LYDIA E. PINKHAM MEDICINE COMPANY RECORDS 1776, 1859-1968

The Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company was begun formally in 1873, its major product being Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. Lydia Estes Pinkham had developed this herbal remedy as a cure for female maladies such as menstrual cramps, headache, "female weakness" and nervousness associated with the menstrual cycle. It was also supposed to be helpful for hot flashes, depression, and other symptoms common during menopause.

Mrs. Pinkham apparently first developed the Vegetable Compound and other products for her own family and neighbors, but always had a genuine concern for women and their special maladies. So, when the economic depression of 1873 dictated the change to commercial production, she entered into it with the hope of helping all women. First out of her kitchen at Lynn, then from a small factory, and eventually from manufacturing centers in Canada and Mexico came the famous Vegetable Compound. By the time Lydia Pinkham died in 1883, her daughter, sons and grandchildren had a rather large operation to manage. Family members kept the company running until 1968 when it was sold to Cooper Laboratories of Connecticut.

Patent medicine figured in both the business history and social history of this country. With medical science, especially in relation to female maladies, not very far advanced, these herbal medicines of Lydia's Pinkham's were often the only remedies available. Mrs. Pinkham's concern for other women left her always ready to try new remedies, and to this end she kept a notebook with her in which she wrote down new ideas for cures. Such a notebook, one of the few items in her hand, is to be found in this collection (General Records: Reference material).

Advertising was of course a necessity in this type of business. It was through advertising that Mrs. Pinkham could let women know there was relief to be found for their complaints. So convincing was this approach to women, by a woman, that testimonial letters poured in daily to the Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company. Only a few of the letters themselves are in the collection, but many were used in the advertising literature: quotations from women around the world endorsing the medicine for relief from everything from "falling of the womb" to barrenness. Women continued to write to Mrs. Pinkham even after her death, providing testimonial advertising as the most important advertising technique used by the company. The "Pinkham Pamphlets" incorporated many of these letters and the advice given by Lydia Pinkham (or, later, by advertising men) in response. A complete series of these pamphlets is available in this collection, in various languages.

Lydia's sons and grandsons, along with local advertising men, worked on strenuous advertising campaigns throughout the history of the company and in all parts of the world. The Pinkham trademark is registered as far away as China. Studies of markets, consumers, and media, as well as correspondence, sales reports, and contracts give an idea of their work; and twenty-three boxes of test copy for their ads give a rather comprehensive picture of exactly how and through what media they spread the message.

From the guide to the Records, 1851-1966, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)