Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection 430 Finding aid prepared by Laura Bees, 2013.. Last updated on July 08, 2016. Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department
Table of Contents Summary Information...4 Biography/History...5 Scope and Contents... 5 Administrative Information... 6 Related Materials... 6 Collection Inventory... 8 1953 Neva Jane Langley... 8 1954 Evelyn Ay...8 1955 Lee Meriwether... 9 1956 Sharon Kay Ritchie... 10 1957 Marian Ann McKnight...11 1958 Marilyn Van Derbur...12 1959 Mary Ann Mobley...13 1960 Lynda Mead...14 1961 Nancy Anne Fleming... 15 1962 Maria Beale Fletcher... 16 1963 Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer...16 1964 Donna Axum... 17 1965 Vonda Kay Van Dyke...18 1966...19 1967...20 Pageant programs...20 Paper dolls...21 Everglaze and Ban-Lon fashions...21 - Page 2 -
Pamphlets and advertising...22 Case histories... 22 - Page 3 -
Summary Information Repository Hagley Museum and Library: Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department Title Joseph Bancroft and Sons Company, Miss America collection Call number 430 Date approximately 1945-1967 Extent 1069 photographic prints General Physical Description note 1,069 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. or smaller., 5 albums (131 photographic prints) ; 28 x 24 cm., 5 albums (100 photographic prints, 101 items) ; 51 x 41 cm. or smaller., 239 items, 29 items : programs, 25 items : paper dolls and 1 item : sample book ; 33 x 43.5 cm. Language English Abstract Joseph Bancroft, an Englishman trained in textile weaving in Lancashire, established his own cotton mill on the Brandywine near Wilmington, Delaware in 1831. This operation became the Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company in 1889, and in 1929 it absorbed the Eddystone Manufacturing Co. These images include plant exteriors and interiors, officials and employees, aerials, workers' housing, machinery, floods, and dams and races on Brandywine Creek as well as many Ban-Lon and Miss America fashion photographs. This collection includes approximately 1060 images covering a period from the late 19th century to the 1960s. - Page 4 -
Biography/History Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company manufactured, bleached, dyed, and finished a variety cotton-made goods. After World War I it added synthetics to its production, and these included rayon and nylon fabrics. The company was incorporated in 1889. The companies namesake, Joseph Bancroft (1803-1874) began manufacturing cotton cloth at a small mill in Rockford, Delaware, just north of Wilmington, on March 25, 1831. The mill was built in order to take advantage of the Brandywine River's water power and Bancroft adopted the traditional British spinning and weaving technology for use in his operation. The firm expanded steadily during the 1830s and 1840s as it began to produce cotton for both the Philadelphia and New York markets. In the late 1840s, Joseph Bancroft brought his two sons, William and Samuel, into the business assuring that the company would remain a family enterprise. During the Civil War, when the American market was largely closed to English imports, the Bancroft firm, like most other U.S. textile companies, prospered. After the war, the company developed a new bleaching process and began to concentrate on finishing cotton cloth. In 1929, the Bancroft Company merged with the Eddystone Manufacturing Company. In the mid-1930s it began producing a line of rayon goods and a cotton finishing process that were marketed under the trade names of "Ban-Lon" and "Everglaze" respectively. The Banlon and Everglaze processes were widely licensed in Europe and America and by the early 1950s