and spread unclear

University of Idaho Library, Special Collections 

and Archives, Moscow, ID

Open to researchers:  yes

KOOSKIA INSURANCE AGENCY Records

HDQ: Kooskia, ID

Type: Agency records

1935-1964

[Architectural content unclear]

3 boxes [Boxes 11-13 of MS 320]

Spread: ?

Contact: Idaho State Archives

NEZ PERCE COUNTY FARMERS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE 

COMPANY RECORDS

Type: company records

Policy register

1905-1923

4 volumes

Spread unclear

University of Idaho Library, Special Collections 

and Archives, Moscow, ID

Collection id.: MG104

Open to researchers:  yes

Illinois

SPRINGFIELD MARINE and FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

Springfield, IL

Company records

Content: “Insurance policy statement books” [policy registers?]

1851-1855

Spread unclear

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL

[NUCMC 85-715]

Open to researchers:  yes

Iowa

FARMER’S STATE MUTUAL HAIL INSURANCE COMPANY

Estherville, IA

Type: company

applications

1898-20th cent.

Large collection

Spread unclear

University of Iowa Special Collections, Iowa City, IA

[NUCMC 62-3977]

Open to researchers:  yes

NORWEGIAN MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

Worth County, Iowa

Type: company

1881-1890

Content and spread unclear

1 microfilm reel

Norwegian-American Historical Association, 

St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota

[NUCMC 82-1445]

Open to researchers:  yes

Maine

NATHAN WHITE PAPERS

Bucksport, ME

Type: agent’s records

Policy registers (?) kept for the Thomaston Mutual

Fire Insurance Company.

1839-1874

2 volumes ?

Baker Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Open to researchers:  yes

Maryland

MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY of MONTGOMERY COUNTY

HDQ: Rockville, MD

Type: company records

1848-20th cent.

10,000+ records

Applications for insurance

and other records

Spread: ?

Contact: Jane Sween Research Library and Special Collections

(part of the collection has been digitized; see the “Montgomery History” website)

Massachusetts

COMMERCIAL INSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS

Boston, MA

Type: company records

Policy “records” and other records

1823-1831

6 linear feet

Spread unclear

Baker Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Open to researchers:  yes

ELLIS & ANDREWS

HDQ: Cambridge, MA

Type: Agency records

1890 ? - 20th cent.

Insurance surveys ?

Spread: Cambridge, MA

Contact: Cambridge Historical Commission

MASSACHUSETTS FIRE and MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ: Boston, MA

Type: Company records

1808-1841

Policies and policy registers; partial index

15 volumes, 1 box

Spread: ?

Contact: Special Collections, Baker Library, Harvard Business School

MAVERICK MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ: East Boston, MA

Type: Company records

1849-1851

Policy registers

2 volumes

Spread: ?

Contact: Special Collections, Baker Library, Harvard Business School

UNION MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS

Boston, MA

Type: company records ?

Content and spread unclear

1866-1876

2 volumes

Baker Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Open to researchers:  yes

Michigan

Ionia, Eaton, and Barry Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company Records

Ionia [?], MI

Content: insurance surveys

1 volume

Spread: Barry and Eaton counties

Michigan Historical Collections, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

OCLC 867605766

Open to researchers:  yes

[LESLIE TOWNSHIP (Ingham County) INSURANCE RECORDS]

Type: Agency records (agency is unidentified)

1890-1917

Policy registers

5 volumes

Spread: Leslie Township

Contact: Archives of Michigan

MONITOR MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

Pontiac, MI

Type: company records

Policy register

1870?-20th cent.?

Michigan Historical Collections, University of Michigan 

[NUCMC  65-430]

WILLIAM A. MOORE PAPERS

Detroit, MI

Type: agency records (?)

Content unclear, but contains papers related to the 

Detroit Fire and Marine Insurance Company.

May include a claim book from 1875.

Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library, Detroit

[NUCMC  67-1219]

Open to researchers:  yes

PETER WHITE INSURANCE AGENCY RECORDS

Marquette, MI

[included within Peter White Papers collection]

Content unclear [30 linear feet, 15 oversized volumes]

1848-1915

Michigan Historical Collections, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

OCLC 78848890

Open to researchers:  yes

Minnesota

JOHN C. ZEHNDER PAPERS

HDQ: St. Paul, MN

Type: Agency records

1890-1911, 1941-45

Policy registers

8 volumes

Spread: ?

Contact:  Minnesota Historical Society

Nebraska

RED CLOUD INSURANCE RECORDS

Red Cloud, NE

Type: agency records

Policy registers for Connecticut Fire Insurance Co.,

Farmer’s Insurance Co., New York Underwriter’s Agency, 

and Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Co.

1882-1923 ?

4 volumes

Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE

[NUCMC  81-252]

Open to researchers:  yes

New Hampshire

CANTERBURY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ: Canterbury, NH

Type: Company records

1849-1938

Policies

Spread: ?

