Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Fires and Firefighting
Warshaw, Isadore, 1900-1969
NMAH.AC.0060.S01.01.Fires
Archival Resource Key
1.49 Cubic feet
consisting of 3 boxes, 1 folder, 5 oversize folders, 1 map case folder, plus digital images of some collection material.
1886-1964
undated
A New York bookseller, Warshaw assembled this collection over nearly fifty years. The Warshaw Collection of Business Americana: Fires and Firefighting forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Subseries 1.1: Subject Categories. The Subject Categories subseries is divided into 470 subject categories based on those created by Mr. Warshaw. These subject categories include topical subjects, types or forms of material, people, organizations, historical events, and other categories. An overview to the entire Warshaw collection is available here: Warshaw Collection of Business Americana
English
.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Fires and Firefighting is a portion of the Business Ephemera Series of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Accession AC0060 purchased from Isadore Warshaw in 1967. Warshaw continued to accumulate similar material until his death, which was donated in 1971 by his widow, Augusta. For a period after acquisition, related materials from other sources (of mixed provenance) were added to the collection so there may be content produced or published after Warshaw's death in 1969. This practice has since ceased.
Preferred Citation note
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Fires and Firefighting, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research. Some items may be restricted due to fragile condition.
Conditions Governing Use note
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Materials in the Archives Center
Archives Center Collection of Business Americana (AC0404)
Forms Part Of
Forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana.
Missing Title
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Series 1: Business Ephemera
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Series 2: Other Collection Divisions
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Series 3: Isadore Warshaw Personal Papers
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Series 4: Photographic Reference Material
Scope and Contents
This material consists primarily of scattered correspondence on letterhead stationery, trade catalogues, advertising cards, bills/receipts, badges, business cards, photographs, lithographs, caricatures, invitations, announcements, patents, articles, reports, pamphlets, periodicals, programs, and printed advertisements from manufacturers and distributors of equipment and supplies for firemen including fire extinguishers, ladders, exhaust fans, caps, hoses and fire engines. There is also material from insurance companies for firemen, firemens' associations and activities such as firemens' balls, parades and picnics. There is very little information on supplies for the public or domestic use. Most of the material is directed to the firefighting profession. There are a number of images of major fires. Products are fireproof metal ceiling, walls steel shelving, steel cabinets, steel lockers and Kalamein doors.
Materials in box one and the beginning of box two are organized by name of company. The remaining folders in box two and box three are arranged by type including general images, patents and related publications.
Processing Information
In 2016, with funding provided by the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund, the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History implemented the use of minimal level processing standards to increase information about and facilitate access to more of our collections.
A large portion of stored material from the original acquisition received minimal level processing, which resulted in additions to this Subject category. This effort included basic arrangement and replacement of non-archival housing for long-term stability, but staples and other fasteners have not all been removed. Revisions to the encoded finding aid were made to reflect the added content in context to the previously processed material.
Minimal level processing and enhancement of the machine-readable finding aid completed by Nicole Blechynden, September 2017.
Ephemera
Business ephemera
Fires
Firefighters
Ladders
Engines
Fans
Doors
Business Records, Marketing Material, and Other
Archival Resource Key
1886-1964
Manufacturers and Distributors of Firefighting Equipment and Insurance Materials
1
Archival Resource Key
Aetna Fire Engine Company, Fulton, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
1
Ahrens Fire Engine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1
2
Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1
3
Ajax Fire Engine Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
4
Alert Engine Company
Archival Resource Key
1
5
Allen, W. D. Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois
Archival Resource Key
1
5
American Fire Engine Co., Seneca Falls, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
6
American Fire Hose Manufacturing Company, Chelsea, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
1
7
American LaFrance Fire Engine Company
Archival Resource Key
1
8
American Fomon Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Archival Resource Key
1
9
Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Manchester, New Hampshire
Archival Resource Key
1
10
Architectural Fireproofing Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
10
Automatic Signal Telegraph Company
Archival Resource Key
1
11
Automatic Sprinkler Company of America, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
11
Babcock Fire Extinguisher, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
12
Barnum, E. T. Detroit, Michigan
Archival Resource Key
1
13
Blaw-Knox Sprinkler Division, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Archival Resource Key
1
14
Campbell, I Hose, Company, Schenectady
Archival Resource Key
1
15
Castle, James M., Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Archival Resource Key
1
16
Childs, 0.J., Company, Utica, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
17-18
Clapp & Jones, Hudson, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
19
Columbia Defender Extinguisher Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
20
Consolidated Fire Extinguisher Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Archival Resource Key
1
21
Cordley & Hayes, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
21
