Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America Collection 1972.430
Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection 1972.430
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 14, 2021. Description is written in: English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Audiovisual Collections PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection 1972.430
Table of Contents
Summary Information ...... 3 Historical Note ...... 3 Scope and Content ...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 5 Related Materials ...... 5 Controlled Access Headings ...... 6 Conservation Note ...... 6 Collection Inventory ...... 6 1953 Neva Jane Langley ...... 6 1954 Evelyn Ay ...... 7 1955 Lee Meriwether ...... 7 1956 Sharon Kay Ritchie ...... 8 1957 Marian Ann McKnight ...... 8 1958 Marilyn Van Derbur ...... 9 1959 Mary Ann Mobley ...... 9 1960 Lynda Mead ...... 10 1961 Nancy Anne Fleming ...... 11 1962 Maria Beale Fletcher ...... 11 1963 Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer ...... 12 1964 Donna Axum ...... 12 1965 Vonda Kay Van Dyke ...... 13 1966 ...... 14 1967 ...... 14 Pageant programs ...... 14 Paper dolls ...... 15 Everglaze and Ban-Lon fashions ...... 15 Pamphlets and advertising ...... 15 Case histories ...... 16
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Summary Information
Repository: Audiovisual Collections Creator: Joseph Bancroft & Sons Co Title: Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection ID: 1972.430 Date [inclusive]: circa 1945-1967 Physical Description: 9 Linear Feet General Physical 1,069 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. or smaller., 5 albums (131 Description note: photographic prints) ; 28 x 24 cm., 5 albums (100 photographic prints, 101 items) ; 51 x 41 cm. or smaller., 239 items, 29 items : programs, 25 items : paper dolls and 1 item : sample book ; 33 x 43.5 cm. Language of the English . Material: Abstract: Joseph Bancroft, an Englishman trained in textile weaving in Lancashire, established his own cotton mill on the Brandywine near Wilmington, Delaware in 1831. This operation became the Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company in 1889, and in 1929 it absorbed the Eddystone Manufacturing Co. These images include plant exteriors and interiors, officials and employees, aerials, workers' housing, machinery, floods, and dams and races on Brandywine Creek as well as many Ban-Lon and Miss America fashion photographs. This collection includes approximately 1060 images covering a period from the late 19th century to the 1960s.
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Historical Note
Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company manufactured, bleached, dyed, and finished a variety cotton-made goods. After World War I it added synthetics to its production, and these included rayon and nylon fabrics. The company was incorporated in 1889.
The companies namesake, Joseph Bancroft (1803-1874) began manufacturing cotton cloth at a small mill in Rockford, Delaware, just north of Wilmington, on March 25, 1831. The mill was built in order to take advantage of the Brandywine River's water power and Bancroft adopted the traditional British spinning and weaving technology for use in his operation. The firm expanded steadily during the 1830s and 1840s as it began to produce cotton for both the Philadelphia and New York markets. In the late 1840s, Joseph - Page 3- Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection 1972.430 Bancroft brought his two sons, William and Samuel, into the business assuring that the company would remain a family enterprise. During the Civil War, when the American market was largely closed to English imports, the Bancroft firm, like most other U.S. textile companies, prospered. After the war, the company developed a new bleaching process and began to concentrate on finishing cotton cloth.
In 1929, the Bancroft Company merged with the Eddystone Manufacturing Company. In the mid-1930s it began producing a line of rayon goods and a cotton finishing process that were marketed under the trade names of "Ban-Lon" and "Everglaze" respectively. The Banlon and Everglaze processes were widely licensed in Europe and America and by the early 1950s foreign royalties accounted for more than seventy per cent of the firm's total profits.
In an effort to promote Everglaze, Bancroft became a primary sponsor of the Miss America Pageant from the mid-1940s through the late 1960s. The company helped finance the pageant and provided money towards scholarships awarded to pageant winners. Bancroft was able to promote its products using the image of Miss America.
In 1961, the Bancroft Company became a division of Indian Head Mills, Inc., of New York City. The Rockford factory closed in 1981.
