Advertising

Ivory Soap Ad

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.

Date: 1930s

Celluloid Novelty

Pocket card with ruler and calendar for 1935. The front of the card has an image of the Insurance Company of North America's "new building." Back reads: "Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Co.
Description (Brief)
Pocket card with ruler and calendar for 1935. The front of the card has an image of the Insurance Company of North America's "new building." Back reads: "Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Co. Founded 1792 A Philadelphia Institution"
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1935, and ad for the “Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Co.” The other has an image of the “NEW BUILDING OF [the] INSURANCE COMPANY of North America / Philadelphia.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
advertiser
Insurance Company of North America
maker
Bastian Bros Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0572
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0572

Application, Superman Junior Defense League of America

This application for the "Junior Defense League of America" is part of a 1941-era promotion for "Superman Bread." Children could join the "Superman Junior Defense League," where they would receive a membership card and be eligible for special offers and premiums.The character of
Description (Brief)
This application for the "Junior Defense League of America" is part of a 1941-era promotion for "Superman Bread." Children could join the "Superman Junior Defense League," where they would receive a membership card and be eligible for special offers and premiums.
The character of Superman first flew into action in 1938. The costumed superhero was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland Ohio, who used, among other things, Classical mythology, philosopher Fredrich Nietzche's concept of the "uber mensch," and the era's popular science fiction and adventure writing, for inspiration.
With his debut in Action Comics #1, Superman became an instant sensation with audiences, inspired by the "Man of Tomorrow's" virtue and heroics at time when the Nation was slowly emerging from the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression and moving closer to World War.
Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Superman was sent to Earth as a child, where our world's yellow sun granted him extraordinary powers such as flight, super-strength, near-invulnerability, as well as other extraordinary abilities including heat and X-Ray vision. As an adult living in the city of Metropolis, the alien, born Kal-El, protects his identity by assuming the persona of Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered" journalist.
Fighting for "Truth and Justice," Superman birthed a cultural fascination with superheroes, and has become one of the most recognizable and influential fictional characters in history. In addition to comic books, the character has been explored in all forms of media, including radio, television, and film, and has been used to promote a variety of successful consumer products, educational initiatives and public service campaigns.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1942 - 1945
maker
Superman Junior Defense League of America
ID Number
1987.0213.147
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.147

Photograph of "McCall's Cheese"

Carbro color print, matted; Cheese and crackers with knife. Signed and dated on mat, pencil. Verso: handwritten "McCall's Cheese." This color photograph was used for the women's homemaking magazine, McCall's.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Carbro color print, matted; Cheese and crackers with knife. Signed and dated on mat, pencil. Verso: handwritten "McCall's Cheese." This color photograph was used for the women's homemaking magazine, McCall's.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1936
maker
Outerbridge, Jr., Paul
ID Number
PG.006063
catalog number
6063
accession number
223759
catalog number
6063

Here's a Christmas favorite in a new Paris garb

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930
advertiser
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
2016.0066.362
accession number
2016.0066
catalog number
2016.0066.0362

33 Tested New Recipes

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1932
publisher
Airy Fairy Foods, Inc.
ID Number
1992.0159.01
accession number
1992.0159
catalog number
1992.0159.01

Marberc Hotel luggage tag

An advertising novelty for the Marberc Hotel, New Orleans, La. Made of cream celluloid, it is in two parts, which slide apart. A photograph of the hotel is engraved on one side.
Description (Brief)
An advertising novelty for the Marberc Hotel, New Orleans, La. Made of cream celluloid, it is in two parts, which slide apart. A photograph of the hotel is engraved on one side. Advertising copy on the other side describes the hotel as "Canal Street's tallest bldg," "The home for the commercial man," "Fireproof," and "Ciruclating ice water and ceiling fans in every room."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920-1930
maker
Cruver Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1039
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.1039

Skaters - man and woman

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1937
maker
Keppler, Victor
ID Number
PG.006263.K
catalog number
6263K
accession number
238737