Croton Engine Company, New Haven, Connecticut
Archival Resource Key
1
21
Defender Fire Extinguisher, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
22
Diggs, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
23
Downing, G. H., New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
24
Eclipse Chemical Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
25
Emergency Fire Appliance Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
25
Empire Manufacturing Company, Lockport, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
25
Eureka Fire Hose Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
26
21
7
Ever Ready Manufacturing Company, Buffalo, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
27
Fake, J. S. Hook & Ladder Company, Troy, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
28
Fire & Water, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
29
Fire Extinguisher Manufacturing Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
30
Firemans Fund Insurance Company, Chicago, Illinois
Archival Resource Key
21
7
Fireproof Products Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
31
Fitts, Frank E., Manufacturing & Supply Company, Boston, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
1
32
Foree Products Company, Chicago, Illinois
Archival Resource Key
1
34
Forster Manufacturing Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
34
Fyr-Fyter Company, Dayton, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1
35
Fyricide Manufacturing Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
36
Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
37
Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
38
Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Company, New York, New York
General Detroit Corporation, Detroit, Michigan
Archival Resource Key
1
39
General Fireproofing Bldg. Products, Youngstown, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1
40
General Fire Truck Corporation, Detroit, Michigan
Archival Resource Key
1
41
Grether Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1
42
Hall Brothers, Boston, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
21
7
Harden Fire Extinguisher Company, Chicago, Illinois
Archival Resource Key
1
43
Harden Hand Grenade Fire Extinguisher Company, Chicago, Illinois
Archival Resource Key
21
7
Harris Safety Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
43
Hayward Hand-Grenada Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
44
Higgins, Paul D., Costigan, Maine
Archival Resource Key
1
45
Holloway, Chas. T., Baltimore, Maryland
Archival Resource Key
1
46
Knowlton, D & C., Camden, New Jersey
Archival Resource Key
1
47
Leverich, Edwd B., Brooklyn, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
48
Lewis, P.C., Catskill, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
48
Johns-Manville H. W. & Co., Boston, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
1
49
21
7
Scope and Contents
Fire Distinguishers and Conservation Products
McCloskey Torch Company, Toledo, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1
50
Migeod, J. M.& Son, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Archival Resource Key
1
50
Municipal Signal Company, Boston, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
1
51
New England Fire Engine Hose Manufacturing Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
52
New England Linen Hose Manufacturing Company, Boston, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
1
52
New York State Drain Tile & Fire Proofing Works, Albany, New York
Archival Resource Key
1
53
Newton, R. W., Providence, Rhode Island
Archival Resource Key
1
54
Penn Metal Company of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Archival Resource Key
1
54
Pyrene Manufacturing Company, Newark, New York
Archival Resource Key
2
1
21
7
Scope and Contents
Fire Extinguishers
Rice, T. C. & Company, Worcester, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
2
2
Rowe, A. C. & Son, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
2
3
Rowe, A. C. & Son, New York, New York
Rumsey & Company
Archival Resource Key
2
4
Seneca Falls, New York
Archival Resource Key
2
5
Safety Fire Extinguisher Company, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
2
6
Silsby Manufacturing Company, Seneca Falls, New York
Archival Resource Key
2
7
Sparrow, John, Portland, Oregon
Archival Resource Key
2
8
Spawn, A. F. & Company, New York
Archival Resource Key
2
8
Steiner
Archival Resource Key
2
9
Waterous Engine Works Company, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Archival Resource Key
2
10
Webb Motorfire Apparatus Company, St. Louis, Missouri
Archival Resource Key
2
11
Trojan Fire Prevention Corporation, New York, New York
Archival Resource Key
21
8
Publications
2
Archival Resource Key
Related Articles
Archival Resource Key
2
14
Related Journals
Archival Resource Key
2
15
Related Periodicals
Archival Resource Key
2
16
Fire and Water
Archival Resource Key
1894 August 25
21
8
This Week Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1955 October 16
21
8
Related Books
Archival Resource Key
2
General Works
3
Archival Resource Key
Fire Departments
Archival Resource Key
2
12
Constitutions and ByLaws
Archival Resource Key
2
13
Insurance Companies
Archival Resource Key
2
14
Photographs
Archival Resource Key
2
15-16
General Images
Archival Resource Key
2
17-23
21
8
102
9
Postcards
Archival Resource Key
2
24
Ball Invitations and Programs
Archival Resource Key
2
25
Ball Invitations and Programs
Ball Programs
Archival Resource Key
2
26
Business Cards
Archival Resource Key
2
27
Badges
Archival Resource Key
2
28
Invitations, Announcements and Tickets
Archival Resource Key
2
29
Official Documents
Archival Resource Key
2
30
Patents
Archival Resource Key
3
1-3
Certificates of Appointments and Services
Archival Resource Key
3
4
Certificates of Membership
Archival Resource Key
3
5
Associations
Archival Resource Key
3
6-7
Souvenir Programs
Archival Resource Key
3
8
Addresses
Archival Resource Key
3
9
Sermons
Archival Resource Key
3
10
Reports
Archival Resource Key
3
11
Manuals
Archival Resource Key
3
12
Related Pamphlets
Archival Resource Key
3
13
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
3
23-28
Visual References
Archival Resource Key
3
29
Fighter Certifications
Archival Resource Key
21
7
102
9
General, Fires and Firefighting
Archival Resource Key
1886-1964
SUPP
13
14
Scope and Contents
Advertisements for fire escapes, plus chimney and flue repair. Illustration of a horse drawn fire wagon. Article reprint on fire hazards related to aerosol sprays, news clippings, business correspondence.
Fires and Firefighting
Archival Resource Key
2