Details
Contributor Donaldson Brothers (Firm), printer.
Phillips, Emily, 1822-1909, collector.
Githens & Rexsamer, distributor.
Title Smith Brothers chemically pure Borax. [graphic].
Publisher New York : Donaldson Brothers, Five Points
Publisher N.Y. New York. 1880
Date [ca. 1880]
Physical Description 1 print : chromolithograph ; sheet 8.5 x 11.5 cm (3.25 x 4.5 in.)
Description Racist trade card advertising soap manufacturers the Smith Brothers and depicting the white woman head of house with three of her women housekeepers while they use Borax to complete various tasks in the kitchen. In the center, the mistress of the house, attired in a red dress with a white collar and cuffs, applies Borax onto a white cloth held by a white housekeeper. In the left, a white housekeeper sprinkles Borax over a group of cockroaches on the floor in front of the stove. In the right, the African American woman housekeeper, portrayed in racist caricature and attired in a white head kerchief with red polka dots, a yellow dress with red stripes, white stockings, and tan shoes, stands before a wash basin with her hands in the soapy water. Behind her a clothesline full of white sheets hang. Brothers Frank and Julius Smith established Smith Brothers Borax in 1874. In 1888, Frank Smith incorporated his new company, Pacific Coast Borax.
Notes Title from item.
Date inferred from date of operation of advertised business.
Advertising text printed on verso provides directions and various uses for Smith Brothers' Borax, including washing, starching, preventing moths, removing cockroaches, dressing ulcers, wounds, bruises, sprains, and chilblains, removing inflammation, bathing, arresting fermentation and cleaning clothes.
Distributor's imprint print on verso: Githens & Rexsamer, 40 and 42 South Front Sts., Philadelphia.
Gift of Emily Phillips, 1883.
RVCDC
Description revised 2021.
Access points revised 2021.
Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Digitized.
Subject Smith Brothers.
African American household employees.
African American women -- Caricatures and cartoons.
Borax.
Chemical industry -- United States.
Laundry.
Pest control.
Racism in popular culture.
Salt industry -- United States.
Women domestics.
Genre Chromolithographs -- 1870-1880.
Trade cards -- 1870-1880.
Associated name Githens & Rexsamer, distributor.
Provenance Phillips, Emily, 1822-1909, collector.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| trade card - Smith Brothers [1975.F.751]
Accession number 1975.F.751