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Scope and Content
The collection consists of general advertising and product information for "Ban-Lon" and "Everglaze" fashions. In particular, the collection documents the Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company's sponsorship of the Miss America Pageant and the promotion of fabrics by Miss America from the years 1953 to 1967. A majority of the photographs show Miss America modeling her official "Everglaze" and "Ban-Lon" wardrobe, although there are also fashion publicity photographs featuring other models, including those for men's and children's clothing. Other photographs include fashion shows featuring Miss America's "Everglaze" wardrobe and clothing created using McCall's patterns in fabrics by Everfast; displays of fashions and fabrics in department stores; and the use of "Everglaze" and "Ban- Lon" fabrics for household furnishings such as draperies, upholstery, and bedding. Many photographs and advertising materials document the "Miss America/Modern Bride/Ban-Lon Lace Dream Wedding" promotion, including wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and lingerie by makers such as Priscilla of Boston, Alfred Angelo, and Lily of France, particularly for the years 1960 and 1961. The collection also includes numerous fabric swatches, some in sample books, others attached to related photographs. Other miscellaneous items in the collection include paper dolls of various Miss Americas wearing their "Everglaze" ball gowns; Miss America pageant programs from the years 1945 to 1967; and numerous related advertising materials, including promotional kits, press releases, tear sheets, pamphlets, etc.
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Administrative Information
Publication Statement Audiovisual Collections
PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library
Existence and Location of Copies View selected materials in Hagley's Digital Archives.
Access Restrictions This collection is open for research.
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Related Materials
Related Material Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company photographs (Accession 1969.025), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company records (Accession 0736), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
ALS : Brandywine, Del., to Robert Hurnard, Kelvedon, England, 1824 Sept. 19 (Accession 0524), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Bancroft family papers (Accession 0940, 1115, 1672), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Bancroft family business papers (Accession 1736, 1745), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
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Joseph Bancroft letterbook (Accession 1708), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Some of the Joseph Bancroft & Sons photographs from their Wilmington business were published in the "BAA Bulletin" of the Bancroft Athletic Assn. and in a brochure, "Joseph Bancroft & Sons" which was published in 1927. Both publications are found in the Published Collections Department, Hagley Library.
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Controlled Access Headings
• Textile industry • Textile fibers, Synthetic • Women's clothing industry • Fashion merchandising • Children's clothing • Bathing suits • Men's clothing • Fashion designers
Conservation Note
Miss America 1960 chooses Ban-Lon... conserved april 2004 paper lifted; surface cleaned; backing removed; tape removed; paper mended; humidified and flattened; mylar sleeve; tipped on, heat set foil applied with tacking iron, PVA; post binding payne
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Collection Inventory
1953 Neva Jane Langley Title/Description Instances Everglaze dresses, 1953 box 1 folder 1
Everglaze evening wear, 1953 box 1 folder 2
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Everglaze beachwear, 1953 box 1 folder 3
Everglaze sportswear, 1953 box 1 folder 4
Everglaze blouses, 1953 box 1 folder 5
Everglaze rainwear, 1953 box 1 folder 6
Everglaze children's wear, 1953 box 1 folder 7
Everglaze housecoats, 1953 box 1 folder 8
