Special Collections Department
Archives of
Georgetown, Delaware,
Businesses
1893 - 1949
(bulk dates 1919 - 1927)
Manuscript Collection Number: 480
Accessioned: Gift of Milt Chaski,
Jr. 2003 and purchase, 2004
Extent: 3 linear ft.
Content: Receipts, invoices, correspondence,
bills of lading, pictures, manuals, catalogs, and certificates.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: September/October
2003 by Theresa Hessey, revised April 2004
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Table of Contents
Historical Note
The collection consists primarily of materials related to three prominent businesses that were active in Georgetown, Delaware, at the turn of and into the mid-twentieth century. J.W. Blizzard operated a general store located at the corner of Rose and Prince Streets in Georgetown, as well as an additional business called The Foot Store. Included in the collection are invoices, receipts, and correspondence from the many distributors whose goods were sold by Blizzard. The firm of Layton & Layton, established by L. Lee Layton, Jr., furnished supplies for J.W. Blizzard. As a wholesale distributor, Layton & Layton not only provided goods for other local businesses such as J.W. Blizzard but for numerous Sussex County residents as well. Also included in the collection are delivery receipts for the Georgetown Gas Company. Customers consisted largely of individual residents rather than local businesses. The collection also contains assorted materials related to individual residents of Sussex County and a small collection of ephemera concerning agriculture, particularly tractor manuals and catalogs.
Scope and Content Note
The Archives of Georgetown, Delaware, Businesses is the gift of Milt Chaski, Jr., who acquired the material in one “odd lot” at an auction sale. Related business miscellany from a later purchase was added to the collection. The collection comprises business records and receipts from three businesses, as well as additional ephemera from Sussex County, allowing a glimpse of regional dry goods transactions, wholesale delivery, and agricultural supplies in the area. As paper Americana, the collection yields many examples of interesting letterhead and receipts. Spanning the years 1893-1949 with the bulk of the material dating from 1919-1927, the collection is divided into three series related to businesses and two series of miscellany.
The first series consists of materials related to J.W. Blizzard’s Georgetown business including invoices, receipts, bills of lading, and correspondence. Blizzard acquired his goods from companies across the country, especially from Baltimore and Philadelphia, including Lippincott and Company and the Howard Manufacturing Company. Blizzard had many transactions with distributor Layton & Layton.
The second series includes materials related to the wholesale distributor, Layton & Layton, another Georgetown supplier. Layton & Layton had dealings with some of the most prominent suppliers in the country, such as Postum Cereal Company, McCormick and Company (spices), Sherwin-Williams Company (paints), and the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (tobacco products).
The third series in the collection contains receipts generated by the Georgetown Gas Company. These include carbon copies for gas deliveries made to residences. The collection also contains a fourth series of material related to Sussex County, Delaware. Included are bills of lading for deliveries made to Sussex County by the Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington Railroad, materials related to stock purchases by Susan Ennes, legal documents regarding the estate of James H. Warren, and items belonging to Linda Lank of Lewes. The final series of the collection consists of ephemera concerning agriculture. Included in this series are pictures and manuals and catalogs related to various makes and models of tractors.
Related Collections:
Related Collections: L. Lee Layton, Jr., Papers (see Manuscripts Librarian)
Series List
I. J.W. Blizzard II. Layton & Layton III. Georgetown Gas Company IV. Miscellaneous Sussex County, Delaware documents V. Agricultural Ephemera
Contents List
Box -- Folder -- Contents
Series I. J.W. Blizzard
1 F1 A.B. Cunningham, 1904-1921
Philadelphia distributor of tobacco products
F2 A.G. Walton, 1919-1926
Shoemaker based in Boston
F3 American Wholesale Corporation, 1919-1927, n.d.
Baltimore manufacturer of clothing, shirts, overalls,
cloaks, and suits and wholesaler of general merchandise
F4 Argee Hair Net Company, 1925
New York manufacturer and importer of hair nets
F5 Atlantic Refining Company, 1904-1949, n.d.
