The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Nathan Margolis Shop                                                 

Title:               Records

Dates:             1919-1976

Call No.:         Col. 95

Acc. No.:         75x68, 03x118

Quantity:        26 cubic ft. (52 boxes, 43 volumes)

Location:        14 I 1-2, J-L 1-5, and map case C, drawer 8

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The Nathan Margolis Shop, a furniture making firm, was established in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1894 by Nathan Margolis.  Hand skilled craftsmen were employed to make furniture as well as to do restoration work.  Harold Margolis inherited the business after his father's--the founder's--death.  Harold  concentrated on reproducing antique furniture and began to market high fidelity audio systems.  The business continued into the mid-1970s.  In later years it was known as the Margolis Shop. Harold had kept his shop in public view by lecturing and appearing on local television often to promote its "Antiques of the Future".

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

These business papers record all facets of the business, from furniture making to personnel records.  There are many photographs and clippings of antique furniture, room interiors, and views of the shop. The collection also includes correspondence, cost cards, stock cards, price lists, general financial records, and trade catalogs.

 

There are approximately 2,100 templates stored off site.  These full sized patterns were used to make the various furniture forms produced by the Margolis Shop: desks, tables, looking glasses, chests, sideboards, and chairs.  Some of the templates bear numbers that probably correspond to the collection's manuscript material.  In addition, holdings feature plaster casts for mouldings, fretwork, stiles, and other ornament (rosettes, scrolls, leaf, flower, and fruit motifs).  The collection also features examples of inlay; sample boards of drawer pulls, escutcheons, hinges, latches, casters, and backplates; and brass pieces.  The Registrar’s Office provides access to these templates.

           

 

ORGANIZATION

           

For the most part, like materials are grouped together, but there is no particular organization to the collection.

 

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from Harold Margolis.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Margolis, Nathan, 1873-1925.

                        Margolis, Harold, d. 1984.

 

Topics:

            Nathan Margolis Shop.

            Margolis Shop.

            Furniture industry and trade - Connecticut - Hartford.

            Retail trade - Connecticut - Hartford.

            Colonial revival (Art)

            Furniture making.

            High-fidelity sound systems.

            Furniture - Reproduction - Connecticut - Hartford.

            Furniture - Repairing - Connecticut - Hartford.

            Antiques - Reproduction - Connecticut - Hartford.

            Furniture workers - Connecticut - Hartford.

            Wages - Furniture workers.

            Business records - Connecticut - Hartford.

            Account books.

            Advertisements.

            Certificates of incorporation.

            Cashbooks.

            Clippings.

            Correspondence.

            Inventories.

            Journals (bookkeeping).

            Ledgers.

            Lists.

            Payrolls.

            Photoprints.

            Photonegatives.

            Time sheets.

            Trade catalogs.

            Cabinetmakers.

            Furniture makers.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 14 I 1-2, J-L 1-5, and map case C, drawer 8

 

 

Volumes:

 

Vol. 1:    National Antique Review

 

Vol. 2:    Kittinger catalog

 

Vol. 3:    Price list, ca.1950-1955

 

Vol. 4:    Inactive Designs, ca.1950s

 

Vol. 5:    Inventory, 1945-1968

 

Vol. 6:    Certificate of Incorporation & Minutes, 1926-1935

 

Vol. 7:    Corporation minutes, Sept. 1936-Nov. 1952

 

Vol. 8:    Purchases, returned purchases, 1951-1961

 

Vol. 9:    Cash receipts, 1940-1961

 

Vol. 10:   Cash receipts, 1962-1965

 

Vol. 11:   Cash disbursements, 1952-1961

 

Vol. 12:   Cash disbursements, 1962-1965

 

Vol. 13:   Cash disbursements, 1965-1969

 

Vol. 14:   Accounts receivable, 1925-1936

 

Vol. 15:   General ledger, 1940-1956, 1962-1964

 

Vol. 16:   General ledger, 1956-1962

 

Vol. 17:   General ledger, 1964-1969

 

Vol. 18:   Sales, 1925-1928

 

Vol. 19:   Sales, 1929-1932

 

Vol. 20:   Sales, 1933-1935

 

Vol. 21:   Sales, 1936-1942

 

Vol. 22:   Sales, 1943-1947

 

Vol. 23:   Sales, 1948-1952

 

Vol. 24:   Sales, 1953-1954

 

Vol. 25:   Sales, 1954-1955

 

Vol. 26:   Sales, 1956-1957

 

Vol. 27:   Sales, 1958

 

Vol. 28:   Sales, 1959

 

Vol. 29:   Sales, 1960

 

Vol. 30:   Sales, 1961

 

Vol. 31:   Sales, 1962-1963

 

Vol. 32:   Sales, 1964-1967

 

Vol. 33:   Sales, 1968-1971

 

Vol. 34:   Irving L. Margolis, "Re-Creations of Furniture Masterpieces" (photos)

[note: the photos were removed from their binder and are shelved towards the end of the boxes; the binder is in Box 49]

 

Vol. 35:  Scrapbook of Hi-Fi ads

               [labeled “design ideas,” but really just ads for the Margolis Hi-fi Studio; see also v. 41]

 

Vol. 36:  Trade catalog for H. Sacks & Sons, Brookline, Mass., their Marlboro Manor line of furniture, n.d.

