Archives of American Gardens

H. Weber & Sons Co. records, circa 1879-1962

Summary
Collection ID:
AAG.WBR
Creators:
H. Weber & Sons Co.
Dates:
circa 1879-1962
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
7 Boxes
Repository:
The H. Weber & Sons Co. records document the professional activities of The H. Weber & Sons Company, a florist business consisting of a florist shop and greenhouse which was located in Oakland, Maryland. The collection contains business records, photographs, horticultural medals and wire frames used for floral displays.
Scope and Contents Note
Scope and Contents Note
The H. Weber & Sons Co. Collection documents the professional activities of The H. Weber & Sons Company. The collection contains business records, photographs, horticultural medals and wire frames used for floral displays. The bulk of the collection consists of business records dating from 1903-1907 in the form of accounting journals and ledgers with handwritten entries of sales and payments.
The ledger entries are quite detailed and include the date, customer name and sometimes the location, items purchased (with specific information related to quantity and item description), and unit and total prices. In the case of payments received, the entries include the client, date, amount paid and the method of payment, such as cash, check, money order or p.o. stamps. Some of the journals include sections in which monthly and annual account information was tallied. One ledger appears to contain names of employees, along with information such as hourly wages, hours worked and rent received.
The collection of horticultural medals spans from 1879 to 1905. Most are in their original cases and are engraved. The floral frame collection is extensive; a sampling of the motifs that are represented includes a banner, open book, harp, train, four-leaf clover, cross, star, clock and Masonic symbols. These frames were typically used for funerary flower arrangements.
This collection contains only a sampling of the records of The H. Weber and Sons Co. and should not be considered comprehensive.
Historical note
Historical note
Henry Weber (1935-1904) was born in Germany and later immigrated to the United States in the 1860s. He was raised on a farm; this experience influenced the course of his life and career. Weber showed an affinity for flower growing and in 1870, he founded his own firm, H. Weber & Sons, a florist shop and greenhouse. In 1866, he married Catharine Schutz. Together they had eleven children; six later joined him in the company, which sold cut flowers (especially carnations and roses), annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetable plants. In 1880, Weber purchased an additional one hundred acres of land for the company. At the height of his business, he held a total of five hundred acres.
Weber sold to a variety of clients, including private individuals and large companies. At the turn of the century, the small town of Oakland, Maryland, where his company was based, was prosperous because of the influence of the railroad, agriculture and summer vacationers. H. Weber & Sons' customer base, however, extended far beyond the boundaries of Oakland and the state of Maryland. Customers were located in Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, and as far away as Illinois, Michigan and Toronto, Ontario.
Henry Weber died in 1904; his sons continued the business until 1978.
Timeline
1870
H. Weber & Sons Florists, founded by Henry Weber.
1879-1905
H. Weber & Sons wins numerous horticultural medals.
1880
One hundred acres of land purchased for business.
1904
Henry Weber dies; his sons continue the company.
1905
The company is incorporated. Company stationery identifies the name of the firm as The H. Weber & Sons Co.
1978
The company is dissolved.
Administration
Author
Janet Curll Coleman
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
In 1979, a descendent of Henry Weber donated the The H. Weber & Sons Co. Records to the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Horticulture.
Processing Information Note
The records were processed by AAG intern Janet Curll Coleman in 2004.
Encoded by Elizabeth Bauerle, December 2011
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Conditions Governing Use note
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Preferred Citation note
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The H. Weber & Sons Co. Records.
Related Archival Materials note
The Smithsonian Institution's Botany and Horticulture Library includes two albums of floral designs from The H. Weber & Sons Co. Additional florist trade catalogs compiled by the Weber firm can be found in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Branch Library Trade Literature Collection.
More Information
Other Finding Aids note
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
United States of America -- Maryland -- Garrett County -- Oakland Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Horticulture Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Florists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Floristry Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mail-order business Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Greenhouses Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ledgers (account books) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Medals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Account books Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Floral frames Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
H. Weber & Sons Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Repository Contact
Archives of American Gardens
P.O. Box 37012
Capital Gallery West, Suite 3300, MRC 506
Washington, DC 20013-7012
aag@si.edu