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The Apothecary Museum Archival Collection

The Museum’s Archival Collection is comprised of letters, invoices, account books, and ledgers of the apothecary and pharmacy business owned by the Stabler and Leadbeater families from 1792-1933, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Page updated on December 11, 2023 at 8:47 AM

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Archival Collection Summary

Leadbeater letterhead with engraving of Wholesale Druggists buildings.

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Archival Collection is comprised of the letters, invoices, account books, and ledgers of the apothecary and pharmacy business owned by the Stablers and Leadbeater families from 1792-1933, in Alexandria, Virginia. 

The business was founded by Quaker apothecary Edward Stabler in 1792 after an apprenticeship training with his brother in Leesburg, Virginia. A devout Quaker, Stabler traveled frequently in his service to the Quaker faith and often left his eldest son, William, to run the business in his absence. Upon his father's death, William Stabler assumed control of the business. After several years, his brother-in-law, John Leadbeater, an apothecary and dentist, joined the business as a partner. William Stabler's death in 1852 made John the sole proprietor and the business name changed from Stabler to Leadbeater. John's eldest son, Edward Stabler Leadbeater ran the business upon John's death in 1860, eventually turning the business over to his three sons, Clarence, John, and Edward Stabler Leadbeater, Jr. The business finally closed in bankruptcy in 1933, and the contents and archives were sold at auction. A civic-minded group of locals, the Landmark Society, as well as a Baltimore ice cream merchant, L. Manuel Hendler, purchased a majority of the lots and opened the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum to the public in 1939. This organization, the Landmark Society, operated the museum from 1939-2006, when the museum was donated to the City of Alexandria. 

Searching the Collection

Apothecary Archival Collection Search Page

Search the The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Archival Collection by placing a name, date, or document name in the search box. The Archival Collection includes the types of scanned documents listed below. More documents will be added in future.

Search the Collection

What's in the Collection

Orders and Invoices, 1793-1845

  • Orders and Invoices, 1793-1819
  • Orders and Invoices, 1820-1845

Suppliers, 1792-1819

  • Allen and Howard 1792-1802
  • Charles Marshall 1795-1804
  • John Ambrose 1796
  • Henry Wilkins 1799-1804
  • Hugh Smith 1796-1804
  • John Hart 1793-1804
  • Joseph Gurney Bevan 1793-1794
  • Mathews Goldthwait 1792-1793
  • Mildred & Allen 1795-1797
  • Robert Bach and Company 1803-1812
  • Samuel Wetherill 1795
  • Townsend Speakman 1792-1793
  • William Mathews 1794-1795

Daybooks

Daybooks, 1792-1800

  • Daybook 1792-1795
  • Daybook 1796-1797
  • Daybook 1796-1800

Account Books, 1792-1794

  • Account Book of Medicines 1792-1794

Stabler and Leadbeater Business Timeline

Business Timeline
Date Business Names Partners
1792-1819  Edward Stabler  Edward Stabler and likely William Stabler
1819-1831  Edward Stabler and Son  Edward Stabler, William Stabler
1831-1840  William Stabler.  William Stabler likely trained his brothers Richard H. Stabler, Henry Stabler, Edward H. Stabler
1840-1844  William Stabler and Company  William Stabler, Henry Stabler
1844-1852  William Stabler and Brother  William Stabler, John Leadbeater
1852-1857  John Leadbeater  John Leadbeater, likely Edward Stabler Leadbeater
1857-1860  J. Leadbeater and Son  John Leadbeater, Edward Stabler Leadbeater
1860-1865  Leadbeater and Company  Edward Stabler Leadbeater, owned by Mary Pleasants Leadbeater
1865-1869  E. S. Leadbeater and Company  Edward Stabler Leadbeater, likely also Thomas Leadbeater as apprentice
1869-1892  E. S. Leadbeater and Brother  Edward Stabler Leadbeater, Thomas Leadbeater
1892-1903  E. S. Leadbeater and Sons  Edward Stabler Leadbeater, Edward Stabler Leadbeater, Jr., Clarence Leadbeater, John Leadbeater
1903-1916  E. S. Leadbeater and Sons, Inc.  Edward Stabler Leadbeater, Edward Stabler Leadbeater, Jr., Clarence Leadbeater, John Leadbeater
1916-1933  Leadbeater Drug Corporation  Edward Stabler Leadbeater, Jr., and likely Clarence Leadbeater and John Leadbeater for a part of the period

 

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