Collection, 1907,1989 [1940,1982].

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Collection, 1907,1989 [1940,1982].

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/40582918

The Collection, 1907-1989 and undated [bulk dates 1940-1982], includes the following major record series and subseries: Corporate and Administrative Records, 1907-1987; Financial Records, 1910-1984; Advertising Records, including periodicals, direct mailing materials, and personal contact materials, 1907-1985; Order Department Records, 1914-1981; Construction Records, 1927-1982; the Sovereign Family Papers, 1798, 1882-1987; Photographs and Films, 1937-1961; and Books and Magazines, 1922-1984. Also found in the Family Papers are the Bay City Yatch Club records, 1895-1944, and documentation of William F. and Mary K. Sovereign's divorce case, 1953-1961. This bitter and expensive divorce case was later cited in the 1960s as the reason why Michigan needed no-fault divorce laws. This is the only surviving collection of records for a major prefabricated or "readi-cut" company to survive substantially intact.

ca. 350 cubic ft. (in 259 boxes) : ill.

Clarke Historical Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7427912

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

Bay City Yatch Club.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66q7g8z (corporateBody)

Sovereign, William J.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6127rh9 (person)

Sovereign, William F.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xd30rb (person)

North American Construction Company (Bay City, Mich.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dz5tcz (corporateBody)

Austin Motor Company, ltd.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b90tj4 (corporateBody)

Sovereign, Otto E.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61k17wx (person)

Aladdin Company

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k989px (corporateBody)

The Aladdin Company was established by two brothers, William J. and Otto E. Sovereign, as a partnership in 1906. The original name of the company was the North American Construction Company, which changed to the Aladdin Company in 1916. The Company manufactured readi-cut houses, which it sold through mail-order catalogs. It stopped manufacturing houses in 1982 and was legally dissolved in 1987. The Company's success was based on advertising. The houses it manufactured and sold indicate popular t...