F.W. Woolworth's merchandise display photographs, approximately 1940

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Summary

Creator:
F.W. Woolworth Company
Abstract:
F.W. Woolworth was a discount variety/department store founded in 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pa. Collection consists of 15 black-and-white photographs of a Woolworth's storefront, window displays and interior images of store fixtures and merchandise display cases. Some of the photographs are stamped as the work of the Hammond Studio of Lewiston, Maine. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
0.1 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.12098

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of 15 black-and-white photographs of a Woolworth's storefront, window displays and interior images of store fixtures and merchandise display cases. Some of the photographs are stamped as the work of the Hammond Studio of Lewiston, Maine.

Biographical / historical:

F.W. Woolworth was a discount variety and department store founded in 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pa. Woolworth's original concept was as a "five-and-dime" variety store where all merchandise was priced at a nickel or dime. It was the precursor to the discount department store concept. Woolworth's expanded and diversified over the years, becoming at one point the largest department store chain in the U.S. In 1997 after a long decline the last Woolworth store closed; the company changed its name to Venator, then changed again in 2001 to Foot Locker, Inc., the name of its most successful subsidiary.

Source: Wikipedia, "F.W. Woolworth Company" accessed 4/20/2023.

Acquisition information:
The F.W. Woolworth's merchandise display photographs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase from Walkabout Books in 2023.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, Apr. 2023;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2023-0036

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

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Subjects:
Department stores -- United States -- History
Show windows
Display of merchandise
Fashion merchandising

Contents

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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.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], F.W. Woolworth's merchandise display photographs, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.