Located in Wilmington
F6 Automotive Equipment Company, Inc., 1925
Newark, New Jersey manufacturers of wireless equipment
F7 Baltimore Bargain House, 1913-1919
Wholesaler of general merchandise and manufacturer of
clothing located in Baltimore
F8 Bell, Walt, and Company, 1919-1927
Philadelphia manufacturer of wholesale boots, shoes, and rubbers
F9 Booker, Scott, and Moore Company, 1904-1926, n.d.
Manufacturers and dealers in confectionary and grocers
specialties located in Wilmington
F10 Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company, 1926-1927
Located in Georgetown, Delaware
F11 Butler Brothers, 1902-1922
New York wholesalers of general merchandise
F12 Butler Brothers, 1923-1927, n.d.
F13 Carter, Webster, and Company, 1904-1921
Baltimore company specializing in hosiery, underwear,
gloves, white goods, and notions
F14 Carter, Webster, and Company, 1922-1927
F15 Claflin, Thayer, and Company, 1902-1904, n.d.
New York distributor of boots and shoes
F16 Daniel Miller and Company, 1904-1927
Baltimore company specializing in dry goods, notions,
millinery, garments, draperies, and floor coverings
F17 Delaware Power and Light, 1947-1949
F18 Diamond State Roller Mills, 1906-1919
Roller flour processing company located in Milton, Delaware
F19 Diamond State Roller Mills, 1921-1923
F20 Diamond State Roller Mills, 1925-1928
F21 Dixon-Bartlett Company, 1919-1926
Baltimore company specializing in shoes
F22 Endicott Johnson Company, 1919-1925, n.d.
Leather and leather shoe company located in Endicott, New York
F23 English American Tailoring Corporation Ltd., 1922-1923
Tailoring company based in Baltimore
F24 Everwear Hosiery, 1922-1923
Milwaukee distributor of hosiery
F25 F.A. Davis and Sons, 1919-1927
Tobacco, cigarettes, and snuff distributor located in Baltimore
1 F26 Frank and Sons, 1921-1925
Philadelphia distributor of cloth hats and caps
F27 Frank China Company, 1927
Salisbury, North Carolina, based china company
F28 Garrett, Miller, and Company, 1925
Distributor of electrical supplies and construction materials
located in Wilmington
F29 George E. Kennerly and Company, 1927
Confectionery located in Salisbury, Maryland
F30 Georgetown Lumber Company, 1935-1940
Georgetown based lumber company
F31 Gilbert Brothers and Company, 1906-1923
Wholesale druggists located in Baltimore
F32 Goodyear Rubber Company, 1925
Philadelphia rubber company
F33 Greenfield Glove Manufacturing Company, 1926-1927
Greenfield, Ohio company specializing in gloves and mittens
F34 H.O. Wilbur and Sons, Inc., 1925-1927
Philadelphia confectionery
F35 Howard Manufacturing Company, 1923
Baltimore manufacturer of men’s and boy’s pants
F36 Hudsons Bakery, 1919-1923
Georgetown based bakery
F37 Hudsons Bakery, 1925-1927
F38 J.H. McCullough and Son, 1925
Automotive equipment, radio sets and parts company located in Philadelphia
F39 J.L. Taylor and Company, 1925
New York merchant tailoring for merchants
F40 Joseph M. Zamoiski Company, 1925
Wholesale distributors radio equipment and supplies located in Baltimore
F41 Kern, Lauderbach, and Company, 1902-1906
Philadelphia company specializing in boots, shoes, and rubbers
F42 Laing, Harrar, and Chamberlain, 1921-1923
Shoe company located in Philadelphia
F43 Lambertville Rubber Company, 1921-1925
Lambertville, New Jersey based rubber company
F44 Layton & Ayers, 1923-1927, n.d.
