Packer Motor Company Records

Finding aid created by Glendale Central Library History Room staff using RecordEXPRESS
Glendale Library, Arts and Culture. Glendale Central Library History Room
222 E. Harvard Street
Glendale, California 91205
(818) 548-3749
libraryinfo@glendaleca.gov
http://www.glendalepubliclibrary.org/
2021


Descriptive Summary

Title: Packer Motor Company Records
Dates: 1916-2012
Collection Number: PMC
Creator/Collector: Packer, Donald Hardy Packer Motor Company, Inc.
Extent: 1.5 linear feet, 1 box
Repository: Glendale Library, Arts and Culture. Glendale Central Library History Room
Glendale, California 91205
Abstract: The Packer Motor Company Records represent the activities of one of the first automobile dealerships in Glendale, California. Selling Studebaker cars and trucks, the dealership’s main location was on Brand Boulevard in Glendale, expanding to other locations in Eagle Rock and Burbank. The company was founded by Stephen C. Packer and Harry E. White in 1917 as the Packer and White Auto Company. Packer became sole owner in 1921, changing the name to Packer Auto Company. The company’s name changed to Packer Motor Company, Inc. when it was incorporated in 1924. Packer’s son Donald managed the company from 1920 until it was sold in 1957. Members of the Packer family were prominent citizens of Glendale, supporting many community organizations and institutions.
Language of Material: English

Access

The collection is open for research use.

Publication Rights

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to Glendale Central Library. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred Citation

Packer Motor Company Records. Glendale Library, Arts and Culture. Glendale Central Library History Room

Acquisition Information

Jarrett Anderson, 2011

Scope and Content of Collection

The Packer Motor Company Records include clippings, brochures, notes, notices, and photographs documenting various activities of the company, including promotional events, anniversary celebrations, and recognition of service from the Studebaker Company. Many of the photographs appear to be from a disassembled scrapbook, and document activities of members of the Packer family as well as the business. Some of these activities involve Glendale Elks Lodge 1289 and the Glendale Motor Car Dealership Association. The disassembled scrapbook pages include a photographic portrait of Stephen Packer, photographs of the dealerships and showrooms, photographs of various Studebaker models, a price list, newspaper advertisements, and announcements. Of special interest is the 1924 letter of incorporation, photographs of the Studebaker Economy Run and a showroom display of “70 Years of Transportation” which includes a stage coach next to a 1922 Studebaker. In addition to biographical information about the Packer business and family, the records also include newspaper clippings and a photograph of one of the company’s employees, Robert Reeder, a B-17 pilot who was shot down in WWII and released by Russians from a German hospital. The records also include loose newspaper clippings about the Packer family which were collected by the Glendale Public Library and have been incorporated into the records.

Indexing Terms

Automobile dealers--California--Glendale
Studebaker automobile
Packer, Donald Hardy, 1896-1987
Packer, Dorothy Lee Weller, 1895-1993
Packer, Doris, 1904-1979
Packer, Stephen C., 1866-1929
Packer Family
Packer Motor Company, Inc.
Glendale (Calif.)--History
Los Angeles County (Calif.)
Paper Records
Photographic Materials

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