MS 571 - Michael Tho. Reynolds Upholsterer & Furniture Maker Papers

Title	MS 571 - Michael Tho. Reynolds Upholsterer & Furniture Maker Papers
Subject	Business & Commerce
Introduction	The Michael Tho. Reynolds Upholsterer Collection begins in 1979 and continues to the present. This collection includes approximately 24 cubic feet of documents. Three cubic feet of correspondence and financial records (general ledgers, itemized workbooks, inventories, financial papers and trade journals). The general ledgers are closed to researchers and the financial papers from 1991 to present are unavailable for research. Trade journals may be used by researchers but any duplication and quoting from these journals must include crediting Michael Tho. Reynolds. Six cubic feet of the collection is devoted to printed materials: upholstering journals, magazines, catalogs, price lists and books focusing upon upholstering, furniture and the decorative arts. Less than one half cubic foot includes photographs of various upholstering projects. Fabric sample/job records comprise 15 cubic feet of the collection and certain financial data, photographs, swatches, and other documentation for specific upholstering jobs. Miscellaneous historic fabric and upholstering samples are included for research purposes. The collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections in March 1990 with the assistance of Ann M. Bowers, Assistant Director. The finding aid was completed by Eric Honneffer in January 2005 and revised and updated in November 2010.
Agency History	Reynolds Upholstering is a one man upholstering and furniture making business operating out of the Michael Tho. Reynolds home near Wayne, Ohio since approximately 1979. The business offers a great variety of upholstering services but specializes in the use of traditional, handcrafted upholstering methods for historic furniture. Mr. Reynolds' collection includes not only financial and business records but also a detailed accounting of work completed on various upholstering jobs and where possible, a record of historically significant upholstering details from particular projects for purposes of study and research of the history of the craft. Details about his furniture design and construction commissions are also found in the collection.
Scope and Content	The Michael Tho. Reynolds Upholsterer and Furniture Maker Collection is comprised of approximately 24 cubic feet of correspondence, financial records, printed materials such as catalogs and upholstering journals, books, photographs and artifactual fabric swatches. Correspondence comprises only .5 cubic feet of the collection beginning in about 1980 to the present. This is broken into such categories as customers, donations of historic upholstering artifacts to organizations, research interests, government issues and suppliers. The supplier correspondence is mostly mail and catalog information sent to Mr. Reynolds. His trade journals or notes on how he completes certain upholstering techniques (1989-1998) are placed at the end of the correspondence. The descriptions in these provide insights into Mr. Reynolds great interest in traditional hand done upholstering technique. The correspondence for certain customer projects shows how Mr. Reynolds works with various organizations and private citizens and how detailed he documents that work. The correspondence is closed to researchers. The trade journals may be used by researchers but Michael Thomas Reynolds must be credited if information is duplicated or quoted. The financial records comprise 2.5 cubic feet of the collection and include general ledgers, itemized workbooks (with contract and inventory information), and financial papers (invoices, receipts, bills). These records begin in 1979 and run to the present (the itemized workbooks begin in 1989). Some financial data is also included later in the fabric sample/job records-usually customer invoices with each job. Mr. Reynolds meticulously documents details of various business transactions whether with his customers or with his suppliers. One can possibly research the kinds of jobs being done, the kinds of materials needed, costs of these jobs and what supplies have become obsolete or cannot be obtained any longer. Printed materials comprise 6 cubic feet of the collection and include upholstering magazines, journals, catalogs, price lists, miscellaneous directories, articles and books mostly from the 1980's to the present. Using the catalogs one could trace the availability and cost of certain supplies over time and could also observe how the trade has changed as products are no longer offered. The books represent upholstering and decorative arts, textile and furniture topics. They date from the 19th century to the present and are reflective of Mr. Reynolds' vast interest in various handcrafts/trades. Photographs comprise less than half of one cubic foot of the collection and include negatives, contact prints and slides of upholstering projects accompanied by identification of some images. These document jobs before, during and after upholstering is completed. Additional photographs of this kind are included in the fabric sample/job records. The above photographs date from approximately the 1980's and 1990's. The largest record series, the fabric sample/job records, comprise 15 cubic feet of the collection beginning in 1990 and running to the present. These document individual jobs for customers throughout any given year and often include swatches of original fabrics removed from furniture, swatches of replacement fabric, photographs, invoices and the like. Three oversized boxes include historic fabrics and supplies, needlepoint designs and the like removed from furniture during reupholstering. Three fragments of historic wallpaper have been encapsulated and are included among the oversized materials in the collection.
