Montgomery Ward records,

(1)

Overview of the Collection

Creator Montgomery Ward.

Title Montgomery Ward records Dates 1849-1989 (inclusive)

1849 1989

Quantity 148 cubic feet (331 boxes) + microfilm + artifacts. Collection Number 08088

Summary The Montgomery Ward Company was a national retail chain store which dominated the mail-order market during the 20th century. Company records include correspondence, catalogs, marketing materials, and legal records.

Repository University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center

American Heritage Center University of Wyoming 1000 E. University Ave. Dept. 3924 Laramie, WY 82071 Telephone: 307-766-3756 [email protected]

Access Restrictions Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages English

Historical Note

Montgomery Ward, the world's first general merchandise mail-order business, issued its first single sheet catalog in 1872. By 1887, the Chicago based company had annual sales exceeding $$1,000,000 and in 1889 it became a privately held corporation. In 1893, founder Aaron Montgomery Ward sold his controlling interest to partner George R. Thorne, and the company became a public corporation in 1919.

In 1931, Sewell L. Avery became chairman and chief executive officer. His tenure was marked by labor troubles in the 1940s which culminated in two government seizures of the company in 1944. In 1968 Montgomery Ward merged with Container Corporation of America to form Marcor Inc. Mobil Oil Corporation gained a controlling interest in Marcor in 1974, and Wards became a subsidiary of Mobil. In 1988 senior management led a drive for a levereged buyout and Wards became a privately-held company.

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Collection contains Montgomery Ward catalogs and 194 35 mm microfilm copies (1874-1985);

competitors' catalogs including Aldens (1954-1981), J.C. Penney (1963-1982), Sears (1954-1982) and Spiegel (1962-1983); correspondence (1889-1985) including approximately 20,000 letters between the general public and Ward regarding the National War Labor Board and the 1944 government seizures; scrapbooks of newspaper and magazine articles on Ward and competitors (1971-1987) including extensive national press coverage of the 1944 seizures; handwritten musical scores by Nathan Lang Van Cleave for the 1940s radio programs "The Man Behind the Gun" and "This Is Our Enemy"; news releases; organization charts; speeches; photographs; title abstracts for Chicago real estate; advertisements; legal documents; manuals; and financial files. A supplement from 1993 is included as well.

Subject files (1862-1985) include information on takeover attempts, price controls, A. Montgomery Ward's role in preserving Chicago's lake front, company history, the National War Labor Board, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which originated as a Christmas advertising promotion in 1939. There are also miscellaneous artifacts.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative Information

Preservation Note

System Requirements Catalogs -- microfilm -- 35 mm.

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Montgomery Ward at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

(3)

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Loreley Moore in December 1996 and revised by Loreley Moore in May 2001. The finding aid was encoded by JoNel Wilmot and D. Claudia Thompson in 1018.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series I. Administrative Files

Container(s) Description Dates

Box Folder

1 1-3 Avery Stock Option 1929-1938

1 4 Barr, John 1925-1979

1 5 Catalog History: Correspondence 1947-1970

1 6 Catalog History: Historical Data 1897-1965

2 1-7 Chain Store Age: Interviews 1970

3 1-5 Chain Store Age: Interviews 1970-1983

3 6 Chicago Public Library Donation 1971

3 7 Chicago Tribune 1873-1974

3 8 Comparative Sales Trends-Wards and Sears 1943

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Container(s) Description Dates 7 1-7 Correspondence: Kid-La 1942-1946 8 1-6 Correspondence: Le-Mc 1942-1946 9 1-7 Correspondence: Mc-Mas 1942-1946 10 1-7 Correspondence: Mat-Mo 1942-1946 11 1-8 Correspondence: Mo-O 1942-1946 12 1-7 Correspondence: Pa-Po 1942-1946 13 1-8 Correspondence: Pr-Ro 1942-1945 14 1-7 Correspondence: Ro-Se 1942-1946 15 1-7 Correspondence: Sh-So 1942-1945 16 1-7 Correspondence: Sp-Th 1942-1946 17 1-7 Correspondence: Ti-Wak 1942-1947

17A 1-6 Correspondence: Wal-Wil 1942-1946

17B 1-5 Correspondence: Will-Wy 1942-1947

17C 1-2 Correspondence: Ya-Zw 1942-1945

17C 3 Defense Production Act of 1950: Instructions 1950-1953 17C 4 Defense Production Act of 1950: Memoranda 1950-1951 18 1-3 Defense Production Act of 1950: Memoranda 1951-1953 18 4 Defense Production Act of 1950: Price Control 1951 18 5 Defense Production Act of 1950: Priorities 1951-1952

19 1 Financial Records: Balance Sheets 1897-1901

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19 3 Financial Records: Credit 1950-1956 19 4 Financial Records: Economic Opportunities 1938-1941 20 1 Financial Records: Financial Facts Relating to the Mobil

Acquisition of Marcor

1979

20 2 Financial Records: Financial History 1913-1931

20 3 Financial Records: First National Bank of Chicago 1927

20 4 Financial Records: Income Tax Appeal 1941

20 5 Financial Records: Index of Published Gross Sales 1929-1932 20 6 Financial Records: Merchandise Position 1937-1941

20 7 Financial Records: Net Sales Results 1878-1927

20 8 Financial Records: Refund Checks 1880-1980

20 9 Financial Records: Retail Store Monthly Profit and Loss Statement

1934-1935

20 10 Financial Records: Retail Stores Net Sales 1938 20 11 Financial Records: Reserve for Tax Payments 1933

20 12 Group Policy Life Insurance 1912

20 13-15 Insurance Product Liability 1976-1982

20 16 Jefferson Ward 1980-1981

21 1-2 Lakefront Fight 1860s-1910,

1964 21 3 Legal Records: Application for Inspection of Stock and

Transfer Books

1954

(6)