foreign royalties accounted for more than seventy per cent of the firm's total profits. In an effort to promote Everglaze, Bancroft became a primary sponsor of the Miss America Pageant from the mid-1940s through the late 1960s. The company helped finance the pageant and provided money towards scholarships awarded to pageant winners. Bancroft was able to promote its products using the image of Miss America. In 1961, the Bancroft Company became a division of Indian Head Mills, Inc., of New York City. The Rockford factory closed in 1981. Scope and Contents The collection consists of general advertising and product information for "Ban-Lon" and "Everglaze" fashions. In particular, the collection documents the Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company's sponsorship of the Miss America Pageant and the promotion of fabrics by Miss America from the years 1953 to 1967. A majority of the photographs show Miss America modeling her official "Everglaze" and "Ban-?Lon" wardrobe, although there are also fashion publicity photographs featuring other models, including those for men's and children's clothing. Other photographs include fashion shows featuring Miss America's "Everglaze" wardrobe and clothing created using McCall's patterns in fabrics by Everfast; displays of - Page 5 -
fashions and fabrics in department stores; and the use of "Everglaze" and "Ban-Lon" fabrics for household furnishings such as draperies, upholstery, and bedding. Many photographs and advertising materials document the "Miss America/Modern Bride/Ban-Lon Lace Dream Wedding" promotion, including wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and lingerie by makers such as Priscilla of Boston, Alfred Angelo, and Lily of France, particularly for the years 1960 and 1961. The collection also includes numerous fabric swatches, some in sample books, others attached to related photographs. Other miscellaneous items in the collection include paper dolls of various Miss Americas wearing their "Everglaze" ball gowns; Miss America pageant programs from the years 1945 to 1967; and numerous related advertising materials, including promotional kits, press releases, tear sheets, pamphlets, etc. Administrative Information Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department Finding aid prepared by Laura Bees, 2013.. Access Restrictions This collection is open for research. Existence and Location of Copies View selected materials in Hagley's Digital Archives. Related Materials Related Material Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company photographs (Accession 1969.025), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library. Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company records (Accession 0736), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library. ALS : Brandywine, Del., to Robert Hurnard, Kelvedon, England, 1824 Sept. 19 (Accession 0524), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library. Bancroft family papers (Accession 0940, 1115, 1672), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library. - Page 6 -
Bancroft family business papers (Accession 1736, 1745), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library. Joseph Bancroft letterbook (Accession 1708), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library. Some of the Joseph Bancroft & Sons photographs from their Wilmington business were published in the "BAA Bulletin" of the Bancroft Athletic Assn. and in a brochure, "Joseph Bancroft & Sons" which was published in 1927. Both publications are found in the Published Collections Department, Hagley Library. - Page 7 -
I.. 1953 Neva Jane Langley Collection Inventory I.. 1953 Neva Jane Langley..1-.12. Everglaze dresses, 1953.. 1 1.13-.20. Everglaze evening wear, 1953.. 1 2.21-.30. Everglaze beachwear, 1953.. 1 3.31-.36. Everglaze sportswear, 1953.. 1 4.37-.39. Everglaze blouses, 1953.. 1 5.40-.43. Everglaze rainwear, 1953.. 1 6.44-.45. Everglaze children's wear, 1953.. 1 7.46-.47. Everglaze housecoats, 1953.. 1 8 II.. 1954 Evelyn Ay..48-.53. Everglaze evening wear, 1954.. 1 9.54-.66. Everglaze dresses, 1954.. 1 10.67-.73. Everglaze sportswear, 1954.. 1 11.74-.76. Everglaze suits, 1954.. 1 12 - Page 8 -
III.. 1955 Lee Meriwether.77-.79. Everglaze rainwear, 1954.. 1 13.80-.85. Everglaze beachwear, 1954.. 1 14.86-.93. Everglaze children's wear, 1954.. 1 15.94. Everglaze loungewear, 1954.. 1 16 III.. 1955 Lee Meriwether..95-.104. Everglaze evening wear, 1955.. 1 17.105-.125. Everglaze dresses, 1955.. 1 18.126-.127. Everglaze rainwear, 1955.. 1 19.128-.132. Everglaze suits, 1955.. 1 20.133-.139. Everglaze beachwear, 1955.. 1 21.140-.145. Everglaze separates, 1955.. 1 22.146-.152. Everglaze children's wear, 1955.. 1 23.153-.160. Everglaze loungewear, 1955.. 1 24.161-.164. Everglaze menswear, 1955.. 1 25.165. Everglaze closet accessories, 1955.. 1 26.166-.167. Everglaze aprons, 1955.. 1 27 - Page 9 -
IV.. 1956 Sharon Kay Ritchie.168-.169. Everglaze slips, 1955.. 1 28.170-.178. Ban-Lon displays and garments, 1955.. 1 29.179-.215. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1955.. 8 1 IV.. 1956 Sharon Kay Ritchie..216-.226. Everglaze evening wear, 1956.. 1 30.227-.238. Everglaze dresses, 1956.. 1 31.239-.246. Everglaze separates, 1956.. 1 32.247. Everglaze suits, 1956.. 1 33.248. Everglaze rainwear, 1956.. 1 34.249-.251. Everglaze loungewear, 1956.. 1 35.252-.258. Everglaze beachwear, 1956.. 1 36.259-.261. Everglaze children's wear, 1956.. 1 37.262-.274. Everglaze menswear, 1956.. 1 38.275-.284. Ban-Lon, 1956.. 1 39.285-.305. Wardrobe pictures showing Everglaze fabric swatches, 1956. 1 volume. 2 1 - Page 10 -
V.. 1957 Marian Ann McKnight.307-.309. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1956.. 8 2 V.. 1957 Marian Ann McKnight..310-.350. Publicity and pictorial record of Miss America's appearances for Everglaze fashion show, London, 1956 November 19.. 2 1.351-.365. Ban-Lon, 1957.. 3 1.366-.372. Everglaze ballgowns, 1957.. 3 2.373-.378. Everglaze short gowns, 1957.. 3 3.379-.390. Everglaze day dresses, 1957.. 3 4.391-.398. Everglaze separates, 1957.. 3 5.399-.404. Everglaze suits and coats, 1957.. 3 6.405-.410. Everglaze loungewear, 1957.. 3 7.411-.417. Everglaze beachwear, 1957.. 3 8.418-.428. Everglaze children's wear, 1957.. 3 9.429-.431. Everglaze home furnishings, 1957.. 3 10.432. Everglaze menswear, 1957.. 3 11.433-.465. Other models at the Everglaze fashion show, London, 1956 November 19.. 3 12 - Page 11 -
VI.. 1958 Marilyn Van Derbur.477. Pamphlet Mohasco Industries, Inc., 1957.. 3 13.466-.476. Wardrobe pictures showing Everglaze fabric swatches with Ban-Lon accessories, 1957. 2 volumes. 3 1-2 VI.. 1958 Marilyn Van Derbur..478-.483. Everglaze ballgowns, 1958.. 4 1.484-.489. Everglaze short gowns, 1958.. 4 2.490-.499. Everglaze day dresses, 1958.. 4 3.500-.508. Everglaze separates, 1958.. 4 4.509-.515. Everglaze suits and coats, 1958.. 4 5.516-.519. Everglaze loungewear, 1958.. 4 6.520-.523. Everglaze beachwear, 1958.. 4 7.524-.529. Everglaze children's wear, 1958.. 4 8.530-.533. Everglaze menswear, 1958.. 4 9.534-.550. Everglaze and Ban-Lon wardrobe of Miss America with fabric swatches, 1958. 2 volumes. 4 1-2.551-.590. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1958.. 8 3 - Page 12 -