Series Description	CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE 1980-present Arranged by categories and then chronologically Most of the correspondence focuses on supplier mail and catalog information. Some customer thank you cards and job particulars are included along with miscellaneous research interests, organization memberships and donations of historic upholstering artifacts to various institutions. LITERARY PRODUCTIONS TRADE JOURNALS 1989-2005 Arranged chronologically Mr. Reynolds' notes on how he completed certain upholstering techniques. FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS (some are closed to researchers) GENERAL LEDGERS (closed to researchers) 1979-present Arranged chronologically The general ledgers provide a comprehensive financial picture of the business at a particular time. ITEMIZED WORKBOOKS 1989-present Arranged chronologically These workbooks include inventory details and contract information relative to particular jobs. ADDRESS BOOK 1985-1990 Includes more account information and was kept with financial documents. FINANCIAL PAPERS (1991 to present closed to researchers) 1979-present Arranged chronologically These financial papers include invoices, receipts and bills. PRINTED MATERIAL UPHOLSTERING JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES 1988-present Arranged by title Some of these may only have a single issue. With these are included membership directories and miscellaneous upholstering articles and booklets. CATALOGS AND PRICE LISTS 1980's-present Arranged by categories of suppliers These include literature from wooden furniture frame manufacturers, fabric, leather, other suppliers and some samples. BOOKS 1867-present Books are arranged by such topics as upholstering, decorative arts, textiles, furniture and miscellaneous. PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS NEGATIVES, CONTACT PRINTS, SLIDES 1980's and 1990's No arrangement Negatives, contact prints, and slides of upholstery projects often taken before, during and after job completion. Some identification is provided. Additional job photographs can be found in the fabric sample/job records. ARTIFACTS FABRIC SAMPLE/JOB RECORDS 1990-present Arranged chronologically These include swatches of original fabrics removed from furniture swatches of replacement fabric, before, during and after photographs, invoices and the like. These document individual jobs for customers throughout any given year. OVERSIZED SAMPLES 19th and 20th century Include historic fabrics, supplies, needlepoint designs and the like removed form furniture during reupholstering. These are labeled by Mr. Reynolds for research purposes. Caution must be exercised in handling these items. Also included are several historic wallpaper fragments.
Inventory	Box 1: Correspondence, Literary Productions Folder Correspondence: Customers - Dearborn Historical Museum, 3/25/1990-6/16/1995 Correspondence: Customers - General, 5/26/1987 Correspondence: Customers - Wood County Historical Society, 7/1988-3/1/1990 Correspondence: Donations Made to Institutions, 6/8/1980, 2/23/1990 Correspondence: Memberships, 7/1/1988- Correspondence: Research - Furniture Reproductions 3/29/1990, 4/10/1990 Correspondence: Research - Ohio Historic Preservation Office, 5/22/1980-1/22/1988 Correspondence: Research - Looms and Weaving, 9/6/1989, 3/26/1990 Correspondence: Research - General (Book Purchases, etc.), 1988-1996 Correspondence: Reynolds' Upholstering Ads, 1989 - Correspondence: State and Federal Government Issues 6/1981, 10/2/1995-10/27/1998 - Correspondence: Suppliers - Custom Furniture Frames, 1989 - Correspondence: Suppliers - Fabrics and Supplies, 1989 - Correspondence: Supplies - Leather, 1994 - Correspondence: Supplies - Sewing Manuals, 1996 - Correspondence: Supplies - Miscellaneous, 1981 - Trade Journal, # 1, 1989-1991 Trade Journal, # 2, 1992-2005 scattered Box 2: Financial Documents Folder General Ledger, 1979, 6/1981-2/1988 (CLOSED) General Ledger, 1/1988-12/1999 (CLOSED) Itemized Workbook (Volume 1) - Contracts/Inventory, 10/1989-6/1991 Itemized Workbook (Volume 2) - Contracts/Inventory, 6/1991-7/1994 Itemized Workbook (Volume 3) - Contracts/Inventory, 7/1994-1/1997 Itemized Workbook (Volume 4) - Contracts/Inventory, 1/1997-2/2000 Itemized Workbook (Volume 5) – Contracts/Inventory, 2/2000-9/2007 Address Book With Some Account Information, 1985-1990 Box 3: Financial Documents Folder Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1979-1983 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1984 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1985 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1986 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1986 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1987 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1987 Box 4: Financial Documents Folder Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1988 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1988 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1989 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 1/1990-2/1990 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 3/1990-4/1990 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 5/1990-6/1990 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 7/1990-8/1990 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 9/1990-10/1990 Financial Papers (Invoices, Receipts, Bills), 11/1990-12/1990 Box 5: Financial Documents, 1991-1996 (Closed to Researchers) Box 6: Financial Documents, 1997-2008 (Closed to Researchers) Box 7: Upholstering Journals and Magazines Folder The Professional Upholsterer, 1988-1989 Upholstering Today, 1990 Victorian Homes, Winter 1991 Swatches, Winter 1993 Early American Life, June 1984 Upholstery Journal, 1999-2001 Box 8: Upholstering Journals and Magazines /Membership Directories and Other Upholstering Publications Folder Upholstery Journal, 2006-2008 Upholstery Journal, 2008-2010 Upholstery Journal, 2010 Marine Fabricator, July 2006, April 2007 Directory of the Society of Workers in Early Arts & Trades, 1991-1993 Directory of Early American Industries Association, 1991-1992, 1992-1993 "Reupholstering A Chair at Home," Bulletin #45, Ohio State Cooperative Extension Services, n.d. Miscellaneous Upholstering Articles and Booklets 1995 - Box 9: Catalogs and Price Lists Folder Custom Furniture Frames - Bechtel, 1989 - Custom Furniture Frames - Chervan, Inc., 1988 - Custom Furniture Frames - Hickory, et.al., 1996 - Fabrics and Supplies - Sunshine Foam, 1990 - Fabrics and Supplies - Matthew Hinsman, 1989 - Fabrics and Supplies - Koch and Company, 1990 – Box 10: Catalogs and Price Lists Folder Fabric and Supplies - Burch Fabrics, 1988 - Fabrics and Supplies - J. J. Peiger Company, 1989 - Fabrics and Supplies - Larson Fabrics, 1987 - Fabrics and Supplies - Conso, 1991 - Fabrics and Supplies – Albany Foam and other cushion/pillow suppliers, 2005- Box 11: Catalogs and Price Lists Folder Fabric and Supplies - Osbourne-Berbecker, C.S. Osborne & Company, 1988 - Fabrics and Supplies - Miscellaneous, 1989- Leather and Supplies - Various, 1988- Van Dyke's Restorers' Wholesale Catalog, 1989 - Box 12: Catalogs and Samples Folder Van Dyke's Restorers' Wholesale Catalog, 2000 - Fabrics and Supplies - Conso Samples, n.d. Miscellaneous Samples, n.d. Box 13: Books - Upholstering Topics Items Upholstering for Everyone by Page Parker & Alice Forina, 1976 Upholstering Home Furniture by Blanche Romick Pope, 1949 All About Upholstering by John Bergen, 1952 All About Upholstering by John Bergen, 1962 Essentials of Upholstery by Herbert Bast, 1928 Upholstery Techniques Illustrated by W. Lloyd Gheen, 1986 Furniture Upholstery and Repair by James B. Johnstone, 1977 Upholstery, Drapes and Slip Covers by Dorothy Wagner, 1955 Practical Upholstering and the Cutting of Slip Covers by Frederick Palmer, 1980 How to Upholster Overstuffed and Occasional Chairs by Louise Woodruff, et.al., 1969 Upholstering Methods by Fred W. Zimmerman, 1981 Upholstering by James E. Brumbaugh, 1973 Upholstering by James E. Brumbaugh, 1986 Upholstery in America and Europe from the 