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Add a conversation-starting touch of Wisconsin retail history to your desk with this T. A. Chapman Co. Metal Business Card Holder. Founded in Milwaukee in 1857, Chapman's grew from a family-owned business into a department store chain with locations in Milwaukee, Madison, and Appleton. Its downtown Wisconsin Avenue flagship was rebuilt after an 1884 fire, while later milestones included expansion in 1978 and a 1987 bankruptcy filing. A fitting keepsake for collectors of regional commerce history.
T. A. Chapman Co., commonly known as Chapman's, was a department store chain based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Timothy Appleton Chapman founded the company in 1857. In 1872, he opened its flagship store on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. Fire destroyed the original Wisconsin Avenue location in 1884, and the store was rebuilt. The company later expanded beyond Milwaukee: in 1978 it acquired Manchester's Department Stores in Madison, Wisconsin. The Chapman family retained ownership until 1983, and the chain eventually reached seven locations. By the time the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1987, it had six stores: three in Milwaukee, two in Madison, and one in Appleton. The company’s history links a family-owned retail business founded in the nineteenth century with downtown Milwaukee and later expansion into other Wisconsin cities. Its documented story includes a rebuilt flagship, an acquisition, a change in family ownership, and a bankruptcy filing.
T. A. Chapman Co. Metal Business Card Holder
$24.99
Sale price
$24.99
Regular price
Add a conversation-starting touch of Wisconsin retail history to your desk with this T. A. Chapman Co. Metal Business Card Holder. Founded in Milwaukee in 1857, Chapman's grew from a family-owned business into a department store chain with locations in Milwaukee, Madison, and Appleton. Its downtown Wisconsin Avenue flagship was rebuilt after an 1884 fire, while later milestones included expansion in 1978 and a 1987 bankruptcy filing. A fitting keepsake for collectors of regional commerce history.
T. A. Chapman Co., commonly known as Chapman's, was a department store chain based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Timothy Appleton Chapman founded the company in 1857. In 1872, he opened its flagship store on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. Fire destroyed the original Wisconsin Avenue location in 1884, and the store was rebuilt. The company later expanded beyond Milwaukee: in 1978 it acquired Manchester's Department Stores in Madison, Wisconsin. The Chapman family retained ownership until 1983, and the chain eventually reached seven locations. By the time the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1987, it had six stores: three in Milwaukee, two in Madison, and one in Appleton. The company’s history links a family-owned retail business founded in the nineteenth century with downtown Milwaukee and later expansion into other Wisconsin cities. Its documented story includes a rebuilt flagship, an acquisition, a change in family ownership, and a bankruptcy filing.
| One size | |
| Width, in | 3.67 |
| Height, in | 2.35 |
| Depth, in | 0.36 |
Product features
- Holds up to 20 standard 3.5" x 2.0" business cards
- Glossy metallic, polished exterior finish
- Velvet-like interior base for card protection
- Comfortable, pocket-friendly design
- Friction snap closure for secure storage
Care instructions
- Wipe the dust or any dirt off gently with a clean, dry cloth.