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Leary's Book Store Records

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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

In 1836, at the age of 20, William A. Leary, a small-time book seller in Baltimore, journeyed to Philadelphia. He established a sidewalk book stall on North Second Street which attracted a large clientele because of its close proximity to the Old Market. As business prospered, Leary moved to several different locations, finally settling at 138 North Second Street which was right next door to the Camel Tavern, a landmark in Philadelphia.

Leary's Book Store specialized in selling inexpensive, second-hand books. From the outset, the store adhered to a non-pressure sales approach. Leary's employees were instructed to leave patrons alone unless their assistance was requested. The idea behind this practice was that customers would actually discover and purchase more books while they freely searched through the stacks and shelves. Because of its large inventory and cheap prices, Leary's developed a national reputation and attracted prominent figures such as U.S. Senator Charles Sumner and writer/reformer Horace Greeley.

In addition to selling and buying books, Leary expanded his base of operations by venturing into the publishing business in the 1850s. He formed a publishing company known as Leary and Getz which produced small, hard-cover pocket books called "Grandfather Leary's Premium Toy Books" and published books sold primarily by vendors called "Leary's Bricks." Leary and Getz published several best-selling books such as Dr Buchan's Family Physician, The Lives of Remarkable and Eccentric Characters, and Military Heroes of the War of 1812.

William A. Leary, Jr. took over the bookstore business from his father in 1865. He moved his establishment in 1868 to the southeast corner of 5th and Walnut Streets, an area bustling with lawyers, professionals, and tourists visiting Independence Hall. An illness contracted during the Civil War greatly hindered Leary's strength in running his store. He placed a help wanted advertisement in the newspaper to which Edwin S. Stuart, a 13-year-old boy, responded. Stuart was hired as an errand boy who delivered books in a wheelbarrow. As Leary Jr.'s health deteriorated, Stuart became manager of the establishment. Stuart continued in that role after Leary, Jr. died in 1874. On January 1, 1876, Stuart and Charles Mann purchased the store from the Leary Estate. Despite the change in ownership, the name of the store remained the same.

After acquiring Leary's, Stuart decided to move the store to a better location. City Hall was about to relocate to Broad and Market Streets and a new post office was about to be built along 9th Street. Desiring to take advantage of this westward shift, Stuart purchased the property of T. J. Perkins and Co., a dry goods house located at 9 South Ninth Street. After some refurbishments were made to the edifice, Leary's moved into its new home in September 1877.

Hoping to attract the attention of tens of thousands of visitors to the Centennial Exhibition, Stuart made what turned out to be a monumental decision regarding the interior and the exterior of his store. He decided to have Carl Spitweg's (1808-1885) painting "Der Bucherworm" (The Book Worm) painted on a stained glass on the second floor of the store and a much larger version of the painting on the outside of the building. The painting fully captured the essence and atmosphere of Leary's. It featured a man standing on a step ladder intensely reading a book in his left hand while holding an open book in his right hand. The man also had a book tucked under his elbow and another volume lodged between his knees for quick reference. The Book Worm image very quickly became Leary's trademark.

When Stuart decided to pursue a political career (he served as mayor of Philadelphia from 1891-1895 and as governor of Pennsylvania from 1907-1911), he relinquished managerial duties to his brother and partner William H. Stuart. The Stuart's continued Leary's non-pressure approach but added several new techniques to attract additional business. Countering the trend of most book sellers at the time who dealt only in rare books or in collector's items, Leary's bought and sold mass quantities of second-hand volumes. The store also did an extensive amount of business in selling publishers remainders. It developed a reputation as the store of choice to sell used books. The store aggressively purchased the personal libraries of large book collectors throughout the country, such as the collection of Dr. J. G. Armstrong of Atlanta, Georgia, whose volumes were valued at $10,000 and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Field's library for $12,000. The Stuarts also broke from Leary's tradition by selling brand new books on their shelves.

Under the Stuart's management, Leary's became one of the largest old book dealers in the world. It also was represented as the oldest, continuously active, bookstore in the United States. During a legal confrontation with their neighbor Gimbels in the mid-1920s, the Stuarts decided to modernize their store. While the building underwent renovations, Leary's temporarily relocated to 1214 Arch Street where it conducted business from November 1, 1925, to April 1927. On April 4, 1927, the new store opened for business. The new facility featured 7 floors, a basement, and a sub-basement all of which eased over-crowding in the stacks and shelves and eliminated the need for a separate warehouse building.

Leary's business continued to expand as the twentieth century progressed. In 1949, for instance, the store contained more than 900,000 volumes of books, spanning 106 departments which covered 6 and 6/10 miles of shelves. It sold nearly 40,000 books per week and obtained an average of 37,000 second-hand books per week. It had the inventory and ambiance of a library. The store became an essential stopping place for literary figures around the world. One of the most prominent customers of the store was Christopher Morley, who used Leary's as a setting for one of his chapters of the Haunted Book Shop.

While the Bible, dictionaries, and Horatio Alger novels represented some of the big sellers at Leary's, there were many instances where a major find took place in the store. One customer purchased a first edition of Stephen Crane's Maggie: A Girl of the Streets for 10 cents and quickly resold it for $5,000. Leary's loved the publicity generated from those type of discoveries. Occasionally, books and documents of great historical significance were discovered at Leary's. A book written by one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was found in the store. The author not only signed the volume, but presented it to George Washington, who, in turn, also autographed it as well. The greatest discovery at Leary's took place in December 1968 when a "lost" copy of the Declaration of Independence was found in an unopened crate. This copy represented one of the first printings done on July 4, 1776, by John Dunlap, the official printer for the Continental Congress. It was eventually auctioned off for $404,000.

As more people moved to and shopped in the suburbs, Leary's customer base declined. W. Stuart Emmons, grandson of William H. Stuart, focused most of his attention on his oil business rather than on the bookstore. Consequently, Leary's went out of business on November 20, 1968. The books from the store were auctioned off by Samuel T. Freeman in 1969.

The Leary's Book Store Records, dating from the 1840s to 1969, is divided into two series, "Records" and "Bound Volumes/Ledgers." The first series, Records, consists of boxes which are arranged chronologically and by subject matter. There are specific boxes devoted to financial statements, trial balances, and income tax material. Other boxes contain general business correspondence, photographs of the interior and exterior of the store, information pertaining to the legal dispute with Gimbels, catalogues and schoolbooks published by Leary's, and secondary newspaper and magazine articles written about the store. The second portion of the collection consists of bound volumes pertaining to Leary's business dealings. This includes general ledgers, cash books, payroll books, accounts receivable, mail orders journals, and scrapbooks of advertisements taken out by the store.

The collection is arranged into two series as follows:

Series 1: Records, 1844-1969, undated

Subseries 1.1: Nineteenth Century Material, 1857-1898, undated

Subseries 1.2: Leary and Getz Publishing Material, 1844-1907, undated

Subseries 1.3: General Incorporation and Legal Material, 1875-1943, undated

Subseries 1.4: Early Twentieth Century Material, 1902-1927

Subseries 1.5: Dispute with Gimbels Department Store and Modernization of the Leary Store, 1922-1927, undated

Subseries 1.6: Correspondence and Miscellaneous Items, 1930s-1960s

Subseries 1.7: Bound Leary Catalogues, Early Twentieth Century, 1898-1910

Subseries 1.8: Bound Leary Catalogues, undated

Subseries 1.9: Lists and Catalogues Issues by Leary's, 1873-1966, undated

Subseries 1.10: Pamphlets and Publications Pertaining to the Store, 1920-1927, undated

Subseries 1.11: Photographs, Articles, and Correspondence Regarding Leary's, 1877-1969, undated

Subseries 1.12: Glass Negatives (in small negative storage box), undated

Subseries 1.13: Secondary Articles on Leary's (in oversize box), 1924-1966

Subseries 1.14: Printing image carriers: Half-tone blocks, Linecuts, Electrotypes, Copper plates, and one Wood-engraved block, undated

Subseries 1.15: Oversize Posters, Placards and Montages, 1959-1962, undated

Subseries 1.16: Posters and Prints (unboxed), 1870-1887, undated

Subseries 1.17: Duplicates, 1920-1927, undated

Subseries 1.18: Financial Records, 1902-1927

Subseries 1.19: Financial Materials, 1940s-1960s

Subseries 1.20: Tax Material, 1950s-1960s

Subseries 1.21: Payroll Material, 1958-1968

Series 2: Bound Volumes/Ledgers, 1872-1961

A record for this collection is available in Temple University's online library catalog: https://librarysearch.temple.edu/catalog/991029667569703811

This manuscript collection was a gift to Temple University by the president of Leary's Book Store, Inc., W. Stuart Emmons (died 1979), in July 1976 (physical pickup took place on 14 July and 23 July 1976). Additions were made to the collection in 1995. Additional documents, the Leary name and the rights, title and interest in the Leary trademark "Book Worm", were purchased by the George S. MacManus Company, Inc.

The creation of the electronic guide for this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project. Finding aid prepared by Andrew Harrison. Finding aid entered into the Archivists' Toolkit by Garrett Boos in February 2011. Finding aid updated to correct box numbers in Series 2 by Courtney Smerz, Collection Management Archivist in December 2023.

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Sponsor
Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with funding administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Leary's Book Store Records the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Temple University holds literary rights only for material created by university employees and to material given to the university with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Financial receipt, 1857.
Box 1
Miscellaneous items, 1865-1867.
Box 1
Financial records, receipts, letters of inquiry, and orders, 1869.
Box 1
Financial records, receipts, letters of inquiry, and orders, 1870.
Box 1
Correspondence, 1871, 1875, l878.
Box 1
Advertisements for Leary's at 5th and Walnut Streets, undated.
Box 1
Publicity for store, 1871.
Box 1
Correspondence, 1880-1882.
Box 1
Book Stock offer From John W. Lovell, 1882.
Box 1
Correspondence, 1884.
Box 1
Advertisement for Leary's in Literary Monitor, November 1884.
Box 1
Physical Description

Volume 2. No 11

Searches v. Charles N. Mann et. al., June 4, 1885.
Box 1
Correspondence, 1885-1886.
Box 1
Correspondence, 1887.
Box 1
General correspondence, 1889.
Box 1
Correspondence, 1890-1891.
Box 1
Correspondence, 1896-1898.
Box 1
Leary's solicitation of business, undated.
Box 1
Proscriptions and receipt book, 1844-1845.
Box 2
Blank notebook, 1847.
Box 2
Mathematics notebook, 1847-1850.
Box 2
Mathematics notebooks, 1847-1848.
Box 2
Mathematics notebook, 1851-1853.
Box 2
School Lessons books, undated.
Box 2
Cover for Leary's notebook for 1857; note cards for 1850,1859, 1857, 1850, 1859.
Box 2
Cover sheet for "Valuable Historical, and Theological, and Miscellaneous Books" published by W.A. Leary; W. A Leary and Getz; A small and large pamphlet is included in this folder, undated.
Box 2
Blank notebooks published by Leary's, undated.
Box 2
Mathematics notebook, undated.
Box 2
Watson Annals papers (relating to Leary's publishing the title), 1876-1885.
Box 2
Cover for stock account book, 1882.
Box 2
Scrapbook of opera articles, 1906-1907.
Box 2
Agreements of partnership, Mann and Stuart, 1875, 1880, 1885.
Box 3
Power of Attorney, Stuart and Stuart, March 18, 1901.
Box 3
Articles of incorporation between Edwin S. Stuart and William H. Stuart, 1906.
Box 3
Articles of incorporation: Leary Stuart Co., May 13, 1927.
Box 3
Contracts of employment: Warner, Wilkins, McGrath, Stuart, and Hoag, May 1927.
Box 3
Bill of sale between Leary, Stuart and Co. and the Leary, Stuart Co., May 1927.
Box 3
Leases, 1927, 1931, 1938, 1943.
Box 3
Specifications for alteration of the store, undated.
Box 3
Blueprints for the store, undated.
Box 3
Retail mercantile licenses beginning in 1902, 1902.
Box 4
Correspondence, 1902-1904.
Box 4
Correspondence, 1905.
Box 4
Correspondence, 1906-1920.
Box 4
Newspaper articles on books, book stores and miscellaneous topics, 1910s.
Box 4
Financial material, 1918-1919.
Box 4
Financial correspondence pertaining to taxes, 1920-1925.
Box 4
Underwriters certificates for repairs and inspection, 1905-1909.
Box 4
Telephone contracts for the store, 1902-1911.
Box 4
Insurance material, 1908-1909.
Box 4
Bonds with Guaranty companies, 1909, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1921.
Box 4
William H. Stuart investment information, 1920s.
Box 4
Comparative sales January 1925 with sales, 1920s-1924.
Box 4
Comparative sales February 1925 with sales, 1920s-1924.
Box 4
Comparative sales March 1925 with sales, 1920s-1924.
Box 4
Comparative sales April 1925 with sales, 1920s-1924.
Box 4
Comparative sales May 1925 with sales, 1920s-1924.
Box 4
Comparative sales June 1925 with sales, 1920s-1924.
Box 4
Comparative sales October 1925 with sales, 1920s-1924.
Box 4
Comparative sales November 1925 with sales, 1920s-1924.
Box 4
Financial records and business dealings, 1925.
Box 4
Financial records and business dealings, 1926.
Box 4
Financial records and business dealings, 1927.
Box 4
General correspondence, 1929.
Box 4
Newspapers clippings regarding Gimbels' expansion and Leary's store, 1922-1927.
Box 5
Chronology of events regarding dispute with Gimbels, undated.
Box 5
Correspondence concerning Gimbels' expansion and Leary's building, 1922-1923.
Box 5
Correspondence concerning Gimbels' expansion and Leary's building, 1924-1926.
Box 5
Materials regarding Gimbels v. Stuart, [1925].
Box 5
Description and examination of Leary's store (includes photographs), 1925-1926.
Box 5
William Steele and Sons Co. contracts for Leary's new building, 1926-1927.
Box 5
Non-William Steele contracts for new building, 1926-1927.
Box 5
Materials on Gimbels v. Stuart, 1926-1928.
Box 5
Newspaper clippings pertaining to Gimbels v. Stuart, undated.
Box 5
Opening of Leary's new store, April 4, 1927.
Box 5
Newspaper clippings regarding opening of new store, undated.
Box 5
Correspondence, 1930s.
Box 6
Correspondence, 1940s.
Box 6
Two miscellaneous envelopes addressed to Leary's, 1949.
Box 6
Miscellaneous items, 1960s.
Box 6
Miscellaneous items from the store, 1930s-1960s.
Box 6
Influence of Leary's store (information on book-buyers), 1930s-1960s.
Box 6
Book orders, 1969.
Box 6
Auction of Leary's rare books and manuscripts, January 14, May 5-6, 1969.
Box 6
Catalogue, 1898.
Box 7
Catalogue, 1902-1903.
Box 7
Catalogue, 1903-1904.
Box 7
Catalogue, 1904-1905.
Box 7
Catalogue, 1905-1906.
Box 7
Catalogue, 1906-1907.
Box 7
Catalogue, 1907-1908.
Box 7
Catalogue, 1909-1910.
Box 7
Bound catalogues, undated.
Box 8
Supplemental Catalogue of Miscellaneous books and Rare Pamphlets regarding US history for Sale by William Leary, Jr., [December 1873].
Box 9
Physical Description

No. 5

The Book Worm (hard copy), January 1877-June 1897.
Box 9
The Book Worm, May 1877. 3 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

3 copiesNo. 2

The Book Worm, March 1879.
Box 9
Physical Description

No. 3

The Book Worm, June 1879.
Box 9
Physical Description

No. 4

Text Books used at the Jefferson Medical College, 1909-1910.
Box 9
Text Books used at the Jefferson Medical College, 1911-1912.
Box 9
Text Books used at the Jefferson Medical College, 1912-1913.
Box 9
Reminders for school and college text books, 1934-1935.
Box 9
Books for the physician and surgeon, undated. 3 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

3 copies

Medical books, undated. 2 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

2 copies

Medical, Surgical, Dental Veterinary, Biology and the Allied Sciences, 1918-1919.
Box 9
Sporting Books, [1935]. 3 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

3 copies

Standard Sets, Art, and Architecture, undated. 3 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

3 copies

Golden Opportunities for Lovers of Books Beautiful, undated.
Box 9
Books for the Holiday and All other Days, undated.
Box 9
Startling Bargains in Books, undated.
Box 9
Remarkable Reductions in Famous Books, undated.
Box 9
Marvelous Bargains in Books, undated.
Box 9
A Mine of Book Bargains, undated.
Box 9
Leary's Latest Book News, undated.
Box 9
Schaum's Outline Series: Including Theory and Solved Problems, undated.
Box 9
Books, undated. 3 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

3 copies

Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, undated. 2 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

2 copies

Desirable Books on Many Subjects, undated. 2 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

2 copies

Handsomely Bound Books, undated.
Box 9
A Catalogue on Books on Various Subjects, undated. 2 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

2 copies

Catalogue of Second-Hand and New Theological Books, undated. 3 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

3 copies

Untitled catalogue, undated.
Box 9
Interesting Book News: Exceptional Values in Attractive Books-Many For Gift Giving, undated. 2 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

2 copies

Books for Gifts, [1936]. 3 copies.
Box 9
Physical Description

3 copies

Book Bargains, undated.
Box 9
Leary's Medical and Surgical Book Department, undated.
Box 9
Book Bargains, undated.
Box 9
Wonderful Book Bargains, undated.
Box 9
A Little List of Some Notable Books on Hypnotism Telepathy Spiritualism and Psychical Research in general, undated.
Box 9
Worth While Holiday Books, undated.
Box 9
Holiday Book Sale, [1966].
Box 9
Big Book Sale Savings up to 80%, undated.
Box 9
Leary's of Philadelphia by Don Rose, undated. 4 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

4 copies

A Famous Book Store In a New Home by Joseph Jackson, [1927]. 3 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

3 copies

The Story of the Book Worm by the Evening Bulletin, undated. 3 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

3 copies

An Old Landmark A Famous Bookstore by Joseph Jackson, [1920]. 3 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

3 copies

Program for the opening of the new store, April 4, 1927. 4 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

4 copies

Post cards advertising for new store, undated. 5 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

5 copies

A Facsimile copy of the 1874 patent for "A New and Improved Portable Court for Playing the Ancient Game of Tennis" published with the compliments of Leary's, undated. 3 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

3 copies

Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States and How to Become a Citizen published by Leary's, undated. 3 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

3 copies

Postcards of the stained glass portrait of the Book Worm on the second floor of the store, undated. 4 copies.
Box 10
Physical Description

4 copies

Window display photographs taken by photographer De'Lardi from the Philadelphia Inquirer, March 15, 1940.
Box 11
From Urban Archives/Photojournalism: Display of Ragged Dick Series: Rufus and Rose (Horatio Alger) and Display of In Freedoms Cause by G.A. Henty; With Lee in Virginia by Henty, undated.
Box 11 Folder 1
From Urban Archives/Photojournalism: Display of Books by Alger, Oliver Optic, Henty etc.; Display of Starry Flag Series by Optic and The Blue and the Gray, undated.
Box 11 Folder 2
undated.
Box 11 Folder 3
From Urban Archives/Photojournalism: Display of inside cover of With Lee in Virginia; Inside cover of Adrift in the city, undated.
Box 11 Folder 4
From Urban Archives/Photojournalism: Display of inside cover of In Freedom's Cause; Inside cover of Freaks of Fortune, undated.
Box 11 Folder 5
Photo of front of store showing Gimbels on both sides, undated.
Box 11 Folder 6
Photo of interior of store showing subject stacks and customers, undated.
Box 11 Folder 7
Photo of interior of store showing subject stacks and customers, undated.
Box 11 Folder 10
Photo of exterior of store being built in 1926, after 1926.
Box 11 Folder 12
Magazine photo of Leary's between Market and Chestnut Streets, undated.
Box 11 Folder 13
Photo of Leary's along 9th Street, October 20, 1938.
Box 11 Folder 14
Photo of exterior display case of store, undated.
Box 11 Folder 15
Photo of construction work for new facility, 1925.
Box 11 Folder 16
Photo of [alley of store], undated.
Box 11 Folder 17
Photo of Schell Street looking north, February 2, 1925.
Box 11 Folder 18
Negative of back alley of store, undated.
Box 11 Folder 8
Photo of alley of the store, undated.
Box 11 Folder 9
Negative photos of construction for Gimbels, September 19, 1925.
Box 11 Folder 20
Negatives of views of the store, February 2, 1925.
Box 11 Folder 21
Photo of Leary's along 9th Street, undated.
Box 11 Folder 23
Photo of interior display featuring portraits of new store, Book Worm, William A. Leary, etc., undated.
Box 11
Photos of construction of new post office building, on cardboard, July 12, 1877.
Box 11 Folder 24
Photo of [William A. Leary, Jr.], undated.
Box 11
Small photo negatives of interior and exterior of store, undated.
Box 11
Photographs of Leary's exterior and interior, on cardboard, undated.
Box 11
Photograph of Leary's first Literary Award, June 12, 1962.
Box 11
Photos taken near closing of store, November 20, 1968.
Box 11
Photos taken concerning closing auction, November 1968-January 1969.
Box 11
Photos of Leary's getting ready for auction, January 13, 1969.
Box 11
Secondary articles on Leary's, undated.
Box 11
Newspapers articles about Edwin S. Stuart, undated.
Box 11
Copies of Joseph Jackson's An old Landmark A famous Book Store, [1920].
Box 11
Written material relating to Leary's Second Annual Literary Award, 1963.
Box 11
Group of letters from H. L. Mencken to Leary's, 1930-1934.
Box 11
Group of letters from H. L. Mencken to Leary's, 1935-1942.
Box 11
Two letters from James Michener regarding the 125th Anniversary of the store, undated.
Box 11
Letter from Elizabeth S. Ives (sister of Adlai Stevenson) to Leary's, August 30, 1952.
Box 11
Book order to or from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, undated.
Box 12
Three men standing alongside of store with Converse College package in background, undated.
Box 12
Man standing beside a truck carrying Converse College package, undated.
Box 12
Three men unloading Converse College material, undated.
Box 12
Converse College material on a truck, undated.
Box 12
Truck with book crates on it, undated.
Box 12
"It's Spring in Philadelphia", by Frank Brookhauser, Pageant, May 1958.
Box 13
"The Old Bookworm Keeps Turning Slowly", Business Week, September 12, 1964.
Box 13
"Was Stanton Behind Lincoln's Murder?" by Robert H. Fowler. Civil War Times, August-September 1961. 2 copies.
Box 13
Physical Description

2 copies

"Old Book Store in the Heart of Quaker City", by William A. M'Gary, The Dearborn Independent, November 29, 1924.
Box 13
Mid-Atlantic Graphic Arts Review (cover of magazine shows Leary's and a reference is made to the Book Worm on page 51), May 1966.
Box 13
"House of a Million Books", by Pete Martin, The Saturday Evening Post, June 18, 1949. 7 copies.
Box 13
Physical Description

7 copies

Scope and Contents

All photo-mechanical relief-etched plates unless otherwise noted, all mounted type-high unless otherwise noted.

Partial color plate of exterior of store, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 1
Partial color plate of exterior of store, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 2
Partial color plate, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 3
Partial color plate, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 4
Partial color plate, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 5
Partial color plate, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 6
Partial color plate, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 7
Partial color plate, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 8
Partial color plate, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 9
Partial color plate image of a man, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 10
Partial color plate, not mounted, intaglio, undated.
Box 14 Folder 11
Image of a man [possibly William A. Leary], undated.
Box 14 Folder 12
Interior of store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 13
Interior of store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 14
Interior of store with customers, undated.
Box 14 Folder 15
Interior of store showing several floors, undated.
Box 14 Folder 16
Exterior of the store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 17
Smaller version of exterior of store prior to renovations, undated.
Box 14 Folder 18
Exterior of store (long view showing customers) prior to renovation of the store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 19
Long exterior view of store noting bookselling prior to renovations of store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 20
Interior of the store showing customers, undated.
Box 14 Folder 21
Long exterior view of the building prior to renovations to the store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 22
Exterior of the building showing customers, horse wagons, signs on building, etc. prior to renovations to the store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 23
Exterior of the building prior to renovations to the store (Copper), undated.
Box 14 Folder 24
Exterior of the building prior to renovations to the store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 25
Leary, Stuart Co. masthead, undated.
Box 14 Folder 26
Leary, Stuart Co. Statement masthead, undated.
Box 14 Folder 27
The Story of the Book Worm (half-tone within relief cut), undated.
Box 14 Folder 28
The Book Worm hanging outside of modernized store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 29
Interior of the store at the upper levels, undated.
Box 14 Folder 30
Ad, "A treat for Book Lovers", undated.
Box 14 Folder 31
Ad for store featuring the Book Worm in the middle (Copper relief, cracked), undated.
Box 14 Folder 32
Image of book: Thesaurus, undated.
Box 14 Folder 33
Ad specifying telephone number and hours open, undated.
Box 14 Folder 34
At the Sign of the Book Worm, undated.
Box 14 Folder 35
Ad for Leary, Stuart Co. Book buyers and Book Sellers, letterhead, undated.
Box 14 Folder 36
Leary's Book Store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 37
Exteriors of store, "1836-1936", 1836-1936.
Box 14 Folder 38
Exterior of store next to Camel Tavern, undated.
Box 14 Folder 39
Interior of store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 40
Ad, Largest Book Store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 41
Extra large plate with Book Worm and praise for Leary's stock (not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 42
The Book Worm, for envelope use, undated.
Box 14 Folder 43
Interior of the store showing customers, undated.
Box 14 Folder 44
Interior of store showing large stacks of books, undated.
Box 14 Folder 45
Interior of store showing stacks, undated.
Box 14 Folder 46
A Famous Bookstore in a New Home ([trial cut], not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 47
Horoscope data sheet, undated.
Box 14 Folder 48
Ad for Large Old Book store in America (half-tone), undated.
Box 14 Folder 49
Leary masthead (sic), undated.
Box 14 Folder 49
The Book Worm, undated.
Box 14 Folder 50
Book Worm (half-tone, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 51
Book Worm (half-tone, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 52
The Book Worm, undated.
Box 14 Folder 53
The Book Worm (half-tone), undated.
Box 14 Folder 54
The Book Worm (half-tone, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 55
Image of a man, undated.
Box 14 Folder 56
Quote from John Wanamaker, November 3, 1915.
Box 14 Folder 57
Quote from John Wanamaker, November 3, 1915.
Box 14 Folder 58
Exterior of the building showing all 7 floors, undated.
Box 14 Folder 59
A...In...A Booklet cover cut, undated.
Box 14 Folder 60
From Leary's Book Store, label, undated.
Box 14 Folder 61
Advertisement "Largest Book Store", undated.
Box 14 Folder 62
Advertisement: The Largest Book Store in America, undated.
Box 14 Folder 63
Exterior of the building showing all 7 floors (half-tone, yellow printing plate, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 64
Exterior of the building showing all 7 floors (half-tone, blue printing plate, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 65
Exterior of the building showing all 7 floors (half-tone, red printing plate, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 66
Exterior of building showing 7 floors (halftone within relief border), undated.
Box 14 Folder 67
The Book Worms says, undated.
Box 14 Folder 68
Holy Bible (half-tone), undated.
Box 14 Folder 69
Encyclopedia of Philadelphia, undated.
Box 14 Folder 70
Holy Bible (copper, relief), undated.
Box 14 Folder 71
Holy Bible (copper, relief, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 72
Holy Bible (copper, relief, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 73
Holy Bible (copper, relief, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 74
Holy Bible (copper, relief, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 75
Book published by Oxford (copper, relief, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 76
Oxford cyclopedic book (copper, relief, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 77
The Gospel according to St. John (copper, relief, not mounted), undated.
Box 14 Folder 78
Ad, Leary's, America's Largest Old Book Store, undated.
Box 14 Folder 79
Engraved wood block (2 sections dowled together showing Leary's next to Camel Tavern; this artifact is in the display case in Special Collections), undated.
Box 14 Folder 80
100th Anniversary color printing of the Book Worm, undated.
Box 15
Large color postcard published by Leary's featuring "A Little Book Worm (little boy standing on a step stool reading a book at night), undated.
Box 15
One color and many black and white duplicates of the Book Worm, undated.
Box 15
Cardboard pictures in a plastic sleeve featuring Leary's when it had 3 floors, a horizontal view of the store, and a picture of the Book Worm, undated.
Box 15
Cardboard advertisement for the store, undated.
Box 15
Cardboard showing various different stores used by Leary's as well as book stores owners, undated.
Box 15
Cardboard showing customers in store, undated.
Box 15
Cardboard showing long view of the store, undated.
Box 15
Cardboard of shipping department and stock room, undated.
Box 15
Cardboard of interior of store showing various, undated.
Box 15
Departments such as Theological and Medical books, undated.
Box 15
Cardboard of the School Book Department, undated.
Box 15
Portrait of an owner of the store [not clear which one], undated.
Box 15
Portrait of an owner of the store [not clear which one], undated.
Box 15
Don Rose's article on Leary's (mounted onto to several different pieces of cardboard), undated.
Box 15
Miscellaneous cartoons about books, undated.
Box 15
Greater Philadelphia Magazine Pioneer Business Award to Leary's, October 14, 1959.
Box 15
Photograph of Leary's Literary Award, 1962.
Box 15
Printed wrapping from the store, 1870.
Box 33
Large poster published by Leary's entitled "A Wonderful Book Store", undated. 8 copies.
Box 33
Physical Description

8 copies

Picture of [one of the Stuarts], by photographer F. Gutekunst, July 27, 1887.
Box 33
Large cardboard picture showing most of the exterior of the store, undated.
Box 33
Over-size reprint of the lost copy of the Declaration of Independence found at Leary's, undated.
Box 33
Poster by Leary's entitled "Sell Your Books to Leary's", undated. 2 copies.
Box 33
Physical Description

2 copies

Poster by Leary's entitled "Sell Your Books to Leary's" (different from previous entry), undated.
Box 33
Large poster used in display of store featuring the Book Worm, advertisements of the store, envelopes addressed to Leary's etc., undated.
Map Folder M24d
Oval portrait of William A. Leary (1816-1886) in oval frame; unsigned), undated.
Object Object 1
Oval portraits of Leary's wife Rachel Linton (1829-1910) (Oil on canvas, 29.5" x 24.5"; in oval frame; unsigned), undated.
Object Object 2
"Leary's of Philadelphia", by Don Rose, undated.
Box 16
Program of opening of new store, April 4, 1927.
Box 16
Postcards announcing of new store building, undated.
Box 16
"The Story of the Book Worm," published by the Evening Bulletin, undated.
Box 16
"The Old Landmark a Famous Bookstore," by Joseph Jackson, [1920].
Box 16
Postcards of stained glass of Book Worm on second floor, undated.
Box 16
A facsimile copy of the 1874 patent for "A New and Improved Portable Court for playing the Ancient Game of Tennis," with compliments of Leary's, undated. 30 copies.
Box 17
Physical Description

30 copies

Leary's catalogue Sporting Books, undated. 4 copies.
Box 17
Physical Description

4 copies

Leary's catalogue Standard Sets, Art and Architecture, undated.
Box 17
Leary's catalogue Books, undated.
Box 17
Leary's catalogue Books for Gifts, [1936].
Box 17
Leary's catalogue Books for the Physician and Surgeon, undated. 7 copies.
Box 17
Physical Description

7 copies

Book Orders, 1902.
Box 18
Financial Statements, trial balances, profits and losses, taxes, 1906-1916.
Box 18
Comparative sales; merchandise costs, expenses, profits etc., 1913-1924.
Box 18
Financial statements, trial balances, profits and losses, taxes, 1917.
Box 18
Financial statements, trial balances, profits and losses, taxes, 1918.
Box 18
Financial statements, trial balances, profits and losses, taxes, 1920-1922.
Box 18
Financial statements, trial balances, profits and losses, no taxes, 1924-1926.
Box 18
Financial statements, trial balances, profits and losses, income taxes, 1923-1925.
Box 18
Financial statements and taxes, 1927.
Box 18
Financial records, 1940s.
Box 19
General correspondence and financial materials, 1950s.
Box 19
Financial records, 1950-1956.
Box 19
Financial records, income tax statements, 1957-1959.
Box 19
Financial statements, January 31, 1951. 2 copies.
Box 19
Physical Description

2 copies

Financial statement, January 31, 1952.
Box 19
Financial statement, January 31, 1953.
Box 19
Financial statements, January 31, 1957. 2 copies.
Box 19
Physical Description

2 copies

Financial statement, January 31, 1959.
Box 19
Financial statement, January 31, 1960. 3 copies.
Box 19
Physical Description

3 copies

Financial statements, April 30, 1960. 4 copies.
Box 19
Physical Description

4 copies

Financial records, 1960-1961.
Box 19
Financial and tax material, 1960s.
Box 19
Taxes, 1958, 1959.
Box 20
Taxes, 1962.
Box 20
Taxes, 1963.
Box 20
Taxes, 1964.
Box 20
Taxes, 1965.
Box 20
Taxes, 1966.
Box 20
Taxes, 1967.
Box 20
Receipts from register, 1968.
Box 20
Payroll, 1958.
Box 21
Payroll, 1961-1968.
Box 21