21 5 Legal Records: Contracts 1917-1918

21 6 Legal Records: Indentures 1960-1971

21 7 Legal Records: Petition-Montgomery Ward and Company vs. the United States of America

1961

21 8 List of Directors and Officers, Subsidiary Companies 1924

21 9 Manuals: Buyers 1939

22 1 Manuals: Catalog Instructions 1925

22 2 Manuals: Catalog Production and Arrangement 1928

22 3 Manuals: Catalog Topics 1919

22 4 Manuals: Chain Store Manual 1936

22 5 Manuals: Contracts undated

22 6 Manuals: Corporate Identification 1950s

22 7-9 Manuals: Executive Training Course 1939

22 10 Manuals: Export Business 1943

22 11 Manuals: Furniture 1938

22 12 Manuals: Hardware Specifications 1941

23 1 Manuals: Interior Decoration 1936-1941

23 2 Manuals: Management Handbook 1947

23 3 Manuals: Merchandise Strategy 1982

23 4-5 Manuals: Public Relations-Store Openings 1959

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23 8 Manuals: Wardway Homes Handbook 1929

23 9 Marketer of the Year Award 1970-1979

24 1-5 Memoranda 1889-1982

24 6-7 Merchandise Economist 1934-1938

25 1-2 Merchandise Economist 1939-1943

25 3 Merseles, Theodore 1927-1929

25 4 Mobil/Montgomery Ward Board of Directors Meeting 1977

25 5 Montgomery Ward Plaza 1970-1976

25 6 National War Labor Board: Company Memoranda to Employees

1942-1945

25 7 National War Labor Board: Directive Order 1942-1945 26 1-2 National War Labor Board: International Longshoremen's

and Warehousemen's Union, Congress of Industrial Organizations (Baltimore)

1942-1945

26 3 National War Labor Board: International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, Congress of Industrial Organizations (Fort Worth)

1944-1945

26 4 National War Labor Board: International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, Congress of Industrial Organizations (Saint Paul)

1944-1945

26 5 National War Labor Board: Portland Store 1944-1945 26 6 National War Labor Board: Press Coverage Statistics 1942-1944

26 7 National War Labor Board: Union Strike 1942-1946

27 1 National War Labor Board: U.R.W. and D.S.E.A. Congress of Industrial Organizations (Albany)

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27 2 National War Labor Board: U.R.W. and D.S.E.A. Congress of Industrial Organizations (Chicago)

1942-1945

27 3 National War Labor Board: U.R.W. and D.S.E.A. Congress of Industrial Organizations (Denver)

1944-1945

27 4 National War Labor Board: U.R.W. and D.S.E.A. Congress of Industrial Organizations (Fort Worth)

1944

27 5 National War Labor Board: U.R.W. and D.S.E.A. Congress of Industrial Organizations (Kansas City)

1944-1945

27 6 National War Labor Board: U.R.W. and D.S.E.A. Congress of Industrial Organizations (Oakland)

1944-1945

27 7 New York Central Railroad Company 1954

27 8 Patents: Alien Property Custodian 1942-1945

27 9 Patents: Appliance Rollers 1921-1966

27 10-11 Patents: Automatic Clothes Dryer 1937-1952

28 1-2 Patents: Automatic Clothes Dryer 1887-1950

28 3 Patents: Automobile Mirrors 1951-1964

28 4 Patents: Bicycle Basket 1959

28 5 Patents: Bicycle Frame 1914-1951

28 6 Patents: Bicycle Skirt 1896

28 7 Patents: Boat Trailer 1954

28 8 Patents: Brake for Extensible Gas Fixtures 1879

28 9 Patents: Caps 1917-1965

28 10 Patents: Card Index 1930

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28 12 Patents: Clamp for Saddle Posts 1899 28 13 Patents: Combination Range and Hot Water Heater 1958

28 14 Patents: Combined Step Ladder 1957

28 15 Patents: Convertible Furniture 1916-1942

28 16 Patents: Coupling for Tubing 1959

29 1 Patents: Design Patents Owned by Montgomery Ward 1926-1945

29 2 Patents: Detachable Socket 1973-1974

29 3 Patents: Discharge for Separators 1942

29 4 Patents: Dishes 1937

29 5 Patents: Display Case Racks 1897-1962

29 6 Patents: Display Package 1929

29 7 Patents: Divided Skirt 1914

29 8 Patents: Dolls 1953

29 9 Patents: Electric Guitar 1959

29 10 Patents: Electric Range 1948

29 11-12 Patents: Folding Wheelchair 1862-1943

29 13 Patents: Fuel Pumps 1961-1963

29 14 Patents: Garland Construction 1961

29 15 Patents: Garment Form 1913-1915

29 16 Patents: Grass Catcher 1936-1963

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29 18 Patents: Gun Rack 1956-1966

29 19 Patents: Gutter Ends 1924

29 20 Patents: Hand Winch 1963

29 21 Patents: Hangers 1878-1961

30 1 Patents: Hearing Aid 1967-1968

30 2 Patents: Heated Garments 1944-1965

30 3 Patents: Hosiery Packaging 1932-1958

30 4 Patents: Inflatable Cushion 1966

30 5 Patents: Injection Molding Machine 1954

30 6 Patents: Label 1899

30 7 Patents: Lawn Mower 1948-1952

30 8 Patents: Library Stack 1896

30 9 Patents: Lighting Fixtures 1926-1950

30 10 Patents: Low Pressure Tire Signal 1911

30 11 Patents: Milk Can Cover 1895

30 12 Patents: Photoflash Lamps 1944-1960

30 13 Patents: Pinless Dress Forms 1950

30 14 Patents: Portable Signalling Device 1959

30 15 Patents: Programming Control Mechanism 1958

30 16 Patents: Pulley Belt Control Device 1936

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30 18-19 Patents: Rotary Type Lawn Mower 1926-1957

