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Willard Fur Company Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MsC0207

  • Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The records of the Willard Fur Company document thirty years of the company's history. The financial situation is shown with daily cash receipts, sales records, and balance sheets, while inventory lists, custom orders, and catalogs describe their products. These records were given to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1959 by W.B. Hull. They are open for research and information on the literary rights is available in the repository.

Dates

  • Creation: 1910-1930

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Biographical / Historical

The business had its beginnings when Hull’s great-great grandfather Hiram Willard moved from Maine to Galena, Ill., where he founded a tannery, and then later moved his business to Marshall, Iowa. Willard’s daughter married a man with the last name Hull, thus creating a connection between the Willard and Hull families. In Marshall, later named Marshalltown, the business involved the tanning of pelts, manufacturing the coats, and selling them in a store, as well as through catalogs. The business handled such internationally grown pelts as monkey, jaguar, polar bear and leopard. At one time the business created hats as well as coats and was known as Willard’s Fur and Millinery. Hull became a part of the fur business when he returned to his native Marshalltown in 1982. He said that he is still selling furs, but the store now sells mainly women’s ready to wear, and operates a tux rental in addition.

- Times Republican

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Fur clothier in Marshalltown, IA. The company is documented with records such as daily cash receipts and sales records. Inventory lists and catalogs describe their products.

Method of Acquisition

The Willard Fur Company donated its records to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1959.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the University of Iowa Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5921
319-335-5900 (Fax)