The History and Mysteries of the Public Accounting Firm of Barrow, Wade, and Guthrie & Co.(1883-1950)

• In Event: Accounting History and Research

Abstract

The late 1880s saw the rise of early public accounting practice in the United States and the origin of emerging national firms; the first of which was Barrow, Wade, Guthrie & Co. (BWG). BWG served a broad range of clients, from railroads, to breweries and a variety of financial and other commercial enterprises. This project was started as a search for the answer to a mystery and then developed into a history of BWG from its origin until the merger with Peat Marwick in 1950. Throughout its existence, BWG was at the front of the trends in public accounting practice. The firm and its employees were leaders in all aspects of the developing CPA profession. The paper contributes to the historical literature by exploring other mysteries and seeks to advance the understanding of the earliest periods of public practice by emerging public accounting firms.

Authors

• Tonya K Flesher, The University of Mississippi

• Dale L Flesher, The University of Mississippi

• Gary J. Previts, Case Western Reserve University