30 20 Patents: Seat Post Clamp 1899

30 21 Patents: Shaft Coupling 1904

30 22 Patents: Sheet Iron Hollow Ware 1863

30 23 Patents: Sheet Metal Tea Kettle 1892

30 24 Patents: Shipping Package and Holder for Garments 1907

30 25 Patents: Sign Illumination 1932

30 26 Patents: Slip Joint 1919

30 27 Patents: Stop Box 1885

30 28 Patents: Stove Pipe Joints 1873

30 29 Patents: Telescope Mount for Firearms 1953-1966

30 30 Patents: Telescopic Joint 1891

30 31 Patents: Tent Pole 1929

30 32 Patents: Tire Alarm 1912-1943

30 33 Patents: Tire Pressure Gauge 1936

30 34 Patents: Toy Building Blocks 1961-1962

30 35 Patents: Tractor for Garden Cultivators and Other Implements

1947

31 1 Patents: Trailer Awning 1951

31 2 Patents: Transmission and Clutch System 1952

31 3 Patents: Travel Trailer 1967

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31 5 Patents: Waist Bands 1944

31 6 Portsmouth, Ohio Store 1957

31 7 Price Control: Civilian Production Adminstration 1944-1946

31 8 Price Control: Daily Reports 1941-1946

31 9 Price Control: Defense Production of 1950 with Explanation

1950

31 10 Price Control: Food Distribution Administration 1943-1944 31 11 Price Control: General Maximum Price Regulation 1942 31 12 Price Control: Highest Price Line Limitation, and

Amendmet Thereof, Legislative History

1944

31 13 Price Control: Industrial Council 1942-1944

31 14-17 Price Control: Memoranda 1942-1944

32 1-4 Price Control: Memoranda 1945-1946

32 5 Price Control: Office of Emergency Management 1941 32 6 Price Control: Office of Production Management 1941 33 1 Price Control: Office of Production Management 1941-1942 33 2 Price Control: Price Control in a Defense Economy 1950

33 3 Price Control: Price Control O.P.A. 1942

33 4 Price Control: Price Orders 1942-1944

33 5 Price Control: Retail Ceiling Prices for Certain Apparel and House Furnishings

1945

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33 8 Price Control: United States of America Chamber of Commerce Referendum Number 75

1941

33 9-10 Properties Owned by Aaron Ward Family - Abstracts of Title

1883-1899

1881-1906

1874-1905

35A 1-4 Properties Owned by Aaron Ward Family - Abstracts of Title

1886-1916

35B 1-4 Properties Owned by Aaron Ward Family - Abstracts of Title

1894-1935

35C 1-3 Properties Owned by Aaron Ward Family - Abstracts of Title

1905-1906, 1924-1930 35C 4 Properties Owned by Montgomery Ward - Lists 1921-1964

35C 5 Prospectus 1946

35D 1 Public Relations: Advertisements 1875-1985

35D 2 Public Relations: Announcement of Decision to Halt Catalog Operations

1985

35D 3 Public Relations: Bed and Bath 1979

35D 4 Public Relations: Brochures 1936-1957

36 1 Public Relations: Brochures 1956-1957

36 2-3 Public Relations: Brownstone Project 1978-1980

36 4 Public Relations: Catalog - House Employee Move 1980 36 5 Public Relations: Catalog - Golden Anniversary 1922, 1975

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36 8 Public Relations: Century II 1970-1973

36 9 Public Relations: Conversion of Chicago Avenue Catalog House

1979-1980

37 1 Public Relations: Conversion of Sixteen Retail Stores to Jefferson Ward

1981

37 2 Public Relations: Credit Card Test 1979

37 3 Public Relations: Credit Insurance Plan 1975

37 4 Public Relations: Disco Dresses 1977

37 5 Public Relations: Duke University 1973

37 6 Public Relations: Fashion - Fall and Winter 1979

37 7 Public Relations: Fashion - Men's 1973

37 8 Public Relations: Fashion - New Fashion Focus-Summer 1980 37 9 Public Relations: Fashion - Rita Writes from Paris 1977-1980 37 10 Public Relations: Fashion - Western Release 1979 37 11 Public Relations: Fashion - Women's Boots 1978 37 12 Public Relations: Five Hundred Dollar Room 1977 37 13 Public Relations: Furniture of the Future 1973 37 14 Public Relations: Harms, Carol J. - Banking Services

Manager

1980

37 15 Public Relations: Health Care Center 1979

37 16 Public Relations: Home Furnishings 1977

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37 18 Public Relations: Mobil Corporation to Make Loan to Montgomery Ward

1980

37 19 Public Relations: Montgomery Collection 1976

38 1 Public Relations: Montgomery Ward New Logo 1982

38 2-3 Public Relations: New Building 1970-1974

38 4 Public Relations: Olympics - Auto Club 1975-1977

38 5 Public Relations: Presidential Sports Award 1972 38 6 Public Relations: Romance of Montgomery Ward &

Company

circa

1900s-1960s

38 7 Public Relations: State Street Closing 1982

38 8 Public Relations: State Street Opening 1965-1966

39 1 Public Relations: This Old House 1980

39 2-3 Public Relations: United States Bicentennial 1975-1976

39 5 Public Relations: Wendy Ward 1974

40 1-6 Rationing 1941-1944

41 1 Rationing 1945-1946

41 2 Regional Organization Charts 1932-1934, 1959

41 3-5 Reports: Annual Reports to Stockholders 1906-1967

41 6 Reports: Department Performances 1957-1958

41 7 Reports: Dollar Volume 1977-1981

41 8 Reports: Expert Business General Survey 1942

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41 10 Reports: National 4-H Home Economics Consumer Education Program

