The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Mueller-Dunn Company.       

Title:               Collection

Dates:             1929-1934

Call No.:         Col. 593

Acc. No.:        00x58

Quantity:        10 folders

Location:        18 B 4

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The Mueller-Dunn Company of Newark, New Jersey, advertised itself as a firm of designers, craftsmen, and decorators, particularly of “modern bars, grilles, and taverns.”  Karl J. Mueller and Peter Miske worked for the company.  The Mueller Studios, Inc. specialized in making decorations, murals, mosaics, statues, altars, communion rails, pulpits, and memorial tablets for churches.  Mueller-Dunn was the successor to Mueller Studios.  Motter & Drygas made and installed store and bar fixtures, ice boxes, store and office partitions, and modern storefronts.  Its connection to the other companies is unknown.

 

Karl J. Mueller was born in Buchau, Germany on April 17, 1888 and was a stained glass artist.  He was in Newark, N.J., by 1918, and on his draft registration card listed himself as a self-employed artist working in New York City.  His World War II draft registration card listed his middle name as Ignatz, although the middle initial J. was used elsewhere. The 1930 and 1940 census records list his wife as Mathilda, also born in Germany, around 1890.  He died in or near St. Petersburg, Florida, on July 26, 1971.

 

Nothing was learned about Peter Miske or Howard Miske. 

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection includes photos, testimonial letters, advertising brochures, price lists, a church contact file, and sketches for an unknown project being done for or by Howard Miske. The materials are from the 1930s and relate to three Newark, New Jersey companies, Mueller-Dunn, Mueller Studios, and Motter & Drygas. 

 

Among the photos are interior views of the Long Bar of Newark, N.J., and Hintelmann’s grocery store in Rumson, N.J., the fixtures for which were made and installed by Motter & Drygas, and an exterior shot of that company’s building.   There are several photos of workshops, either Mueller-Dunn or Mueller Studios, in which men are working on stained glass windows, light fixtures, and statues.  As well, there is an album containing drawings and photos of light fixtures, and photos of the interior of a tavern decorated by Mueller-Dunn.  The testimonial letters are in regard to work performed by Mueller Studios and Mueller-Dunn.  The church contact file contains the names and addresses of churches, mostly Roman Catholic, mostly in New Jersey.  The churches were visited between 1929 and 1933, evidently in an effort to find business.  The price lists are from Mueller-Dunn, for tavern tables and chairs, and from Mueller Studios, for Stations of the Cross.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The materials are divided by company and type of document.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Purchased from Judy Barone.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Mueller Studios.

            Motter & Drygas.

            Bars (Drinking establishments) - New Jersey.

Church decoration and ornament - New Jersey.

Designers - New Jersey.

Grocery trade - New Jersey - Rumson.

Industrialists - New Jersey.

Lighting, Architectural and decorative.

Restaurants - Decoration.

Store fixtures.

Workshops - New Jersey.

Newark (N.J.) - Buildings, structures, etc.

Newark (N.J.) - Commerce.

Rumson (N.J.) - Buildings, structures, etc.

Black-and-white photographs.

Business cards.

Advertisements.

Price lists.       

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 18 B 4

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 00x58.

 

 

Folder 1: Business cards, advertising brochure for Mueller-Dunn

 

.1a-b    business cards: Mueller-Dunn Company, Designers, Craftsmen, Decorators, represented by Peter Miske

 

.2         advertising brochure for Mueller-Dunn, with short piece on “Problems of Today’s Inn-Keeper,” and two photos of the interior of Pfeifer’s “Tally-ho!” tavern

 

 

Folder 2: Price lists for Mueller-Dunn and Mueller Studios

 

            .3         blotter with advertisement for “A New Station” [of the Cross], available from Mueller Studio, with prices

 

            .4         “Description of Rack” for religious literature, specifically marketed to Catholic churches by Mueller-Dunn

 

            .5a-d    “Price List of Tavern Chairs and Tables,” available from Mueller-Dunn, one page with prices, and three pages of colored pictures of tables and chairs

 

            .6         contract for lighting fixtures, addressed to Rev. Thomas J. Herron, St. Lucy’s Church, Jersey City

 

 

Folder 3: testimonial letters for Mueller Studios and Mueller-Dunn Co.

 

            .7         from John L. O’Toole, Holy Redeemer Rectory, Freeport, N.Y., July 1, 1933, to Mueller Studios

 

            .8         from Ambrose[?] P. Dunnigan, St. Charles Borromeo’s Rectory, Brooklyn, N.Y., July 29, 1933, to Carl Mueller, Mueller Studios

 

            .9         from James M. Winters, Church of the Holy Rosary, Bronx, N.Y., Jan. 27, 1934, to Mueller-Dunn Co.

 

            .10       from Chas. G. McCorristin, St. Joseph’s Church, East Camden, N.J., Jan. 31, 1934, to Mr. Mueller, for work done on St. Patrick’s Church, Woodbury, N.J.; this letter mentions that the stained glass windows were made in Germany

 

            .11       from Martin P. O’Gara, Church of St. Augustine, Ossining, N.Y., to Karl Mueller, Mueller Studios

 

            .12       from Fr. Albert Lang, St. Mary’s Monastery, Morristown, N.J., to Mueller Studios, mentioning that the work was done for St. Benedict’s Church

 

 

Folder 4: Photos of a restaurant and bars by Mueller-Dunn

 

            .13       interior of Tally-Ho! Tavern, same photo as in the brochure that is 00x58.2; includes stained glass windows, murals on walls, tavern furniture like that in 00x58.5, and shows view of bartender’s side of bar

 

            .14       interior of Tally-Ho! Tavern, similar to photos in 00x58.2, but this photo includes three men sitting or standing at the bar; mural over bar and decorative tiles on bar are easy to see; written on back: Mueller-Dunn Co., Newark, N.J.

