Business collection [manuscript], circa 1830-2008.

ArchivalResource

Business collection [manuscript], circa 1830-2008.

The Business Collection is an artificial collection created by the Oregon Historical Society from a variety of sources. The collection consists primarily of ephemera, such as advertising materials, catalogs, calling cards, postcards, pen blotters, illustrated letterheads, scrapbooks, brochures, flyers, and other publications. Also included is a small amount of unique manuscript material, primarily financial records and business correspondence. The collection documents business enterprises of all kinds, primarily in Oregon and Portland, but also in Washington State and throughout the United States. The bulk of the materials date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the greatest concentration in the 1910s and 1920s. Some materials from more recent years are included -- most notably a large selection of seed and nursery catalogs from Oregon firms. Among the department store materials are catalogs and advertising from two large Portland stores, Meier & Frank and Lipman Wolfe & Co. Of particular interest in the section "Construction Industry" are a number of pattern-book house catalogs from builders, including those from the Portland firms Roberts & Roberts and Wood Structures, Incorporated. A large group of hardware, machinery, and tool catalogs is included, with several items from the Portland firm Haseltine & Co. Also of note is a large collection of hotel related items, primarily from Portland establishments (restaurant menus, however, have been removed to a separate collection designated Mss 2942). Among the original manuscript materials is a ledger from the Smith Brothers general store in Andrews, Oregon; and two invoice books from the Portland general merchandise firm of T. J. Nealond Co. In general, the collection provides a rich source for research in the history of design, advertising, technology, printing, and other subjects relating to U.S. social history.

50 cubic feet (76 document cases, 11 flat boxes, 1 card file box, 2 custom boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7257211

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

Smith Brothers (Andrews, Or.)--Archives.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vf5bwr (corporateBody)

Lipman Wolfe & Co.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z958q7 (corporateBody)

Lipman, Wolfe & Co. department store opened in Portland, Oregon in 1880 by Soloman Lipman and Adolphe Wolfe. From the guide to the Lipman Wolfe & Co. records, 1907-1948, (Oregon Historical Society Research Library) Lipman, Wolfe & Co. department store opened in Portland, Oregon in 1880 by Soloman Lipman and Adolphe Wolfe. It was sold in 1979 to Frederick & Nelson. From the description of Lipman Wolfe & Co. records [man...

Roberts and Roberts (Portland, Or.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66x7qmd (corporateBody)

Wood Structures, Inc. (Portland, Or.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vf5c49 (corporateBody)

T. J. Nealond Co. (Portland, Or.)--Archives.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x43b36 (corporateBody)

Meier and Frank (Portland, Or.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hf689k (corporateBody)

Haseltine and Company (Portland, Or.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wj13m3 (corporateBody)