Puzzle, Jig-A-Tee Puzzle

Dissection puzzles in the form of letters of the alphabet have been distributed from at least the early twentieth century. The four orange pieces of this cardboard puzzle can be arranged to form a letter T. The fit in a paper envelope.
Description
Dissection puzzles in the form of letters of the alphabet have been distributed from at least the early twentieth century. The four orange pieces of this cardboard puzzle can be arranged to form a letter T. The fit in a paper envelope. A mark on the envelope reads: An Intelligence Test! (/) JIG-A-TEE PUZZLE. It also reads: MERCHANTS TRANSFER (/) AND STORAGE CO. (/) 920 E Street Northwest (/) National 6900.
The puzzle advertises Merchants Transfer and Storage Company of Washington, D.C. The company moved to the address given in 1902. The puzzle lists a National 6900 phone number. This number could have been in use in the 1930s.
Compare MA.314637.2613.
References:
Jerry Slocum and Jack Botermans, Puzzles Old & New: How to Make and Solve Them, Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1986, pp. 20-21.
“The T Puzzle,” en.wikipedia.org, accessed July 19, 2017.
Washington, D.C. city directories.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
ID Number
MA.335285
catalog number
335285
accession number
314637

Man at Work Bench

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1936
maker
Muray, Nickolas
ID Number
PG.69.247.07
accession number
287542

The Rebel

Flat, rectangular plastic card in white with red and blue print. On the front is an image of the Rebel, a red, silver, and blue train, and a calendar for 1935. On the reverse is a map of Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad's routes.
Description (Brief)
Flat, rectangular plastic card in white with red and blue print. On the front is an image of the Rebel, a red, silver, and blue train, and a calendar for 1935. On the reverse is a map of Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad's routes. Traffic offices include: Birmingham; Chicago; Detroit; Jackson, Mississippi; Jackson, Tennessee; Kansas City; Memphis; Meridian; Mobile; New Orleans; New York; Pittsburgh; and St. Louis.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
advertiser
Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0616
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0616

Reddy Kilowatt Marionette

This is a marionette of the character “Reddy Kilowatt,” first created in 1926 by Ashton B. Collins of the Alabama Power Company. This Reddy Kilowatt puppet was made in 1934 by the husband-and-wife team of Elizabeth L. and Frank D.
Description
This is a marionette of the character “Reddy Kilowatt,” first created in 1926 by Ashton B. Collins of the Alabama Power Company. This Reddy Kilowatt puppet was made in 1934 by the husband-and-wife team of Elizabeth L. and Frank D. Haines for window display performances in the Philadelphia Electric showroom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From the late 1930's to the 1950's puppets were a popular advertising medium. Puppeteers like the Haines’ utilized puppets in store window displays, motion pictures, and television shows to promote a wide array of businesses and products.
date made
1934
user
Haines, Elizabeth L.
Haines, Frank D.
maker
Haines, Frank D.
ID Number
2007.0137.013.01
accession number
2007.0137
catalog number
2007.0137.013.01

cutter, biscuit

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1932
ID Number
1983.0711.23
accession number
1983.0711
catalog number
1983.0711.23

Girl eating hot dog and drinking beer

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1939
maker
Keppler, Victor
ID Number
PG.006263.S
catalog number
6263S
accession number
238737

Trojan Brand Rubber Goods "Recommended For Protection To Health"

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930s
trademark registered (Crystoglas)
1912-12-10
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2004.0129.01
accession number
2004.0129
catalog number
2004.0129.01

Ruler

An advertising novelty for American Saw & Mfg. Co., maker of Lenox saws. The ruler is a twelve-inch folding ruler made of ivory-grained celluloid.
Description (Brief)
An advertising novelty for American Saw & Mfg. Co., maker of Lenox saws. The ruler is a twelve-inch folding ruler made of ivory-grained celluloid. It's marked in inches and centimeters.
Description
Folding 12-inch celluloid ruler marked in inches and centimeters, with inscriptions that read “AMERICAN SAW & MFG. CO. / SPRINGFIELD, MASS., U.S.A.” and “LENOX / HACK / SAWS.” Inscriptions on the back identify Lenox as “The Blade in the Plaid Box.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1915-1930
maker
Whitehead and Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1700
catalog number
2006.0098.1700
accession number
2006.0098

