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:         Hill, Oliver C. (Oliver Clark), 1876-1940

Title:               Papers

Dates:             ca.1902-1930.

Call No.:         Col. 684

Acc. No.:        02x145

Quantity:        20 items

Location:        34 J 4

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Oliver Clark Hill was an antiques dealer and furniture restorer in Bethlehem and Waterbury, Connecticut.  The Waterbury shop was located at 38 or 39 Willow Street.  He specialized in Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and Empire furniture, plus accessories to go with them.

 

Oliver was born in 1876 in Bethlehem, Conn., the son of Elizabeth Jackson and Henry Clay Hill.  In the 1900 census, he was listed as a farm laborer, living with his parents.  However, in 1903, he married Caroline (Carrie) Spencer, and lived in Torrington, Conn.  In the 1910 and subsequent censuses, they were living in Waterbury, Conn., and he was an antiques dealer.  However, when Oliver registered for the draft for World War I, he listed his occupation as furniture manufacturer.  By 1940, he was again living in Bethlehem, where he died on June 17, 1940.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection contains inventories, business cards, record books, an advertisement, correspondence, and photographs.  The inventories are of stock on hand in 1902 and 1909, plus undated lists of engravings and ceramics; all inventories include prices.  There are three letters with customers, two of which regard payments on an account.  The advertisement announces the opening of Hill’s shop in Waterbury.  The business cards declare Hill to be a “collector of antiquities.”  They locate him in Bethlehem and are hand-written.  One of the photographs shows the interior of his shop (taken ca.1912); most of the others depict furniture for sale and include prices.  A couple of photos have notes that were written much later (one note was dated 1972); four photos of a chest of drawers were taken much later than the others.

 

One of the record books (acc. 02x145.21) records purchases made from Mr. Hill, as well as purchases made by him (section headed “I have at these different places furniture as mentioned”).  The records are dated 1903-1907.  Another record book (02x145.22) begins with a list of names, ceramic pieces, and prices, but it is not clear if Hill is buying, selling, or perhaps just recording prices asked by other dealers.  The bulk of this book is a list of pictorial china pieces with prices.  The other two books record sales of furniture, charges for repairs, and other miscellaneous charges; they cover the years ca.1920-1931 (most entries do not have years).

           

 

ORGANIZATION

 

The items are arranged by type of material: inventories, business cards, correspondence, photographs, record books.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

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

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Purchased from Franklin Gilliam.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Antique dealers - Connecticut.

            Stores, Retail - Connecticut.

            Advertisements - Furniture.

            Commercial correspondence.

            Inventories, Retail - Connecticut.

            Ceramics - Prices.

            Stores, Retail – Photographs.

            Business cards.

            Black-and-white photographs.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 4

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 02x145.

 

 

Folder 1: inventory

 

.1         “Inventory, Feb. 1, 1902” – FRAGILE – HANDLE WITH CARE

 

            At this time, Hill had in his shop such items as a highboy, a maple Dutch desk, a high-post cherry bedstead, a mahogany mantle clock, a Colt rifle, three swords, plus a sword with belt, a rosewood jewelry case, double-back arm chair, some books (short titles given), a blue wash bowl and pitcher, two brown teapots, a gold watch, etc.  Little description is given, with “half-round cherry table,” and “cherry table, hoof feet” being among the most descriptive listings.  Prices are listed.

 

 

Folder 2: inventory

 

.2a-c    “Antique furniture on Hand, June 22nd, ‘09”

 

            A typed list, with 51 items.  This list gives description of items, plus their prices.  A sample entry is “massive octagon column wardrobe in mahogany, mirror, doors, beautiful carved top, in excellent condition,” for $50.00.  Five “Colonial bed room chairs, in mahogany, graceful backs” cost $3 each, or one could purchase all five for $14.   Much of the furniture was mahogany, although rosewood, hickory (Windsor chair), and walnut pieces were also available.

 

 

Folder 3: inventory

 

.3a-c    Undated list with no title, but the inventory lists broadsides, engravings, and ceramics (mostly pitchers), with prices.

 

            Among the engravings were portraits of George Washington, Israel Putnam, and Benjamin Franklin.  Many of the pitchers bore portraits as well: Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, etc.  Most of the broadsides were printed versions of the Declaration of Independence.  Several entries have the note “see catalogue.”

 

 

 

Folder 4: inventory

 

.4a-i     undated list of ceramics, each piece numbered and priced. 