VII.. 1959 Mary Ann Mobley VII.. 1959 Mary Ann Mobley..591-.601. Everglaze and Ban-Lon ballgowns, 1959.. 4 10.602-.605. Everglaze and Ban-Lon short gowns, 1959.. 4 11.606-.615. Everglaze day dresses, 1959.. 4 12.616-.619. Everglaze and Ban-Lon suits and coats, 1959.. 4 13.620-.642. Everglaze and Ban-Lon separates, 1959.. 4 14.643-.649. Everglaze and Ban-Lon beachwear, 1959.. 4 15.650-.656. Everglaze and Ban-Lon children's wear, 1959.. 4 16.657-.666. Everglaze and Ban-Lon menswear, 1959.. 5 1.667. Ban-Lon uniform, 1959.. 5 2.668. Ban-Lon pajamas, 1959.. 5 3.669-.670. Ban-Lon slips, 1959.. 5 4.671-.674. Ban-Lon bra and girdle, 1959.. 5 5.675-.702. Everglaze and Ban-Lon home furnishings, 1959.. 5 6.703-.707. Miss America pictures and pamphlets.. 5 7.708-.730. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1959.. 8 4 - Page 13 -
VIII.. 1960 Lynda Mead VIII.. 1960 Lynda Mead..731-.739. Everglaze and Ban-Lon ballgowns, 1960.. 5 8.740. Everglaze and Ban-Lon short gowns, 1960.. 5 9.741-.749. Everglaze and Ban-Lon day dresses, 1960.. 5 10.750-.753. Everglaze and Ban-Lon separates, 1960.. 5 11.754. Everglaze and Ban-Lon beachwear, 1960.. 5 12.755. Everglaze and Ban-Lon suits, 1960.. 5 13.756. Everglaze and Ban-Lon loungewear, 1960.. 5 14.757-.762. Everglaze and Ban-Lon children's wear, 1960.. 5 15.763-.772. Ban-Lon fashions, 1960.. 5 16.773-.782. Everglaze and Ban-Lon menswear, 1960.. 5 17.783-.805. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1960.. 8 5 Miss America in Ban-Lon wedding gown, 1960.. A38 OS 1 Miss America Modern Bride/Ban-Lon lace dream wedding, 1960.. OS 13 1 - Page 14 -
IX.. 1961 Nancy Anne Fleming IX.. 1961 Nancy Anne Fleming..807-.821. Miss America Ban-Lon fashions, 1961.. 5 18.822-.837. Women's Ban-Lon fashions, 1961.. 5 19.838-.846. Men's Everglaze and Ban-Lon fashions, 1961.. 5 20.847-.856. Miss America New York Couture group wardrobe, 1961.. 5 21.857-.865. Miss America Everglaze fashions, 1961.. 5 22.866-.875. Other models in Everglaze fashions, 1961.. 5 23.876-.880. Everglaze and Ban-Lon children's wear, 1961.. 5 24.881-.886. Everglaze storewide promotions, 1961.. 5 25.887-.902. Miss America pictures and pamphlets, 1961.. 5 26.903-.918. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1961.. 8 6 Miss America Modern Bride/Ban-Lon lace dream wedding, 1961.. OS 13 2-3 Miss America Everglaze/Ban-Lon fabrics and fashions promotions, 1961 April-May.. OS 13 2 Miss America Modern Bride/Ban-Lon lace dream wedding promotional materials, 1961.. OS 13 1 - Page 15 -
X.. 1962 Maria Beale Fletcher X.. 1962 Maria Beale Fletcher..1038-.1057. Everglaze fashions, 1962.. 5 27.1058-.1075. Ban-Lon fashions, 1962.. 6 1.1076-.1081. Pictures and pamphlets of Everglaze and Ban-Lon fashions, 1962.. 6 2.1082-.1114. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1962.. 8 7 Miss America in Ban-Lon wedding gown, 1962.. A38 OS 2 XI.. 1963 Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer..1115-.1116. Miss America Ban-Lon gowns, 1963.. 6 3.1117-.1122. Miss America Ban-Lon street length ensembles, 1963.. 6 4.1123. Miss America Ban-Lon sportswear, 1963.. 6 5.1124-.1137. Other models in Ban-Lon fashions, 1963.. 6 6.1138-.1142. Ban-Lon menswear, 1963.. 6 7.1143. Ban-Lon children's wear, 1963.. 6 8.1144-.1146. Ban-Lon home furnishings, 1963.. 6 9 - Page 16 -
XII.. 1964 Donna Axum.1147-.1150. Miss America Everglaze gowns, 1963.. 6 10.1151-.1157. Miss America Everglaze street length ensembles, 1963.. 6 11.1158. Miss America Everglaze coats, 1963.. 6 12.1159-.1166. Other models in Everglaze, 1963.. 6 13.1167. Everglaze menswear, 1963.. 6 14.1168-.1170. Everglaze children's wear, 1963.. 6 15.1171. Everglaze closet accessories, 1963.. 6 16.1172-.1198. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1963.. 9 1 XII.. 1964 Donna Axum..1199-.1204. Miss America Ban-Lon evening wear, 1964.. 6 17.1205-.1209. Miss America Ban-Lon daytime fashions, 1964.. 6 18.1210-.1211. Miss America Ban-Lon sportswear, 1964.. 6 19.1212-.1216. Other models in Ban-Lon evening dresses, 1964.. 6 20.1217-.1231. Other models in Ban-Lon daytime fashions, 1964.. 6 21.1232-.1235. Miss America Everglaze evening wear, 1964.. 6 22.1236-.1242. Miss America Everglaze daytime fashions, 1964.. 6 23 - Page 17 -