Contact: Baker Library, Harvard University

I.GOODWIN and S.E. COUES Papers

HDQ: Portsmouth, NH

Type: Agency records

1834-1841

Policy registers

4 volumes (one each for different companies)

Spread:  Portsmouth, NH

Contact: Baker Library, Harvard University

JONATHAN HAGAR PAPERS

Middlebury and Weybridge, VT

Type: agent’s records

Policy registers ?

Ca.1852 ?

Spread unclear

Sheldon Museum Research Center, Middlebury, VT

Open to researchers:  yes

New Jersey

ALLEN & STULTS COLLECTION

HDQ:  Hightstown, NJ

Type:  agency records

ca.1895-1927

Policy register, 3 vols.

Approx. 1,000 surveys

Spread: eastern Mercer, southern Middlesex, and western 

Monmouth counties

Privately owned.

Open to researchers:  no

AMERICAN MUTUAL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ:  Newark, NJ

Type:  company records

1846-1849

Policy register

Approx. 1,200 records that describe buildings

Spread:  chiefly Newark and Paterson, NJ; also Essex, Passaic and Morris counties

Contact:  NJ Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

ATLANTIC FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF BROOKLYN

Goshen, NY

Type:  agency records

1870-71

Policy register, 1 vol.

Spread:  unknown

Contact:  Division of Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries

Open to researchers:  yes

BURLINGTON COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE

HDQ:  Mount Holly, NJ

Type:  company records

1846-1856

Policy Register

Approx. 1,000 records

Spread:  Burlington and Camden counties

Contact:  NJ State Archives

Open to researchers:  yes

CAMDEN FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ: Camden, NJ

Type: company records

1841-20th century

Policy register (minimal detail)

10,000+ records

Spread:  Camden and adjacent counties

Contact: Camden County Historical Society

Open to researchers:  no

HUBBARD INSURANCE AGENCY

HDQ:  Princeton, NJ

Type:  agency records

1893-1897

Policy register

Approx. 1,800 records

Spread:  Princeton, NJ and adjacent towns

Contact:  Rare Books and Manuscripts Division, Princeton University Library

Open to researchers:  yes

CHARLES R. HUTCHINSON COLLECTION

HDQ:  Allentown, NJ

Type:  Agency records

ca.1885-ca.1915

Daily reports

500+ records

Spread:  Allentown and adjacent townships

Contact:  Librarian, Monmouth County Historical Association, Freehold, NJ

Open to researchers:  yes.

MOUNT HOLLY INSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ:  Mount Holly, NJ

Type:  company records

1836

Policy register

Approx. 20 records

Spread:  Matawan, NJ  (Middletown Point)

Contact:  NJ Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

NEW BRUNSWICK FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ:  New Brunswick, NJ

Type:  company records

1879-1898

Policy register

Contact:  NJ Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

ROWAND COLLECTION

Haddonfield, NJ

Type: agency records

1854-1881

Policy register

528 records

Spread:  Camden and adjacent counties

Contact:  Historical Society of Haddonfield

Open to researchers:  yes

SALEM COUNTY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ: Salem, NJ

Type: company records

ca.1855-20th century

Approx. 3,000 applications for insurance

Approx. 200 surveys

Spread: Salem and adjacent counties

Contact: Salem County Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

WEST WINDSOR MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

HDQ:  West Windsor Township, NJ

Type:  company records

1857-1912

Minutes, 1 volume

Approx. 400 records

Spread:  West Windsor Township

Contact:  Division of Special Collections and University Archies, Rutgers University Library

Open to researchers:  yes

New York

QUIGLEY INSURANCE AGENCY

HDQ: Coxsackie, NY

Type: Agency records

1922-1926

Policy register

Spread: ?

Contact: ?

North Carolina

[DUKE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION]

[papers related to unspecified insurance companies]

Duke University Library

[NUCMC  63-56]

Open to researchers:  yes

North Dakota

ELLIS INSURANCE AGENCY

HDQ: Mandan, ND

Type: Agency records

1901-[1915-1918]

Correspondence

[architectural content unclear]

Contact: North Dakota Historical Society

GEORGE H. FAIRCHILD PAPERS

Bismarck, ND

Type: Agency records

1874-[?]-1893

Policy register

Spread: Bismarck, ND

Contact: North Dakota Historical Society

Ohio

John J. Snyder Papers

Springfield, OH

Type: agent records

Policy registers

1858-1867

Spread unclear

Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OH

[NUCMC  75-1184]

Open to researchers:  yes

Pennsylvania

BUCKS COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONSHIP …

Type: company records

1879-1902

Policy register  (2 vols.)

