Albert Hawks came to Greenfield, Massachusetts, when he was 21, and in 1877, founded a clothing store with his brother-in-law, Frank Reed. They operated the store together until Hawks’ death in 1908. Reed then operated it alone until he sold out in 1917. The building where Hawks and Reed had their business still exists and in the 21st century it was transformed into the Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center. The trade card format was the most common type of advertisement used by local businesses in the 19th century. They began in England in the 17th century and were used by businesses catering to the wealthy both there, and in the American colonies throughout the 18th century. The drop of the cost of printing beginning in the 1820s led to an explosion of trade cards. When lithography became inexpensive, images like the one shown here became widespread. This was one of a series of images published by the Osborn Company.
Reed, F. H. Trade Card of Hawks & Reed-Clothiers. The Osborne Company, 1899. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l03-009/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
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