Raspberry Shortcake

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930s
maker
Keppler, Victor
ID Number
PG.006261.S
accession number
238737
catalog number
6261S

Oyster Tin, Heyser’s Oysters

This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the Wm. Heyser Company. Established in 1871 between Pratt, Grant, and Ellicott Streets in Baltimore, the block became known as the “Heyser block” as the company grew.In 1906 the U.S.
Description
This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the Wm. Heyser Company. Established in 1871 between Pratt, Grant, and Ellicott Streets in Baltimore, the block became known as the “Heyser block” as the company grew.
In 1906 the U.S. Congress passed several pure food laws in response to outbreaks of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal ailments linked to poor sanitation. Several new regulations were imposed on the oyster industry after contaminated oysters were blamed for serious illnesses. The laws required inspections of oyster beds and packing houses, as well as the identification of shellfish sources and standardized labeling.
This tin probably dates to the period 1920-30, when colorful lithographed tins became popular. Heyser’s distinctive red tins featured a stylized H resting on an open oyster with the sun’s rays shining on a waterfront city certainly meant to be Baltimore. It includes the old-style bail handle, a feature that was phased out around this time in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs.
Like many Baltimore oyster packers, Wm. Heyser explicitly addressed consumers’ fears about sanitation by emphasizing the clean conditions under which the oysters were handled and citing its compliance with the law. The reverse of the tin contains this message:
“GUARANTEE / OYSTERS CONTAINED IN THIS CAN WERE PACKED IN THE MOST ADVANCED SANITARY MANNER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PURE FOODS REGULATIONS
Shucked Fresh From The Beds—CAUTION—Fresh oysters are perishable. This can must be kept in refrigerator or in contact with ice until contents are used.”
date made
1920-1930
maker
Wm Heyser Co.
ID Number
2007.0087.01
catalog number
2007.0087.01
accession number
2007.0087

Julius Schmid Inc. Stock Cabinet and Dispenser

This mahogany-stained cabinet was designed to be extremely discreet. When the cabinet doors are closed, there is no indication of the products which the cabinet holds.During the 1930s, cabinets like these would have been used in drugstores which sold condoms.
Description
This mahogany-stained cabinet was designed to be extremely discreet. When the cabinet doors are closed, there is no indication of the products which the cabinet holds.
During the 1930s, cabinets like these would have been used in drugstores which sold condoms. This cabinet held condoms specifically manufactured by Julius Schmid, Inc. of New York, New York. The cabinet dates to around 1931.
Behind the cabinet's double doors are five dispensing trays and a shelf at the top. The top shelf would have held tins of Sheik brand condoms, one of the most common brands Schmid manufactured. Small side shelves would have held condom tins for Fourex and Ramses, two other brands Schmid manufactured. Condom tins like these typically held three condoms. The center shelf would have contained larger boxes which held a dozen condoms.
In 1872, the Comstock Act had prohibited interstate commerce in obscene literature and immoral material. Condoms and other forms of birth control fell under the category of “immoral material.” As forbidden material, condoms were rarely advertised openly. However, during the early twentieth century, rising concerns about gonorrhea and syphilis led a growing number of public health advocates to call for condoms to be sold to prevent disease. In 1918, a court case in New York, (The People of the State of New York v Margaret H. Sanger) clarified that existing penal codes allowed physicians to prescribe condoms to prevent disease. Named after Judge Frederick Crane who wrote the opinion in the case, the Crane decision opened the door for condom manufacturers to openly advertise and sell condoms, provided they were sold as a disease preventative.
Throughout most of the twentieth century, Julius Schmid, Inc. dominated the condom market. An immigrant from Germany, Schmid was one of the first American manufacturers to use “cold-cure cement” technique to make condoms. Workers at his factory dipped a glass mold into liquified rubber to create a sheath. The sheath was then vulcanized or hardened at a high temperature, enabling it to retain its shape.
Schmid’s condoms were not only standardized, they were also tested to ensure that they had no tears or holes. While cheap untested condoms were often sold on the street, Schmid made a point to sell his more expensive condoms in drug stores, a tactic which underscored his claim that his condoms were sold “only for protection against disease.” Aggressive marketing, combined with Schmid’s ability to move quickly when laws regulating condom manufacturing and distribution changed, were central to the company’s success.
Schmid was well known for the reliability of its products, and the company exclusively supplied pharmacists with tested and dependable condoms. This allowed pharmacists to sell higher-quality condoms at a significant markup.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1931
ca 1930s
advertiser
Julius Schmid, Inc.
maker
Julius Schmid, Inc.
ID Number
1989.0416.007
catalog number
1989.0416.007
accession number
1989.0416