Flour manufacturers of Georgetown, Delaware
F45 Layton & Layton , 1902-1904
Georgetown wholesale distributors
F46 Layton & Layton, 1906-1917
2 F47 Layton & Layton, 1919
F48 Layton & Layton, 1921
F49 Layton & Layton, 1922
F50 Layton & Layton, 1923
F51 Layton & Layton, 1925
F52 Layton & Layton, 1926
F53 Layton & Layton, 1927
F54 Levering Coffee Company, 1919-1927
Baltimore coffee distributor
F55 Lippincott and Company, 1902-1906
Wholesale grocers and tea dealers of Philadelphia
F56 Max Miller and Sons, Inc., 1922-1925
Baltimore company specializing in shirts, pants, and overalls
F57 Menzies Shoe Company, 1921-1923
Fond Du Luc, Wisconsin shoe company
F58 Mexican American Hat Company, 1925-1926
Hat company based in St. Louis
F59 Miltonian Company, 1914
Milton, Delaware based manufacturer of shirts, overalls, and notions
F60 Miscellaneous Receipts and Invoices, 1902-1948, n.d.
F61 Music Master Corporation, 1925
Philadelphia based music company
F62 National Biscuit Company, 1919-1927, n.d.
Wilmington based company that later moved to Salisbury, Maryland
F63 Otto Eisenlohr and Brothers, 1923-1925
Philadelphia cigar manufacturer
F64 P.W. Minor and Son, Inc., 1925-1926
Women’s shoe distributor located in Batavia, New York
F65 Rouse, Hempstone, and Company, 1922-1925
Baltimore company specializing in hosiery, gloves, underwear, and shirts
F66 Rummel, Himes, and Company, 1906-1927
Menswear company located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
F67 Scholl Manufacturing Company, Inc., 1919-1925
Foot specialties company of New York
F68 Scotch Woolen Mills, 1925
Chicago based distributor of woolen goods
F69 Sterling Company, 1925
Chicago dress company
F70 Steven Strong Shoe Company, 1925-1926, n.d.
Shoe company located in Milwaukee
F71 Trenton Shirt Manufacturing Company, 1925-1927
Trenton based manufacturer of shirts
F72 Union Candy Company, 1919-1922
Candy supplier located in Baltimore
F73 Union Oil Corporation, 1925-1926
Georgetown oil distributor
F74 Union Republican, 1925-1927
Georgetown company specializing in book and commercial printing
F75 Walls and Brothers, 1902-1904
Proprietors of Georgetown Roller Mills, manufacturers
of flour, meal, and bran
2 F76 Whittemore Brothers Corporation, 1921-1924
Cambridge company dealing in shoe polishes and dressings
F77 W.L. Douglas Shoe Company, 1919-1926
Shoe company located in Brockton, Massachusetts
F78 W.O. Covey, 1926-1927
Seaford distributor of Easton’s mayonnaise, Kraft’s
cheese, as well as other goods
Series II. Layton & Layton
F79 A.B. Griffing and Son, 1909-1915
Linesville, Pennsylvania company that distributed cream cheese,
eggs, and butter
F80 Bawo and Dotter, 1896-1908
Company specializing in china and crockery based in New York
F81 Berry Brothers Limited, 1895-1906
Varnish and Japan manufacturers located in Philadelphia
F82 Boorum and Pease Company, 1902-1908
New York based manufacturers of standard blank books
F83 Bosman and Lohman Company, 1902-1908
Supplier of peanuts and peanut butter based in Norfolk
F84 Clawson Company, 1909-1915
Philadelphia supplier of spices, seeds, and herbs
F85 D.I. Bushnell and Company, 1906-1909
Seed company based in St. Louis
F86 Frank Burns, 1910-1917
Philadelphia steam biscuit bakery
F87 George Blome and Son Company, 1909-1910
Baltimore confectionery
F88 George W. Helme Company, 1911-1914
Tobacco distributor based in New York
F89 J. Bolgiano and Son, 1906-1911
Wholesale seed grower and seedsmen located in Baltimore
F90 J. Frank Shull and Company, 1898-1907
Philadelphia based wholesale grocers and tea dealers
F91 John J. Buffington and Company, 1906-1912
Wholesale seed merchants located in Baltimore
F92 Kenton Baking Powder Company, 1914-1916
Cincinnati based baking powder company
F93 Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company, 1915-1916
St. Louis distributor of tobacco
3 F94 McCormick and Company, 1916
