Making of shoe boxes, Bradford, Mass., 1917

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Collection Type

  • Photography

Date

1917

GUSN

GUSN-362427

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Description

Photograph of four women making shoe boxes in front of Anson Ayer, an owner of Ayer & Webster, in Bradford, Massachusetts. Ayer & Webster were manufacturers of box board. The photograph was taken in 1917. The photographer is unknown. On a verso, the names of the individuals pictured are handwritten.

Details

Descriptive Terms

boxes (containers)
shoes (footwear)
manufacturing
factories (structures)
women (female humans)
men (male humans)
workers
labor
owners
photographs
mounting

Inscription

From left Anson Ayer owner / Mrs. Charles (Bertha Charlotte) Brown / Mrs. Perley (Anna Schulz) Kimball / Miss Florence Campbell / Miss Helen Riley / Making of shoe boxes 1917 / Ayer + Webster, Bradford, Mass.

Physical Descrption

1 photographic print : black-and-white, mounted ; 9 x 11 inches

Collection Code

PC001

Collection Name

General photographic collection

Date of Acquisition

2023

Reference Code

PC001.02.01.USMA.0390.0030.001

Credit Line

Library & Archives purchase, 2023

Places

Bradford (Haverhill, Essex county, Massachusetts) [neighborhood]

Record Details

Material Type

photographs
mounting

Other Organizations

Ayer & Webster

Subjects

Photograph
Box
Manufacturing

Description Level

Item

Historical/Biographical Note

Historical/Biographical Note

Anson B. Ayer was born in Hampstead, New Hampshire, in 1862 to Albert and Lydia M. (Hoyt) Ayer. Ayer was educated locally but left school as a teenager and began working. His first job was at the G. H. Hoyt & Son box factory. He eventually left to work for M. A. Howe. The business took a number of names over the years, including Morse & Hoyt and C. M. Hoyt. Throughout the years, Ayer continued to work at this factory until he became part owner. In 1911, the trading name was changed to Ayer & Webster, and Ayer became the principal owner. He was heavily involved in the local community. In 1882, he married Fannie Dias. The couple had three children: Forest D. Ayer, George H. Ayer, and Marion F. Ayer.

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