1967

42 1-3 Reports: Publicity Department 1935-1937

42 4 Reports: Retail Buying 1969

42 5 Reports: Sears Roebuck and Company/Montgomery Ward and Company Merger Proposal

1931

42 6-7 Reports: Source Takings 1978-1979

43 1-5 Reports: Source Takings 1980

43 6 Reports: Survey of Montgomery Ward & Company 1932 44 1 Reports: Tentative Sales, Marketing and Advertising

Analysis

1937

44 2 Reports: World's Fair Contest Plan and Its Results 1933

44 3 Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer 1939-1985

44 4 Stock Certificates 1873-1935

44 5 Store Locations and Opening Dates 1921-1974

44 6 Unexpected Generation 1969-1970

45 1 Ward, Aaron Montgomery 1913-1936

45 2-4 Wolfson's Attempt to Take Over the Company: Business Background of Wolfson

1954-1955

45 5-6 Wolfson's Attempt to Take Over the Company: General 1954-1955 45 7 Wolfson's Attempt to Take Over the Company: Proxy

Soliciting

1954-1955

46 1 Wolfson's Attempt to Take Over the Company: Proxy Soliciting

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46 2 Wolfson's Attempt to Take Over the Company: Senate Hearings on Proxy Contents

1955-1956

46 3 Wolfson's Attempt to Take Over the Company: Stockholder Survey

1955

46 4 Zook's Attempt to Take Over the Company 1934

Series II. Manuscript Files

Box Folder

47 1 Avery Sewell (biographical information, author unkown, interviews)

1948-1980

47 2 Centennial History of Montgomery Ward, by Al Lief: Background Material

1944-1964

47 3-5 Centennial History of Montgomery Ward, by Al Lief: Background Notes

1969-1971

47 6 Centennial History of Montgomery Ward, by Al Lief: Correspondence

1969-1972

47 7 Centennial History of Montgomery Ward, by Al Lief: Rough Draft

1971

48 1 Donnelly-Ward Association, by H.P. Zimmerman: Final Draft

1971

48 2 Forever Open, Free and Clear, by Lois Willie: Final Draft 1972 48 3-5 History of Montgomery Ward, by Fred Jameson: Final

Draft

1939

48 6 History of Montgomery Ward, by Fred Jameson: Background Material

1908-1960

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Series III. Catalogs-Montgomery Ward

(19)

(20)

(21)

109 1-2 Catalogs 1964-1965 110 1-2 Catalogs 1965-1966 111 1-2 Catalogs 1966-1967 112 1-2 Catalogs 1967-1968 113 1-3 Catalogs 1968-1970 114 1-2 Catalogs 1970-1971 115 1-2 Catalogs 1971-1972 116 1-2 Catalogs 1972-1973 117 1-2 Catalogs 1973-1974 118 1-2 Catalogs 1974-1975 119 1-3 Catalogs 1975-1976 120 1-3 Catalogs 1976-1978 121 1-3 Catalogs 1978-1979 122 1-3 Catalogs 1979-1981 123 1-3 Catalogs 1981-1982 124 1-2 Catalogs 1982-1985

Sub-series 2. Specialty Catalogs Box Folder

125 1 Air Compressors 1938-1939

125 2 Air Conditioning 1934

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Container(s) Description Dates 125 4-9 Automotive Supplies 1914-1923 126 1-5 Auotomotive Supplies 1924-1927, 1940-1941, 1985 126 6 Babies 1912-1913 126 7 Bicycles 1912-1913, 1915, 1917-1920 126 8 Book of Premiums 1907 126 9 Books 1895-1896

126 10 Boots and Shoes 1897

127 1 Buggy and Harness 1900

127 2-8 Building Materials 1914-1930 128 1 Building Materials 1931-1932 128 2-4 Cameras 1898, 1947, 1957, 1961-1962 128 5 Cane Mills 1936-1937, 1939-1941

128 6 Cement for Farm Buildings 1910

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131 1-2 Christmas 1941-1942 132 1-2 Christmas 1943-1944 133 1-2 Christmas 1945-1946 134 1 Christmas 1947 135 1 Christmas 1948 136 1 Christmas 1949 137 1 Christmas 1950 138 1 Christmas 1951 139 1 Christmas 1952 140 1 Christmas 1953 141 1 Christmas 1954 142 1-2 Christmas 1955-1956 143 1-4 Christmas 1957-1960 144 1-5 Christmas 1961-1964 145 1-6 Christmas 1964-1968 146 1-6 Christmas 1968-1973 147 1-6 Christmas 1973-1977 148 1-6 Christmas 1978-1982 149 1 Christmas 1985

149 2 Cloaks, Suits, and Skirts 1900-1901

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149 4 Coats 1946

149 5 Coffee Brewer 1920

149 6 Concrete Mixers 1939-1942

149 7 Conveyor (Scraper Type) 1940

149 8 Dairy: Bigger Cream Checks (Separator) 1923

149 9 Dairy: Bottle Caps 1938-1941

149 10 Dairy: Cream Separator 1910

149 11 Dairy: Equipment 1914-1915,

1934, 1937-1940 149 12 Dairy: Guide to Greater Milk Profits (Cooler) 1937

149 13 Dairy: Pipeline Milker 1942

149 14 Dairy: Rapid Milkart 1939

149 15 Dairy: Zephyrator 1938

149 16 Decorating - Pictures 1940-1943

149 17 Dinnerware 1920

149 18 Electric Generating Systems 1945-1949

149 19 Electric Light and Power Plants 1918-1920,

1932-1942, 1945

149 20 Electric Mill 1940

149 21 Electric Ranges 1939-1941, 1943

149 22 Electric Appliances 1938-1939

(25)

