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John Wanamaker collection
The John Wanamaker collection includes correspondence, financial volumes, scrapbooks, albums, estate and legal papers, store records, publications, photographs, financial files, sales portfolios, sound recordings, glass negatives, and deeds. This rich and extensive collection is arranged into five s...
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| Corporate Author: | |
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| Collection: | John Wanamaker Collection |
| Collection Number: | 2188 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
| Tags: | Add Tag |
| Item Description: |
Processing Information: The creation of the electronic guide for this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.
Finding aid entered into the Archivists' Toolkit by Garrett Boos and edited by Matthew Lyons (2012 January)
The collection recieved additonal processing in 2015 as part of the Howard Lewis project. Volumes were re-numbered and the contents of boxes 9 through 14b were reintegrated into the collection as volumes. Carton boxes were divided into three document boxes with 'a', 'b', and 'c' designations. Oversized items were de-framed and re-housed in flat file drawers and re-numbered. The finding aid was updated and edited by Megan Sheffer Evans (2015 May) |
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| Physical Description: |
193.2 Linear feet ; 316 volumes, 438 boxes |
| Access: |
This collection is open for research use. |
| Summary: |
The John Wanamaker collection includes correspondence, financial volumes, scrapbooks, albums, estate and legal papers, store records, publications, photographs, financial files, sales portfolios, sound recordings, glass negatives, and deeds. This rich and extensive collection is arranged into five series and spans over 150 years. It details the history of Wanamaker's store in Philadelphia and its influence as a major city retailer during the 19th and 20th centuries. There is also material that documents John Wanamaker's activities concerning social reform and cultural attitudes. There is information on his work as postmaster general, including information on weather and why mail was not delivered, and on his religious and political activities. Materials are generally arranged in chronological order; however, the loose photographs in Series Four are arranged by subject and size.
Series I is composed of personal records from 1850-1986. This series contains loose correspondence, letterpress copy books, speeches, diaries, editorials, estate papers and biographer's papers. There are also scrapbooks and photograph albums pertaining to personal and family interests such as John Wanamaker's political career, Bethany Sunday School, Rodman Wanamaker's aviation and collecting activities, and memorial scrapbooks for both John and Rodman Wanamaker.
Series II is composed of store records from 1861-1987. This series contains records of the Executive Divisions of John Wanamaker Philadelphia and New York and the Sales Division of the flagship store. It also includes various store publications and several boxes of deeds.
Series III is composed of miscellaneous publications from 1827-1917. This series contains annual reports of the Federal Department of the Treasury and the Office of the Postmaster General. Also included are miscellaneous volumes from the loan collection of Rodman Wanamaker, ten large atlases of the Philadelphia area and Atlantic County, NJ from dating from 1883 to 1914, and several sound recordings.
Series IV is composed of prints and photographs from 1861-1980. This series consists primarily of photographic prints, both loose and in albums, many of which were taken by store photographers to document store operations and events. The following photographers are represented: D. Sargent Bell, Harry S. Hood, Richard T. Dooner, and Charles H. Miller. There are also glass plate negatives and lantern slides. The loose photographs are arranged into three topical groups.
Series V, the addendum, is composed of material that was not included with the collection when it was originally donated to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Some items are duplicates of previously cataloged papers. There are also miscellaneous photographs and cabinet cards, several boxes of correspondence and financial records from the Wanamaker Institute of Industries, copies of Wanamaker's newspaper editorials, miscellaneous prints, booklets, and other publications. John Wanamaker (1838-1922) was a well-known merchant, entrepreneur, and lifelong resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was active in the city's religious, political, and philanthropic areas, founded several Presbyterian churches and Sunday schools, and served as postmaster general under President Benjamin Harrison from 1889 to 1893. He opened his first Philadelphia clothing store, Oak Hall, with partner Nathan Brown in 1861, and founded John Wanamaker and Co. in 1869. In 1876, he opened "A New Kind of Store" known as the Grand Depot at Thirteenth and Market Streets. This store later became the flagship store, with satellite stores eventually established in central and southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey, Delaware, and New York City. Wanamaker was at the forefront in many areas of retailing including merchandising, employee relations and advertising. His sons Thomas B. Wanamaker and L. Rodman Wanamaker were also active in the business. Thomas ran John Wanamaker and Co. in Philadelphia and Rodman took over the New York store operations in 1906. This rich and extensive collection, which is arranged into five series and spans over 150 years, details the history of Wanamaker's store in Philadelphia and its influence as a major city retailer during the 19th and 20th centuries. There is also material in the collection that documents Wanamaker's activities concerning social reform and cultural attitudes. The collection includes correspondence, financial volumes, scrapbooks, albums, estate and legal papers, store records, publications, photographs, financial files, sales portfolios, sound recordings, glass negatives, and deeds. Materials are generally arranged in chronological order; however, the loose photographs in Series Four are arranged by subject and size. |