Department Home

About

Links

Finding Aids

Research Guides

Exhibits

Services and Fees

The furniture trade periodicals are located in the Reading Room and in the Archives of the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections of the Grand Rapids Public Library. You are welcome to help yourself or ask for help at the reference desk. The Grand Rapids Furniture Record has been microfilmed and indexed, and is stored in the microfilm cabinets. Ask the librarian for the location of the index.

American Seater - See Seater

Casa D'Oro. Milan, #1-102 (1966)
Many color photos document Italian furniture design from all periods. Text in Italian.

Craftsman. Eastwood, NY: United Crafts Publishers, v.1-31 (1901-1916)
This periodical was the voice of the American Arts & Crafts movement. The Craftsman brought Gustav Stickley's ideas of the Craftsman lifestyle to a wider audience and remains a key source of information and a historical record of the Arts & Crafts movement.

Daily Artisan-Record. Grand Rapids: v. 9-82 (1908-1935) (various years available)
A treasure of furniture company ads, articles about various events and people in the furniture industry, and information on the manufacture of furniture in the United States. (Microfilm only)

Fine Furniture. Grand Rapids: Furniture Capital Publishing Co., v.1-2 (1936-1937)
Includes table of contents, index to ads, articles on furniture history, market news, home furnishings news and reviews. "Around Grand Rapids Market" contains local news. "Sketch Book" includes familiar designs interpreted by famous designers. Ads of Grand Rapids furniture manufacturers.

Furniture. Grand Rapids: v.1-2 (1909-1912)
Articles on furniture styles, arrangements and decoration. Color plates of furniture suites. Many ads by Grand Rapids area furniture manufacturers. Good color ads of Charles P. Limbert Co.'s "arts & crafts" furniture.

Furniture Age. Chicago: H.O. Reno Co., v.28-71 (1934-1956) Absorbed in July 1956 by Furniture Retailer.
Articles on furniture styles, interior decorating, business trends. Articles by furniture designers. News highlights. Many full-page ads by Grand Rapids area furniture manufacturers.

Furniture Blue Book. Grand Rapids: Blue Book Co., v.3-20 (1921-1938)
Includes short features on business and financial conditions in the country, Grand Rapids news, market news, and many full-page ads by furniture companies.

Furniture Design and Manufacturing. Chicago. (1958-1980)
Articles about furniture materials, design trends, new materials, fabrics and adhesives.

Furniture Gazette. London: v. 5-8 (1874-1877) Merged into Furniture and Decoration and later, Furniture World.
Includes detailed index, illustrations of furniture drawings, and a wide variety of articles that range from cabinet work, upholstery and interior decoration, to ceramics, porcelain, dyes and silk worms. Features news from around the world.

Furniture Index. Jamestown, NY: Furniture Publishing Co., v. 52- (1926-1951)
Journal aimed at furniture sales people including articles on sales techniques and showroom and window displays. Includes ads from Grand Rapids area furniture manufacturers.

Furniture Journal. Rockford, IL. (1901, 1905-1916, 1924-1930) Merged with Furniture Record, 1931.
Covers the furniture industry in the midwest with news and reports from Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, Chicago, Rockford, St. Louis and Cincinnati. Includes "Views & Interviews" with furniture manufacturers and designers, "News of the Month," articles on furniture retailing, obituaries, index to advertisers, and a classified directory of advertised items. Contains few ads from Grand Rapids area furniture manufacturers.

Furnilture Manufacturer. Grand Rapids, Boston (from 1936) v. 33-72 (1927-62) Succeeded Furniture Manufacturer and Artisan in 1927.
Covers factory production, materials, technology, and labor issues primarily, but also includes articles on furniture design and styles. Features "Leaders in the Industry" which profiles important people. Advertisements are mainly for machinery and tools. Front covers of some issues consist of pictures of craftsmen working on pieces of furniture.

Furniture Manufacturer and Artisan. Grand Rapids: v.1-32 (1911-1926) Continued as Furniture Manufacturer in 1927.
See Furniture Manufacturer for description of contents. Includes article about Charles P. Limbert's trip to the Netherlands to seek furniture ideas (March 1911, p.133) and the obituary of Siebe Baker (February, 1925).

Furniture News. Chicago. (1957-1958) Succeeded in 1959 by Furniture Design and Manufacturing.
Calls itself a national news magazine for furniture, bedding and upholstering industries. Includes articles on market patterns, new materials and fabrics. Some issues have a section called "New Designs" written by a different designer each issue.

Furniture Record See Grand Rapids Furniture Record

Furniture Retailer. Pittsburgh and other cities (1955-1965) Succeeded Furniture Age in 1956.
Articles on furniture displays, new materials, decorative accessories and sales promotion. Includes index to ads.

Furniture Retailer and House Furnisher. Grand Rapids: v.1-3 (1913-1914) Succeeded by Good Furniture, 1914.
Official organ of the National Home Furnishers' Association, devoted to retailers of furniture and home furnishings. Includes articles on advertising, sales and general trade news. Contains ads for various products related to the furniture industry and for pianos, sewing machines and lamps. Many ads from Grand Rapids area furniture manufacturers.

Furniture Trade Review. New York: v.25-40 (1904-1920)
Includes articles on styles, woods, manufacturing methods, salesmanship and decoration. "Personal" section provides news about people in the industry. Includes news from major furniture markets throughout the nation, including Grand Rapids. Contains lists of new patents related to the industry and many ads for Grand Rapids companies, including a picture of the Charles P. Limbert factory in 1919. Index to ads.

