Gardner Museum
28 Pearl Street, P. O. Box 511
Gardner, MA 01440

Phone: 978-632-3277
E-mail: info@thegardnermuseum.com
Website: www.thegardnermuseum.com

Hours open to the public: 1-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, March through December

Services for disabled: Handicap access at side entrance, with elevator in building

Archival Furniture Collections

Contact: Betty Tarpey, phone 978-632-3277

Collections: substantial materials relating to 6 Gardner furniture companies; also some materials relating to other companies

Holdings: Approximately 22 record boxes, plus 5 linear feet of binders etc., plus approximately 500 rolled drawings

Collection descriptions:

• The largest number of materials documents the Heywood-Wakefield Company. This includes company newsletters from the 1930s to 1970s; a scrapbook of the company band; promotional materials including catalogs with drawings and photographs of furniture from the 1940s to 1960; one box of materials of Joseph Carr, an important company designer; approximately 2 record boxes of photographic negatives of furniture taken by the Wironens, most taken in the 1960s and 1970s; and 400-600 large rolled drawings of furniture. There are also patents of Frank Bancroft, 1894-1901.
• There are five record boxes of materials from Conant Ball, including photographs, catalogs from the 1890s, early 1900s, 1940s and 1960s; a small account book of 1898; large color photographs of furniture, and a typed company history.
• Materials from S. Bent include a 1912 catalog, catalogs rom the 1930s, 1970s and 1980s; binders with catalog photographs from the 1980s and 1990s; price lists from 1964-1999; and other materials documenting the company’s history.
• There is one record box of Collier-Keyworth catalogs from 1917-1986. On the first floor of the museum there is a Collier-Keyworth display, with photographs and other materials describing the company’s history.
• Gardner Machine Works items include photographs of machines, advertisements, bound books of orders from 1948 to 1974; and catalogs.
• There are catalogs from P. Derby & Co. from the late 1800s and early 1900s; there are also correspondence and other documents.
• There is one record box of photographs and correspondence of Lilly Industrial Coatings, from the 1970s.
• There are also catalogs and/or price lists from the following Gardner companies: Alvin Rousseau; Fontaine Brothers; Bettez-Larouche Upholstering; John A. Dunn; George S. Bent; Wood-Tek; Country Home Furnishings; Modern Contract Furniture; Gardner Craftsmen; Gem Crib & Cradle Co.; Hedstrom Union, Rousseau Brothers; C. H. Hartshorn Co.; Ramsdell Furniture. Most of these are from the 1960s-1980s.
• Non-Gardner catalogs include: Temple-Stuart; E.R. Buck Chair Co.; Athol Table Mfg. Co.; Level Chair Co.; Patriot Pine; Cable House; F.L. Clapp Novelty.
• The Diary of Aaron Greenwood, transcribed from Mr. Greenwood’s shorthand by Helvia A. Hill and edited by Windsor C. Robinson (a project of the Gardner Historical Commission). Mr. Greenwood was born in 1813 and the Museum has Volumes 1, 2, 3 (parts one and two), Volume 4 (part 1). Date range is 1857-1867. Mr. Greenwood worked was a surveyor, and he worked in many area furniture shops as well, including South Gardner Chair Manufacturing Co. and Greenwood & Wright. The diaries describe some of the work he did in these factories.

Accessibility: Materials are accessible. It would be wise to call ahead if one wishes to view materials.
Copying: No facilities for copying on site

Loans: Occasionally under special circumstances

Note: The museum also has many Gardner furniture items from the 1800s and 1900s on display.