Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Related Ephemera Collections
Accruals
System of Arrangement
Scope and Contents
Indexing Terms
Title: Commercial catalogs collection
Date: 1851-1981
Collection Identifier: CC
Physical Description:
35 linear feet
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105-4014
(415) 357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Location of Materials: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are mainly in English. A small portion of materials is in Spanish.
Abstract: Consists of a variety of commercial catalogs and other sales-related ephemera pertaining to California businesses, largely
from San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, with significant portions from Sacramento and Los Angeles, and a smaller number
from non-California businesses. Manufacturers' and sales catalogs provide detailed information about businesses, commercial
life, and material culture in California from 1851 to 1981, with the bulk dating from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth
century. Businesses range from major companies to small enterprises.
Access
Publication Rights
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director
of Library and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA
94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. Restrictions
also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Commercial catalogs collection, California Historical Society.
Related Ephemera Collections
Kemble Z3 Ephemera Collection
Menu Collection
Theater Ephemera Collection
Accruals
Future additions are expected.
System of Arrangement
Collection is arranged in two series: 1) Unbound catalogs; and 2) Bound catalogs. Within each series, catalogs are arranged
in alphabetical order. Catalogs for businesses named after their owners are filed under the owners' surnames; e.g., Byron
Jackson Machine Works is filed under "Jackson," not "Byron."
Scope and Contents
Consists of a variety of commercial catalogs and other sales-related ephemera related to California businesses, largely from
San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, with significant portions from Sacramento and Los Angeles, and a smaller number from
non-California businesses. Manufacturers' and sales catalogs provide detailed information about businesses, commercial life,
and material culture in California from 1851 to 1981, with the bulk dating from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century.
Businesses range from major companies to small enterprises. Types of business represented include: mining, manufacturing,
agriculture, machinery, utilities, and retail. There are significant holdings for longstanding businesses, including Baker
& Hamilton, Dunham, Carrigan & Hayden Co., Holbrook, Merrill & Stetson, General Electric Company, Montgomery Ward & Co., Emporium,
and I. Magnin.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog:
Business enterprises--California.
California Ephemera Project.
Manufacturer's catalogs.
Sales catalogs.