Catalogs

Buying through the mail began in the nineteenth century; since then, mail-order catalogs have become an important resource for information about material culture, merchandising, and other aspects of modern life. The research collections of The Browne Popular Culture Library include nearly 10,000 mail-order catalogs, ranging from early Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs to catalogs from contemporary specialty outlets for sporting goods, clothing, food, toys, and other areas of American consumer culture. Indexes for merchandise categories and company names contained in the Mail-Order Catalog Collection are available in The Browne Popular Culture Library. Please contact the Library directly for additional information.