Historical Perspective: Cataloging’s Early Years

Since all my associates in 1948 were more than twice as old as I, that means I’m the last survivor of the company’s catalog creative division from that era. Here’s a look back at what catalog creation was like in those bygone days.

“I started at the bottom”

Back then I was recently graduated and needed a job. Moreover, I was competing with millions of military veterans for those jobs. My mother had a friend who was secretary to the head of Sears’ catalog production at its Homan and Arthington Streets national headquarters in Chicago. It was a huge complex that stretched for almost four blocks and could be traveled through via tunnels and warehouse passages.