Alan and Elaine Levitt Advertisement Collection
name: label: Collector
content: Levitt, Alan
label: Collector
content: Levitt, Elaine
label: Names
content: Eastman Kodak Co.
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Medical Sciences
label: Names
content: Sherman Pharmacy (Sherman, N.Y.)
place: label: Place
content: Chautauqua County (N.Y.) -- 1920-1970
title: label: Topic
content: Coca-Cola (Trademark)
label: Topic
content: Kodak (Brand name)
topic: label: Topic
content: Patent medicines
label: Topic
content: Cigarettes -- advertising -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: advertising -- History -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: advertising -- Photography -- Apparatus and supplies -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Cigars
label: Topic
content: Pharmaceutical industry -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Pharmacology -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Photography -- Apparatus and supplies
label: Topic
content: Pharmacists -- 1920-1970
label: Topic
content: Drugstores
label: Topic
content: Veterinary supplies industry -- 1920-1970
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The materials were given by Alan and Elaine Levitt, September 1984.
creator: label: Collector
content: Levitt, Alan
label: Collector
content: Levitt, Elaine
setName: label: See more items in
content: Alan and Elaine Levitt Advertisement Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: Advertising materials relating to pharmaceutical and other supplies as part of the stock of retail pharmacies from 1920 to the early 1960s, mostly advertisements for cigars, cigarettes, Coca-Cola, Kodak, veterinary supplies, and patent medicines.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Alan Levitt, who owned and operated a pharmacy in Sherman (Chautauqua County), New York, and his wife Elaine, gave to the National Museum of American History a number of pharmaceutically related objects and a collection of archival graphic materials, primarily advertising in nature.  The pharmacy from which the materials came was known as Sherman Pharmacy and was located at 105 West Main Street, Sherman, New York.  It was opened by James Tuft on May 9, 1895.  The Levitts' decision to sell and leave Sherman was made in 1983 after about ten years of operating the store.  The correspondence with respect to making the gift to the Smithsonian indicates the move was related to a desire to be part of the Jewish culture in a larger community than Sherman, which has no synagogue, for example.  The Levitts had one small child and a second was on the way. By early January 1986, the Levitts had sold the pharmacy and bought a house at 2551 East 26th Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11235.  Mr. Levitt was employed as a pharmacist in a state institution in Manhattan.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5 Cubic feet (5 boxes, 3 oversized folders)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1920 - 1960s.
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Medical Sciences (now Division of Medicine and Science), April 29, 1988.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0303
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Business records
label: Type
content: Booklets
label: Type
content: Advertisements
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into two series. 

Series 1: Organizational Files, 1922-1995

Subseries 1.1: Administration, 1923-1994

Subseries 1.2: Affiliates and Offices, 1922-1964

Series 2: Subject Files, 1851-1990
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Processed by Grace M. Angle (volunteer), Grace M. Angle June, 1988; supervised by Robert Harding, archivist. Revised by David Haberstich, March 21, 2005.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Business records -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Booklets -- 1920-1970
label: Genre/Form
content: Advertisements
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The collection consists primarily of advertising materials related to pharmaceutical and other supplies part of the stock of retail pharmacies during the period from the 1920s to the 1960s.  Much of it was in the store when the Levitts purchased the Sherman Pharmacy.

The majority is advertisements for such items as cigars, cigarettes, Coca Cola, Kodak products, veterinary supplies, and patent medicines.  There are a few photographs of local (Sherman) interest and a few booklets and pamphlets, including a high school yearbook.

The material is in excellent condition.  It has been left in the boxes and folders in which it was received from the Division of Medical Sciences.