Skip to main content

Marshall-Wells Company records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: S3614

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of articles of incorporation, bylaws, annual reports (1940, 1946, 1948, 1954), titles, leases, deeds, stock certificates, financial statements; a list of salesmen (1953); annual roundup program; photograph of George Hill, John Howe, Sig Soberg (1957), and John Hutman; business letters; promotional material; product advertisements; John Patterson correspondence; a company history; and newspaper articles about the company.

Dates

  • 1892-1961
  • Majority of material found in 1940s-1950s

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use in the Kathryn A. Martin Library, Archives and Special Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

Marshall-Wells Company started in 1886 as Chapin-Wells Co. wholesale hardware and grocery firm.  A.M. Marshall bought controlling interest in 1893 and changed its name to Marshall-Wells Co.  The company grew to include 14 wholesale offices throughout the northwestern United States and in Canada.  They retained their warehouses and executive office on the Duluth Waterfront.  In 1955, Ambrook Industries, Inc. of New York bought controlling interest.  The Coast-to-Coast Stores (based in Minneapolis, Minnesota) bought the Duluth Division of Marshall-Wells-Kelley-How-Thomson Co. in 1958, which ended the Duluth firm's operation.

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection consists of articles of incorporation, bylaws, annual reports (1940, 1946, 1948, 1954), titles, leases, deeds, stock certificates, financial statements; a list of salesmen (1953); annual roundup program; photograph of George Hill, John Howe, Sig Soberg (1957), and John Hutman; business letters; promotional material; product advertisements; John Patterson correspondence; a company history; and newspaper articles about the company.

Physical Location

This collection is located at the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives. For more information about this collection or to make an appointment, contact us at libarchives@d.umn.edu or 218-726-8526.

Other Finding Aids

Related Materials:

NEMHC Archival Collections S2265 Marvin Meierhoff photograph collection

NEMHC Archival Collections S4554 Stewart-Taylor Company art department products

NEMHC Print Collection Marshall-Wells Catalogs Folio TS405 .M3

NEMHC Print Collection Marshall-Wells Lumber Supply Service Catalog Folio TS405 .M33 1957

NEMHC Serials Collection Zenith Magazine

NEMHC Serials Collection Zenith Zephyr

General

This collection is part of the Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections, which are housed in the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives at the Kathryn A. Martin Library, and are on permanent loan from the St. Louis County Historical Society.

Title
Guide to the Marshall-Wells Company records
Author
Finding Aid Authors: P. Maus.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Collecting Area Details

Contact The University of Minnesota Duluth Archives and Special Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
Kathryn A. Martin Library
University of Minnesota Duluth
416 Library Drive
Duluth MN 55812-3001
(218) 726-8526