Corporate Minutes, 1908-1937

The Hutzler Brothers Company Papers, Supplement is divided into seven series: Officers and Executives, Employees, Property, Openings/Anniversaries/Expansions, Financial Records, Recipe Files, and Miscellaneous Material.

The Officers and Executives series contains the corporate minutes of the Hutzler Brothers Company. Of particular interest are the articles of incorporation, company by-laws, agreements of trust, and capital expenditure reports. Topics discussed at meetings include the sale and acquisition of property, taxation, employee retirement benefits, and current sale trends. The twelve volumes span 1908 to 1989. Included also in the Officers and Executives series are the retirement committee minutes (1944-1975), profit-sharing committee minutes (1960-1967), Fixtures Inc. Corporate Minutes (1956-1971), and the exhibits presented to the board of directors meeting and the annual meeting of stockholders, both dated May 1983.

The Employees series contains information on individuals, employed between 1927-1985, who participated in training programs designed by Hutzlers for its ambitious employee. The Store Background Course Record Book (1927-1948) includes the course syllabus for each year. Subjects of discussion were history of retailing and the Hutzler Brothers Company; basic principles of business; merchandising; service, operation, and personnel; advertising and promotion; store policies and management; and receiving, marking, and warehousing. The course book also contains student grades, invitations and class photographs of store background dinners, and a blank award certificate for 1940.

The Employee series also contains executive training class projects (1985) completed by employees enrolled in Hutzler's training programs at the Towson, Harford, Security Square, and White Marsh mall stores. Topics focus on Hutzler history, maximizing business, competitive shopping, customer service standards, shortage control and protection of [Hutzler] assets. This series also consists of general rule books, training manuals and guidelines.

The Property series contains contracts and correspondence relating to the construction of a Hutzler building at 226 N. Howard Street. Additional material may be found in oversize folders including a blue print of the North Howard Street Building (1913) and a plan of the lot dimensions for the Hutzler building (1941).

The series entitled Openings/Anniverseries/Expansions consists of newspaper clippings, correspondence, employee notices, invitations, membership cards, notes, public addresses, publicity releases, and programs spanning 19 years of celebrating Hutzler's growth. This material should be used in conjunction with similar material found in MS. 2691.

The Financial Record series includes a check (1880), receipted bills (1881-1905), and condensed corporation trial balance sheets (1914-1925). Also included are two oversize volumes, each containing balance sheets and operating statements spanning from 1919 to 1976.

The Recipe File series contains late 20th century recipe cards once used by employees working at the Hutzler department store restaurant in Towson. The origin of most of the recipes, which were transcribed onto 3 x 5 index cards, is unknown. Occasionally, however, the source was saved and fastened to the index card. In other instances, no index card was prepared and only the original source, often a newspaper or magazine clipping, exists. A cost analysis for preparing a dish and instructions for its presentation are occasionally included, sometimes in place of an actual recipe. Photographs found in the recipe file at the time of its processing have been removed to the Prints and Photographs Division; photocopies of these photographs have been retained with the manuscript collection. The recipe cards have been arranged alphabetically within food types such as appetizers, desserts, meats, vegetables and side dishes, etc. Miscellaneous recipes have also been included.

Awards and Certificates relating to the contribution of Hutzler Brothers Company to the war effort, to the community, and to the field of advertising are located in this last series. Other awards and certificates relating to the family and their store are located in oversize folders. The series also includes memos, correspondence, and miscellaneous related items.