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Madsen Furniture Company photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P0837

Scope and Contents

Madsen Furniture Company photograph collection consists of 1 box containing black-and-white and color prints, copy prints, and negatives related to the Madsen Furniture Company and the Madsen family. The photographs primarily depict the interior and exterior of the Madsen Furniture stores in Salt Lake City, Utah. While the collection dates from 1875-1999, the bulk of the photographs depict the company from 1950 to 1985.

Dates

  • 1875-1999
  • Majority of material found within 1950-1985

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical / Historical

The Madsen Furniture Company was established in 1875 in Salt Lake City, Utah by Hans and Louise Madsen, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who immigrated from Denmark. The Madsens came from a family of Danish furniture makers who specialized in "perlemorkiste" chests, or chests inlaid with pearl. Of their eight children, their son Peter William "P.W." Madsen took over running the furniture company and expanded it; under his leadership, the company was renamed the P.W. Madsen Furniture Company. Branch locations in Salt Lake City included 40 South Main Street; 51-57 East First South; 234 South State Street; and 4650 South Highland Drive. In Ogden, the store was located at 2314 Washington Boulevard.

Businesses opened by descendants of the Madsen family included the Standard Furniture Company, opened by Richard William Madsen, and the Sterling Furniture Company, opened by Richard William Madsen's sons Richard Jr. and Francis. Additionally, Richard Madsen worked as general manager of ZCMI, where he helped to establish its home furnishings division. The P.W. Madsen Furniture Company was in business for 125 years until the closure of its location at 4650 Highland Drive in 2000. In 2002, a replicate of the first Madsen Furniture Company building was added to the Heritage Village in This is the Place Heritage Park. The family's legacy in furniture continued through the offshoot company the Sterling Furniture Company. (Source: "It's a Madsen Tradition," Salt Lake Tribune, September 19, 1976.)

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 archives box) : 104 items

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Madsen Furniture Company photograph collection contains materials concerning the Madsen Furniture Company. This company was established in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1875.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Richard Madsen in 2000.

Separated Materials

See also the Madsen Furniture Company records (ACCN 1803) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Creator

Title
Madsen Furniture Company photograph collection
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid created by Sara Davis.
Date
2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Revision Statements

  • 2024: Finding aid revised by Special Collections staff.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863