Guide to the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Needles and Needlework

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Summary
Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0060.S01.01.Needles
Creators:
Warshaw, Isadore, 1900-1969
Dates:
circa 1848-1923
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.45 Cubic feet
consisting of 3 boxes. 2 folders, 2 oversize folders, 1 map case folder.
Repository:
A New York bookseller, Warshaw assembled this collection over nearly fifty years. The Warshaw Collection of Business Americana: Needles and Needlework forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Subseries 1.1: Subject Categories. The Subject Categories subseries is divided into 470 subject categories based on those created by Mr. Warshaw. These subject categories include topical subjects, types or forms of material, people, organizations, historical events, and other categories. An overview to the entire Warshaw collection is available here: Warshaw Collection of Business Americana
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
This subject category- Needles and Needlework consists primarily of receipts, invoices, correspondence, advertising, and publications relating to the manufacture of needles and the practice of needlework. Samples and sample books relating to needles and needlework are also included. Instructional publications published by thread manufacturers and needlework supply houses encouraged the use of their products in the making of both practical and decorative items. Other publications were created by a variety of authors and publishers. Included among the materials are also a variety of patterns for crochet, embroidery, and quilting and materials relating to needlework accessories, patents, and import/export documents.
Manufacturers of needles produced lines for both hand and machine use at home and in factories. The records consist primarily of invoices, correspondence and advertising. William Cowley's samples illustrating the needle-making process are particularly interesting. A number of needle books, some containing needles, are also included. These materials are arranged alphabetically by name of company.
Manufacturers and distributors of thread, patterns and other needlework supplies materials center on catalogues and instructional publications for crochet, embroidery, lace-making, sewing, and quilting. These materials are arranged alphabetically by name of company.
Publications of needlework instruction and design features booklets devoted to needlework written and produced by a variety of authors and publishers; several are periodicals. They are arranged alphabetically by author and title and feature designs and instructions for crochet, embroidery, needlework, fancy work and sewing.
Needlework patterns represents a small sampling of loose patterns, many clipped from publications. Transfer patterns, iron-on patterns, and grid design diagrams are also present. The patterns are for crochet, drawn, embroidery, quilting and patchwork. A few handmade patterns and needlework samples worked on punch cards are included.
General subjects covers topic such as needlework accessories, needle workers and needlework manufacturers, and patents. There are also import/export documents and other miscellaneous.
Administration
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.
Author
Vanessa Broussard-Simmons and Nicole Blechynden
Sponsor
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Needles and Needlework is a portion of the Business Ephemera Series of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Accession AC0060 purchased from Isadore Warshaw in 1967. Warshaw continued to accumulate similar material until his death, which was donated in 1971 by his widow, Augusta. For a period after acquisition, related materials from other sources (of mixed provenance) were added to the collection so there may be content produced or published after Warshaw's death in 1969. This practice has since ceased.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research. Some items may be restricted due to fragile condition.
Preferred Citation note
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Needles and Needlework, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Conditions Governing Use note
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.
Materials in the Archives Center
Materials in the Archives Center
Archives Center Collection of Business Americana (AC0404)
Forms Part Of
Forms Part Of
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Ephemera Type Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business ephemera Type Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Repository Contact
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu
http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives