Call Number:

1996.019

Repository:

Old York Road Historical Society

Extent:

4.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1932-1995 (inclusive)

Creator:

Old York Road Woman's Exchange.

Abstract:

The Old York Road Woman’s Exchange was a non-profit consignment store that was established to "help others to help themselves." It opened in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in 1932 and closed in 1996. The Old York Road Woman’s Exchange records, 1932-1995, consist largely of minutes that span nearly its entire existence (1932-1994), with several volumes of account books, a consigners’ book, a scrapbook, and a scattering of clippings and other memorabilia. The Old York Road Woman's Exchange was a charter member of the Federation of Woman's Exchanges, and this collection also includes several decades of the Federation’s annual meeting packets.

The Old York Road Woman’s Exchange was a non-profit consignment store that was established to "help others to help themselves." It offered the opportunity for women to obtain some income during the difficult Depression years through the sale of food and handwork. The Food and Merchandise Committees oversaw the selection of the consignors and the management of sales.

Within the first month of its opening in October 1932 there were over 70 consignors. By January 1933 the Exchange was already looking for larger quarters which it found at 429 Johnson Street in Jenkintown. In its rented space it conducted its store as well as a Tea Room and restaurant.

No sooner had it incorporated in August 1933 than it undertook its first fund-raising effort, a rummage sale, of what would become a continuing effort to keep the Exchange afloat. In addition to annual appeals, the women conducted garden tours, bridge tournaments, and a long-running book lecture subscription series.

Business was sufficiently successful to allow for the purchase of the Johnson Street building in 1940, but the rationing of sugar during the war years was a challenge for the food consignors, and oil and gasoline shortages also affected operations. Hours were reduced and the restaurant closed, but with the war’s end operations soon returned to normal. A thrift shop replaced the second floor dining and was instantly successful. For many years to come it would be a major source of income for the Exchange and was expanded into an adjoining building purchased in 1957.

Through the 1960’s and 1970’s the Woman’s Exchange continued to sell homemade foods including appetizers, dinner casseroles, and cakes and pies, tea sandwiches, jellies and jams, breads and fresh cinnamon buns. The Merchandise Shop sold "fine collectibles" and handmade quilts, baby clothes, and toys. Upstairs in the Economy Shop one could purchase inexpensive used clothes, bedspreads, draperies and other items.

The Old York Road Woman’s Exchange began to notice declining sales in the 1980’s. Competition from other thrift stores, parking problems, and general difficulties of commercial Jenkintown were among the causes suggested. The board raised its percentage cuts and reduced paid staff which required more volunteer work at a time when volunteers were becoming increasingly harder to recruit.

Food sales ended in 1992 while it’s "Next to New" clothing and household goods and its crafts and antique stores managed to continue for another few years. Its doors finally closed in June 1996.

This collection consists largely of minutes that span nearly the entire existence of the Old York Road Woman's Exchange, beginning in 1932 and ending in 1994. In addition to the financial reports in the minutes, there are Treasurer’s account books, 1961-1985 (5 volumes), Economy Shop account books, 1960-1973 (2 volumes), and miscellaneous accounts. There is a consigners’ book, 1989/90, 1991/92, a scrapbook, 1968-1976, a scattering of clippings and other memorabilia. An unrelated recipe book from 1903 is also included.

The Old York Road Woman’s Exchange was a charter member of the Federation of Woman’s Exchanges which was established in 1934. The Federation’s annual meeting packets from 1968 to 1995 are included in the records. They consist mostly of statistical reports from the member chapters, with an occasional Federation annual or treasurer’s report.

Following is a box level inventory of the collection.

Inventory:

Box 1: Minutes, 1932-1971 Box 2: Minutes 1971-1990 Box 3: Minutes, 1990-1994; miscellaneous financial records, 1965-1979 Box 4: Treasurer’s account books, 1961-1985 (5 volumes) Box 5: Economy Shop account books, 1960-1973 (2 volumes) Box 6: Consignor’s book, 1989/90, 1991/92; scrapbook, 1968-1876 Box 7: Scrapbooks, clippings, memorabilia; recipe book, 1903 Box 8: Federation annual meetings, 1968-1977 Box 9: Federation annual meetings, 1978-1990 Box 10: Federation annual meetings, 1991-1995