150 1-8 Farm 1916-1917, 1919, 1922-1923, 1937-1938, 1943, 1948-1951, 1953, 1955-1959 151 1-4 Farm 1960-1963, 1965-1967 151 5 Farm Elevators 1940

151 6-8 Farm, Lawn, and Garden 1968-1974

152 1-4 Farm, Lawn, and Garden 1975-1982

152 5 Feed and Ensilage Cutters 1910

152 6 Feed Mixers 1939-1942

152 7 Fine Jewelry and Gifts - Employees 1960

152 8 Fishing, Hunting, and Camping 1948, 1955

153 1-3 Fishing, Hunting, and Camping 1956-1961

153 4 Food Gifts 1969

153 5 Fruit Presses and Crushers 1937, 1940

(26)

155 1-2 Gardening 1920, 1923,

1930

154 4 Gas Ranges 1940-1941, 1950

154 5 Gasoline and Kerosene Engines 1911, 1914,

1918-1920, 1937

154 6 Green Hay Silage 1940

154 7-8 Groceries 1886, 1888, 1890, 1895, 1907-1908, 1910-1911 155 3 Hammermills 1938-1942 155 4 Hay Baler 1940, 1942 155 5-7 Heating 1915-1917, 1921-1922, 1940, 1942, 1951, 1953-1954 155 8 Hogs 1916-1917 155 9 Hoists (Power) 1958, 1960 155 10 Homes 1911-1912, 1914 156 1-4 Homes 1916-1919, 1922-1931 156 5 Honey Estractors 1936-1937, 1940 156 6 Hotel Supplies 1922

156 7 Incubators and Brooders circa 1915,

1939-1941

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156 10 Lawn Mowers (Power) 1939

156 11-13 Lighting Fixtures 1914-1923, 1941

157 1 Made-to-Order Clothing - Men 1915-1916

157 2 Modoc (Automobile) 1913 157 3 Paint 1911, 1915-1921, 1932, 1938-1943 157 4 Patterns 1915-1920 157 5 Pianos 1915-1922 157 6 Plumbing 1914, 1916-1917, 1920, 1937, 1939-1940, 1950, 1954-1955

157 7-8 Plumbing and Heating 1918-1920,

1934-1935

158 1 Plywood Boats 1940-1941

158 2-3 Power Tools 1932-1935,

1937-1939, 1941-1943, 1958

158 4 Prefabricated Farm Buildings 1935

158 5 Pressure Cookers 1937, 1939

158 6 Quarterly Book Review 1897

158 7-8 Radios 1922-1925,

1934, 1936-1941

(28)

158 10 Refrigerators 1919, 1937,

1940-1941

158 11 Restaurant 1939-1940

158 12 Rugs and Carpets 1930, 1937-1942

158 13 Rural Telephone Lines - How to Build Them 1901

(29)

(30)

195 4 Scales 1937

195 5 Shearing and Chipping Equipment 1938-1939,

1942-1943

195 6 Stockmen's Equipment 1936

195 7-8 Stoves 1910-1911, 1931

195 9 Surveying Instruments 1919, 1939

195 10-12 Tombstones and Monuments 1914-1916,

1918-1923, 1925-1926, 1929 195 13 Tools 1916-1917 195 14-15 Toys 1930-1931, 1941, 1957, 1961, 1963 196 1 Tractors 1935, 1937-1941 196 2 Travel 1961-1962 196 3 Typewriters 1916-1920 196 4 Underwear 1914-1915 196 5 Unexpected Generation 1970 196 6 Violins 1929

196 7 Violet Ray Instruments 1920s

196 8-10 Wall Papers 1912, 1915-1916

197 1-5 Wall Paper 1918-1922

(31)

199 1-6 Wall Paper 1930, 1933-1934, 1937, 1941-1942 200 1 Wall Paper 1952, 1955 200 2 Wheel Chairs 1929 200 3 Windmills 1940s 200 4 Wire Fencing 1910 200 5 Wood Fence 1940 200 6 Workwear 1985

Series IV. Photographs

Sub-series 1. Historical Box Folder

201 1 American Steel Products Company, Macombe, Illinois 1924

201 2 Anthony, Susan B. 1870s

201 3 Automobile Race, Chicago 1895, 1962

201 4 Bicycle Instruction circa 1890s

201 5 Cawker City, Kansas circa 1909

201 6 Chicago Fire

201 7 Corn Belt Harvesting early 1900s

201 8 Football - Cornell vs. Rochester 1889

(32)

201 10 Greeley, Horace circa 1855

201 11 Kansas City, Missouri circa 1900

201 12 Kentucky - Garage and Gas Station circa 1920

201 13 Meat Market, Colby, Kansas 1870s

Sub-series 2. Montgomery Ward Box Folder

201 14 Avery, Sewell undated

201 15 Catalog Cover Painted by Norman Rockwell 1925

201 16 Chicago Plant 1924

201 17 Clerks Wearing Roller Skates circa 1880s

201 18 Illinois State Fair 1925

201 19 Marysville, Kansas 1926

201 20 Memorial, Grant Park 1962

201 21 Plymouth, Indiana 1926-1928

201 22 Oakland, California, Packaging Employees 1924

201 23 World War II Rubber Scrap Drive 1942

201 24 New York City Police Bicycle Squad 1898

201 25 New York City Street Crowd Listening to Radio Broadcast of President Coolidge Delivering His First Message to Congress

1923

201 26 Omaha, Nebraska 1860s

(33)

201 28 Radio (Zenith) 1923-1924

201 29 Rice Family, Round Valley, Nebraska 1888

201 30 Rural Free Delivery 1896

201 31 Solti, George (Chicago Symphony) undated

201 32 Suffragettes in New York City Victory Parade 1920

201 33 Telephone-Magneto Wall Set 1907

201 34 Tennessee Valley Before TVA - Wash Day 1933-1934 201 35 Testing Spade Grip Tractor Tires in France (Firestone) 1937

