Brooklyn business blotters
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Abstract
This collection consists of 190 blotters, dating circa 1910-1960. Over 60 Brooklyn based businesses are represented in industries including banking, auto supplies, florists, carpet cleaning and repair, beauty parlors, home repairs, dentistry, restaurants, and insurance sales.
Historical Note
Ink blotters are a thin, highly absorbent sheet of paper used to lift excess ink from a page after writing with a fountain pen or quill. Blotters can be pressed to the page by hand or attached to a device such as a rocker or roller. In the 1900s businesses began manufacturing blotters as a promotional novelty, providing customers with a practical, everyday item that included an advertisement.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of 190 blotters, dating circa 1910-1960. Over 60 Brooklyn based businesses are represented in industries including banking, auto supplies, florists, carpet cleaning and repair, beauty parlors, home repairs, dentistry, restaurants, and insurance sales. The bulk of the collection includes blotters from H.E. Müller and Son, Jacob Muller Automotive Supplies, Nishan Kilarjian and Sons, E. Frank, and Brooklyn Trust Company. Blotters list business names, locations, and contact information. Several also include artwork, ranging from simple line drawings to full color illustrations.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Brooklyn business blotters, BCMS.0097, Box number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Michael Festa, 2019.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
The materials in this collection are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact cbhreference@bklynlibrary.org at least two weeks prior to research visit.
