W O R C E S T E R f fl S T O R I C A LM U S E U M

30 Elm Street

Worcester, Massachusetts

A R C H I V E S

Denholm & McKay Co.C o l l e c t i o n

2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5

Processed by William F. Carroll, C.A.April 2000

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Series Page B o x

Col lect ion Information 3

Historical/Biographical Notes 4

Scope and Content 5

Series Description 5

1 Advert isements 6 1

2 Catalogs 7 1

3 Publ icat ions 8 1

4 Letters, bills, etc. 9 1

5 Clippings 10 1

6 Miscel laneous 11 1

2

Col lect ion Informat ion

Abstract: Denholm & McKay Co., leading department store in downtown Worcester, wasestablished in 1870 and expanded rapidly over the next several decades. The company ceasedoperations in the early 1970s. The building is now office and commercial space.

Finding Aid : Finding Aid in print form is available in the Repository.

Preferred Citation : Worcester Historical Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts.

Provenance : Foimd in collection, provenance unknown. Bulk of collection from PMF files (someitems have accession numbers)

MARC Access : Collection is cataloged in MARC under the following subject headings (Icsh, aat,tgm, gmgcp)

Denholm & McKay Co. (Worcester, Mass.)Boston Store (Worcester, Mass.)Department stores - Massachusetts - Worcester.Retail trade - Massachusetts - Worcester.Business enterprises - Massachusetts - Worcester.Worcester (Mass.) - Commerce.Broadsides, (aat)Handbills, (aat)Advertisements, (aat)Clippings, (aat)Advertising cards, (aat)Catalogs, (aat)Sales catalogs, (aat)

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Historical Notes

William A. Detiholm and William C. McKay formed a partnership in 1870, Denholm & McKay,and operated a dry goods store on Main Street at Mechanic Street. In 1881 the business movedto a location across from City Hall. The partnership was organized as a corporation in 1884.Initially the store occupied only a small part of the new building, but expanded rapidly through thenext several decades, ultimately using five stories plus the basement of the building. An additionalfive story building was constructed in the rear of the retail departments to house storerooms,power plant, cold storage rooms for fiirs, etc. At its maximum the store floor area was about 6acres. Denholm & McKay, also known as the Boston Store, was the leading department store inWorcester for nearly a century. Its demise in the early 1970s was the result of competition fromnew shopping centers and strip malls on the outskirts of the city, and changes in urbandemographics and the development of suburbs.

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S c o p e a n d C o n t e n t

The collection consists of advertisements in various genres including postcards, business cards,broadsides and handbills, etc., most dating from ca. 1890-1900. Included are catalogs, bothgeneral store-wide and specific to departments, such as sheet music, books, food. Catalogs datefrom ca. 1900 to ca. 1920. Publications, 1880s-1920s, provide factual information, publicfunctions, as well as providing a vehicle for advertising. Letters and related items include oneletter, 1963, and receipts/statements/sales slips 1891 & 1919. Clippings include an 1882 articlerelating to the new store, monthly newspapers published by Denholm & McKay Co., 1886 and1887; 1938 article relating to dofihouse display; and article about books for sale. Miscellaneousitems include envelopes and a pamphlet Rules and instructions for employees of Denholm &McKay Co., 1893.

S e r i e s D e s c r i n t i o n

Series 1: Advertisements. Includes fliers, broadsides, handbills, etc. (10 items)

Series 2: Catalogs. General and special catalogs, 1880s - 1930s. (12 items)

Series 3: Publications. Serials and other public relations pamphlets providing information onvarious subjects such as art, history of costume, etc., and also advertising the store. (8 items)

Series 4: Letters and related documents. Includes letters, monthly statements, etc. (5 items)

Series 5: Clippings. Article relating to the new location of the store, 1887; article relating todisplay of doll house, 1938; company monthly newspaper, 1880s. (4 items)

Series 6: Miscellaneous. Includes envelopes and pamphlet on company rules and regulations foremployees, 1893. (3 items)

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Denholm & McKay Co. Collection2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5

Series 1, Advertisements

B o x # F o l d e r # Accession # Description

1 1 2 0 0 0 . F I A 0 5 . 1 . 1 Public service shoe for outdoor men. flier / n.d.

1 1 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 1 . 2 Denholm & McKay, successors to Finlay, Law son &Kennedy, dealers in... dry goods, carpets,... :business card / n.d. (ca. 1870)

1 1 2000.F IA.05.1 .3 The Stetson shoe : advertising card / n.d.

1 1 2000.F IA.05.1 .4 Picturesque Worcester [available at] Boston Store,Denholm & McKay Co. : handbill / ca. 1895.

1 1 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 1 . 5 Scrim curtains : flier / n.d.

1 1 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 1 . 6 Relief-engraved personal (Christmas) greetingcards : flier / n.d.

1 1 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 1 . 7 The Youth's Companion magazine : postcard / ca.1921.

1 1 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 1 . 8 Hall Caine's new novel "The master of man " :postcard, n.d.

1 1 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 1 . 9 Advertisement for Boston Store, Denholm &McKay, on replica of Commission of GeorgeWashington as General and Commander in Chief:broadside / ca. 1876. 2 copies.

