Harrison Brothers Hardware Collection

Collection

Identifier: MC-149

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Ledgers, invoices, promotional materials relating to Harrison Brothers Hardware Store.

Dates

Creation: 1890 - 1990

Creator

Harrison Bros. & Co. (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research in the Archives & Special Collections reading room. Handling guidelines and use restrictions will be communicated and enforced by archives staff members.

Conditions Governing Use

This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.

Biographical / Historical

Originally establishing a tobacco shop on Jefferson Street in 1879, brothers James B. and Daniel T. Harrison moved their shop to their current location in Huntsville’s Southside Square in 1897. After the building was damaged by a fire in 1901, the brothers rebuilt and expanded their store, reopening as Harrison Brothers Hardware in 1902. After James’ death in 1908, Daniel T. and Robert Harrison, their younger brother, ran the store. In 1940, Daniel T. Harrison passed away leaving Robert the sole owner of the store. In the 1950s, Robert’s sons, Daniel F. and John Harrison, took over the store. In 1952, Robert Harrison passed away. In 1981, Daniel F. Harrison passed away leaving John Harrison as the sole owner of the store. The Historic Huntsville Foundation purchased the store in 1984, after the store closed due to John’s death in 1983. As one of the first major projects of the Historic Huntsville Foundation, the store was reopened in October of 1984 and is staffed by several volunteers. The Historic Huntsville Foundation currently continues the operation of Harrison Brothers Hardware in Huntsville, making it Alabama’s oldest operating hardware store.

Extent

100 Linear feet (100 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Donna Castellano, 2018.

Existence and Location of Copies

View digitized items from this collection

Processing Information

Collections are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, and competing priorities. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections as they are acquired and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit.