Fuller Brush Company Fort Wayne District sales literature collection, 1941-1948

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
Fuller Brush Company
Abstract:
Retailer of private-label household goods, founded in Hartford, Conn. in 1906 by Alfred Fuller. Collection consists of articles; catalogs; memos; newsletters; sales brochures and other printed materials distributed to sales agents primarily in the Fort Wayne sales district. Many of the items bear the name of William Levy, Fort Wayne area sales manager, or Emil "Doc" Joy, who was the manager for the Chicago sales region to which the Fort Wayne operation belonged. Materials address sales advice; ways to approach prospects during door-to-door sales efforts; promotional sales drives; and economic and community concerns related to the impact of World War II. There are also materials that focus on promotion of a Debutante brand of cosmetics and efforts to recruit women sales agents. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
0.2 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Research Center:
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Collection ID:
RL.13152

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of articles; catalogs; memos; newsletters; sales brochures and other printed materials distributed to sales agents primarily in the Fort Wayne sales district. Many of the items bear the name of William Levy, Fort Wayne area sales manager, or Emil "Doc" Joy, who was the manager for the Chicago sales region to which the Fort Wayne operation belonged. Materials address sales advice; ways to approach prospects during door-to-door sales efforts; promotional sales drives; and economic and community concerns related to the impact of World War II. There are also materials that focus on promotion of a Debutante brand of cosmetics and efforts to recruit women sales agents.

Biographical / historical:

Retailer of private-label household goods, founded in Hartford, Conn. in 1906 by Alfred Fuller.

Fuller's original business plan involved door-to-door sales. During World War II the company switched much of its production to make brushes for cleaning military weaponns. In 1948 Fuller added a line of Debutante cosmetics, utilizing women sales agents. The company was acquired by Consolidated Foods (Sara Lee) in 1968 which eventually relocated headquarters to Great Bend, Kansas. During the 1980s, a decline in door-to-door sales led to a combination of mail order catalogs and a chain of outlet stores. In 2018 the company was acquired by Galaxy Brush.

Source: Wikipedia

Acquisition information:
The Fuller Brush Company Fort Wayne District sales literature collection were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase from Eclectibles in 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, July 2025;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2025-0029.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:
Brooms and brushes
Door-to-door selling
Sales personnel
Selling
Selling--Cosmetics
Women sales personnel
Salesmanship and sales training literature.
Format:
Newsletters
Names:
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Levy, William L., 1901-1969
Joy, Emil William, 1890-1985
Places:
Fort Wayne (Ind.)

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Fuller Brush Company Fort Wayne District sales literature collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m12r0g