 

Vol. 37: Trade catalog for The Beacon Hill Collection, from Kaplan Furniture Co., Cambridge, Mass., 7th ed., 1953

 

Vol. 38:  Rochester Institute of Technology, undergraduate catalog, 1973/74

 

Vol. 39:  “Interior Decorators' Handbook,” fall 1967

 

Vol. 40:  The Practical Polish & Varnish Maker, by H. C. Standage (London and New York:
Spon, 1892).

 

Vol. 41:  Scrapbook labeled “Our Ads,” for hi-fi equipment [see also vol. 35]

 

Vol. 42:  Trade catalog: “The Ethan Allen Treasury of American Traditional Interiors,” 68th ed., n.d.

 

Vol. 43:  Trade catalog: “Ornaments for Woodwork-Furniture,” catalog 124 of The Decorators Supply Corp., Chicago, n.d.

 

             

 

Boxes:

 

Box 1:  Stock cards, A-F

 

Box 2: Stock cards, G-L

 

Box 3:  Stock cards, M-Z

 

Box 4:  Audio tapes of an interview with [Harold?] Margolis

 

Box 5:  Clippings and photos: Sheraton-Hepplewhite chairs (4 folders)

            Clippings and photos: Chippendale chairs (6 folders)

 

Box 6:  Clippings and photos: Queen Anne chairs

            Clippings and photos: early English chairs

            Clippings and photos: desks (4 folders)

Clippings and photos: highboys (6 folders)

 

Box 7:  Clippings and photos: sideboards (2 folders)

            Clippings and photos: dining tables (4 folders)

            Clippings and photos: dressing tables

            Clippings and photos: lowboys

 

Box 7A: Clippings and photos: French furniture

                          Clippings and photos: early & late American chairs (3 folders)

              Clippings and photos: console tables (2 folders)

  Clippings and photos: tripod & tip-top tables (2 folders)

 

Box 8:  Clippings and photos: sewing tables

            Clippings and photos: cupboards & cabinets (2 folders)

            Clippings and photos: secretaries (6 folders)

 

Box 9:  Clippings and photos: secretaries (cont'd) (3 folders)

            Clippings and photos: beds (3 folders)

            Clippings and photos: sofas (4 folders)

           

Box 9A: Clippings and photos: chests (3 folders)

                          Clippings and photos: daybeds

              Clippings and photos: stools

  Clippings and photos: miscellaneous (2 folders)

              Clippings and photos: commodes

              Clippings and photos: doors & mantels

 

Box 10: Clippings and photos: clocks

             Clippings and photos: lights

             Clippings and photos: mirrors & screens

             Clippings and photos: room settings (7 folders)

 

Box 11: Clippings and photos: room settings (cont'd) (6 folders)

             Clippings and photos: bedrooms

             Clippings and photos: halls & rooms

 

Box 11A: Clippings and photos: halls & rooms (cont'd) (8 folders)

 

Box 12: Clippings and photos: exteriors (5 folders)

              Cippings and photos: chairs (3 folders)

 

Box 12B: Clippings and photos: tables

                Cippings and photos: chests (2 folders)

                Clippings and photos: desks

 

Box 13: Clippings and photos: room settings

             Clippings and photos: miscellaneous

             Black House, Ellsworth, Maine (photos)

             Conant-Ball reproductions (2 folders)

             Larsen, Kai; marqueteur (photos)

             Mahogany Association, Inc.

 

Box 13 B: Folio 1 - sideboards (A) (photos) (3 folders)

                            Folio 2 - credenzas (A) (photos)

                Folio 3 - commodes (L&H) (photos) (2 folders)

 

Box 14:  Folio 4 - breakfronts, corner & wall cabinets (B) (photos) (2 folders)

                          Folio 5 - dining tables (Q) (photos) (2 folders)

                          Folio 6 - Chippendale chairs (N) (photos)

              Folio 7 - Hepplewhite chairs (M) (photos)

 

Box 15:  Folio 8 - Sheraton, Queen Anne, transitional, miscellaneous chairs (P) (photos)

               [Folio 9 – missing]

               Folio 10 - poster beds (C) (photos) (2 folders)

               Folio 11 - beds, headboards (C) (photos)

   Folio 12 - highboys (L) (photos) (2 folders)

               Folio 13 - chests-on-chests (L) (photos)

               

 

