Archives West Finding Aid

The collection consists primarily of ephemera, such as advertising materials, catalogs, calling cards, postcards, pen blotters, illustrated letterheads, scrapbooks, brochures, flyers, and other publications. Also included is a small amount of unique manuscript material, primarily financial records and business correspondence. The collection documents business enterprises of all kinds, primarily in Oregon and Portland, but also in Washington State and throughout the United States. The bulk of the materials date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the greatest concentration in the 1910s and 1920s. Some materials from more recent years are included -- most notably a large selection of seed and nursery catalogs from Oregon firms. Among the department store materials are catalogs and advertising from two large Portland stores, Meier & Frank and Lipman Wolfe & Co. Of particular interest in the section "Construction Industry" are a number of pattern-book house catalogs from builders, including those from the Portland firms Roberts & Roberts and Wood Structures, Incorporated. A large group of hardware, machinery, and tool catalogs is included, with several items from the Portland firm Haseltine & Co. Also of note is a large collection of hotel related items, primarily from Portand establishments (restaurant menus, however, have been removed to a separate collection designated Mss 2942). Among the original manuscript materials is a ledger from the Smith Brothers general store in Andrews, Oregon; and two invoice books from the Portland general merchandise firm of T. J. Nealond Co.

In general, the collection provides a rich source for research in the history of design, advertising, technology, printing, and other subjects relating to U.S. social history.