Gail Borden: Texas Pioneer, Quirky Visionary
This article first appeared in the Archbridge Institute’s American Original Series. Born in upstate New York in 1801, Gail Borden was raised there and in Kentucky and Indiana. As a young man, he moved to Mississippi and then Texas in search of...Consumer Spending 1929 to 2018 in 30 Seconds
...The US Consumer Panel Industry, 1940-2000: Lessons for the Age of Big Data¹
It is easy for manufacturers and retailers to know how much product moves out of their doors. It is harder, but very necessary, for businesses to know what kinds of people buy what kinds of goods, and with what frequency, with what degree of brand loyalty and whether...
How Baking Powder Changed the World of Horse Racing and Auto Racing
Donate today and become a founding member of the American Business History Center. At the American Business History Center, we are always looking for ways to connect the present to the past. And hopefully learn some lessons along the way. May is a critical month...
Estée Lauder: From One Woman’s Passion to Cosmetics Empire
This article first appeared on February 12, 2018 in The Archbridge Institute’s ‘American Originals’ series. Today, the Estée Lauder Companies have become among the most important cosmetics companies in the world—against huge odds and well-established...
Madam C. J. Walker: The Ultimate Self-Made Woman
This article first appeared on October 31, 2017 in The Archbridge Institute’s ‘American Originals’ series. Her Westchester County neighborhood was the home of Vanderbilts, Morgans, and Astors. Jay Gould and John D. Rockefeller had assembled estates...Largest US Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Companies 1956
An interesting list of cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies in 1956, with sales and profit data. Source: Various Financial Reference Books Largest US Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Companies 1956 (XLSX)Most Powerful Brands in US 1923
Here is an interesting list of the most-recognized brand names in America in 1923. Source: The Leadership of Advertised Brands, by Hotchkiss and Franken, 1923 Most Powerful Brands in US 1923 (XLSX)Largest US food companies 1954 based on Fortune 500 List
This spreadsheet lists the largest publicly-held US food manufacturers in 1954, and includes tabulations by industry segment (meatpacking, bakeries, canners, etc.). Source: 1955 Fortune Magazine with list of the 500 largest US publicly-held companies in 1954 Largest...Support Us
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