17th Century to W.W.I. by Edward S. Cooke, Jr., Editor, 1987 Restoring and Reupholstering Furniture by Kenneth Davis, et.al. 1982 How to Repair, Reupholster and Refinish Furniture by Mel Marshall, 1979 Modernizing and Repairing Upholstered Furniture by Herbert Bast, 1956 How to Restore and Repair Furniture by Alan Smith, Editor, 1988 Tufting Secrets by John K. Burch Company, n.d. Box 14: Books - Furniture and Textile Decorative Arts Items Perspectives on American Furniture by Gerald W. R. Ward, Editor, 1988 Henredon's 18th Century Portfolio (furniture catalog), n.d. Pennsylvania House (furniture catalog), n.d. Antique Wicker Furniture by Conover Hills, 1975 The Couch Book by Fayal Greene, 1993 The Cabinet Maker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg, 1970 Chair Seat Weaving for Antique Chairs by Marion Burr Sober, 1981 Cane Seats, Splint Seats, Rush Seats for Chairs by John K. Burch Company, n.d. American Decorative Arts from the Pilgrims to the Revolution by The Detroit Institute of Art, 1996 The Textile Tools of Colonial Homes by Marion L. Channing, 1971 Hand Knotted Rug Weaving by Paternayan Brothers, Inc., 1957 A Century of Carpet and Rug Making in America by Bigelow-Hartford Carpet Company, 1925 The Weaver's Draft Book and Clothiers' Assistant (reprint) John Hargrove, 1979 Early American Weaving and Dyeing by J. and R. Bronson, 1977 Linen: the Emblem of Elegance by W. D. Darby, 1926 Homespun and Blue: A Study of American Crewel Embroidery by Martha Genung Stearns, 1963 Encyclopedia of Victorian Needlework (reprint), Volumes 1 & 2 by S. F. A. Caulfield, 1972 Victorian House Style by Linda Osband, 1992 Empire Stylebook of Interior Design (reprint) by Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine, 1991 Bed Hangings: A Treatise on Fabrics and Styles in the Curtaining of Beds 1650-1850 (reprint) compiled by Abbott Lowell Cummings, 1961 The Interior Designers Drapery, Bedspread and Canopy Sketchfile, Marjorie Borradaile Helsel, Editor, 1990 The Complete Book of Bedroom Elegance by Lady Caroline Way, 1994 Modern Priscilla Home Furnishing Book by The Priscilla Publishing Company, 1925 How to Beautify Your Home by Helen Koues, 1930 The Sewing Manual for Home Decorators by Coats & Clark, n.d. Pressler, Rudolf/Straub, Robin, "Biedermeier Furniture", 1996. Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Altglen, PA Box 15: Books - Miscellaneous Related Topics Items Finishing and Mounting Your Needlepoint Pieces by Katherine Ireys, 1973 Whips and Whipmaking by David W. Morgan, 1972 Of Plates and Purlins: Grandpa Builds A Barn by Elliot M. Sayward, 1971 An Inventory of the Contents of the Governor's Palace Taken After the Death of Lord Botetourt by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1981 The Lady's Guide to Plain Sewing by a Lady (Kathleen Kannik), 1993 Fabrics and Dress by Lucy Rathbone, et.al, 1931 Old-Time Crafts and Trades by Peter Stockham, Editor, 1992 In Small Things Forgotten by James Deetz, 1977 How the World is Clothed by Frank George Carpenter, 1908 Forrest Products: Their Manufacture and Use by Nelson Courtland & Brown, 1919 Art of Dressmaking by Butterick, 1927 How to Build Modern Furniture by Mario Dal Faboro, 1957 The Craftsman's Handbook - The Italian 'Il Libro Dell' Arte' (reprint) by Cennino d' Andrea Cennini, reprint of 1933 edition, n.d. A History of Metals in Colonial America by James A. Mulholland, 1981 The Old Herb Doctor: An Old Catalogue of Traditional Folk Remedies by Newcastle Publishing Company, 1981 Saddlemaking by Dusty Johnson, 1993 Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony (reprint) by George Francis Dow, 1988 Archaeological Excavations at Jamestown, Virginia by John L. Cotter, 1958 Search for the Cittie of Ralegh by Jean Carl Harrington, 1962 Traditional Marbling by Iris Nevins, 1988 The Coach Painter 1880 (reprint) by the Museum at Stony Brook, 1983 Leary's Ready Reckoner and Form Book by W. A. Leary, Jr., 1867 Box 16: Photographic Material Negatives, Contact Prints and Slides of Upholstering Projects With Number Identification