| Dates: | 1934-1944 |
| Size: | .1 linear foot in 1 folder, includes 38 labels |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe-c00117 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Purchased from David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books, 2019 |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is, Valmor Products Label Collection, [Label #] Special Collections, Chicago Public Library. |
| Finding Aid Author: | Michelle McCoy, 2019. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2022 |
Abstract
The Valmor Product Label Collection contains a small selection of product labels created in the 1930s and 1940s by the Valmor Products Company or its subsidiary companies: Lucky Brown, Madam Jones, King Novelty and Famous Products Company. The products ranged from hair pomades, perfumes and skin creams to household products that were marketed to African American women prior to the Black is Beautiful movement and frequently consisted of skin lighteners and hair straighteners.
Biographical/Historical
Morton Neumann (1898-1985), a journeyman chemist, began Valmor Products Co. in 1926. A native of Chicago’s South Side, he identified a shortage of cosmetic products tailored for Black and Latino communities. Together with his wife, Rose, the Neumanns operated Valmor Products Co. and its subsidiary companies: Lucky Brown, Madam Jones, King Novelty, and Famous Products Co. The inventory of products ranged from hair pomades, perfumes and skin creams to household products. Cosmetics marketed to African American women prior to the Black is Beautiful movement frequently consisted of skin lighteners and hair straighteners.
The company’s first headquarters was located at 5249 S. Cottage Grove Avenue and shared its space with the Valmor record label. In the 1930s, Neumann purchased larger warehouse space between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Prairie Avenue at the intersection of Cermak Road. By the 1950s, Valmor had a mailing address at 2241 S. Michigan Avenue. His products were advertised in Ebony, Jet and other prominent publications.
Morton G. Neumann died in 1985 at the age of 87. His significant 20th century art collection, Morton G. Neumann Family Collection, is at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Scope and Contents
The Valmor Product Label Collection contains a small selection of product labels created in the 1930s and 1940s by the Valmor Products Company or its subsidiary companies: Lucky Brown, Madam Jones, King Novelty and Famous Products Company. The products ranged from hair pomades, perfumes and skin creams to household products that were marketed to African American women prior to the Black is Beautiful movement and frequently consisted of skin lighteners and hair straighteners.
Arrangement
The product labels are listed alphabetically by company name and product line. The collection includes a few unrelated labels that came with the lot. These are listed at the end.
Subject Terms
- Beauty culture
- Cosmetics industry
- Packaging--Design
- Famous Products Co.
- King Novelty Company
- Lucky Man Co.
- Madam Jones Co.
- Valmor Products Co.
Related Collections
- Marjorie Stewart Joyner Papers
- Trade Catalog Collection
Collection Inventory
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.1 | Famous Products Co., Brown Skin Beauty, White Rose Cold Cream, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.2 | Famous Products Co., Brown Skin Beauty, Lemon Fragrance Cleansing Cream, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.3 | Famous Products Co., Kiss Me Again Mouth Wash, label, 1937 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Items 1.4.1-1.4.2 | Famous Products Co., Lucky Brown, Lemon Fragrance Cleansing Cream, labels (2), 1939 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Items 1.5.1-1.5.2 | Famous Products Co., Lucky Charm Perfume, labels (2), undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.6 | Famous Products Co., Lucky Man and Woman Liniment for Muscular Aches and Pains, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.7 | Famous Products Co., Velvet After Shave, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Items 1.13.1-1.13.2 | Madam Jones Co., Bleach Ointment, labels (2), undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.14 | Madam Jones Co., Hair and Scalp Shampoo, label, 1944 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.8 | Madam Jones Co., Hair Dressing Pomade, label, 1944 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.21 | Madam Jones Co., Hot Oil Shampoo Treatment, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.15 | Madam Jones Co., Lemon Fragrance Lotion, label, 1944 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.9 | Madam Jones Co., One Minute Skin Lightener No. 1, label, 1946 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.10 | Madam Jones Co., Overnight Cream, label, 1944 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.16 | Madam Jones Co., Seven X Hot Comb Oil, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.22 | Madam Jones Co., Skin Ointment, label, 1944 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.11 | Madam Jones Co., Skin Secret Cream, label, 1939 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.12 | Madam Jones Co., Sleeping Beauty Night Cream, label, 1939 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.20 | Valmor Products Co., Bath Salts, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.19 | Valmor Products Co., Fly Murder, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.23 | Valmor Products Co., Sweet Breath Mouth Wash, label, 1938 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.17 | Valmor Products Co., Sweet Georgia Brown, Body Powder, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.26 | Valmor Products Co., Sweet Georgia Brown, Liquid Face Powder, label, 1934 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.18 | Valmor Products Co., Sweet Georgia Brown, Pearly White Tooth Powder, label, 1935 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.24 | Valmor Products Co., Sweet Georgia Brown, Skin Perfume, label, 1936 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.27 | Valmor Products Co., Sweet Georgia Brown, Skin Tonic, label, 1936 |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.25 | Valmor Products Co., True Love 6-Way Jockey Club Hair Dressing, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.28 | James Robertson and Son’s, Mincemeat, England, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.29 | James Robertson and Son’s, Mincemeat, England, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Items 1.30.1-1.30.3 | James Robertson and Son’s, marketing character, England, labels (3), undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.31 | Longwood Plantation’s, Pure Cane Syrup, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.32 | Nupral, Italy, label, undated |
| Small Collections Box 1 | Item 1.33 | Moro, Italy, label, undated |