Accounts receivable, 1948-1951.
Box 34
Accounts receivable, 1948-1953.
Box 35
Accounts receivable, 1954-1956.
Box 34
Accounts receivable, 1956-1957.
Box 35
Ledger, January 1-September 30, 1875.
Box 22
Ledger of expenses, 1904-1912.
Box 38
General ledger, 1899-1905.
Box 22
Ledger, 1907.
Box 38
Ledger of expenses, 1913-1923.
Box 38
Ledger, October 1918-May 1922.
Box 27
Ledger of expenses, 1923-1927.
Box 43
Financial expense book, 1926-1927.
Box 43
Ledger of expenses, 1927-1941.
Box 43
Ledger, 1940 February-July 1941.
Box 43
Ledger, August 1941-February 1943.
Box 43
Ledger, March 1943-December 1944.
Box 42
Expense ledger, 1945-1952.
Box 44
Ledger, January 1945-October 1946.
Box 42
Ledger, November 1946-August 1948.
Box 42
Ledger, August 1948-July 1950.
Box 42
Ledger, April 1949-October 1956.
Box 42
Ledger, July 1950-June 1952.
Box 42
Ledger, June 1952-July 1954.
Box 42
Ledger, July 1954-October 1956.
Box 42
Ledger, 1950s.
Box 44
Expense ledgers, 1950s. 5 Volumes.
Box 39
Physical Description

5 Volumes

Sales record book, January 1-December 30, 1876.
Box 45
Sales record book, January 1, 1877-January 2, 1878.
Box 45
Sales record book, January 1-October 15, 1878.
Box 45
Sales record book, October-December 31, 1878.
Box 46
Sales record book, January 1895-December 1900.
Box 45
Sales record book, January 1901-December 1905.
Box 45
Sales record book, September 1906-December 1913.
Box 44
Sales record book, October 1912-September 1916; 1906-1919.
Box 44
Sales record book, October 1919-October 1926.
Box 46
Sales record book, 1895, 1910-1921.
Box 47
Sales record book, 1895, 1922-1931.
Box 47
Sales record book, 1926-1933.
Box 46
Sales record book; comparisons made with 1916, 1916, 1932-1942.
Box 25
Sales record book, 1933-1939.
Box 46
Sales record book, 1939-1941.
Box 47
Sales record book, 1940-1945.
Box 40
Sales record book, 1942-1947.
Box 47
Sales record book, January 1942-August 1953.
Box 26
Sales record book, 1948-1953.
Box 47
Sales record book, 1953- 1959.
Box 41
Sales record book, 1953-1961.
Box 47
Sales tax book, 1953-1955; 1956-1961.
Box 48
Cash book, 1880.
Box 27
Cash book, 1882.
Box 36
Cash book, 1924.
Box 24
Cash book (different from previous one), 1924.
Box 52
Cash book, 1928-1931.
Box 53
Check receipt book, March 15, 1929-April 14, 1931.
Box 23
Mail order book, November 1872-1877.
Box 32
Mail order book, March 1878-June 1880.
Box 34
Mail order book, November 16, 1896-January 9, 1900.
Box 28
Mail order book, April 20, 1944-November 29, 1949.
Box 32
Mail order book, November 29, 1945-April 18, 1947.
Box 40
Mail order book, April 19, 1947-August 16, 1948.
Box 40
Mail order book, August 16, 1948-September 27, 1949.
Box 31
Mail order book, September 28, 1949-November 14, 1950.
Box 31
Mail order book, November 14, 1950-December 31, 1953.
Box 28
Book acquisition ledger, 1904-1919.
Box 22
Stock book, 1883.
Box 45
Stock book, 1887.
Box 30
Stock book, 1888.
Box 30
Stock book, July 15, 1904.
Box 22
Inventory, January 31, 1903.
Box 30
Inventory, January 31, 1944.
Box 30
Stock book and customer orders, 1959-1960.
Box 45
Payroll, 1937.
Box 37
Payroll, 1940-1941.
Box 37
Payroll, 1943.
Box 37
Payroll, 1944-1945.
Box 28
Payroll, 1961.
Box 28
Wage book, February 10, 1905-July 31, 1908.
Box 23
Wage book, August 7, 1908-April 12, 1912.
Box 23
Wage book, April 19, 1912-December 17, 1915.
Box 23
Wage book, December 15, 1915-August 22, 1919.
Box 23
Wage book, August 29, 1919-April 6, 1923.
Box 23
Wage book, April 13, 1923-December 3, 1926.
Box 23
Wage book, December 26, 1926-February 6, 1931.
Box 23
Wage book, February 13, 1931-May 24, 1935.
Box 23
Wage book, May 31, 1935-January 1, 1937.
Box 23
Scrapbook of advertisements for books, 1881.
Box 23
Scrapbook of Leary's advertisements, 1892.
Box 23
Scrapbook of Leary's advertisements, October 21, 1910-December 21, 1912.
Box 29
Scrapbook of Leary's Christmas Books, December 1-21, 1917.
Box 29
Scrapbook of Leary's advertisements and clippings, 1915-1924.
Box 29
Corporate meetings, 1927-1945.
Box 45

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