Oyster Tin, Foote's Best Oysters

This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the D. E. Foote & Co., Inc. Established in 1870 on West and Jackson Streets in Baltimore, D. E.
Description
This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the D. E. Foote & Co., Inc. Established in 1870 on West and Jackson Streets in Baltimore, D. E. Foote was one of a hundred oyster packing firms in the city that year, reflecting the enormous volume of trade in oysters from the Chesapeake Bay.
In 1906 the U.S. Congress passed several pure food laws in response to outbreaks of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal ailments linked to poor sanitation. Several new regulations were imposed on the oyster industry after contaminated oysters were blamed for serious illnesses. The laws required inspections of oyster beds and packing houses, as well as the identification of shellfish sources and standardized labeling.
This tin probably dates to the period 1920-30, when colorful lithographed tins became popular. It includes the old-style bail handle, a feature that was phased out around this time in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs. Like many Baltimore oyster packers, the Foote Company addressed consumers’ fears about sanitation by emphasizing the clean conditions under which the oysters were handled and citing its compliance with the law. The message to consumers on the reverse of the can reads: “THIS CAN CONTAINS STRICTLY FRESH SHUCKED SALT WATER OYSTERS PACKED UNDER PERSONAL SUPERVISION IN THE MOST SANITARY MANNER IN CONFORMITY WITH THE NATIONAL PURE FOOD LAW. KEEP ON ICE UNTIL USED.”
date made
1920-1930
maker
D. E. Foote & Co., Inc
ID Number
2007.0062.01
catalog number
2007.0062.01
accession number
2007.0062

Celluloid Novelty

One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1935 and an advertisement for the Greenwich Savings Bank in New York. The other side has an image of Mr. Ernest Saver.Currently not on view
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1935 and an advertisement for the Greenwich Savings Bank in New York. The other side has an image of Mr. Ernest Saver.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
advertiser
Greenwich Savings Bank
maker
C. F. Herbstreith & Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0599
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0599

Store Display Card Holder, Superman Bread

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1942 - 1945
ID Number
1987.0213.146
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.146

Girl in grey dress with red flowers

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1939
maker
Keppler, Victor
ID Number
PG.006263.E
catalog number
6263E
accession number
238737

Mrs. Calvin Coolidge discussing cameras

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930-05
depicted (sitter)
Coolidge, Grace Goodhue
advertiser
Eastman Kodak Company
maker
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
2016.0066.392
catalog number
2016.0066.0392
accession number
2016.0066

Celluloid Novelty

Rectangular plastic card. The front has a blue background with color images of a plate of sausages and a white product box in yellow, white, and blue print.
Description (Brief)
Rectangular plastic card. The front has a blue background with color images of a plate of sausages and a white product box in yellow, white, and blue print. Reverse has a product box image, divisions for a three-inch ruler, and a calendar for 1933.
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1933, and an ad for Swift & Co. Brookfield Pure Pork Sausage. The other has another image of Swift’s Brookfield Pure Pork Sausage.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1933
advertiser
Swift and Company
maker
Parisian Novelty Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0579
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0579

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