Box 16:  Folio 14 - chests of drawers (L) (photos) (4 folders)

  Folio 15 – lowboys (photos)

 

Box 16B: Folio 16 - dressing tables (E) (photos)

                Folio 17 - desks, secretaries (R) (photos)

                Folio 18 - mirrors (D) (photos)

   Folio 19 - card, console & sewing tables (G) (photos)

 

Box 17:  Folio 20 - shelf tables (H) (photos) (2 folders)

               Folio 21 - pedestal type tables (photos) (2 folders)

               Folio 22 - drum tables (F) (photos)

               Folio 23 - 2 and 3 tiered tables (photos) (2 folders)

               

 

Box 18:  Folio 24 - pie crust tables (F) (photos)

  Folio 25 - gallery top tables (F&H) (photos)

               Folio 26 - occasional tables (photos) (2 folders)

               Folio 27 - pembroke tables (photos)

               Folio 28 - cocktail tables (photos) (2 folders)

               

Box 18B: Folio 29 - sofas (K) (photos)

                Folio 30 - wing chairs (photos)

                Folio 31 - upholstered chairs (lolling) (photos) (2 folders)

                Folio 32 - benches & foot stools (photos)

                Folio 33 - love seats (photos)

                Folio 34 - screens & pole screens (photos)

               Miscellaneous photos

               Miscellaneous photos: interiors (2 folders)

 

Box 19:  Interior photos

  Miscellaneous photos: beds

              Miscellaneous photos: chairs

              Miscellaneous photos: chests of drawers

              Miscellaneous photos: cupboards & cabinets

              Miscellaneous photos: desks

              Miscellaneous photos: high chests

              Miscellaneous photos: lowboys

              Miscellaneous photos: mirrors

              Miscellaneous photos: sideboards

              Miscellaneous photos: tables (2 folders)

              Polaroids, shop interiors, production furniture (3 folders)

              “Exhibit by the Nathan Margolis Shop, Inc., of Authentic Handmade Reproductions in the Colonial Room of the Horace Bushnell Memorial, Hartford, Conn., April 3-4, 1930”– sign and 5 photos (acc. 03x118)

 

Box 20:  Negatives & patterns: furniture A-R             

 

Box 21:  Slides (9 folders)

              

Box 22:  Cost cards,1936-1944

 

Box 23:  Cost cards, 1936-1944

              Cost cards, ca.1940-1959

 

Box 24:  Cost cards, ca.1939-1949

              Cost cards, ca.1940-1959

 

Box 25:  Cost cards, ca.1948-1954

              Cards for carving & turning

              Hardware stockbook

 

Box 26:  Auction notices of Margolis furniture (2 folders)

              Temple Beth Israel (photos) (2 folders)

              Hi-Fi cabinets - lowboys

              

Box 26A: Hi-Fi cabinets – lowboys (con’t.) (2 folders)

    Marshall, C.D., Maxwell, TX (2 folders)

              

Box 27:  Office forms, etc.

   Johnston, Mrs. Russell Z.

              Photos, local TV show

              NBC "Today" show, July 3, 1968

              Apprenticeship

              Connecticut Historical Society

              Lecture for National Society of Interior Designers

              New York State Senate - desks

              Baumritter Corp. (Ethan Allen furniture)

              Drexel Furniture Co.

              General Interiors (Kittinger Co.)

              Ribicoff, Senator Abraham

              Sack, Harold

              Winterthur Museum

              Fennimore, Donald

              Arthur Brett & Sons, Ltd.

              Yale University

              Wolcott, Frank

 

Box 28:  Correspondence: 1919-1959

  Correspondence: 1960-1976

              Holcomb, Mrs. John M.

              Shop stock photos

              Concepts, adaptations, etc. (photos)

 

Box 29:  Concepts, adaptations, etc. (photos) (cont'd) (5 folders)

              Hartford Electric Light Window display, 1927

              Job no. & time, miscellaneous time

              

Box 29A: Lumber: lot numbers, 1944-1962

               Work log, 1936-?

               Work log, time sheets

               Payroll records: 1917, 1938-1939

   Payroll records: 1941-1943

 

Box 30:  Payroll records: 1944-1945

              Payroll records: 1954-1956

              Payroll records: 1957-1959

              Payroll records: 1960-1961

  Payroll records: 1962-1963

 

Box 31:  Payroll records: 1964-1965

              Payroll records: 1966-1968

              Payroll records: 1969

              Employee records

              Price lists: ca.1932-1935, 1937

  Price lists: ca.1937-1938

 

Box 32: Price lists: ca.1938-1947

              Price lists: March 1942

              Price lists: ca.1950-1970

              

Box 33:  Accounts receivable: 1937-1971

              Accounts receivable: A-Q

 

Box 34:  Accounts receivable: R-Z

 

