Two trade cards; Stearns' Rolled Braid, Wright Manufacturing, Atlantic Mills, Lawrence, Mass., 1881

Search Collections

Collection Type

  • Ephemera

Date

1865-1881

Location Note

ephemera / trade cards / sewing equipment and supplies / folder 1

GUSN

GUSN-393133

You can find this within

Browse Collection

Description

The two trade cards are printed in three colors and include fine line drawings and gold ink. The cards show A.W. Stearns as the treasurer. One card depicts a calendar for 1881 and gives a brief history while the other provides a summary of the materials and the quality of the manufactured woolen and alpaca braids.

Details

Descriptive Terms

trade cards (advertising)
business (commercial function)
manufacturing
sewing (visual works)
trimming (material)
trade cards (advertising)

Physical Descrption

2 matching tradecards, 2.75 x 5 inches

Collection Code

EP001

Collection Name

Ephemera collection

Date of Acquisition

2023

Reference Code

EP001.01.102.01.01.015

Acqusition Type

Library & Archives Purchase

Credit Line

Purchase, 2023

Places

Lawrence (Essex county, Massachusetts)

Record Details

Material Type

trade cards (advertising)

Description Level

Item

Location Note

ephemera / trade cards / sewing equipment and supplies / folder 1

Historical/Biographical Note

Historical/Biographical Note

WRIGHT MANUFACTURING COMPANY. In 1854, Algernon S. Wright, an overseer in the Atlantic Cotton mills with Artemas W. Stearns and Dr. Alfred J. French formed a partnership for the manufacture of woollen [sic] yarn and leased a mill for that purpose. Later the project was abandoned, and at Mr. Stearns' suggestion, the mill was equipped with suitable machinery for making braids. Starting with 50 braid machines, the number has been increased to 900, and 150 persons find employment in producing a large variety of mohair and other braids. The company was incorporated in 1874 with a capital of $60,000 and organized by the choice of Dr. French as president, A. S. Wright, superintendent, and A. W. Stearns, treasurer. The building owned by the company is 250 feet long and four stories high, fronting on Island street. The officers are A. W. Stearns, treasurer; C Swift, superintendent, and W. L. Warden, clerk.

Sources


The Lawrence Gazetteer : Containing a record of the important events in Lawrence and vicinity from 1845 to 1894. 1894. Wright Manufacturing Company. page 39. From the Internet Archive. Retrieved June 5, 2026. dn790005.ca.archive.org/0/items/lawrencegazettee00merr/lawrencegazettee00merr.pdf

Reparative Language in Collections Records

Historic New England is committed to implementing reparative language description for existing collections and creating respectful and inclusive language description for new collections. If you encounter language in Historic England's Collections Access Portal that is harmful or offensive, or you find materials that would benefit from a content warning, please contact info@historicnewengland.org.

Loading Loading...