(also minutes from 1809- )

Approx. 3,500 records

Spread:  Bucks County, PA and Mercer County, NJ

(concentrated focus on Trenton, NJ properties)

Contact: Trentoniana Division, Trenton Public Library

Privately held. 

Open to researchers:  no

CHALFONT MUTUAL WIND AND STORM INSURANCE COMPANY OF PARTS OF BUCKS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES

HDQ: Chalfont, PA ?

Type: company records

1886-1913

Policy collection

Approx. 235 records

Contact: Bucks County Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

FARMERS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA AND BUCKS COUNTY

Type: company records

1851-1864

Policy register

Approx. 500 records

Contact: Bucks County Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

FARMERS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETY OF WARMINSTER, BUCKS COUNTY, PA.

Type: company records

1847-1898

Policy collection

Approx. 1,500 records

Contact: Bucks County Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

FRANKFORD MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

Type:  company records

HDQ:  Frankford section of northern Philadelphia, PA

1843-ca.1885

Surveys

500+ records.

Spread: Frankford section of Philadelphia

Contact: Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Open to researchers:  yes

FRANKLIN FIRE COLLECTION

HDQ: Philadelphia, PA

Type: company records

ca.1830-ca.1885

Surveys

Approx. 60,000 records

Spread: Philadelphia and SE/rn PA, and adjacent states

Contact: Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Open to researchers:  yes

HEXAMER GENERAL SURVEYS

HDQ: Philadelphia, PA

Type: company records

1866-20th cent.

Industrial surveys

Approx. 3,000 records

Spread: U.S.; heavy concentration in Philadelphia and northeast U.S.

Contact:  www.philageohistory.org

Open to researchers:  yes, on website

INDEPENDENT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

Philadelphia, PA

Policy registers

1842-1849, 1866-1875, 1884

3 volumes

Spread unclear

Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA

Open to researchers

INDEPENDENT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

[Philadelphia, PA]

Policy registers

1929-1955

1.5 feet

Spread unclear

Historic Langhorne Association, Langhorne, PA

Open to researchers:  by appointment

INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA (INA)

HDQ: Philadelphia, PA

Type: company records

1794-20th cent.

Surveys and policy registers

10,000+ records

Spread:  U.S.

Privately held.

Contact:  Chubb Archive, Philadelphia

Open to researchers:  upon written permission

I.N.A. SUBSIDIARIES AND RELATED COMPANIES RECORDS

Philadelphia, PA

Type: Company records [numerous companies represented]

Content and spread unclear

Chubb Archives, Philadelphia, PA

[NUCMC  78-287]

Open to researchers upon written permission

MARINE AND FIRE INSURANCE RECORDS COLLECTION

Composite collection

Fire insurance policies (multiple companies)

1796-1900

Several hundred items

Spread: chiefly Philadelphia

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

[NUCMC  61-2036]

Open to researchers:  yes

MUTUAL ASSURANCE COMPANY

HDQ:  Philadelphia, PA

Type:  company records

1784-20th cent.

Surveys

10,000+ records

Spread:  Philadelphia

Contact:  

Open to researchers:  yes, on website

MUTUAL BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION OF BUCKS COUNTY

HDQ: ?

Type: company records

Policy collection, 1842-1871

Approx. 2,500 records

Policy index, 2 vols., 1858-1883

Policy registers, 1883-91; 1899-1909

Contact: Bucks County Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

PENNSYLVANIA FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS

Philadelphia, PA

Type: Company records

Insurance surveys

Ca.19,000 items

1830-1892

Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Open to researchers:  yes

PHILADELPHIA CONTRIBUTIONSHIP …

HDQ: Philadelphia, PA

Type: company records

1752-20th cent.

Surveys

10,000+ records

Spread:  Philadelphia

Contact:  Philadelphia Architects and Buildings website

Available to researchers:  yes, on website

WHITEHALL MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION, OF PARTS OF BUCKS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA

HDQ: ?

Type: company records

1866-1925

policy collection

Approx. 800 records

Contact: Bucks County Historical Society

Open to researchers:  yes

South Carolina

W.C. COKER AND COMPANY

Society Hill, SC

Type: agency records

Policy registers

1904-1932

Spread unclear

South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina

[NUCMC  66-1360]

Open to researchers:  yes

KENNEDY INSURANCE AGENCY

Camden, SC

Type: agency records

Content and spread unclear

1874-1942 ?

9 linear feet

Camden Archives, Camden, SC

[NUCMC  85-170]

Open to researchers:  yes

VERMONT

PREBLE and DEWITT AGENCY

HDQ: Shoreham, VT

Type: Agency records

1898-1929

Policy registers and policies

5 vols.

