USC Rare Books and Manuscripts
Collection 8

COULTER DRY GOODS COLLECTION

This collection includes correspondence, clippings, photographs, family history regarding B. F. Coulter, and the history of a family-owned enterprise (including family portraits, store window displays). B. F. Coulter was one of the earliest merchants in Los Angeles. The Coulter's Dry Goods business dates from 1878 and later was called Coulter's. Coulter was an ordained minister and founded the Broadway Christian Church. The business was continued by B.F. Coulter's son-in-law, R. P. McReynolds, and his son, James McReynolds.

Box 1

Folder Description

Several business letters from various years. Mementos & Business souvenirs
Frances Coulter, daughter of founder, appeared on all company checks around the turn of the century

Approx. 25-30 letters to John L. Cooke, Window Display Manager, Coulter's 1920-1935

Social invitations, wedding, dinner, etc.

Thomas Evans Estate

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Diamond Jubilee Advertising Material

Family Newspaper Clippings: all dates

Magazine & Newspaper Clippings: Window Displays

Broadway Christian Church

Family History & Biography

Brief Description of Photos

Coulter's Dept. Store-7th & Olive, 1926

Broadway between. 4th & 5th, circa 1900

Spring Street- looking North from 8th St., circa 1900

Main Street Post Office, 1892

North of Broadway from 3rd St.

2nd & Broadway- looking south at 2nd St. can see old City Hall on the left, circa 1890

Opening first electric railway line in Los Angeles, 1886

Temple St. cable railway, circa 1885

Broadway Church decorated for Frances Coulter / R.R. Reynolds wedding, 1908

North on Main from below 2nd St., 1884

Diamond Jubilee display picture, 1953

Southern Pacific Depot & Spring St. Railway, circa 1880

Coulter's Dept. store window - display of Colorfast linings, 5/1/23

Coulter's Dept. store window - display of Fall 1923 dresses

McCall's Pattern Dept. 4/24/23

Spring Opening 1923 (6 various images)

Coulter's Dept. store window - display of Fall 1923 dresses, hats, jewelry, and other miscellaneous items

Men's cut silk neckties, 5/1/23

Men's cut silk bow ties, Fall 1923 (1 of 2)

Nemo Corset Week 1924

Kenwood blankets, 1923, 1925, & 1930 (6 images)

Omar Pearls, 1923 & 1928 (3 images)

Notions dressmakers and supplies, 9/22/23

A mannequin with a white silk jacket and dress, circa 1920

L.A. buildings-Coulter Dept. Store - former site

L.A. buildings-Dept Stores- old Coulter Store (Broadway between 2nd & 3rd)

Holeproof Hosiery, 1925 to 1931 (16 images)

Display of various roll of ribbons (1 of 2)

Jantzen's swimsuit collections, 1930 (1 of 2)

Display of Due Sheer Hose 6/21/30

Display of crib and other baby accessories, circa 1930

Holeproof EXX: The new silk hose for men, circa 1930

Phoenix Sox: A style to meet the preference of every man, 5/12/30

Arrow Trump Shirts, 1928 & 1930 (6 images)

Arrow Aistone Shirts 1929

Ballroom dresses 1929

Sleeveless dresses, Fall 1929

Men's Grad underwear and shorts, June 1929

A picture of Col. Lindoergh on display, circa 1928

Luxite silk lingerie, 3/12/28 (1 of 2)

Horse riding wear and accessories, 1928 (1 of 2)

Grayco Gray's men collections, 1927 & 1928 (2 images)

Diamond Jubilee Display Picture, 1953 of various dresses (13 images)

Dresses with wool coats, circa 1920

Kayser's silk gloves display, 5/16/19

Swimming suits "Knit to Fit", circa 1925

Various women and men eating on to of a haystack, circa 1900-1910

Senior class of Summer 1895

Various fall dresses, 1924 & 1930 (16 images)

Silk gloves, circa 1925

Coulter's linen section, 1927 (1 of 2)