XIII.. 1965 Vonda Kay Van Dyke.1243-.1244. Miss America Everglaze and Bancora sportswear, 1964.. 6 24.1245-.1249. Other models in Everglaze and Bancora daytime fashions, 1964.. 6 25.1250-.1252. Other models in Everglaze sportswear, 1964.. 6 26.1253. Bancora menswear, 1964.. 6 27.1254-.1256. Everglaze children's wear, 1964.. 6 28.1257-.1268. Other models in Ban-Lon sportswear, 1964.. 6 29.1269-.1271. Ban-Lon men's fashions, 1964.. 6 30.1272-.1286. Pictures, pamphlets and related advertising, 1964.. 6 31.1287-.1307. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1964.. 9 2 XIII.. 1965 Vonda Kay Van Dyke..1308-.1320. Miss America Ban-Lon evening wear, 1965.. 7 1.1321-.1326. Miss America Ban-Lon daytime fashions, 1965.. 7 2.1327-.1330. Miss America Ban-Lon sportswear, 1965.. 7 3.1331-.1333. Other models in Ban-Lon evening wear, 1965.. 7 4.1334-.1358. Other models in Ban-Lon daytime fashions, 1965.. 7 5 - Page 18 -
XIV.. 1966.1359-.1375. Other models in Ban-Lon sportswear, 1965.. 7 6.1376-.1379. Ban-Lon children's wear, 1965.. 7 7.1380-.1393. Ban-Lon menswear, 1965.. 7 8.1394-.1395. Ban-Lon hats, 1965.. 7 9.1396-.1397. Ban-Lon loungewear, 1965.. 7 10.1398-.1404. Miss America Everglaze evening wear, 1965.. 7 11.1405-.1416. Miss America Everglaze daytime fashions, 1965.. 7 12.1417-.1422. Miss America Everglaze sportswear, 1965.. 7 13.1423. Other models in Everglaze evening wear, 1965.. 7 14.1424. Other models in Everglaze daytime fashions, 1965.. 7 15.1425-.1427. Other models in Everglaze sportswear, 1965.. 7 16.1428-.1429. Everglaze children's wear, 1965.. 7 17.1430-.1445. Pictures, pamphlets and related advertising, 1965.. 7 18.1446-.1459. Miss America pictures and pamphlets advertising Ban-Lon and Everglaze fabrics, 1965.. 9 3 XIV.. 1966..1460-.1465. Ban-Lon pamphlets and advertising material, 1966.. 7 19 - Page 19 -
XV.. 1967.1461-.1462. Men's Wear issues, 1966.. 9 4 XV.. 1967..1466-.1467. Ban-Lon advertising material, 1967.. 7 20 XVI.. Pageant programs, 1945-1965, 1967. 1945, 1946.. 10 1 1947, 1948.. 10 2 1949.. 10 3 1950, 1951, 1952, 1950-1952.. 10 4 1953.. 10 5 1954.. 10 6 1956.. 10 7 1957.. 10 8 1958.. 10 9 1959.. 10 10 1960.. 10 11 - Page 20 -
XVII.. Paper dolls 1961.. 10 12 1962.. 10 13 1963.. 10 14 1964.. 10 15 1965.. 10 16 1967.. 10 17 XVII.. Paper dolls, 1948-1951, 1953-1955, 1957-1962, 1964. 1948-1959, 1948-1951, 1953-1955, 1957-1959.. 10 18 1960-1964, 1960-1962, 1964.. 10 19 XVIII.. Everglaze and Ban-Lon fashions, 1961. Everglaze menswear, undated.. 11 1 Ban-Lon separates, undated.. 11 2 Ban-Lon uniforms, undated.. 11 3 Ban-Lon displays, 1961.. 11 4 - Page 21 -
XIX.. Pamphlets and advertising XIX.. Pamphlets and advertising, 1946-1947, 1959-1961, 1965-1966, 1968. Correspondence and press releases, 1961, 1965-1966, 1968.. 11 5 Bancare/Bancora pamphlets and advertising, undated.. 11 6 Everglaze pamphlets and advertising, 1946-1947.. 11 7 Other fashions/companies pamphlets and advertising, undated.. 11 8 Ban-Lon pamphlets and advertising, undated.. 11 9 Bancare fabric samples, 1959 November.. OS 12 1 Ban-Lon mailing pieces, 1960.. OS 12 1 Sample book of Everglaze fabrics and chintzes, undated.. OS 12 2 XX.. Case histories, 1959 June-August. Album Everglaze BanCare/Everfast/Youngland case history, The New York Times Magazine, 1959 August 9.. 11 1 Everglaze Bancare fabrics promotion 1, 1959 June 17.. OS 12 OS 1 Everglaze Bancare fabrics promotion 2, 1959 June 23.. OS 12 OS 2 - Page 22 -