201 36 Union Pacific Golden Spike Ceremony 1869

201 37 Wholesale Fruit Market, Quincy, Massachusetts circa 1920 Sub-series 3. Product Designs

Box Folder

201 38 Actors Publicizing Montgomery Ward 1960s

201 39 Air Conditioners 1940s-1950s

201 40 Air Valves undated

201 41 Alarm Clocks 1930s-1940s

201 42 Automotive undated

201 43 Baby Care undated

202 1 Baby Furniture undated

202 2 Bathroom Furniture 1940s

(34)

202 4 Blackboards undated

202 5 Bunk Beds undated

202 6 Carpet Sweeper undated

202 7 Catalog Covers 1874-1972

202 8 Cosmetics undated

202 9 Cream Separators undated

202 10 Croquet Set 1950s

202 11 Dental undated

202 12 Dresser Set (Child's) 1935, 1937

202 13 Fans undated

202 14 Fielder's Gloves undated

202 15 Firescreens undated

202 16 Fishing Line undated

202 17 Flashlight 1940s

202 18 Flatware undated

202 19 Furniture 1940s-1950s

202 20 Furniture - Metropolitan Museum 1934-1935

202 21 Golf Balls undated

203 1 Harness Oil undated

203 2 Heaters 1930s-1940s

(35)

203 4 Hot Water Heaters undated

203 5 Irons 1930s-1940s

203 6 Kitchen Accessories 1930s-1940s

203 7 Kitchen Appliances 1940s

203 8 Kitchen - Coffee Brewers undated

203 9 Kitchen Furniture 1940s

203 10 Kitchen - Pots and Pans 1930s-1940s

203 11 Lawn Mowers undated

203 12 Lighting 1930s-1940s

203 13 Lunch Boxes 1940

203 14 Mangle undated

204 1 Medical Supplies undated

204 2 Musical Instruments undated

204 3 Outboard Motors 1950s

204 4 Paint Sprayers undated

204 5 Phonograph Record Players 1940s-1950s

204 6 Pull Toys 1950s

204 7-8 Radios 1940s-1950s

204 9 Refrigerators undated

204 10 Riding Toys 1930s-1950s

(36)

204 12 Scales undated

204 13 Scooter undated

204 14 Sewing Machines undated

204 15 Sound Equipment undated

204 16 Stoves 1930s-1950s 205 1 Televisions 1940s-1950s 205 2 Toasters 1930s-1940s 205 3 Tools undated 205 4 Tractors 1914-1940s 205 5 Waffle Irons 1930s-1940s 205 6 Wagons 1931, 1950 205 7 Washing Machines 1860s, 1920s-1930s

Series V. Scrapbooks

Box Folder

206 1-4 Army Seizure of Montgomery Ward: Editorial Comments -Central States

1944

206 5-6 Army Seizure of Montgomery Ward: Editorial Comments -Eastern States

1944

206 7 Army Seizure of Montgomery Ward: Editorial Comments -Southern States

1944

(37)

207 2-3 Army Seizure of Montgomery Ward: Editorial Comments -Western States

1944

207 4 Army Seizure of Montgomery Ward: Readers' Letters to the Editors

1944

207 5 Catalog Covers - Photographs 1874-1972

207 6 Century of Service 1970-1972

208 1 Century of Service 1970-1972

208 2-6 Company Management 1930-1955

209 1-5 Company Management 1956-1987

209 6 Day By Day Strike Report 1944

210 1-2 Day By Day Strike Report 1945-1946

210 3 Historical 1871-1937

210 4 Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame 1972

210 5 Store Openings: Bakersfield, California 1960

210 6 Store Openings: Chris Town Shopping Center, Phoenix, Arizona

1960

210 7 Store Openings: Corte Madera, California 1959-1960 210 8 Store Openings: Grossment Center, La Mesa, California 1961 210 9 Store Openings: National City, California 1959-1960 210 10 Store Openings: Panorama City Shopping Center, Los

Angeles, California

1960-1961

(38)

210 13 Store Openings: Red Bluff, California 1960

210 14 Store Openings: Richmond, California 1959

210 15 Store Openings: Roseburg, Oregon 1961

210 16 Store Openings: San Leandro Distribution Center, California

1959

210 17 Store Openings: Tucson, Arizona 1959-1961

211 1 War Labor Board: Editorial Comments - Central States 1942-1943 211 2 War Labor Board: Editorial Comments - Eastern States 1942-1943 211 3 War Labor Board: Editorial Comments - Southern States 1942-1943 211 4 War Labor Board: Editorial Comments - Western States 1942-1943 211 5 War Labor Board: Unfavorable Comments - 1942-1943 212 1 National Safety Show - Montgomery Ward and Ford Motor

Company

1936

Series VI. Promotional Material

Sub-series 1. Books Box Folder

213 1 Autoharp Book, by Becky Blackley 1983

213 2 Chain Store Age Documentary on the Dynamic Leap Forward, by John Baker

1964

213 3 Data of Ethics, by Herbert Spencer 1879

(39)

214 1 Furnish Your Home by Mail Catalogue, by Sarah and Mary Gallick

1981

214 2-3 Improved Easy Method for Parlor Organ, by Whitney 1886

214 4 Inside Story of Farmers, by Malcolm Kay 1954

214 5 Lake Front, by Ruth Russell 1931

215 1 Midwestern Vernacular, Farm Structures in Kane County, Illinois, by Kane County Development Department

