Accoutrements/Archie McPhee Catalogs
name: label: Creator
content: Accoutrements, Seattle, Washington
label: Creator
content: Archie McPhee (Retail store)
label: Former owner
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Cultural History
topic: label: Topic
content: Popular culture
label: Topic
content: Toys
label: Topic
content: Toy industry
label: Topic
content: Mail-order business
label: Topic
content: Novelties
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated in 2002.
creator: label: Creator
content: Accoutrements, Seattle, Washington
label: Creator
content: Archie McPhee (Retail store)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Accoutrements/Archie McPhee Catalogs
abstract: label: Summary
content: Accoutrements and Archie McPhee product catalogs dating from 1983-2008.
bioghist: label: Biographical/Historical note
content: Accoutrements began as a mail order business in Los Angles, California in the 1970s.  The company's creator, Mark Pahlow, started the business from his home offering rubber lizards and other collectible items for sale. In 1983, Pahlow moved his business to Seattle, Washington and established it as the retail outlet, Archie McPhee, named after his wife's great-uncle.  Pahlow hired two employees and expanded the product line to include rubber chickens and a host of other novelty items. In 2018, Archie McPhee opened the Rubber Chicken Museum inside its Seattle store.  The business currently offers retail, wholesale, and online services. 

Source: archiemcpheeseattle.com
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Cubic foot
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1985-2008, undated
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: The collection was transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Cultural History (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) in 2003.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0837
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Catalogs
label: Type
content: Legal records
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Collection is arranged into two series.

Series 1, Catalogs, 1985-2008

Series 2: Other Materials, undated
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, archivist, 2005.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 2000-2010
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Catalogs
label: Genre/Form
content: Legal records
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: Collection consists of almost a complete run of Accoutrements and Archie McPhee product catalogs dating from 1985-2008. It documents the advertising and promotion of the wide range of products during that period.  Materials reflect the interests of the consumer market and what was paid for novelty and gift items. Collection is arranged into two series. Series 1, Catalogs, 1985-2008 and Series 2: Other Materials, undated.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History


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