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1954 Evelyn Ay Title/Description Instances Everglaze evening wear, 1954 box 1 folder 9
Everglaze dresses, 1954 box 1 folder 10
Everglaze sportswear, 1954 box 1 folder 11
Everglaze suits, 1954 box 1 folder 12
Everglaze rainwear, 1954 box 1 folder 13
Everglaze beachwear, 1954 box 1 folder 14
Everglaze children's wear, 1954 box 1 folder 15
Everglaze loungewear, 1954 box 1 folder 16
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1955 Lee Meriwether Title/Description Instances Everglaze evening wear, 1955 box 1 folder 17
Everglaze dresses, 1955 box 1 folder 18
Everglaze rainwear, 1955 box 1 folder 19
Everglaze suits, 1955 box 1 folder 20
Everglaze beachwear, 1955 box 1 folder 21
Everglaze separates, 1955 box 1 folder 22
Everglaze children's wear, 1955 box 1 folder 23
Everglaze loungewear, 1955 box 1 folder 24
Everglaze menswear, 1955 box 1 folder 25
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Everglaze closet accessories, 1955 box 1 folder 26
Everglaze aprons, 1955 box 1 folder 27
Everglaze slips, 1955 box 1 folder 28
Ban-Lon displays and garments, 1955 box 1 folder 29
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 8 folder 1 Everglaze fabrics, 1955
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1956 Sharon Kay Ritchie Title/Description Instances Everglaze evening wear, 1956 box 1 folder 30
Everglaze dresses, 1956 box 1 folder 31
Everglaze separates, 1956 box 1 folder 32
Everglaze suits, 1956 box 1 folder 33
Everglaze rainwear, 1956 box 1 folder 34
Everglaze loungewear, 1956 box 1 folder 35
Everglaze beachwear, 1956 box 1 folder 36
Everglaze children's wear, 1956 box 1 folder 37
Everglaze menswear, 1956 box 1 folder 38
Ban-Lon, 1956 box 1 folder 39
Wardrobe pictures showing Everglaze fabric swatches, 1956 box 2 album 1
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 8 folder 2 Everglaze fabrics, 1956
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1957 Marian Ann McKnight Title/Description Instances Publicity and pictorial record of Miss America's appearances for box 2 folder 1 Everglaze fashion show, London, 1956 November 19
Ban-Lon, 1957 box 3 folder 1
Everglaze ballgowns, 1957 box 3 folder 2
Everglaze short gowns, 1957 box 3 folder 3
Everglaze day dresses, 1957 - Page 8- Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection 1972.430
box 3 folder 4
Everglaze separates, 1957 box 3 folder 5
Everglaze suits and coats, 1957 box 3 folder 6
Everglaze loungewear, 1957 box 3 folder 7
Everglaze beachwear, 1957 box 3 folder 8
Everglaze children's wear, 1957 box 3 folder 9
Everglaze home furnishings, 1957 box 3 folder 10
Everglaze menswear, 1957 box 3 folder 11
Other models at the Everglaze fashion show, London, 1956 box 3 folder 12 November 19
Pamphlet Mohasco Industries, Inc., 1957 box 3 folder 13
Wardrobe pictures showing Everglaze fabric swatches with Ban- box 3 album 1-2 Lon accessories, 1957
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1958 Marilyn Van Derbur Title/Description Instances Everglaze ballgowns, 1958 box 4 folder 1
Everglaze short gowns, 1958 box 4 folder 2
Everglaze day dresses, 1958 box 4 folder 3
Everglaze separates, 1958 box 4 folder 4
Everglaze suits and coats, 1958 box 4 folder 5
Everglaze loungewear, 1958 box 4 folder 6
Everglaze beachwear, 1958 box 4 folder 7
Everglaze children's wear, 1958 box 4 folder 8
Everglaze menswear, 1958 box 4 folder 9
Everglaze and Ban-Lon wardrobe of Miss America with fabric box 4 album 1-2 swatches, 1958
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 8 folder 3 Everglaze fabrics, 1958
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1959 Mary Ann Mobley
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Title/Description Instances Everglaze and Ban-Lon ballgowns, 1959 box 4 folder 10
Everglaze and Ban-Lon short gowns, 1959 box 4 folder 11
Everglaze day dresses, 1959 box 4 folder 12
Everglaze and Ban-Lon suits and coats, 1959 box 4 folder 13
Everglaze and Ban-Lon separates, 1959 box 4 folder 14
Everglaze and Ban-Lon beachwear, 1959 box 4 folder 15
Everglaze and Ban-Lon children's wear, 1959 box 4 folder 16
Everglaze and Ban-Lon menswear, 1959 box 5 folder 1
Ban-Lon uniform, 1959 box 5 folder 2
Ban-Lon pajamas, 1959 box 5 folder 3