Spread: mostly Shoreham and Middlebury, VT

Contact: Sheldon Museum Research Center, Middlebury, VT

Virginia

ROBERT ANDERSON PAPERS

Williamsburg and Yorktown, VA

Type: agent’s records

Policy register 

1851-53

1 volume

Some individual policies, 1796-1857

Spread: Chiefly Williamsburg and Yorktown

Research Archives, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

[NUCMC  77-65]; inventory available online

Open to researchers:  yes

INSURANCE AGENCY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE RECORDS

[included as Series 7 within the Duke & Duke law firm records collection]

Charlottesville, VA

Type: agency records

Policy registers

1901-1924

5 volumes

Spread unclear

Special Collections, University of Virginia Law Library,

Charlottesville, VA

[NUCMC  82-1012]; Ms. 79-6 (see oversize boxes 15, 18-21)

Open to researchers:  yes

ANNA LAURA JONES PAPERS

HDQ: Lynchburg, VA

Type: Agency records

1906-1931

Applications and claim records

(Jones was agent of Lynchburg General Insurance Agency)

Small collection

Contact: Virginia Historical Society

LYNCHBURG GENERAL INSURANCE AGENCY RECORDS

Lynchburg, VA

[included within Anna Laura Jones Papers collection]

Type: agency records

Content unclear [“applications and claim records” (for several

types of insurance)]

pre-1920

727 items

Spread unclear

Virginia Historical Museum, Richmond, VA

Open to researchers:  yes

MUTUAL ASSURANCE SOCIETY AGAINST FIRE 

on BUILDINGS in the STATE of VIRGINIA

Type: agency records ?

Policies, declarations, and revaluations

1795-1878

575 items

Spread unclear

Huntington Library, San Marino, CA

[NUCMC  61-650]

Open to researchers:  yes

MUTUAL ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA

HDQ: Richmond, VA

Type:  company records

1795-1857

Surveys

30,000+ records

Spread:  Virginia and adjacent states

Contact:  Virginia State Library, 

    or http://umwhispresc.wpengine.com/masidxsch

Open to researchers:  yes

MUTUAL ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA

HDQ: Richmond, VA

Type:  company records

1795-1857

Surveys

30,000+ records

Spread:  Statewide

Virginia State Library, 

    or http://umwhispresc.wpengine.com/masidxsch

Open to researchers:  yes

MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF LOUDOUN COUNTY

HDQ: Waterford, VA

Type: company records

1849-1954

Applications for insurance

50,000+ records

Spread: at least 17 Virginia counties

Contact: Library of Virginia, Archives Reference Services

Washington

GUERNSEY-NEWTON COMPANY RECORDS

Spokane, WA

Type: company records

Insurance agency reports

1920-1930

Daily reports ? [“report forms and related correspondence 

from local insurance agencies … covering fire [and other] 

risks.  Includes material on homes…”]

Ca.10,000 items

Spread: Idaho, Montana, and Washington.

Washington State University Libraries’ Manuscripts, Archives, 

and Special Collections; Pullman, WA

[NUCMC  72-1835]

Open to researchers:  yes

INLAND FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS

Spokane, WA

Type: company records

Policy registers, and surrendered policy certificates

1907-1908

8 linear feet

Spread unclear

Washington State University Library, Pullman, WA

[NUCMC  72-1837]

Open to researchers:  yes

MERCHANTS FIRE ASSOCIATION OF SEATTLE

Seattle, WA

Type: company records [included within 

Walla Walla Fire Insurance Company collection]

Content unclear

1902-1907

Spread unclear

Washington State University Library, Pullman, WA

[NUCMC  72-1845]

Open to researchers:  yes

MORDHORST INSURANCE AGENCY RECORDS

Wilson Creek, WA

Type: agency records

Policies, ratebooks, and other records

1904-33

2 linear feet; ca.1900 items

Spread unclear

Washington State University Library, Pullman, WA

[NUCMC  79-2006]

Open to researchers:  yes

WALLA WALLA FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

Walla Walla, WA

Type: company records ?

Policy registers

1902-1912

Large collection, 57 linear feet

Spread unclear

Washington State University Library, Pullman, WA

[NUCMC  72-1845]

Open to researchers:  yes

Wisconsin

BARABOO MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS

Baraboo, WI

[included in collection of papers of Henry C. Moeller]

Type: company records

Policy registers 

1895-1943 ?

Spread unclear

State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

[NUCMC  68-2281]

Open to researchers:  yes

SAMUEL McGRAW INSURANCE AGENCY RECORDS

[included within Menominee Bay Shore Lumber Co. records]

Type: agent’s records

1912-1924

Policy register

Spread: Menominee, MI and Soperton, WI [?]

Wisconsin Historical Society

[NUCMC  64-1617]

Open to researchers:  yes

WISCONSIN MARINE & FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS

Milwaukee, WI

Type: company records

Content unclear [“records of property insured”]

1839-1853

9 volumes

Spread unclear

State Historical Society of Wisconsin

[NUCMC  62-3013]

Open to researchers:  yes