1 1 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 1 . 1 0 Boston Store, Denholm & McKay Co. : broadside /ca. 1890s. 2 copies.

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Denholm & McKay Co.2000.F IA .05

Series 2, Catalogs

B o x # F o l d e r # Accession # Description

1 2 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 1 P. Centemeri & Co. kid gloves : sales catalog /Denholm & McKay, 1890. (Accessioned as1991.110.5)

1 2 2000.F IA.05.2 .2 Books for chikten cmd guide to selection : salescatalog / n.d. (ca. 1930) (Accessioned as 1998.99.4)

1 2 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 3 Books for your pleasure and profit: sales catalog /n.d. (ca. 1930)

1 2 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 4 Harpers Magazine announcement: catalog / 1924.

1 2 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 5 The latest books: sales catalog / Denholm & McKayCo., 1924.

1 2 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 6 Catalogue of rare and magnificent antique orientalrugs and carpets : catalog / J.E. Conant & Co.,Lowell, Mass., auctioneers. 24 p. ca. 1900. (Onetime sale at Denholm & McKay)

1 3 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 7 Boston Store, Denholm & McKay Co., purveyors ofpure food products: sales catalog / ca. 1900. 95 p.

1 3 2000.F IA.05.2 .8 The latest books : sales catalog / Denholm & McKayCo., Nov. 1921.

1 3 2 0 0 0 . F I A 0 5 . 2 . 9 Revolution in sheet music ; sales catalog / April1 8 8 2 .

1 3 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 1 0 Boston Store bookstore : sales catalog / ca. 1908.

1 3 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 11 A catalog of books: sales catalog / 1909-1910.

1 3 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 2 . 1 2 Suggestions for Christmas gifts : catalog / n.d.

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Denholm & McKay Co. Collection2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5

Series 3, Publications

B o x # F o l d e r # Accession # D e s c r i p t i o n

2 0 0 0 . F I A . . 5 . 3 . 1

2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 3 . 6

Special exhibition, Boston Store ... Hubert E.Delorme's famous sunlight painting Interieur deFerme : flier / n.d.

2000.FIA.05.3.2 History of feminine costume : pamphlet / Denholm& McKay Co., 1895. 31 p.

2000.FTA.05.3.3 How the plant grew : flier / ca. 1910. (History anddescription of Denholm & McKay)

2000.FIA.05.3.4 Kapok sketch book: pamphlet / Denholm & McKay,1927. 12 p. (Accessioned as 1977.41)

2000.FIA. 05.3.5 Angelus recital, given under the auspices ofDenholm & McKay : pamphlet / n.d.

Description of three magnificent oil paintings : flier/January 1896.

2000.FIA.05.3.7 pamphlet / 1895. 48 p. (Largelyadvertising with factual information.)

2000.FIA.05.3.8a-b Home Furnisher, an illustrated magazine devoted tobetter home-making ; pamphlet / Denholm &McKay Co.

. 8 a N o v e m b e r 1 9 2 1 ..8b April 1922.

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Denholm & McKay Co. Collection2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5

Series 4, Letters, etc.

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 5 2000.FIA05.4 .1 Let terhead, Denholm & McKay Co. , dated Dec. 7 ,1891.

2000.FIA.05.4.2a-b Monthly statement to Nfrs. O.P. Tabor, Worcester,Mass., for various purchases (Accessioned as1974.40.6 & .5)

.2a May 1919.

.2b July 1919.

2000.FIA.05.4.3 Sales sUp, 1900.

2000.FIA.05.4.4 Customer receipt for overcharge, April 2,1965.

2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 4 . 5 Letter to Denholm & McKay Co. from Gerald R.McClure, Assistant Treasurer, Guaranty Bank &Trust Co., relating to window decorations, October14, 1963.

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Denholm & McKay Co. Collection2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5

Series 5, Clippings

B o x # Folder # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 6 2000.FIA.05.5.1 Our new location, Denholm & McKay new store inClark's block i Worcester Evening Gazette,September 5, 1882. 3 sheets.

1 6 2000.FIA.05.5.2 Worcester to see lovely $435,000 doll house iWorcester Evening Post, March 29, 1938. 3 sheets.

1 6 2000.FIA.05.5.3 Advanced sale of holiday books: S.I., s.n., n.d.

1 6 2000.FIA.05.5.4a-b Our monthly visitor (serial publication) ? Denholm& McKay Co.

.4a August 1886.

. 4 b J u n e 1 8 8 7 .

1 0

Denholm & McKay Co. Collection2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5

Series 6, Miscellaneous

B o x # F o l d e r # A c c e s s i o n # D e s c r i p t i o n

1 7 2000.FIA. 05.6.1 Rules and instructions for employees of Denholm &McKay Co. : pamphlet, 16 p. /1893.

1 7 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 6 . 2 E n v e l o p e .

1 7 2 0 0 0 . F I A . 0 5 . 6 . 3 E n v e l o p e ( A c c e s s i o n e d a s 1 9 8 1 . 4 4 . 6 )

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