The collection details the retailing history of a prominent family-operated business in Washington, D.C., and surrounding suburbs. The files contain biographical records, articles, and photographs of the family and employees. Early tax, insurance, and property records are found in the Business and Marketing Series and a cross reference to the bound volumes of early Inventories and Sales Records, 1892-1910 is stored separately. The largest collection of correspondence, advertisements, and photographs were in the 1940-1950s time period. The records of the 20 Year Club (1913-1990) contain rosters, club activities, photographs, and correspondence of the plans for banquets and entertainments of the members. W & L published an employee magazine, "The Woodlothian," (1924-1994), along with handouts to customers in the form of advertisements and a magazine for children. The physical plant is well represented by an extensive collection of photographs and slides of store interiors and exteriors, customer services, fashions and window displays (1870-1980s). The Advertisements and Catalogs (1880-1980) are sorted chronologically and detail the evolution of fashion, suggestions for home furnishings, pamphlets on beauty, clothes, gardens, food, and during World War II, helpful hints for the home front. There is a small collection of audiovisual materials (1945-1980), including 33 1/3 records of a 1955 radio show "This is Washington."
