Do you have your 2024 calendar up yet?

A short look at the history of promotional materials.

If you’re a subscriber to the Buzz, thank you! If you’re new here, or you haven’t become a subscriber yet, please sign up for a subscription to have History Buzz delivered directly to your inbox. If you can, please consider a paid subscription to support the research and writing that make History Buzz possible.

---

Do you have you 2024 calendar up yet?

Today we're sharing this 1959 promotional calendar for Andover's Tyer Rubber Company.

ACHC #2022.096.309

When we think about promotional marketing materials today, I think one of the first items that comes to mind is pens . . . and maybe tote bags.

It’s said that George Washington was one of the first to use promotional materials when he was on his tour of the newly formed United States in 1789.

However, printed calendars were among the first mass produced promotional items.

Introduced in the 1850s by the Ketterlinus Lithographic Producing company in Philadelphia, printed calendars – like the one here - are among the earliest promotional materials.

The popularity of printed promotional materials took off when in 1886 Ohio printer Jasper Freemont Meeks was looking for a way to keep his printing presses going when business was quiet. He printed “Buy Cantwell’s Shoes” on some burlap bags to help a friend market his business.

It might be a bit much to cast blame on poor Mr. Meeks for the proliferation of printed tote bags today, but he did help launch the industry.

You can read more about the history of advertising in A History of Advertising: The first 300,000 years by Jef I. Richards.

I hope you enjoyed today’s short post! Be a part of the conversation and leave a comment or question.
~Elaine