Baltimore based importers, exporters, and grinders of drugs, teas, and spices
F95 Miscellaneous Receipts and Invoices, 1899-1921
F96 Parke, Davis, and Company, 1896-1906
New York supplier of various chemicals
F97 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, 1907
Glass company based in Baltimore
F98 Postum Cereal Company, Ltd., 1909-1913
Located in Battle Creek, Michigan
F99 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, 1916
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tobacco company
F100 Sherwin-Williams Company, 1893-1905
Paint and colors distributor based in New York
F101 S.H. Levin’s Sons, 1915-1916
Philadelphia distributor of salt fish
F102 Soda Mint Gum Company, 1904-1905
Gum company based in Pittsburgh
F103 Spool Cotton Company, 1907-1909
Cotton company located in New York
F104 Standard Mineral Water Company, 1893-1904
Philadelphia based mineral water company
F105 Steuart, Knatz, and Company, 1905-1908
Distributors of New Orleans molasses and sugars located Baltimore
F106 Strater Brothers Tobacco Company, 1898-1909
Louisville based tobacco distributor
Series III. Georgetown Gas Company
F107 Georgetown Gas Company, January 1924
F108 Georgetown Gas Company, April 1924 (I)
F109 Georgetown Gas Company, April 1924 (II)
F110 Georgetown Gas Company, May 1924
F111 Georgetown Gas Company, June 1924
F112 Georgetown Gas Company, November 1924
F113 Georgetown Gas Company, December 1924
F114 Georgetown Gas Company, April 1925
Series IV. Miscellaneous Sussex County, Delaware documents
F115 Ennes/Ennis/Evans, 1912-1930, n.d.
Receipts for the purchase of stock, correspondence
F116 Lank, 1933-1943
Miscellaneous receipts for services provided and materials purchased,
Maytag certificate
F117 Warren Estate, 1929
Legal documents establishing Linda E. Warren as administratrix of the estate
of James H. Warren.
F118 Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington Railroad, 1907-1914
Bill of lading for items shipped to J. Horace
Derrickson of Dagsboro and an additional bill of lading
for goods shipped from Georgetown to W.S. Morris of
Felton.
Series V. Agricultural Ephemera
F119 Acme Road Machinery Company Rollers Catalog, 1927
F120 Agricultural Almanac
Consists of years 1907, 1930, 1934-1936, 1938, and 1940
F121 Agricultural Pictures
Various pictures relating to agricultural work
F122 Antique Tractor Serial Number Index, 1900-1965
F123 Carbureter Tune-Up Manual, 1934
F124 Del-Mar-Va-Lous Chicken Recipes, 1949
F125 Dunbar Manufacturing Company, 1961
F126 Ford Dealers’ Equipment Directory, 1927
F127 Fordson Tractor: An Advertising History, 1919-1937
F128 Frick Company Catalog, 1912
F129 Gas Engine Magazine, Vol. 26 No. 12, December 1991
F130 Gasoline Engines, 1884-1934
F131 Gas Power, 1909
F132 Ignition Tune-up Analyzer Manual
F133 International Harvester Company Data Book #1, 1900-1940
F134 John I. Brown and Son, Lozenge Advertisements
F135 John Deere General Purpose “A”, “B”, “G” Series
3
F136 John Deere General Purpose Models “A”, “B”, “G”, “H” Series
F137 John Deere General Purpose Two Cylinder
F138 John Deere Instruction Manual
F139 John Deere No. 5 Power Mower Directions
F140 John Deere Parts Catalog, 1940
F141 John Deere Shop Manual, 1953
F142 John Deere Tractor Plows Directions
F143 John Deere Tractors, 1918-1976
F144 John Deere Various Advertisements
F145 Management of Marine Gasoline Engines, 1914
F146 Massey-Harris High Arch Tractors
F147 Massey-Harris Operating Instructions
F148 Massey-Harris Wallis 20-30 Tractor
F149 McCormick No. 3 Operator’s Manual
F150 Minneapolis-Moline Data Book #2, 1910-1959
F151 Novo Engine Company Operating Instructions, 1927
F152 Oliver Serial Numbers and Years, 1982
F153 Operator’s Manual, Oliver Corporation, 1957
F154 Spencer Magazine Feed Heaters
F155 Threshers, 1900-1948
F156 Year of the Tractor, 1919
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