Ban-Lon slips, 1959 box 5 folder 4
Ban-Lon bra and girdle, 1959 box 5 folder 5
Everglaze and Ban-Lon home furnishings, 1959 box 5 folder 6
Miss America pictures and pamphlets box 5 folder 7
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 8 folder 4 Everglaze fabrics, 1959
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1960 Lynda Mead Title/Description Instances Everglaze and Ban-Lon ballgowns, 1960 box 5 folder 8
Everglaze and Ban-Lon short gowns, 1960 box 5 folder 9
Everglaze and Ban-Lon day dresses, 1960 box 5 folder 10
Everglaze and Ban-Lon separates, 1960 box 5 folder 11
Everglaze and Ban-Lon beachwear, 1960 box 5 folder 12
Everglaze and Ban-Lon suits, 1960 box 5 folder 13
Everglaze and Ban-Lon loungewear, 1960 box 5 folder 14
Everglaze and Ban-Lon children's wear, 1960 box 5 folder 15
Ban-Lon fashions, 1960 box 5 folder 16
Everglaze and Ban-Lon menswear, 1960 box 5 folder 17
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 8 folder 5 Everglaze fabrics, 1960 - Page 10- Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection 1972.430
Miss America in Ban-Lon wedding gown, 1960 drawer A38 folder OS 1
Miss America Modern Bride/Ban-Lon lace dream wedding, 1960 box OS 13 album 1
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1961 Nancy Anne Fleming Title/Description Instances Miss America Ban-Lon fashions, 1961 box 5 folder 18
Women's Ban-Lon fashions, 1961 box 5 folder 19
Men's Everglaze and Ban-Lon fashions, 1961 box 5 folder 20
Miss America New York Couture group wardrobe, 1961 box 5 folder 21
Miss America Everglaze fashions, 1961 box 5 folder 22
Other models in Everglaze fashions, 1961 box 5 folder 23
Everglaze and Ban-Lon children's wear, 1961 box 5 folder 24
Everglaze storewide promotions, 1961 box 5 folder 25
Miss America pictures and pamphlets, 1961 box 5 folder 26
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 8 folder 6 Everglaze fabrics, 1961
Miss America Modern Bride/Ban-Lon lace dream wedding, 1961 box OS 13 album 2-3
Miss America Everglaze/Ban-Lon fabrics and fashions box OS 13 album 2 promotions, 1961 April-May
Miss America Modern Bride/Ban-Lon lace dream wedding box OS 13 folder 1 promotional materials, 1961
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1962 Maria Beale Fletcher Title/Description Instances Everglaze fashions, 1962 box 5 folder 27
Ban-Lon fashions, 1962 box 6 folder 1
Pictures and pamphlets of Everglaze and Ban-Lon fashions, 1962 box 6 folder 2
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 8 folder 7 Everglaze fabrics, 1962
Miss America in Ban-Lon wedding gown, 1962 drawer A38 folder OS 2
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1963 Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer Title/Description Instances Miss America Ban-Lon gowns, 1963 box 6 folder 3
Miss America Ban-Lon street length ensembles, 1963 box 6 folder 4
Miss America Ban-Lon sportswear, 1963 box 6 folder 5
Other models in Ban-Lon fashions, 1963 box 6 folder 6
Ban-Lon menswear, 1963 box 6 folder 7
Ban-Lon children's wear, 1963 box 6 folder 8
Ban-Lon home furnishings, 1963 box 6 folder 9
Miss America Everglaze gowns, 1963 box 6 folder 10
Miss America Everglaze street length ensembles, 1963 box 6 folder 11
Miss America Everglaze coats, 1963 box 6 folder 12
Other models in Everglaze, 1963 box 6 folder 13
Everglaze menswear, 1963 box 6 folder 14
Everglaze children's wear, 1963 box 6 folder 15
Everglaze closet accessories, 1963 box 6 folder 16
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 9 folder 1 Everglaze fabrics, 1963
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1964 Donna Axum Title/Description Instances Miss America Ban-Lon evening wear, 1964 box 6 folder 17
Miss America Ban-Lon daytime fashions, 1964 box 6 folder 18
Miss America Ban-Lon sportswear, 1964 box 6 folder 19
Other models in Ban-Lon evening dresses, 1964 box 6 folder 20
Other models in Ban-Lon daytime fashions, 1964 box 6 folder 21
Miss America Everglaze evening wear, 1964 box 6 folder 22
Miss America Everglaze daytime fashions, 1964 box 6 folder 23
Miss America Everglaze and Bancora sportswear, 1964 box 6 folder 24 - Page 12- Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection 1972.430
