Advertising

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.

Card from the Celluloid Company. Its front carries an advertisement for the company. On the reverse is a baseball scorecard. The card was given out at the Newark Industrial Exhibition, in 1912.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Card from the Celluloid Company. Its front carries an advertisement for the company. On the reverse is a baseball scorecard. The card was given out at the Newark Industrial Exhibition, in 1912.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1912
advertiser
Celluloid Company
maker
Napier Browning Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0526
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0526
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1915
depicted
Slover, James Henry
ID Number
2004.0005.28
accession number
2004.0005
catalog number
2004.0005.28
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
A matchbox cover made of ivory-grained celluloid. The front is printed with the name of the organization, American Fund for French Wounded. The back has an image of the French and American flags.
Description (Brief)
A matchbox cover made of ivory-grained celluloid. The front is printed with the name of the organization, American Fund for French Wounded. The back has an image of the French and American flags. This is an advertising item for the organization's Chicago branch, located at 60 East Washington St. There is an empty matchbox inside the cover.
"The American Fund for French Wounded was founded by American women living abroad, to provide relief to small hospitals in France. The organization was initially established under the auspices of a British organization, the London Committee of the French Emergency Fund, but became independent in December 1915. Committees in eighty United States municipalities raised funds for the organization, which worked closely with several similar organizations, notably the American Committee for Devasated France and the American Red Cross. The Fund’s mission was to provide medical assistance for wounded French soldiers and civilians, and other forms of support for refugees."
Source: New York Public Library, http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/archivalcollections/pdf/amfundfrench.pdf
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1915
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1612
catalog number
2006.0098.1612
accession number
2006.0098
Notebook ("shopping memorandum") with celluloid cover. An image of a telephone appears on front, and a calendar for the year 1915 on back.
Description (Brief)
Notebook ("shopping memorandum") with celluloid cover. An image of a telephone appears on front, and a calendar for the year 1915 on back. It is an advertising piece for Hochschild, Kohn & Company department store, which describes itself as "Baltimore's Best Store" and "The Telephone Store."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1915
advertiser
Hochschild Kohn and Company
maker
J. B. Carroll
ID Number
2006.0098.0474
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0474
Celluloid notebook with image of George Washington and the U.S. flag on front. This was an advertisement for First National Bank of Nashville, "The Oldest and Largest Bank in Washington County."Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Celluloid notebook with image of George Washington and the U.S. flag on front. This was an advertisement for First National Bank of Nashville, "The Oldest and Largest Bank in Washington County."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1910
depicted
Washington, George
advertiser
First National Bank of Nashville
maker
American Art Works
ID Number
2006.0098.0479
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0479
Flat rectangular card with black print. On one side is an image of a young girl washing a young boy's hair, which is covered in shampoo. A calendar for 1910 is on the reverse. A product description reads: "Pure as the pines.
Description (Brief)
Flat rectangular card with black print. On one side is an image of a young girl washing a young boy's hair, which is covered in shampoo. A calendar for 1910 is on the reverse. A product description reads: "Pure as the pines. Made from Pine-Tar, Glycerine and Sweet Vegetable Oils. Emollient--Healing--Antiseptic."
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1910 and an advertisement for “Packer’s Tar Soap.” The other has an image of a young girl washing a young boy’s hair with Packer’s Tar Soap.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1910
advertiser
H. H. Ala Bakhsh & Company
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0596
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0596
Pin shaped like a flag. The flag is brown with white print and red symbols.
Description (Brief)
Pin shaped like a flag. The flag is brown with white print and red symbols. Symbols and text read “(Red Cross) Is You & I With Every (Heart) And (Dollar).”
The American Red Cross was one of the major organizations that conducted relief work during World War I.
Much like the use of military insignia to identify its wearer (by association with an organization) and his/her achievements, these pins and buttons were meant to be worn by Americans on the home front during World War I to show their membership in an organization and/or their contribution to a particular war effort, such as the United War Work Campaign. The pins and buttons displayed the wearer’s patriotism and generosity and undoubtedly also served to prompt others to become similarly involved in the various war efforts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918
maker
Manee Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0394
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0394
Rectangular plastic advertising card for Swift's Premium Ham and Bacon. Front has a color image of a blonde boy in chef's hat, "Swift's Little Cook." He is peeling paper away from the corner of a wrapped ham, revealing passage of government inspection. Reverse has Swift & Co.
Description (Brief)
Rectangular plastic advertising card for Swift's Premium Ham and Bacon. Front has a color image of a blonde boy in chef's hat, "Swift's Little Cook." He is peeling paper away from the corner of a wrapped ham, revealing passage of government inspection. Reverse has Swift & Co. logo in red and black and a calendar for 1914.
