Indiana trade cards
Collection — Folder: S2537
Identifier: S2537
Scope and Contents
This collection contains trade cards ranging from 1883 to 1899 and undated from various businesses across Indiana: W.M. Akin and Company of Evansville, Boyd's Drug Store of Lafayette, Eaton and Espey of New Palestine, Charles A. Gerding of New Palestine, Flint and Walling Manufacturing Company of Kendallville, Hoosier Fence Co. of Indianapolis, Charles A. Keys of Richmond, Will Klein of Frankfort, LaPorte Carriage Company, Peter Marker of Evansville, Miller Brothers and Company of Terre Haute, Rude Brothers Manufacturing Company of Liberty, South Bend Chilled Plow Company, W.E.C. Spade of Alexandria, J.H. Thompson and Son of Mooresville, J.M. Watts of Ripple (Broad Ripple), and Omer G. Whelan, Grain, Hay, Mill Feed and Seeds of Richmond. Some of the products advertised on the cards include Dr. R.A. Armistead's Ague Tonic, Guy Docker's $2.50 Shoes for Ladies, Dr. C. McLane's Liver Pills and McLane's Vermifuge, Davies Non-Alcoholic W-A-H-O-O Blood and Nerve Tonic, Gold Medal Flour, and Hoyt's German Cologne.
Dates
- 1883-1899, undated
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical / Historical
The trade card was a popular form of advertisement during the late 19th century and was used to advertise everything from soap to medicine to farm implements. With the invention of color lithography, mass production of color printed cards became an inexpensive way to reach consumers. The cards featured a variety of illustrations and reflected the popular culture of the time. By the turn of the century, businesses moved on to advertising in magazines and the use of trade cards dwindled and postcards became the new collectible.
Sources:
O’Connor, John T. 1989. “The Art of the Trade.” Harvard Business Review 67 (4): 102. EBSCO Management Collection (8909250512).
PBS.org. “Trade Cards.” History Detectives Special Investigations. Accessed January 9, 2019. http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/trade-cards/.
Sources:
O’Connor, John T. 1989. “The Art of the Trade.” Harvard Business Review 67 (4): 102. EBSCO Management Collection (8909250512).
PBS.org. “Trade Cards.” History Detectives Special Investigations. Accessed January 9, 2019. http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/trade-cards/.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically by name of business or proprietor.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2019/01/10 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2019/01/10 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid revised 2021/08/30 by Brittany Kropf.
- Title
- Indiana trade cards
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
