Advertising - Overview
Advertising is meant to persuade, and the themes and techniques of that persuasion reveal a part of the nation's history. The Museum has preserved advertising campaigns for several familiar companies, such as Marlboro, Alka-Seltzer, Federal Express, Cover Girl, and Nike. It also holds the records of the NW Ayer Advertising Agency and business papers from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Carvel Ice Cream, and other companies. The Warshaw Collection of Business Americana comprises thousands of trade cards, catalogs, labels, and other business papers and images dating back to the late 1700s.
Beyond advertising campaigns, the collections encompass thousands of examples of packaging, catalogs, and other literature from many crafts and trades, from engineering to hat making. The collections also contain an eclectic array of advertising objects, such as wooden cigar-store Indians, neon signs, and political campaign ads.
"Advertising - Overview" showing 5 items.
[Advertising sticker, ca. 1900.]
- Notes
- In Ladies Clothing Box 4, Schuss & Co. folder
- Summary
- Apparently a stamp or sticker with deckled edges, with an illustration of a woman wearing a red and white striped skirt, green cape and hat. Labelled "...Skirts of quality / Waldorf Building / New York."
- Cite as
- Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1900
- ca 1900
- Ca. 1900
- 1890-1910
- advertiser
- Schuss & Co., Nathan
- Local number
- AC0060-0000899.tif (AC scan no.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
Brilliant illumination in Madison Square--Dewey Arch at night--New York. Copyright 1899 by Strohmeyer & Wyman. Active no. 440; 20431 (company number) : stereo photonegative, 1899
- Notes
- Company catalog card included
- Currently stored in box 2.1.4 [86]
- Date
- 1899
- 1890-1900
- 1900-1910
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- Strohmeyer & Wyman
- American Stereoscopic Co
- Subject
- Dewey, George 1837-1917
- Local number
- RSN 9323
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
S. Prakash Sethi Advocacy Advertising Collection, 1970s-early 1980s
- Notes
- Dr. Sethi has done extensive research on self-promotional advertisements by corporations. The slides are of advertisements by large companies like Mobil Oil and Bethlehem Steel
- Summary
- 8 posters, 98 color slides, and 271 black and white slides on advocacy advertising for the 1970s and early 1980s
- Cite as
- S. Prakash Sethi Advocacy Advertising Collection, ca. 1970-1990, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1970
- 1990
- 1970s-early 1980s
- 1970-1990
- donor
- Sethi, S. Prakesh (director)
- Subject
- Center for the Study of Business and Government
- Local number
- 1985.3148 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Sohmer & Co. Records, Series XIII: Miscellaneous Records, 1894-1983
- Summary
- Wide variety of materials. "Consumers' Research" contains bulletins produced by this organization, 1948-1963. These bulletins with other enclosures or attachments are relevant to the topics discussed in the letters and correspondence between representatives of Sohmer, "Consumers' Research," and Consumers Union, 1941-1963. The correspondence between Harry J. Sohmer, Jr., and F.J. Schlink of "Consumers' Research" August 13, 1941-February 24, 1942, reveals that the Baldwin Piano Co. illegally used "Consumers' Research" in their advertising and drew misleading comparisons between pianos. Ironically, the correspondence of May 7 and 9, 1963, between Robert L. Smith of Consumers Union and Harry J. Sohmer, Jr., reveals the unsubstantiated accusation that Sohmer was using the 1941 "Consumers' Research" reports to promote sales. Harry Sohmer denied this, insisting that he did not possess a copy of this report and closed by asking for one. The brochures of the Lake Placid Club in New York were probably collected for advertising purposes. The club was a customer of Sohmer & Co., and the company often included the club's name in its brochures for the promotion of Sohmer pianos. The piano examinations of 1961-1962 are appraisal reports of pianos of various brand names. The report describes the piano, defines or diagnoses the main problem with it, and indicates a price for repairing it. Information about school pianos includes letters with construction and sound quality specifications, and a handbook entitled "Wood Colors and Kinds."
- Date
- 1894
- 1894-1933
- 1894-1983
- 1930-1950
- collectors
- Sohmer & Company
- Subject
- Sohmer, Harry J. Jr
- Schlink, F. J
- Smith, Robert L
- Baldwin Piano Company
- Consumers' Research
- Consumers Union
- Lake Placid Club
- Consumers' Research
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
The California Shop Records, 1938-1942
- Notes
- Helen Kemp opened the California Shop in New York, 1938, to sell women's clothing and other merchandise from California. The business closed in 1942 due to difficulties in obtaining merchandise because of the war
- Summary
- Photographs, typed manuscripts and a guest/scrapbook of materials relating to the history and social events of the California Shop, New York, N.Y
- Cite as
- The California Shop Records, 1938-1942, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Barbara Kemp
- Date
- 1938
- 1938-1942
- 1930-1940
- 20th century
- 1930-1950
- creator
- Kemp, Helen Misch (store owner/manager) 1894-1948
- donor
- Kemp, Barbara
- creator
- California Shop
- Local number
- 1997.3005 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
