Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the African American Cosmetic and Food Label Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0480
Creators:
Wright, Helena, 1946-
Dates:
1934-1946, undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.12 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
Container:
1
Collection consists of labels, created by Chicago business Valmor Products Company, for packaging intended to appeal to the African American consumer market dating from 1934-1946.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Collection consists of fifty-three product labels created by Chicago area business Valmor Products Company and its subsidiaries: Madam Jones and Famous Products Company. The labels do not appear to have been used on product packaging. Personal care products were for both men and women and include cold cream, perfume, bleaching cream, talcum powder, toilet water, shaving cream, deodorant, hand cream, hot comb oil, hair dressing, and mouth wash. Common brand names on the product labels are Sweet Georgia Brown, Lucky Brown, Lucky Mojo, Lucky Man, Madam Jones, and Happy Go Lucky. Some of the products are specific to the African American community with mainstream products meant to appeal to this sector of American society. In many cases the company name, brand name, and copyright date appear on the labels. Materials are arranged in alphabetical order by the company name. If the company name does not appear on the label the brand name of the product was used.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged in one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Valmor Company was established in 1926 on the South side of Chicago. It was owned and operated by Morton Gross Neumann (1898-1985) and Rose Fogelson Neumann (1902-1998). The company catered to an African American consumer market and employed local black residents as warehouse workers and salesmen. It created advertisements and product packaging using the talents and skills of African American artists Charles Clarence Dawson (June 12, 1889 - March 1, 1981) and Jay Paul Jackson (September 10, 1905 - May 16, 1954). Products were sold under the Valmor name and its subsidiary companies: Lucky Brown, Madam Jones, King Novelty, and Famous Products Company. The company was purchased by New York's R. H. Cosmetic Corporation after the death of Morton G. Neumann in 1985.

Administration

Author
Vanessa Broussard-Simmons
Processing Information
Collection processed by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, archivist, 1998
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection was donated to the Archives Center by National Museum of American History (NMAH) curator Helena Wright, November 23, 1993.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
African American Cosmetic and Food Label Collection, 1934-1946, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
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.

Related Materials
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, NMAH.AC0060
Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture NMAH.AC0641
Cover Girl Advertising Oral History & Documentation Project NMAH.AC0374
Carolyn Jones Papers NMAH.AC0552
Other Repositories
Valmor Products Label Collection, Special Collections, Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center
Graphic Arts Collection, Special Collections, Firestone Library, Princeton University
Made-in-Chicago Museum

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Labels Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Packaging Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cosmetics industry Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American business enterprises -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Val-Mor Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Madam Jones Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lucky Man Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Famous Products Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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