Abstract This collection is a sibling to the Furniture Design Book Collection that is housed in the Furniture Room in the Grand Rapids History & Special Collections department. This archival collection is unique within the Grand Rapids Public Library Archives, in that it documents national, and to a limited extent international, rather than local and regional historical information. This national literature serves as a reference source to those studying the history of the furniture industry in...

Abstract

This devised collection contains trade catalogs issued from furniture companies in the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Included are representative catalogs from the prominent American Seating, Baker, Berkey & Gay, Carl Forslund, Herman Miller, John Widdicomb, Nelson-Matter, Steelcase, Stickley Bros. and Stow & Davis companies, among numerous others. The catalogs list items for sale and usually give prices, item numbers and photographs or illustrations.