New colors in Holeproof Hosiery, 1927

Men and women standing in front of a train playing various instruments

Theodore Roosevelt & the Rough Riders, copyrighted 1901

A picture of John Edwards 1st U.S. Senator 1748-1837

Jewelry cases, perfume stands, and other women accessories inside Coulter's store with Christmas decorations, Christmas 1949 (6 images)

Purse cases and linen cases with white flower vases along side them in Coulter's store, 1917

Glove and jewelry cases with white flower vases standing alongside and on them in Coulter's store, 1917

Cosmetics and lingerie cases inside Coulter's store, circa 1930

North of Fourth Street, first auto on the street, 1902

Elegant dresses and purses, circa 1930

Men shirts with neck ties, circa 1930 (1 of 2)

Clothing for the perfect getaway to Lake Arrowhead, June 1931

Swimming suits and other accessories for the summer, circa 1930

Various spring dress, 1926 to 1930 (7 images)

Pajamas, circa 11/29/30

New robes, circa 1930 (1 of 2)

Shouldaire sun-suit, 1930

Clothes and jackets for the cold winter, circa 1930

Dresses with mink coats and shawl, 1930 (1 of 2)

Candy dept. inside Coulter's store, 11/17/23

Fashion display featuring Butterfield quality fabrics, circa 1930 (1 of 2)

Kayser's knit under garments, circa 1930

Silk fabric, circa 1930

Dresses with laces, circa spring 1930

Cameron shirts for men, circa 1930

Dresses with matching gloves and purses, circa fall 1923 (1 of 2)

Diamond Jubilee display picture in 1953 of B.F. Dry Goods Store located in Hollenbeck Block southwest corner of Spring and Second

Diamond Jubilee display picture in 1953 of B.F. Dry Goods Store located at the corner of Temple and Spring Streets

Diamond Jubilee display picture in 1953 of Coulter woolen mills at 439 S. Figueroa

Diamond Jubilee display picture in 1953 with a mannequin in a sleeveless spring dress

Cotton printed patterns, 5/19/34

Balkan luggage, 8/3/33

Neckwear and lingerie, 1933

Coulter's desert wear, 1933

Desert resorts wear, 1933

New spring modes, 1933

New printed silk crepes, 1933

Phoenix children's hosiery, 6/7/32

Arrow shirts, May 1931

Father's Day- Ties Day, 6/21/31

Wedding dresses

Cannon towel for the beach, 7/6/31

Queen Make everyday dresses, circa 1925

Blankets, circa 1925 (1 of 2)

Beach wear and accessories, circa 1925

Perfume display, circa 1925

Sports apparel, circa 1925

Winter apparel with matching hats and gloves, 1945 (1 of 2)

Various fabrics on display in Coulter's store, circa 1925

Grayco Cravat's shirt and polka-dot ties for men, circa 1925

Paris garters and suspenders, circa 1925

Grayco Cravat's soft collar shirts, circa 1925

McCall printed patterns, circa 1925 (1 of 2)

Lingerie store, circa 1925

Helena Rubenstein beauty preparation case, circa 1925

Children apparels and accessories store, circa 1925

Pequot sheets and pillow cases, circa 1925

Rolls of various fabric patterns, circa 1925

Beacon's robing, 9/29/24 (2 images)

Fall black sleeveless dresses and hats, circa 1924 (1 of 3)

Black and white dresses, shirts, hats, purses, and other accessories, 2/21/24 (1 of 2)

Pictorial review, circa 1925

Bridesmaids dresses

Spring opening-dresses, 2/21/24 (1 of 3)

White spring dresses, 2/21/24

Londie Blue's collections of women's dresses, 2/21/24 (1 of 3)

A picture of a mannequin with a black lacy dress sitting down on a marble bench

Van Raalte's hosiery, circa 1925

Butterfield Quality fabrics, circa 1925 (2 images)

Women with tailored dresses, circa 1925 (3 images)

Fruit of the Loom shirts, Spring 1926

Various flowery spring hats, 1926 (1 of 2)

