Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Collection on the Pacific Outfitting Company, 1907-1991
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Collection on the Pacific Outfitting Company
- Dates
- 1907-1991 (inclusive)
- Quantity
- 1 box, (.42 cubic feet)
- Collection Number
- 2008.3.18 (accession)
- Summary
- Materials related to the history of the Pacific Outfitting Company in Seattle, mostly photographs along with some business documents and other items
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Pacific Outfitting Company was founded in 1907 as a part of a larger chain of stores, including the Eastern and Columbia Outfitting Companies. The corporation was founded in 1887 by Alfred Shemanski, a Polish immigrant. Pacific opened in Seattle in a storefront at 422 Pike Street, and eventually set up stores in Spokane and Bellevue. Pacific started as a clothing store for women, soon expanding to sell men’s apparel as well. The store was managed by Max Lipman from 1912 until his death in 1953. Lipman used World War I to establish the store by gaining a monopoly on credit. Lipman was also able to keep the store open during the Depression, something many of his neighbors were not able to do. Pacific was also one of the first companies in Seattle to organize a union. Besides being a capable manager, Lipman was very heavily involved in the community, and as the community expanded, so did the store. Upon Lipman’s death in 1953, his son Herbert took over management. The store continued to remain in business until 1991, when the corporation was dissolved.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The majority of the collection is made up of photographs. These photos range from the store’s early days to the days of their liquidation sale. Subjects depicted include the store, employees and clothing. Business documents include store license, minutes, by-laws, meetings and stocks. Other materials include promotions for credit and bonds. The transcript of an interview with Herbert Lipman provides background on the family and the history of the store.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Collection on the Pacific Outfitting Company, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
PhotographsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Black and white photographs |
||
| Folder | ||
| 1 | .1: Eastern Outfitting Co. building storefront |
circa 1910-1940 |
| 2 | .2: Man with seven women in front of store
Pacific Outfitting Co. store at 3rd Avenue near Seneca Street.
Identifications on verso.
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 3 | circa 1910-1940 | |
| 4 | .4: Two women in the women’s section of store
Mounted
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 5 | .5: Room with chaise lounge
‘Compliments of Electric Heating and Light Co.’ written on back
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 6 | .6: Max Lipman in store with large group
Photograph was taken after a dance contest sponsored by Pacific Outfitting Co.
|
1932 |
| 7 | .7: Group at Managers Competition Banquet, Pacific Outfitting
Co. |
1928 May |
| 8 | .8: Pacific Outfitting Co. storefront at 422 Pine Street |
circa 1910-1940 |
| 9 | .9: Employees of company
Mounted
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 10 | .10: Pacific Outfitting Co. storefront
Display in window welcoming Loyal Order of Moose.
|
circa 1919 |
| 11 | .11: Security Benefits Association Drill team
Wearing uniforms furnished by Pacific Outfitting Co.
|
1929 |
| 12 | .12: Max Lipman
Mounted
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 13 | .13: Max Lipman
Mounted
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 14 | .14: Employee photo
Half-tone reproduction
|
circa 1930 |
| 15 | .15: Alfred Shemanksi
Written on verso: Founder and President of Pacific Outfitting Company 1908-1966
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 16 | .16: Employee photo
Some individuals identified on accompanying photocopy.
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 17 | .17: Svea Male Chorus
Wearing coats and trousers by Pacific Outfitting Co.
|
1955 |
| 18 | .18: Seattle meter maids
Accompanied by copy of newspaper article showing the photo.
Wearing uniforms provided by Pacific Outfitting Co.
|
circa 1940-1960 |
| 19 | .19: Woman in meter maid uniform looking in store mirror |
circa 1940-1960 |
Color photographs |
||
| Folder | ||
| 24 | .26: Man at desk
Identified as "manager."
|
circa 1960-1990 |
| 30 | .34: Pacific Outfitting Co. store interior and exterior 8 35mm color negatives
|
circa 1960-1990 |
| 32 | .36-.40: Interior of Pacific Outfitting Co. store
5 items
|
circa 1960-1990 |
| 32 | .41-.46: Interior of Pacific Outfitting Co. store 6 snapshots
|
circa 1960-1990 |
| 32 | .47-.52: Interior of Pacific Outfitting Co. store 6 snapshots
|
circa 1960-1990 |
| 33 | .53-.55: Shoppers at Pacific Outfitting Co. store 3 snapshots
|
circa 1960-1990 |
| 33 | .56-.62: Exterior of Pacific Outfitting Co. store 7 snapshots
|
circa 1960-1990 |
Business documentsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Folder | ||
| 20 | .20: Registration of Trademark Certificate
Trademark of ‘One and One Half Sale.’
Advertisement for sale is attached to certificate. |
1975 |
| 21 | .21: Stock contract |
1909 |
| 22 | .22: Pacific Outfitting Co. stock shares |
1908-1930 |
| 36 | .69: Pacific Outfitting Co. ledger book
Includes minutes, business licenses, trustees’ meetings, stockholder meetings, by-laws, Articles of
Incorporation, Certificate of Administrative Dissolution.
|
1907-1991 |
AdvertisementsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Folder | ||
| 29 | .33: Copy of advertisement for Pacific Outfitting Co.
“The Home of Cheerful Credit”
|
circa 1940-1960 |
| 34 | .63: Advertisement for Pacific Outfitting Co.
Nitrate negative
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 34 | .64: Advertisement for Pacific Outfitting Co.
Nitrate negative
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 34 | .65: Advertisement for Pacific Outfitting Co.
Nitrate negative
|
circa 1910-1940 |
| 34 | .66: Advertisement for Pacific Outfitting Co.
Nitrate negative
|
circa 1910-1940 |
MiscellaneousReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Folder | ||
| 23 | .23: Credit book |
1916 |
| 23 | .24: King County Deputy Sheriff card for Max Lipman |
1950 |
| 33 | .25: Discount card for U.S. War bonds during World War II |
circa early 1940s |
| 24 | .27: Employee identification card for Herbert Lipman |
circa 1940-1960 |
| 25 | .28: Letter from family hypnotherapist
Inquiring about an unused incentive check he found
|
circa 1940-1960 |
| 26 | .29: The Third Avenue Association flyer |
circa 1940-1960 |
| 26 | .30: Price list for official uniforms for Seattle Transit System
2 copies
|
1949 |
| 27 | .31:
The Seattle Eagle, Fraternal Order of Eagles newsletter
Includes obituary for Max Lipman
|
1953 May |
| 28 | .32: “Cheerful Credit” interview transcript
Transcript of an interview with Herbert Lipman about the Lipman family and the history of the Pacific
Outfitting Co., conducted by Carla Wulfsberg in 1983.
|
1983 |
| 31 | .35: Patriotic card, "I'm Proud to be an American"
Pledge of Allegiance on one side and the Star Spangled Banner on the other, with cloth flag attached at
top. Compliments of the Pacific Outfitting Company
|
circa 1940-1960 |
| 35 | .68: Letter from Oscar Pearson to Herbert Lipman
Letter includes Pearson's remembrance of Max Lipman and the store during the Great Depression.
|
1990 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Clothing stores--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Retail trade--Washington (State)--Seattle
Geographical Names
- United States--Washington (State)--Seattle
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Finding aid prepared by Virginia Butler
2010
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