Box 35:  Aiken, John-employee

              Anderson, Eric L.-employee

  Baskowski, William S.-employee

  Billings, George-employee

              Bradley, James S.-employee

  Breton, Fidele E.-employee

  Buerhop, Henry H.-employee

             Cersosimo, James J.-employee

             Chapman, Charles L.-employee

             Chudzinski, Frances-employee

             Coope, J.C.-employee

 Corsino, Sebastian-employee

 Curtis, Francis E.-employee

 Cwikla, Joseph M.-employee

 Deane, Marcus G.-employee

             Dickens, John-employee

             DiMartino, Salvatore-employee

             Downey, Harold J.-employee

             Eden, J.-employee

 Failla, Salvatore-employee

             Frankl, Alois-employee

 Gagne, Cepha A.-employee

             Gotowala, George-employee

 Guardo, Angela-employee

              Hellyar, Percy-employee

             Jackowski, Jennie A.-employee

 Johnson, Melvin-employee

             Keleher, Kenneth-employee

 Koda, Paul-employee

 Lapp, Michles-employee

 MacDonald, Richard-employee

 Maestre, Cipriano-employee

 Margolis, Simon H.-employee

             Marples, Harold-employee

 Mazur, Frank J.-employee

 Mazuraitis, Stanley A.-employee

 Mecteau, Elzear A. Jr.-employee

 Meli, John-employee

 Mooney, Richard J. Jr.-employee

             Pandolfo, A.-employee

 Przyblski, Henry-employee

             Ramondetta, Sebastian-employee

             Rasmussen, Anton-employee

 Rosendahl, Gunnar S.-employee

             Rosenthal, A.-employee

             Russell, Douglas F.-employee

             Ryan, Leroy G.-employee

             Sanborn, Edgar F.-employee

             Smith, James R.-employee

 Sola, Joseph L.-employee

 Spivak, Louis-employee

             Strawther, Leonard-employee

 Swanson, Oscar-employee

 Thibeault, Percy-employee

             Tobias, H.-employee

 Vitkus, Juozapas-employee

             Williams, Edith-employee

             Young, Paul-employee

  Zebrowski, Edward-employee 

             

            

Box 36:  War Products Board

              War Manpower Commission

              Shop marks and labels (2 folders)

              Shop orders: ca.1952-1953, #2023-2367 (2 folders)

              Miscellaneous photos

              Photos: chests

              Photos: interiors

              Photos: beds

              Photos: chests of drawers

              Photos: mirrors

 

Box 37:  Negatives: Hi-Fi & cabinets

              Negatives:sideboards

              Negatives:highboys

              Negatives:chests of drawers

              Negatives: lowboys

              Negatives:desks

  Negatives: tables

              Negatives:beds

              Negatives:sofas

              Negatives:chairs

  Negatives:shop

              Negatives: miscellaneous & glass plate

 

 

Box 38:  Hartford State House (2 folders)

              Aetna Building (2 folders)

              Margolis, Harold, personal

              Office of Price Administration (3 folders)

              Notes & sketches (3 folders)

 

 

Box 39:  Publicity (2 folders)

              Inlays (2 folders) [see also Box 49]

              Miscellaneous materials

 

Box 40:  Photos: cupboards & cabinets

              Photos: high chests

              Photos: sideboards

              Photos: desks

              Photos: chairs & sofas

              Photos: tables

              Glass plate negative: shop window

  Trade catalogs: adhesives

                          Trade catalogs: general

              Trade catalogs: art objects

              Trade catalogs: miscellaneous

             

Box 41:  Trade catalogs: textiles

  Trade catalogs: woods, carvings, mouldings

  Trade catalogs: hardware (2 folders)

  Trade catalogs: decorative ornaments

 

Box 42:  Trade catalogs: decorative ornaments (con’t.)

               Trade catalogs: furniture (3 folders)

 

Box 43:  Trade catalogs: finishes

  Trade catalogs: shellac

  Trade catalogs: tools (2 folders)

  Trade catalogs: Decorative Supply Corp.

 

Box 44:  Leather samples

             Sander Woodworking Co., sample

             Woods

             Woman's Day Magazine

 

Box 45:  Orders on hand: 1938-1951

             Material supplies (2 folders)

             National Antiques Review

             Miscellaneous articles

             Taxes: 1945, 1947

             Financial reports: 1943, 1946-48, 1951

             Drawings

 

Box 46:  Printing plates

 

Box 47:  Printing plates

 

Box 48:  [missing, or number not used]

 

Box 49:  Inlay samples

             Miscellaneous objects, such as fork, knife, prism, etc.

              Binder for volume 34

 

Box 50A-B: Templates: C-S

 

Box 51:  Templates

 

Box 52 & 52A:  Templates

 

Box 53: Wooden box (contents removed)

 

 

Map case C, drawer 2: Templates and drawings