1980

215 2 Montgomery Ward and Company Everyday Cook Book, by Montgomery Ward

undated

215 3 Montgomery Ward and Company's Story Book, by Montgomery Ward

1897

215 4 Nation On Wheels, by McCall's Magazine 1929

215 5 The Story of Selling - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, by Crowell-Collier Publishing Company

1946

215 6 Ward and Allied Families, by Marjorie Montgomery Ward 1930 215 7 Ward's Entry into the Chain Store Field, by Fred Jameson 1948 216 1 The Wonderful World of Toys, Games and Dolls,

1863-1930, by Joseph Schroeder (editor)

1971

216 2 Wunderlich's Salute, by Marvin Miller 1983

Sub-series 2. Pamphlets Box Folder

216 3 The American Gestapo At Work, by T.J. Priestley 1944 216 4 The Art of Good Butchering, by Montgomery Ward and

Company

1933-1940

216 5 The Art of Living Successfully, by Mutual Estate Associations

(40)

216 6 Beautiful Windows With Lace, by Martha Stewart 1939 216 7 Business Trends Based On a Coast to Coast Survey, by

Gilbert Mackay

1938

216 8 Capitalism the Creator, by Carl Snyder 1940

216 9 A Century of Serving Consumers, 1872-1972: The Story of Montgomery Ward, by Frank Latham

1972

216 10 Champion Papers - Catalogues, by Champion International Corporation

1980

216 11 Chicago, by Colourpicture Publishers 1951

216 12 Chicago, the Sky's the Limit, by Illinois Arts Council 1984

216 13 Cold Cooking, by Montgomery Ward 1940, 943

216 14 Consumer Research and Consumer Education, by Henry Weaver

1935

216 15 Consumer Shopping Habits by Income and Occupational Groups, by Perham Nahl

1940

216 16 Development and Use of Rayon and Other Synthetic Fibers, by United States Department of Agriculture

1938

216 17 Do Reduced Crops Increase Farmers' Income?, by National Conference Board, Inc.

1939

216 18 Employment and Unemployment of the Labor Force, 1900-1940, by National Conference Board, Inc.

1940

216 19 The Factor's Almanac, by James Talcott, Inc. 1938 217 1 The Farm Market Today and Tomorrow, by Business

Week

1937

217 2 Fiftieth Anniversary Dinner, by Montgomery Ward and Company

(41)

217 4 Focus on the Future, by Montgomery Ward 1960s 217 5 A Forecast of Better Times and Eleven ays to Hasten

Them, by Frank Seidman

1938

217 6 Forecasting from Synoptic Weather Charts, by Richard Weightman

1941

217 7 Forging Ahead Through Research, by Liberty Bank of Buffalo

1938

217 8 General Conference of Executives, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1923-1924

217 9 Hand Book Information for Foreign Buyers, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1897

217 10 The History and Progress of Montgomery Ward and Company, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1927

217 11 How to Make Draperies, by Montgomery Ward 1940 217 12 How to Make Slipcovers, by Montgomery Ward 1939-1940

217 13 How to Upholster, by Montgomery Ward 1940

217 14 The Human Side of an Industrial Corporation, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1916

217 15 Hummer Manufacturing Company, by Montgomery Ward circa 1946 217 16 In Appreciation of Jeannette King, by Montgomery Ward 1921 217 17 Industrial Prices and Their Relative Inflexibility, by United

States Department of Agriculture

1935

217 18 Industrial Surveys, by University of Kansas 1930 217 19 An Industrial Utopia, by Jeannette King 1919 217 20 Information for Guidance of Employees, by Montgomery

Ward

(42)

217 21 Interesting Facts About the Mail Order Business, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1920s

217 22 The McCann Index of General Buying Power, by H.K. McCann Company

1930

217 23 The Mail Order Business, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1900

217 24 The Making of a Catalogue, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1903

217 25 The Market for Domestic Refrigerators, by Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute

1939

217 26 Marketing of Services, by W.A. Ruff 1934

217 27 Marketing Pictographs, by Sales Management 1940

217 28 Modern Glass, by Stueben Glass, Inc. 1939

217 29-30 Montgomery Ward and Company: Almanac and Yearbook 1897-1899, 1901 218 1 Montgomery Ward and Company: Business Calculator 1875, 1895 218 2 Montgomery Ward and Company: Investment and Savings

Plan

1928-1929

218 3 Montgomery Ward and Company: Profit Sharing Plan circa 1970 218 4 Montgomery Ward and Company: Standard Webster

Dictionary for the Vest Pocket

1900

218 5 100th Anniversary Dinner, Montgomery Ward and Company and the First National Bank of Chicago, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1972

218 6 Our Silver Anniversary, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1897

(43)

218 8 The Place of Advertising in the American Scheme, by Ralph Butler

1940

218 9 Planning Your Planting, by Francis King 1936

218 10 Preview Program of the Expanding Wards, by Montgomery Ward

1960

218 11 Reappraisal of the Outlook, by Wertheim and Company 1938 218 12 Retail Mail Order Merchandising, by Montgomery Ward

and Company

1940s

218 13 The Revolution Was, by Garet Garrett 1944

218 14 Selecting Locations for Retail Stores, by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

1935

218 15 The Selection of a Business Site, by Malcolm Proudfoot 1938 218 16 A Service That Knows No Barrier - Missionary Bureau, by

Montgomery Ward and Company

1919

218 17 The Simple Truth - Sizing Up Franklin Roosevelt, by Mark Granite

1940

218 18 These Days - Crusading for Human Efficiency, by Montgomery Ward

1917

218 19 Things Are Changing At Montgomery Ward, by Montgomery Ward

1970

218 20 This Is Wards, You'll Like It Here, by Montgomery Ward 1970 218 21 Tower Topics, by Montgomery Ward and Company 1884 218 22 Trails to Trapping Profits, by Montgomery Ward and