 

Ceramics were described as being Chinese, Lowestoft, Satsuma, salt glaze, tortoise shell, Whieldon, black basalt, Leeds, Wedgwood, Staffordshire, cream ware, Liverpool, etc.  Ceramics were numbered 1-233, then 250-299.  After number 230, there are several unnumbered items, including a Thomas Jefferson Sheraton arm chair (“see catalog”), teakwood arm chairs, Thomas Jefferson iron pipe tongs, Washington banquet table and sideboard, Washington porch chair, some Washington ceramics, etc.

 

 

Folder 5: correspondence

 

.5a-b    letter from Mrs. C. B. Hotchkiss, New York, March 19, 1916, to Mr. Hill: asking for price of a set of books; with envelope

                        Note on inside: price given, sent on approval

 

.6a-b    letter from E. Steer, Dec. 15, 1929, to Mr. Hill: trying to clear up his account

 

.7         from Ernest J. Steer, New York, June 23, 1930, to Mr. Hill: more about his account

 

 

Folder 6: advertisement

 

.8a-e    “Our Forefathers Chair, 1750”: advertising pamphlet, announcing opening of shop at 38 Willow St., Waterbury, Conn.  (five copies)

 

            Hill advertised himself as a dealer in colonial furniture in Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and Empire furniture, with “other articles tend to complete: at Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe; also restored and refinished pieces.  Front of pamphlet has picture of a Chippendale arm chair

 

 

Folder 7: business cards

 

.9a-v    “Oliver C. Hill, Collector of Antiquities, Bethlehem, Conn.” – hand-written cards, so they are not identical.  Some have the initials O.C. rather than the name Oliver C.

 

 

Folder 8: photographs

 

.10       serving table sitting on top of a sideboard, in front of a store; note on back is not entirely easy to read, but mentions walnut and the price 60.00.  To the left of the furniture, one can read the word Antiques on the store window; behind the sideboard, one can see candlesticks in the store window.

 

.11       bureau (40.00) and round table (50.00), taken inside a shop

 

.12       a Windsor chair ($12) and a mahogany inlaid wash stand ($15); photo taken inside store, and other pieces of furniture and andirons are seen; “Oliver C. Hill, Bethlehem, Conn.” is written on back

 

.13       silver luster tea service on a card table, and a Queen Anne side chair; note on back states that picture was taken about 1905, and gives the name of the person (a daughter of Oliver C. Hill) who owned the items in 1972

 

.14       a slant-top desk, with ball-and-claw feet; parts of other pieces also visible in photo (mounted on card stock)

 

.15       a card table, taken in front of a coverlet (mounted on card stock)

 

.16       “O.C. Hills’ Show Room, 38 Willow St., about 1912”: interior of antique shop, with side chair, several kinds of tables, lamp, tall case and mantel clocks, side boards, mirrors, andirons, ceramics, and other pieces on display (photo is torn)

 

.17-20  chest of drawers, with close-ups, including drawer interior

 

 

 

Folder 9: record books

 

.21       records, 1903-1907

 

            Apparently mostly a record of people who paid for their purchases over time.  The book has alphabet dividers, and people are written under the first letter of their surnames. 

Under the letter I is found a list headed “I have at these different places furniture as mentioned.”  This appears to be a list of furniture purchased by Hill; sometimes shipping is mentioned.  

Under the letter S are found many entries for Mr. R.P. Smith of Litchfield.  He may have been hired by Hill to work on furniture, as his purchases are partly paid by work or finishing on furniture and clocks.

 

.22       records, undated

 

            This volume begins with five pages of names, with priced items (chiefly ceramics) listed under each name.  The rest of the volume lists pictorial china, with prices.  Each piece also has a catalog number.  The catalog numbers are not in order, and the pieces are not always under a letter that makes sense (so, pictorial china related to Lafayette is under L, but the Stevens Mansion in Hoboken, New Jersey, is under I, and a view of Trenton Falls is under E).

 

 

Folder 10: record books

 

.23       A record of people and their purchases, some of whom definitely paid their bills over time, but it is not clear that that was the case for everyone.  The book has alphabet dividers, and people are written under the first letter of their surnames. 

                        A very few years are found, mostly 1921-1922.

 

.24       This is like .23 above; on the front flyleaf is found the note “commenced Dec. 1, 1924.”

 

            Under the divider for W, but towards the end of that section, are found accounts for Harry Arons.  Attached to that page was a business card for Hill, noting that he offered “antique furniture, historical china, old silver, pewter, glass and rare old books.”