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1914, and an ad for Swift & Co. The other has an image of “Swift’s Little Cook” with a Swift’s Premium Ham and a Swift’s Premium Bacon.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1914
advertiser
Swift and Company
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0578
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0578
Hand mirror with celluloid back and glass face. The back is made to look like a black and white clock, with Roman numerals in the border. At center,"3-20-8" is written in white letters within a red bar. The clock arms read 3:28.Advertising piece for A. B. Smitth & Co.
Description (Brief)
Hand mirror with celluloid back and glass face. The back is made to look like a black and white clock, with Roman numerals in the border. At center,"3-20-8" is written in white letters within a red bar. The clock arms read 3:28.
Advertising piece for A. B. Smitth & Co. "Now is the time to smoke," it reads, "New England's Best 10 cent cigar."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1910
ID Number
2006.0098.1236
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.1236
Feed a Fighter. American World War I poster by artist Wallace Morgan for the United States Food Administration. Depicted is a soldier sitting in a trench, holding a cup, while other soldiers move through the trench in the background.Currently not on view
Description
Feed a Fighter. American World War I poster by artist Wallace Morgan for the United States Food Administration. Depicted is a soldier sitting in a trench, holding a cup, while other soldiers move through the trench in the background.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1917 - 1921
artist
Morgan, Wallace
ID Number
1986.3051.12
catalog number
1986.3051.12
nonaccession number
1986.3051
Back Our Girls Over There. American World War I poster by artist Clarence F. Underwood for the Y.W.C.A. United War Work Campaign. Depicted is a member of the U.S.
Description
Back Our Girls Over There. American World War I poster by artist Clarence F. Underwood for the Y.W.C.A. United War Work Campaign. Depicted is a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit, or “Hello Girls,” seated at a switchboard with soldiers in the background.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1917 - 1921
artist
Underwood, Clarence F.
ID Number
1986.3051.10
catalog number
1986.3051.10
nonaccession number
1986.3051
For Every Fighter a Woman Worker. American World War I poster by artist Adolph Treidler for the Y.W.C.A. United War Work Campaign. Depicted is a female munitions worker holding an airplane in her right hand and a mortar shell in her left hand.
Description
For Every Fighter a Woman Worker. American World War I poster by artist Adolph Treidler for the Y.W.C.A. United War Work Campaign. Depicted is a female munitions worker holding an airplane in her right hand and a mortar shell in her left hand. Behind her is a large blue triangle, the symbol of the YWCA.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1917 - 1921
ID Number
1986.3051.06
catalog number
1986.3051.06
nonaccession number
1986.3051
Kriegsanleihe (War Bond). Austrian World War I poster by artist Julius Klinger for the 8th War Loan, 1918. Depicted is a green and black dragon coming out of a red eight and pierced by eight arrows, representing the 8th War Loan.Currently not on view
Description
Kriegsanleihe (War Bond). Austrian World War I poster by artist Julius Klinger for the 8th War Loan, 1918. Depicted is a green and black dragon coming out of a red eight and pierced by eight arrows, representing the 8th War Loan.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918
associated date
1917 - 1918
ID Number
AF.308845
accession number
308845
Zeichnet 7. Kriegsanleihe (Subscribe to the 7th War Loan). Austrian World War I poster by artist Alfred Offner for the Vienna Commercial Bank, 1917. Depicted are Austrian soldiers with guns drawn crouching behind a wall of gold Austrian coins.Currently not on view
Description
Zeichnet 7. Kriegsanleihe (Subscribe to the 7th War Loan). Austrian World War I poster by artist Alfred Offner for the Vienna Commercial Bank, 1917. Depicted are Austrian soldiers with guns drawn crouching behind a wall of gold Austrian coins.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1917
associated date
1917 - 1918
ID Number
AF.308845 [dup2]
accession number
308845
Weapons for Liberty. American World War I poster by artist Joseph C. Leyendecker for the Boy Scouts of America Third Liberty Loan Campaign. Depicted is a Boy Scout kneeling while handing a sword to Liberty who holds a shield.
Description
Weapons for Liberty. American World War I poster by artist Joseph C. Leyendecker for the Boy Scouts of America Third Liberty Loan Campaign. Depicted is a Boy Scout kneeling while handing a sword to Liberty who holds a shield.
associated date
1917 - 1918
artist
Leyendecker, J. C.
ID Number
AF.65824MA
catalog number
65824MA
accession number
232120
If Ye Break Faith - We Shall Not Sleep. Canadian World War I poster by artist Frank Lucien Nicolet. Depicted is a Canadian soldier standing at a grave amidst a field of poppies.Currently not on view
Description
If Ye Break Faith - We Shall Not Sleep. Canadian World War I poster by artist Frank Lucien Nicolet. Depicted is a Canadian soldier standing at a grave amidst a field of poppies.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1917 - 1918
ID Number
AF.65942M
catalog number
65942M
accession number
232120
232120
The Princess Lace Loom is a lace pillow for making bobbin lace. It was patented by Sylvester G. Lewis in 1903, patent number 745,206.It is set up with a lace pattern from the The American Lace Maker, Volume 1, 2016.0048.03 and 20 bobbins wound with Barbours linen.
Description (Brief)
The Princess Lace Loom is a lace pillow for making bobbin lace. It was patented by Sylvester G. Lewis in 1903, patent number 745,206.
It is set up with a lace pattern from the The American Lace Maker, Volume 1, 2016.0048.03 and 20 bobbins wound with Barbours linen. It was also called the Princess Lace Machine, and advertised widely in women's magazines from 1901. It was sold by mail-order.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1904 - 1919
patent date
1903
founder of the Torchon Lace Co.
Lewis, Sylvester G.
patent holder
Lewis, Sylvester G.
maker
Torchon Lace Company
ID Number
2016.0048.01
accession number
2016.0048
catalog number
2016.0048.01

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