BIG CATALOGUE: The Life of Aaron Montgomery Ward

by Nina Brown Baker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 12, 1956

This, to add to the biographies of America's merchandisers, should satisfy some of the widespread fascination for the men behind the men behind the mail order catalogue. Montgomery Ward is the man here and as we see from Miss Baker's interpretation of his early life, it was perfectly natural that he should take to keeping store in the biggest possible sense of the word. His father left a New Jersey farm in the early 1800's, to buy a store in Michigan, but the venture failed and young Monty went to work in a barrel factory. But he was lucky; Captain Boughton, from the flourishing lake port of St. Joseph, offered Monty a job in his barter store there and it was not long before Monty had helped to change the policy from barter to cash and become manager. With time and money then to branch out on his own, and the conviction that good merchandise should be provided to farmers who could not shop directly, Monty Ward started his mail order business, married Elizabeth Cobb and, with his friends the Thornes, became one of Chicago's most prominent citizens and an outstanding philanthropist- in his quiet way- as well. An easily moving biography, comfortably styled with plenty of conversation and on-the-spot reporting.

Pub Date: Sept. 12, 1956

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harcourt, Brace

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1956

Categories: NONFICTION