2013 2012 2011 2010 0Madam’s Advertising Print Blocks and their Union Connections
Madam’s Advertising Print Blocks and their Union Connections
*Ed. Note: This blog post is part of a series written by graduate students in the IUPUI Museum Studies Program. They have spent this semester surveying, documenting, and researching the collection of artworks and artifacts at the Madame Walker Theatre Center, for more info go here: http://www.walkertheatre.com/blog/mwtc-partners-with-iupui-museum-studies-class.
Today’s post is by Ashley Hays
As a student in the IUPUI Museum Studies Program, I had the opportunity to explore the depths of the MWTC basement with two fellow classmates where, in the former “Coffee Pot” restaurant, we re-discovered boxes filled with Madam’s advertisement print blocks. When I saw each one I realized I was looking at Madame’s passion for promotion in one of its rawest forms: copper, zinc, and lead giving life to the company’s promises of great hair and clear skin. Madam was an inspiration to the black community and it was the company’s advertising that brought that inspiration to the masses.
Having spent several hours at the Indiana Historical Society scouring the Madam C.J. Walker papers that cover the time period 1910-1980, I developed a deep passion for the history of the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. Madam was an expert at advertising, most likely a skilled she learned from her third husband, Charles Joseph Walker (for whom Madam would get her name), a well-known newspaper man from Denver, CO. Along with Charles, Madam employed his talents with a huge print advertisement campaign.
Madam had ads in every black newspaper and magazine in every state from Pennsylvania to Colorado to California. Clearly she knew how to reach people—excite them into purchasing her products and buying in to her beauty school programs.
While in the process of cataloguing the print blocks, I noticed a stamp printed onto one of the edges: “IPEU 643”. A quick Google search told me that IPEU stood for the International Photo-Engravers Union of North America, and what I called a stamp was actually a called a “bug”. Founded in 1904, the IPEU was the first union to organize a shorter work week for its members. The successor of the IPEU is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Graphics Communication International Union (http://www.teamster.org/content/graphics-communications).
The tricky part of the “bug” was the number 643. After a little research I learned that the number next to the “bug” stood for the local chapter of the IPEU. This number tells us the state, city, print house, and even the workers in that particular location. This would be a provenance, the historical significance of an object, goldmine. But there’s a catch. I have no idea what local chapter 643 is.
One of the most fascinating parts of the Indianapolis community is its connection to its heritage and the willingness of community members to help our pursuit of knowledge. The Walker’s most famous docent, Mr. Ridley, comes to mind upon re-reading that statement. It is with the best intention that I ask for any help in identifying information about IPEU Local Chapter 643.
If you have any leads on 643 please leave them in the comment section below. Thanks!