Other models in Everglaze and Bancora daytime fashions, 1964 box 6 folder 25
Other models in Everglaze sportswear, 1964 box 6 folder 26
Bancora menswear, 1964 box 6 folder 27
Everglaze children's wear, 1964 box 6 folder 28
Other models in Ban-Lon sportswear, 1964 box 6 folder 29
Ban-Lon men's fashions, 1964 box 6 folder 30
Pictures, pamphlets and related advertising, 1964 box 6 folder 31
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 9 folder 2 Everglaze fabrics, 1964
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1965 Vonda Kay Van Dyke Title/Description Instances Miss America Ban-Lon evening wear, 1965 box 7 folder 1
Miss America Ban-Lon daytime fashions, 1965 box 7 folder 2
Miss America Ban-Lon sportswear, 1965 box 7 folder 3
Other models in Ban-Lon evening wear, 1965 box 7 folder 4
Other models in Ban-Lon daytime fashions, 1965 box 7 folder 5
Other models in Ban-Lon sportswear, 1965 box 7 folder 6
Ban-Lon children's wear, 1965 box 7 folder 7
Ban-Lon menswear, 1965 box 7 folder 8
Ban-Lon hats, 1965 box 7 folder 9
Ban-Lon loungewear, 1965 box 7 folder 10
Miss America Everglaze evening wear, 1965 box 7 folder 11
Miss America Everglaze daytime fashions, 1965 box 7 folder 12
Miss America Everglaze sportswear, 1965 box 7 folder 13
Other models in Everglaze evening wear, 1965 box 7 folder 14
Other models in Everglaze daytime fashions, 1965 box 7 folder 15
Other models in Everglaze sportswear, 1965 box 7 folder 16
Everglaze children's wear, 1965 box 7 folder 17
Pictures, pamphlets and related advertising, 1965 box 7 folder 18
Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and box 9 folder 3 Everglaze fabrics, 1965 - Page 13- Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection 1972.430
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1966 Title/Description Instances Ban-Lon pamphlets and advertising material, 1966 box 7 folder 19
Men's Wear issues, 1966 box 9 folder 4
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1967 Title/Description Instances Ban-Lon advertising material, 1967 box 7 folder 20
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Pageant programs, 1945-19651967 Title/Description Instances 1945, 1946 box 10 folder 1
1947, 1948 box 10 folder 2
1949 box 10 folder 3
1950, 1951, 1952, 1950-1952 box 10 folder 4
1953 box 10 folder 5
1954 box 10 folder 6
1956 box 10 folder 7
1957 box 10 folder 8
1958 box 10 folder 9
1959 box 10 folder 10
1960 box 10 folder 11
1961 box 10 folder 12
1962 box 10 folder 13
1963 box 10 folder 14
1964 box 10 folder 15
1965 box 10 folder 16
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1967 box 10 folder 17
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Paper dolls, 1948-19511953-19551957-19621964
1948-1959, 1948-19511953-19551957-1959 box 10 folder 18
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1960-1964, 1960-19621964 box 10 folder 19
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Everglaze and Ban-Lon fashions, 1961 Title/Description Instances Everglaze menswear, undated box 11 folder 1
Ban-Lon separates, undated box 11 folder 2
Ban-Lon uniforms, undated box 11 folder 3
Ban-Lon displays, 1961 box 11 folder 4
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Pamphlets and advertising, 1946-19471959-19611965-19661968 Title/Description Instances Correspondence and press releases, 19611965-19661968 box 11 folder 5
Bancare/Bancora pamphlets and advertising, undated box 11 folder 6
Everglaze pamphlets and advertising, 1946-1947 box 11 folder 7
Other fashions/companies pamphlets and advertising, undated box 11 folder 8
Ban-Lon pamphlets and advertising, undated box 11 folder 9
Bancare fabric samples, 1959 November box OS 12 page 1
Ban-Lon mailing pieces, 1960 box OS 12 album 1
Sample book of Everglaze fabrics and chintzes, undated box OS 12 album 2
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Case histories, 1959 June-August Title/Description Instances Everglaze BanCare/Everfast/Youngland case history, The New box 11 album 1 York Times Magazine, 1959 August 9
Everglaze Bancare fabrics promotion 1, 1959 June 17 box OS 12 folder OS 1
Everglaze Bancare fabrics promotion 2, 1959 June 23 box OS 12 folder OS 2
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