Ashley Sign Company records
Content Description
This collection documents the activities of the Ashley Sign Company business from 1910-1973. The collection also includes a small set of Arthur E. Ashley’s personal records, and Arthur A. Ashley’s sign business which he operated prior to purchasing his father’s business.
Two photographs from the donor’s business, Idaho Electric Signs, are included in the collection.
Dates
- 1905-after 1984
Creator
- Ashley Sign Company (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Material is open to the public for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Biographical / Historical
Ashely Sign Company was established by Arthur E. Ashley in Boise, Idaho in 1910. The business moved around downtown Boise many times over it’s more than 50-year history; beginning on Main Street and after occupying buildings on 9th St., 10th St., and 11th St., it was relocated a final time in 1930 to occupy a large building at 708 Front Street. The Front Street location placed the storefront between Peasley Transfer & Storage Co. and the Hop Sing Tong building—the headquarters for a Chinese fraternal order.
The sign business began with the production of primarily painted signs, and 1935 entered the relatively new field of neon signs. By the mid 1960s, neon and electric signs accounted for a large portion of the business, and they continued to create any type of card, sign, or lettering jobs.
Arthur E. Ashley owned and operated the business until his death in 1946. After his death his second wife, Mildred G. Myers, sold the business to her stepson, Arthur A. Ashely.
Extent
2.7 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The records are arranged in two series. The contents of each series are arranged alphabetically. The series arrangement of the records is as follows:
Series 1: Business and Personal Records
Series 2: Photographs and Negatives
Physical Location
Material is stored off-site; advance notice is required.
Custodial History
After the business closed the material was abandoned and left inside the storefront at 708 Front Street. William Asher Berry, owner of Idaho Electric Signs, later removed the records.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by William Asher Berry in 2013.
Processing Information
The records of the Ashley Sign Company received in 2013 were arranged and rehoused in September 2014. The arrangement scheme for the collection was imposed during processing in the absence of an original order into three series, two of which were further divided into subseries.
In January 2024 the arrangement was revised to consolidate all business and personal records into a single series, retaining the photographs and negatives in a separate series.
Creator
- Ashley Sign Company (Organization)
- Author
- Annie Schmid
- Date
- January 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Collections Repository