Contemporary prints, 3/4/31

Linen and lace cases in Coulter's store with flower vases on top of the cases and along the side, 1917

Flowery fabric with a display of hats, circa 1925

A stack of self-addressed envelopes

Mink scarf and coats, 2/21/24

White lacy dresses with bows tied along the waist, 2/21/24

Two piece dresses with matching handbags and hats, circa 1925

2 piece black dresses with accessories, circa 1930 (1 of 2)

Cool white dresses for the spring, 1927 (1 of 2)

White sleeveless with sparkling embroideries, circa 1925 (1 of 2)

New wool dresses, circa 1930

Hats with flower embroideries and beads, 1926

A mannequin in a sleeveless dress with sparkling embroideries and a shawl, circa 1925

A new collection of mink coats, spring 1927

Various ribbons of all sizes and fabrics, circa 1925

Fall opening dresses, circa 1925

Dresses for all occasion, circa 1925

White flowery dresses that cuddle the body

Spring apparel for the night out, 1926 (4 images)

Black sleeveless with matching jewelry, 1924 (1 of 2)

Home of B.F. Coulter, 219 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA (1 of 2)

Children's dresses

The interior of one of Coulter's store with employees standing by the display cases

Opening Coulters Dry Goods Store in Laughlin Building on Broadway

The exterior of Coulters Dry Goods Store

Fall Opening 20th Anniversary 1878-1898

The employees of the Coulters Dry Goods Store (1 of 2)

When Coulter was at 3rd and Broadway (1 of 4)

A side view of Coulter's Dry Goods Store with the display of fabrics

Various linen collars

Salute to the 4th of July

The interior of Coulter's store with employees standing around the fabric display cases

The interior of Coulter's store with employees standing in front of bins of fabrics

The interior of Coulter's store with different fabric patterns lying on top of the counters with employees standing behind them.

Rolls of fabrics lying on top of counters and alongside the walls

20th Anniversary of the opening of Coulter's store

The beads and fabric department inside Coulter's store

Various white fabric patterns lying on top of counters with bins of fabrics and boxes on each side of the store

The Homer Laughlin Building, with Coulter Dry Goods Company on the main floor, 315 South Broadway

The interior of Coulter's store with shelves of boxes contain various materials on each side of the store

Box 2

Memorial to B.F. Coulter from his employees { 6 parchment pages, bound in suede leather encased in cloth bound box, accompanied by two letters: one-from Mrs. A. Coulter to employees Committee-two, from committee to Mrs. Coulter}

Steel plate engraving of B.F. Coulter

Two program of dedication, Sunday March 20, 1927, Arlington Avenue Christian Church

Four address delivered at the funeral of B.F. Coulter L.A., CA. Oct. 9, 1911

Fifteen sermon of B.F. Coulter, Broadway Christian Church, Jan. 3, 1909

Four B.F. Coulter "Adventures in business", Oct. 31, 1947, vol. V no. 14

Thirteen Coulter Dry Goods Co. 50th Anniversary folders, 1878-1928, Oct. 22-Nov. 5

Justice McReynolds dedication

Eleven 75th Anniversary folders

California Stylist magazine, May 1955 issue

The Holy Bible of John C. McReynolds and Ellen M. McReynolds

The Pastor's Record for study, work, appointments, and choir

Framed miniature of B.F. Coulter

Directory of Christian Church in Los Angeles

B.F. Coulter Dry Goods notebook

Pocket-size New Testament & the Psalms

Pocket-size New Testament

Glass paper-weight, picture of B.F. Coulter

Three Coulter's 75th Anniversary buttons

A picture of B.F. Coulter in platinums and carbons

Two red leather vest wallets

Box 3

B.F. Coulter's family album

Frances C. Coulter (about 5 or 6 years old)

Box 4

Two city resolutions to Coulter's Dry Goods

Folio of Historical papers & old newspapers

Scrap book

Photo of Hollenbeck Hotel, south-west corner of Second and Spring Streets, built in 1884. In 1885 B.F. Coulter opened a 60 x 140 foot store in this building.