Company

1931

218 23 Trapper's Gazette, by Montgomery Ward and Company 1933-1934 218 24 A Trip Towards the Sky, by Montgomery Ward and

Company

(44)

218 25 Visitors and Buyers Guide to Chicago, by Montgomery Ward and Company

1903

218 26 Wards Wage Plan, by Montgomery Ward 1947-1948

218 27 Wardway, by Montgomery Ward undated

218 28 What Are the Facts About the Taft-Hartley Act?, by Montgomery Ward

1948

218 29 Working With Wards, by Montgomery Ward and Company 1930s 218 30 You Are Montgomery Ward, Welcome, by Montgomery

Ward

1871

218 31 Your Opportunities, by Montgomery Ward 1940s

Sub-series 3. Periodicals Box Folder

219 1-3 Among Ourselves 1904-1908

219 4 The Connecting Link 1913

(45)

226 2 A Balance of Power - The Prerequisite to True Collective Bargaining

1946

226 3 The Big Step 1989

226 4 A Century of Service 1971

226 5 Economic Conditions Affecting Retailers for the Second Half of 1937 from the Viewpoint of Commodity Prices and Domestic and Foreign Influences

1937

226 6 Focus on the Customer 1989

226 7 Historical Recap 1988

226 8 Influence of Farm Crops and Business Recovery 1935

226 9 Leadership 1917

226 10 Marcor Investment 1975

226 11 Marcor's Retail Business Update 1975

226 12 A Measure of Purchasing Power, Inflation and Deflation 1939

226 13 Mobil Managers' Meeting Presentation 1986

226 14 Mobil Merger 1976

226 15 Montgomery Ward's Performance and Future Outlook 1974

226 16 National Wealth and Income 1933

226 17 New Dimensions of Retailing in the 1980s 1979

226 18 Present Buying Trends 1975

226 19 Price Inflexibility and the Requirements of a Stabilized Monetary Policy

1934

(46)

226 21 Restructuring of Montgomery Ward 1987-1988

226 22 Retailing in 1981 and throughout the 1980s 1980

226 23 Retail's Role 1974

226 24 Sales Quotas, Consumer Demand and Profitable Markets 1927 226 25 Seventh Annual Conference of Executives 1928 226 26 The Situation in Chain Store Distribution 1936

226 27 Time Is Money-Plus 1979

226 28 Toward Regulating Stability and Retailing and the FTC 1976

226 29 What About the Next Depression? 1935

226 30 Where Does the Consumer's Dollar Go? 1936

226 31 A Yardstick to Take the Guess Out of Marketing 1935

Series VII. Manuscript Sheet Music

Box Folder

227 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Opening and Closing Themes) 1940s 228 1-5 Man Behind the Gun (Opening and Closing Themes;

Orchestra Parts 2-12)

1940s

(47)

233 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 114-138) 1940s 234 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 139-165) 1940s 235 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 166-192) 1940s 236 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 193-220) 1940s 237 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 221-246) 1940s 238 1-5 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 247-267) 1940s 239 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 268-283) 1940s 240 1-5 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 284-293) 1940s 241 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 294-313) 1940s 242 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 314-334) 1940s 243 1-6 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 335-358) 1940s 244 1 Man Behind the Gun (Orchestra Parts 359-361) 1940s 244 2-6 This Is Our Enemy (Orchestra Parts 266-299) 1940s 245 1-6 This Is Our Enemy (Orchestra Parts 300-317) 1940s 246 1-6 This Is Our Enemy (Orchestra Parts 318-336) 1940s 247 1-5 This Is Our Enemy (Orchestra Parts 337-355) 1940s

Series VIII. Catalogs-Montgomery Ward's Competitors

Box Folder

248 1-5 Aldens 1954, 1963-1964

(48)

(49)

(50)

(51)

311 1-2 Sears 1982 311 3-4 Spiegel 1962-1963 312 1-6 Spiegel 1964-1965 313 1-5 Spiegel 1965-1967 314 1-6 Spiegel 1967-1968 315 1-5 Spiegel 1968-1969 316 1-6 Spiegel 1969-1970 317 1-6 Spiegel 1971-1974 318 1-7 Spiegel 1975-1977 319 1-7 Spiegel 1977-1978 320 1-7 Spiegel 1978-1980 321 1-8 Spiegel 1980-1981 322 1-6 Spiegel 1981-1983

Series IX. Artifacts

Artifact Storage

Bicentennial Flags (2) 1976

Artifact Storage

Cash Register circa 1880s

Artifact Storage

Brass Sign - "Montgomery Ward & Company Retail Department Store"

circa 1926

(52)

Microfilm Storage

35 MM Microfilm Copies of Montgomery Ward Catalogs (194 items)

1873-1986

Subordinate Component # 11

These links connect to lists of material received in later shipments.

Container(s) Description

Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF)Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF) Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF)Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF)

Names and Subjects

Subject Terms :

Commercial catalogs.

Consolidation and merger of corporations. Labor disputes.

Mail-order business. Price regulation. Radio music.

World War, 1939-1945 -- Economic aspects. Personal Names :

Avery, Sewell L. (Sewell Lee), 1873-1960. Van Cleave, Nathan, 1910-1970.

Ward, Montgomery, 1844-1913. Wolfson, Louis E.

Corporate Names : Aldens, Inc. -- Catalogs. J.C. Penney Co. -- Catalogs.

Sears, Roebuck and Company -- Catalogs. Speigel -- Catalogs.

United States. National War Labor Board (1942-1945) Geographical Names :

Chicago (Ill.) -- History. Form or Genre Terms : Artifacts.

Editorial cartoons. Financial records. Legal documents. Legal files.

Mail order catalogs. Microfilms.

(53)

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer. This is our enemy (Radio program) Processed by Loreley Moore