Guide to the Photographs of the Woodwell Collection, c1845-1950
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Photographs of the Woodwell Collection
- Creator
- Woodwell family
- Collection Number
- MSP#255
- Extent
- .5 cubic feet ( boxes)
- Date
- c1845-1950
- Abstract
- Joseph Woodwell was a businessman in Piitsburgh. He founded Woodwell Company, a hardware store on Wood and Second Streets. These photographs include those of the Joseph Woodwell Company, the Woodwell family, and the Herron family.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical / Historical
Although Joseph Woodwell is well-known for establishing the Joseph Woodwell Company in Pittsburgh in 1847, he was engaged in other types of work prior to 1847. In 1932, he started a company with his brother James W. Woodwell called J. & J. W. Woodwell Cabinetware and Chair Manufacturers. Two years later, Joseph began a second business with William J. Anshutz in cabinetmaking and carving. In 1839, he sold out his half of the business to his brother and continued on as a cabinet carver. Quitting the cabinet business in 1845, he then started a hardware store with John Walker and Allan Kramer. Walker and Woodwell lasted only one year for, in 1846 the company was dissolved. He then bought a plot of land in the sixth ward of Pittsburgh on Wood Street and Second Street for his own hardware store. On March 1, 1847 the Joseph Woodwell Company hardware store opened its doors for business. In 1858 he realized that his store was too small, so he demolished it and built a warehouse on the same site.
Business was so good that in 1907 the company had to replace the four-story building with an eight-story steel-framed building. This massive structure had to be moved in 1921 when Second Avenue was widened 40 feet. This arduous project was undertaken by the John Eichleay, Jr. Company who specialize in house raising and moving and foundation work. At the same time, the company decided to add a new store building adjacent to the old one. Over the years the company expanded further and profits were great. In 1947, the Joseph Woodwell Company celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 1954, L.H. Smith, Inc. and the Joseph Woodwell Company merged to create Smith-Woodwell, Inc. While headquarters were moved to Canonsburg, Pa., call services remained in Pittsburgh by each company.
The Joseph Woodwell Company is a hardware and wholesales distributor. Basically, it is a general store with such items as sporting goods, tools, major appliances, air conditioning supplies, and automobile supplies. There are 11 separate departments of the store, but they were not all there at the beginning. It started out as a hardware store and over the years new departments were added. In fact, the company became so large that separate building had to be built in order to accommodate each department. In the first half of the 1900's a store on the east side of Pittsburgh was built for the automobile department. The Joseph Woodwell Company was one of the first hardware and industrial supply houses in Pittsburgh.
He ran the company as a partnership with several other men, including his sons, who were all stockholders in the firm. Eventually the partnership of the company included only his sons and grandsons. In 1885, Joseph retired and sold his share to his sons, Joseph and William.
This company was a family business in which Joseph's sons, grandsons and, great-grandsons all served as partners or presidents of the Joseph Woodwell Company. His grandson, William E. Woodwell, was very influential within the company as its president. Between 1907 and 1912, William worked on acquiring a patent for his invention of an improved device which attaches tread chains to wheel tires.
There were many other members of this large and proserous family who resided in a large estate on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. The success of the company allowed them to become a wealthy family. Although they worked hard to make their business prosperous, they still had time to enjoy the luxuries as members of the upper class.
The Herron family is also included in this collection, for in the early 1900's Alice Herron married a Woodwell. While Alice is barely mentioned in this collection, her father, John's, family is listed in many of the papers. The Herron's were definitely members of the upper class. Mr. William A. Herron had his own real estate company of which was passed on to his sons. Their friends included lords and ladies. They enjoyed many luxuries of society such as balls and plays and finishing schools for their daughters. They were an influential family that enjoyed their place among the elite.
Scope and Content Notes
These photographs include those of the Joseph Woodwell Company, the Woodwell family, and the Herron family. Pertaining to the Joseph Woodwell Company, there are an extensive amount of photographs dating back to 1846. One photograph depicts the Wagner and M'Guigan lithograph of Pittsburgh after the Great Fire of 1845. . From 1857 the original three story building of the hardware store is photographed. Beginning in 1907, many photographs were taken of the later eight-story store building. These show the additions made to the store as the company added new departments. There were several picture taken in 1915 which portray the inside of the store showing workers, shelves, and the variety of goods carried by the company. The moving of the building in 1921 was a major event for the company as can be seen by the numerous photographs taken. They outline step by step how this tremendous project was undertaken. The flood of 1936 was disastrous for the city of Pittsburgh and there are a few photographs showing how high the water rose in front of the Woodwell store.
There are several photographs of the Woodwell family, although there are none of Joseph himself. Instead, his descendents and their ancestors are photographed. Three important ones are William E. Woodwell and his wife, Elizabeth, and John, Joseph's son.
The Herron family was also photographed. Portraits of John W. and Jane Herron are present in the collection as well as their home. In addition, ancestors and friends of the family are photographed.
Arrangement
The Joseph Woodwell Collection Photographs are housed in one archival box and are arranged by subject title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in with the Woodwell Collection in 1994.
Acc# 1994.0128 Gift of Margo Woodwell, (Collection. Ms. Woodwell is a descendant of Joseph Woodwell).
Preferred Citation
Woodwell Collection Photographs, 1829-1954, MSP# 255, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Julie Diehl on January 16, 1997.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on January 26, 2001.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Joseph Woodwell Company
- Eichleay, John, Jr. Company
- Smith-Woodwell, Inc.
- Woodwell, Joseph
- Wooswell, William E.
- Herron, William A.
- Business -- Department Store -- Pittsburgh -- Pennsylvania
- Family archives -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Family corporation -- Department Store -- Pittsburgh -- Pennsylvania
- Hardware Store--Retail Trade--Pittsburgh--Pennsylvania