Consumer Reports. Technical Department records, 1910-2015
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Summary
- Creator:
- Consumer Reports (Firm)
- Abstract:
- Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936 as Consumers Union. The Technical Department was responsible for the creation of testing procedures and methods; performance of product tests; and production of test data and written evaluations for use in Consumer Reports periodicals and buying guides. The collection includes correspondence; photographs of products and product testing; research data and test results; testing procedures and methods documentation; and technical reference report files. Notations on some of the original containers indicate that the collection contains selected files and thus represents a sampling rather than a comprehensive record of Technical Department activities. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
- Extent:
- 32.0 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.11996
Background
- Scope and content:
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The collection includes correspondence; photographs of products and product testing; research data and test results; testing procedures and methods documentation; and technical reference report files. Notations on some of the original containers indicate that the collection contains selected files and thus represents a sampling rather than a comprehensive record of Technical Department activities.
- Biographical / historical:
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Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936 as Consumers Union.
The Technical Department was responsible for the creation of testing procedures and methods; performance of product tests; and production of test data and written evaluations for use in Consumer Reports periodicals and buying guides. The Department had eight divisions represented in this collection: Appliance; Auto; Chemical; Electronics; Foods; Special Projects; and Textiles Divisions.
- Acquisition information:
- The Consumer Reports. Technical Department records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift from Consumer Reports in 2019.
- Processing information:
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Processed by Kristina Thomas, June 2022
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2019-0130
- Arrangement:
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This collection is organized into the following series: General and Administrative Files; Appliance Division; Auto Division; Chemical Division; Electronics Division; Foods Division; Public Service Projects; Special Projects Division; and Textiles Division.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research
- Terms of access:
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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item] Consumer Reports. Technical Department records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m10n0t