Listing, c.1980s, 1990s Box 17: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 1990 Box 18: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 1/1991-8/1991 Box 19: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed as of date listed), 8/1991-6/1992 Box 20: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 7/1992-5/1993 Box 21: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 5/1993-9/1993 Box 22: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 5/1993-11/1993 Box 23: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 10/1993-3/1994 Box 24: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 3/1994-7/1994 Box 25: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 7/1994-10/1994 Box 26: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 11/1994-3/1995 Box 27: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 3/1995-6/1995 Box 28: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 6/1995-9/15/1995 Box 29: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 9/15/1995-3/1/1996 Box 30: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 3/7/1996-8/8/1996 Box 31: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 8/9/1996-4/21/1997 Box 32: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 5/8/1997-10/28/1997 Box 33: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 10/29/1997-7/31/1998 Box 34: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 8/20/1998-12/31/1998 Box 35: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 1/1999-10/1999 Box 36: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 11/1999-5/2000 Box 37: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 5/2000-11/2000 Box 38: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 12/2000-7/20/2001 Box 39: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 7/30/2001-1/31/2002 Box 40: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 2/1/2002-9/28/2002 Box 41: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 10/15/2002-2/27/2003 Box 42: Fabric Sample/Job Records Fabric Sample/Job Records (jobs completed), 3/25/2003-2/2004 Oversize Box 1: Fabrics and Supplies These boxes include historical fabrics and supplies, needlepoint coverings and the like removed from furniture during reupholstering. These are labeled by Mr. Reynolds for research purposes. These samples are however often fragile, dirty and include sharp tacks. Use caution and care when handling. Edge roll, c.1935-1940 Muslin undercore, c.1870-1880 Hand stitched edge roll, c.1870-1880 Oversize Box 2 These boxes include historical fabrics and supplies, needlepoint coverings and the like removed from furniture during reupholstering. These are labeled by Mr. Reynolds for research purposes. These samples are however often fragile, dirty and include sharp tacks. Use caution and care when handling. Moquette, c.1890 Webbing support system, c.1950's-1960's Needlepoint removed from a stool, n.d. English narrow jute webbing, c.1920 Chair cover, c.1860 Original and subsequent cover for lady's chair, c.1860 Lawn case and muslin case for chair, c.1860 Foundation burlap and muslin for rococo revival chair, c.1860 Velvet cover on cotton, c.1910 Oversize Box 3 These boxes include historical fabrics and supplies, needlepoint coverings and the like removed from furniture during reupholstering. These are labeled by Mr. Reynolds for research purposes. These samples are however often fragile, dirty and include sharp tacks. Use caution and care when handling. Needlepoint chair cover, c.1913 Horsehair cloth sample, n.d. Fabric from dining room chair, n.d. Fabric from slip seat, c.1950 Fabric from lady's armchair, c.1900 Fabric and trim from chair, c.1880 Early narrow jute webbing from Victorian chair, n.d. Wool fringe from chair, c.1885 Samples of jute and hair stuffing and various fabrics, twines and webbing, n.d. Historic remnant from Leatherman Tete-A-Tete (See Trade Journal, Volume 2), n.d. Oversized Box 4 Items Decorative upholstering nail poster, 2007 Broadside - Upholstering Hand Tool and Supply Chart, John K. Burch Company, n.d. Wallpaper fragments, n.d.