Furniture Worker. Cincinnati: v.54-71 (1909-1921)
Includes articles on the history of furniture, styles, designs and news from major furniture markets including Grand Rapids. "Among the Retailer" section lists new furniture retailers, incorporations and business failures. Ads for furniture, tools, radios, pianos and machinery. Emphasis of the journal is on retail sales. Includes obituaries, index to ads.

Furniture World. New York: v.1- (1895-2001)
Includes articles on furniture styles and periods, news from furniture markets including Grand Rapids, lists of new patents related to the industry, furniture industry cartoons, obituaries and index to advertisers. Special Grand Rapids issue was published June 17, 1909. The issue of April 29, 1965 is devoted to furniture styles and periods including tables showing historic development of countries and furniture. Includes illustrations of period furniture. The format and content of the journal have changed during its long tenure with less news about Grand Rapids after the decline of the furniture industry in Grand Rapids from the 1930s onward.

Good Furniture. Grand Rapids: v.4-38 (1914-1932)
Billed itself as a journal 'To promote higher standards in making and selling modern house furnishing." Emphasis on high-quality furniture for the home and includes articles on furniture history, art in the home, furniture reproductions, technical matters such as wood finishing, furniture textiles and decorative accessories. Includes sections "Current News and Comment" and "Aids to Business." Contains nice ads and color plates from high-quality furniture manufacturers. Index to advertisers.

Grand Rapids Furniture Record. Grand Rapids, MI: Michigan Furniture Manufacturers Association, v. 1-75 (1900-1939)
A publication reporting on the manufacture and sale of furniture and related products in Michigan and throughout the United States. Though focusing on the Midwest, there is a regular feature on the furniture centers in the country including Grand Rapids, Chicago, Rockford, St. Louis, Cincinnati, New York, Jamestown, and Highpoint. Included in the journals are interviews with furniture manufacturers and designers, articles on retailing, reports of new factory construction and expansion, and obituaries of people in the trade. Each volume contains numerous advertisements and often color plates depicting current furniture.

Hardwood Record. Chicago: v.21-57 (1906-1924)
Published in the interest of hardwood lumber, American hardwood forests, the wood veneer industry, hardwood flooring, hardwood interior finish, wood chemicals, sawmill and woodworking machinery. Includes sections titled "American Forest Trees" and "Hardwood News" which provide news reports from around the country, including Grand Rapids. Contains advertiser's directory.

Home Furnishings. New York: v. 85-105 (1945 - 1955)
Adopting the subtitle, "The Merchandising Authority for the Furniture Retailer", articles emphasize sales and marketing with some focus on new trends. Features "Home Fashions Reporter", which details new furniture and decorative products, and "For the Record" which reports changes in retail buyers and managers, give way to the more general "Home Furnishings News" in later years. Table of contents and advertisers index.

Homefurnishing Arts. Chicago: v. 1-3 (1933-1935)
A furniture fashion publication for the consumer including Interior Arts and Decoration. Shows the trends of the times, standard items available in commercial lines.

Michigan Artisan. Grand Rapids: v. 26-29 (1905-1909)
Broad range of articles, mostly shorter. Regularly reports news from other cities, with sections on Chicago, Detroit, etc. Many black and white images of furniture and rooms. Index to advertisers.

St. Louis Furniture News. St. Louis: Furniture Gazette Publishing Company, v.38-39, 43-44, 46, 60 (Oct. 1907-Sept. 1908, April 1910-March 1911, Oct. 1911-Sept. 1912, Oct. 1918-Sept. 1919)
Though published in St. Louis, this title covers furniture industry news with ads from all over the country.

Seater. Grand Rapids: v. 6-33 (various issues) (1925-1930, 1943-1953, 1961-1969)
Originally called American Seater. The shop magazine "by and for employees of the American Seating Company" includes photographs and news about employees, from news of a promotion to photos of a new baby. Each issue features results of company sports activity. During World War II, features included "Seaters in Service" and "Chiefly for the Ladies", the latter containing recipes and gardening tips. News of company jobs and innovations is also highlighted.

Shop Mark. Grand Rapids. (1917-1929)
The shop magazine for the Berkey and Gay Co. Like Seater, it contains primarily news and photos about employees as well as reports of company jobs and innovations. Shop Mark features jokes, a lost and found, and wanted section. Later issues contain article length pieces about design and marketing. This title is located in the Archives.

Style 1900 Magazine. Lambertville, New Jersey: v. 18- (2005-    )
A magazine that celebrates the architecture, arts, and decorative arts that revolutionized the design world at the turn of the 20th century - the Arts & Crafts or Mission Style.

Style In Home Furnishing. Grand Rapids: (1916)
An illustrated monthly magazine of home furnishing and decoration published by the Dean-Hicks Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each issue also contains one page photographic supplements illustrating room designs.

Tabby: A Chronicle of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Berkeley, California, v.1, No. 1-5 (1996-2000)
Many articles of interest on the historic Arts & Crafts movement and its current revival.

The Stylist. v. 1-37 (1932-1971)
Primarily images of furniture and rooms, both black and white and color. Articles about furniture styles and decorating. Each issue features a floor plan of a different house.

Weekly Artisan. Grand Rapids: v.30-31 (1909-1910)
Articles on manufacturing and marketing. One main article that profiles companies, key figures or news stories; followed by shorter articles and features such as "Trade Notes and News." Local and national stories and ads. Index to advertisers.