Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories:
Furniture and Furnishings
NMAH.AC.0060.S01.01.Furniture
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• Series 4: Photographic Reference Material
Processing Information
In 2016, with funding provided by the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund,
the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History implemented the use of minimal level
processing standards to increase information about and facilitate access to more of our collections. A
large portion of stored material from the original acquisition received minimal level processing, which
resulted in additions to this Subject category. This effort included basic arrangement and replacement of
non-archival housing for long-term stability, but staples and other fasteners have not all been removed.
Revisions to the encoded finding aid were made to reflect the added content in context to the previously
processed material.
Minimal level processing and enhancement of the machine-readable finding aid completed by Nicole
Blechynden, September 2017.
Preferred Citation
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Furniture and Furnishings, Archives
Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Some items may be restricted due to fragile condition.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning
copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and
use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Scope and Contents
This material consists primarily of scattered correspondence on letterhead stationery, printed advertisements,
bills/receipts, advertising cards, illustrated catalogues, price lists, photographs, sales notices, auction notices,
import/export documents, patents, business cards, lithographs and fabric samples. Most of these materials are
from manufacturers and dealers, however, there are a number of references to interior decorators, upholsters,
auctioneers, repairers, varnishers, polishers and furniture associations. Second hand furniture, antiques, and
reproductions were available from a number of these companies. A large majority of these Companies offered
furniture for the home. There are also some companies which sold furniture and furnishings for business, school,
hospital, library, railroad, ship, hotel, hall, opera, invalid and outdoor use.
The types of furnishings available are varied and include carpets, nursery accessories, fireplace mantels, picture
frames, mirrors, mattresses, table covers, upholstery, looking glasses, wallpaper, curtains, caskets, stoves, clocks,
art, pianos and lamp fixtures, waste baskets, wash stands and wood ornaments.
Among the publications are a number of trade catalogues. Profusely illustrated, these catalogues supply the type
of information that is hard to find anywhere else. Such information includes dimensions, prices, type of wood,
usefulness of a particular piece and credit terms for payment. There are also a number of articles, periodicals and
books. Most of these discuss a particular style of furniture, a particular piece of furniture or interior decoration.
The material is organized by name of company. There are a number of folders arranged by type including images,
patents, trademarks, instructions for fitting slip covers, upholstery samples, labels, and legal documents and import/
export documents.