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Guide to the H.H. Seiferth Sign Company Photographs 1900-1930

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
H.H. Seiferth Sign Company Photographs
Creator
Seiferth Sign Company
Collection Number
PSS 0037
Extent
.5 linear feet (1 box)
Date
1900-1930
Abstract
The H.H. Seiferth Sign Company was started by H.H. Seiferth in 1890 in an alley between Penn Avenue and Duquesne Way in downtown Pittsburgh. The company created signs for Pittsburgh retail businesses, factories, and political campaigns.The H.H. Seiferth Company Photographs primarily include images of outdoor signage created by the H.H. Seiferth Company for the storefronts of Pittsburgh businesses.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Matthew D. Strauss.
Sponsor
This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

The H.H. Seiferth Sign Company was started by H.H. Seiferth in 1890 in an alley between Penn Avenue and Duquesne Way in downtown Pittsburgh. The company created signs for Pittsburgh retail businesses, factories, and political campaigns. It was located on Fancourt Street from 1919 until around 1950, when it was forced to relocate due to the development of the Point State Project. Following the move, the company had locations Water Street, East Street, and Fort Pitt Boulevard. In 1942, H.H. Seiferth passed away, leaving the shop to his daughter, Jane Seiferth Markowitz who became one Pittsburgh's few female business owners at that time. As of 2011, the company, which was eventually sold by the Seiferth family, operates in Pittsburgh's Strip District neighborhood.

Scope and Content Notes

The H.H. Seiferth Company Photographs primarily include images of outdoor signage created by the H.H. Seiferth Company for the storefronts of Pittsburgh businesses. Included in the collection are photographs documenting signs for the Frank & Seder store, Kaufmann's, Joseph Horne Co., the Rosenbaum Company, the Andrew A. Artz Café and Bar, F.C. Doeschner Furs, and other businesses. Also included are images of what is possibly the H.H. Seiferth Company office, a photograph of the Seiferth family, and news clippings about Jane Seiferth Markowitz. An inventory created by volunteer staff includes the names of all of the businesses pictured.

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Joe Mosko in 2007.

Archives accession # 2007.0257

Preferred Citation

H.H. Seiferth Sign Company Photographs, 1900-1930, PSS 0037 , Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Matthew D. Strauss on 11/08/2011. Inventory created by volunteer staff.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Kaufmann's (Department Store: Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Horne's (Department Store: Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Rosenbaum's (Department Store: Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Personal Names

    • Markowitz, Jane Seiferth

    Geographic Names

    • Downtown (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Other Subjects

    • Signs and signboards--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.
    • Stores, Retail--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.

Container List