American Hospital Supply Corporation Catalogs and Publications

Filling twenty-one boxes, this series dates between 1928 and 1986. Included are a variety of product catalogs from American Hospital Supply Corporation and from subsidiaries Dietary Products, Hamilton Industries, McGaw Laboratories, V. Mueller Surgical Products, Rehabilitation Products, and Scientific Products. Also included are a collection of corporate annual reports, product listing and price Bulletins, and newsletters.

Catalogs contain descriptions, illustrations, and pricing for products manufactured or distributed by American and its subsidiaries. A few copies of the catalogs found here are annotated.

Annual reports generally reflect the corporation's major undertakings during a given year and summarize corporate finances. They note net sales and earnings figures, dividends paid, source and use of funds, assets, and liabilities.

Bulletins describe and illustrate on a monthly or semi-monthly basis products offered by American and its subsidiaries. They should be used in conjunction with the catalogs for a view of American's evolving product line and merchandising practices.

The Tomahawk (1943–1970), a corporate newsletter, features news items pertaining to American and the subsidiaries; notices of employee promotions, transfers, appointments, and awards; and anecdotes relating to product sales and corporate activities.

Another newsletter, the Weekly Gossip, represented here by issues dating between 1942 and 1963, records statistics on quotas, sales calls, and orders placed by individual salesmen; notes changes in product offerings and pricing; and often highlights successful sales techniques.

Other publications in this series include: Communique (1973–1976), a bimonthly account of news, appointments, and features about American's international employees and operations; Horizons (1962), a feature magazine for American employees; product and services descriptions from American's Information Systems subsidiary (ca. 1977); Pulse (1982), an employee newsletter; Scope (1972–1975), including feature articles on health care and health-care products; and Vanguard (1973–1976), an employee newsletter published by Pharmaseal Laboratories.

Addition, Box 22

This addition to the American Hospital Supply Corporation Catalogs and Publications fills one half archival box and spans the years 1948–1954. This addition is the result of overfilled boxes which occurred during interfiling.

Addition, Sub-Series 1-2

This addition to the American Hospital Supply Corporation Catalogs and Publications spans the years 1925 to 1985. Included are a small number of product catalogs and a larger number of corporate publications. Addition records, including corporate brochures and “Dear Friend” letters, are also part of the addition.