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Kalamazoo Corset Company Collection

 Collection
Identifier: A-3780

Scope and Contents

This collection is comprised of one receipt for three dozen corsets, dated February 9, 1912 to George P. Langford of Vernon, New York from the Kalamazoo Corset Company located at 316 North Church Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Dates

  • Creation: 1912

Biographical / Historical

In 1899, James Harvey Hatfield (11/3/1855-12/15/1922) purchased the Featherbone Corset Company of Kalamazoo (established 1891). Renamed the Kalamazoo Corset Company, according to the 1899 Kalamazoo City Directory, they were the “sole manufacturers of Featherbone corsets, health waists, dress forms, komet hose and supporters.” Located at 316 North Church Street, James Hatfield was president of the company until 1914 when the company was sold to William E. Upjohn (6/5/1853-10/18/1932) and reorganized. William Upjohn was also the president of the Upjohn Company of Kalamazoo. The Kalamazoo Corset Company’s name was changed to the Grace Corset Company in 1922 and continued operation under William Upjohn until 1923when it changed hands to William Shakespeare Jr.(9/21/1869-6/25/1950) who was also president of the Shakespeare Company of Kalamazoo which manufactured fishing tackle. William Shakespeare Jr. was president of the Grace Corset Company until its closing in 1957.

Extent

0.05 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Physical Description

This collection amounts to 0.05 cubic feet and is comprised of one receipt dated February 9, 1904 from the Kalamazoo Corset Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The receipt measures 8”x5,”and is in excellent condition. It is cream in color with black printing which reads “Kalamazoo Corset Company sole makers of F.C. American Beauty and Hatfield Brigham Patent Clasp Corsets.” There is a picture of the factory in the upper left hand corner. The receipt is written out to Geo. P. Langford of Vernon, New York in black ink. The only sign of wear is minor creasing where the receipt had been folded. There is also some smudging of the ink.

Notes

Purchased with funds from the Starring Endowment. Kalamazoo Corsets were displayed and sold at many stores including J.R. Jones’ Sons and Company whose collection number is A-3744. William S. Dewing of Dewing and Sons (A-3737) served as Vice President of the corset company from 1914-1916. William Shakespeare and the Shakespeare Company can also be found in the Robert and Ruth Slager Collection A-3738.

Title
Kalamazoo Corset Company Collection Finding Aid
Status
Completed
Author
Ashley Kirvan
Date
1912
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Archives & Regional History Collections Repository

Contact:
Charles C. and Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490