 

            .15       another view of the Tally-Ho! Tavern, showing part of another room in addition to the bar

 

            .16       view of the bar of the Tally-Ho! Tavern, this time without people; sign for Hensler’s Beer is in view; stamped on back: Mueller Studio, Newark, N.J.

 

            .17       view of bar of the Tally-Ho! Tavern, same photo as in the brochure that is 00x58.2; written on back: Mueller-Dunn Co., Newark, N.J.

 

            .18       interior view of the Tally-Ho! Tavern, with bar to left, and several tables; part of a mural is on the right wall, and a decorative plaque is on the back wall; written on back: Mueller-Dunn Co., Newark, N.J.

 

            .19       interior view of the Tally-Ho! Tavern, focusing on tables and chairs

 

            .20       interior view of the Tally-Ho! Tavern, focusing on one corner, showing two stained glass windows and the decorative plaque (which makes reference to Noah); written on back: Mueller-Dunn Co., Newark, N.J.

 

            .21       interior view of the Tally-Ho! Tavern, focusing on a mural showing a man carrying two beers and a plate of sausages, some of which a dog is trying to eat; written on back: Mueller-Dunn Co., Newark, N.J.

 

            .22       stained glass windows in the Tally-Ho! Tavern, showing men doing sports (boxing, football, baseball, rowing, tennis, golf, and fishing)

 

            .23       stained glass windows in the Tally-Ho! Tavern, showing men at work or drinking beer (saxophone player, dancing, playing piano, sailors drinking, man outside Gents room, bowling); written on back: Mueller-Dunn Co., Newark, N.J.

 

            .24       stained glass windows in the Tally-Ho! Tavern, showing couples in different activities: riding in a car, at the beach, dancing, and kissing

 

            .25       stained glass window behind a bar; this is not the Tally-Ho! Tavern, although the stained glass in this photo is a very similar design to the mural behind the bar at the Tally-Ho!

 

            .26       a bar, with a tile floor; a rough pencil sketch is on the back; stamped on back: Commercial Photographic Corporation, Newark

 

 

Folder 5: church contact file (unclear whether Mueller Studio or Mueller-Dunn)

 

            .27a-bbbb        cards, arranged by city, with contact information for various churches (mostly Roman Catholic), and sometimes notes about decorative work that shourl or needs to be done on the churches; some cards are dated 1929-1933;

                                    Acc. 00x58.27ii has a sketch of a window on the back of the card;

                                    Acc. 00x58.27zz has a sketch of a lantern on the back of the card;

                                    Acc. 00x58.27iii has outline sketches of windows on back of card;

 

 

Folder 6: album of lighting fixtures

 

            .28       an album with seven photographic reproductions of colored sketches, and seven black-and-white photos, all of lighting fixtures, most with numbers

                                    (in album labeled Photographs on cover, with picture of a gondola and the moon)

 

 

Folder 7: advertising brochures for Mueller Studios

 

            .29a-b  this brochure features interior photos of St. Benedict’s Churches in Brooklyn and Newark; specifically targets churches, and lists churches where the Mueller Studios has done work

 

            .30       this brochure features altars, statues (including a modernistic wood carving), and Stations of the Cross        

 

 

Folder 8: photos of workshops

            (all photos were taken by Commercial Photographic Corporation, Newark)

 

            .31       two men, one carving a statue and the other a Station of the Cross, with completed work on display

 

            .32       large room where men are working on stained glass windows; cartoons are seen along the back wall; a row of windows is on the left wall; nine men are involved in different activities

 

            .33       three men making light fixtures

 

            .34       a room displaying stained glass windows and light fixtures; above the door on the left is a stained glass sign reading Mueller Studios Inc.

 

 

Folder 9: Motter & Drygas Co.: photos and business card

 

            .35       business card for Motter Drygas, manufacturers of store and bar fixtures 0 ice boxes, store and office partitions, modern store fronts, Newark

 

            .36       photo: men standing outside Motter & Drygas building, with two delivery trucks loaded with wares

 

            .37       photo of exterior of Smith’s Long Bar, manufactured and installed by Motter & Drygas Co.

 

            .38       photo of interior of Smith’s Long Bar, manufactured and installed by Motter & Drygas Co.; view is of the bartender’s work space

 

            .39       photo of interior of Smith’s Long Bar, manufactured and installed by Motter & Drygas Co.; view is of the customers’ space at the bar

 

            .40       photo of interior of Smith’s Long Bar, manufactured and installed by Motter & Drygas Co.; view is of tables and booths

 

            .41       photo of interior of Hintelmann’s grocery store, manufactured and installed by Motter & Drygas Co.; view shows produce counter, meat cooler, shelves of canned, boxed and bottled goods, with cans of Beech-Nut Coffee stacked on the floor

 

 

Folder 10: sketches for Kinloch Park, by Howard Miske

 

            .42a-o  design drawings for unknown project, labeled plates 1-12, 14-16

                                    [all these are on yellow paper]

 

            .43a-q  design drawings for unknown project, probably dimensional drawings for the plates above, labeled plates 1-7

                                    [most on white paper, some on yellow paper]