Clara Knapp Phillips advertising trade cards
Scope and Contents
This collection documents Grand Rapids, Michigan companies and some of the products they sold through the graphic trade cards gathered. Arrangement has been done alphabetically under the name of the local company, rather than the product company.
While most of the collection includes trade cards, some other forms of trade literature or advertising ephemera, such as pamphlets or a fan, are also included. Most of the cards are 5x8 or smaller, with an occasional larger sized item. Of most interest are those cards which are locally produced by area printers, as well as advertising local businesses or products.
Dates
- circa 1880-1910
Creator
- Phillips, Clara Knapp (Collector, Person)
Biographical / Historical
Little is known about Clara D. Knapp Phillips (ca. 1880-before 1910?). She is documented living in the home of her uncle, Erastus Knapp, when she was 25, along with her father, Sylvanus Knapp. This census lists her as born in New York state. In the 1900 Census, Clara, 45, is married to William Phillips, age 40, a fruit farmer, with two children Raymond and Henry. Her father Sylvanus Knapp is also living in the home. William Phillips will become the Clerk of Grand Rapids Township, Kent County, Michigan around 1902, as documented in a Grand Rapids Herald article of March 20, 1927.
By 1910 Clara is missing from the household, presumed deceased (not yet confirmed). In 1920, the census lists son Raymond and wife, Nellie, living with William Phillips. The young couple have two daughters, Clara, age 11 and Fannie, age 6. It is Fannie Phillips Young who inherits this collection of trade cards and later, living in Washington State, returns the cards to Grand Rapids as a gift to the Grand Rapids Public Library.
Extent
2.1 Linear Feet (Four boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Clara Knapp Phillips advertising trade cards collection is named for the collector, a former resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The small collection includes primarily generic graphic trade cards advertising the local businesses of Grand Rapids, primarily in the later 19th and early 20th century. Some of the cards have original art and local publishers. Several items are included from other Michigan cities and a few items are from out of state. The historical style of the cards and the time period of many of the business suggests the late 1800s or first decade of 1900 as the time period when the cards were primarily in use and possibly acquired by Mrs. Phillips.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Fannie Phillips Young, handed down from Clara Knapp Phillips, William Phillips; accession number 1994.046.
- Title
- Finding aid for the Clara Knapp Phillips advertising trade cards
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- R. Mayne
- Date
- November 12, 2001
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org