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Thornton, Rosemary A Guide to the Rosemary Thornton Papers MG 111

A Guide to the Rosemary Thornton Papers MG 111


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ODU Community Collections

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Special Collections Staff

Repository
ODU Community Collections
Identification
MG 111
Title
Rosemary Thornton Papers 1914-2005, undated Date acquired: 06/21/2011
URL:
https://archivesguides.lib.odu.edu/repositories/5/resources/167
Quantity
7.60 Linear Feet
Quantity
2 half size boxes, 1 oversized box, 2 binders, and 3 poster tubes boxes
Creator
Thornton, Rosemary (1959-)
Language
English .
Abstract
The Papers of Rosemary Thornton is a collection of catalogs and documents from kit-house manufacturers such as Sears, Roebuck and Company, as well as papers that Thornton has accumulated during her search for kit-houses in the United States.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Ms. Rosemary Thornton

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #A2011-18

Biographical or Historical Information

Rosemary Thornton was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1959, to Thomas Hoyt Fuller and Betty Brown Fuller. Thornton spent most of her childhood in Virginia, where her father worked as an assistant manager at Skippy Peanut Butter. In 1974, her father left Thornton and her mother, and would not return to Thornton's life until the early 2000's. Most of Thornton's life from then on was spent in Illinois.

As an adult, Thornton's career has revolved around real estate. She first worked as both a realtor and freelance writer in Alton, Illinois. Later, she and her husband started a small rental property business. She continued to do freelance work, along with her real estate business, and published her first book, "The Reality of Real Estate", in 1993.

Kit-homes were pre-assembled homes that could be ordered and delivered via railroad boxcar in the first half of the 20th century. Thornton discovered kit-homes in 2001 while writing an article on them for a freelance job in Carlinville, Illinois. She began writing her second book, "The Houses that Sears Built: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Sears Catalog Homes", not long after. That same year, Thornton's mother died, and she and her husband divorced two weeks later.

Thornton made Sears homes and writing her primary focus and career from that point on. She spent the remainder of the year completing her manuscript for her second book and published it in 2002. In less than two years, the book sold several thousand copies, and Thornton received several hundred e-mails and letters about possible Sears homes and praise for her book. She published two more books about Sears homes following that two-year timespan, as well as a re-print of "The Houses That Sears Built".

Thornton later moved from Illinois to Norfolk, Virginia and re-married in 2007. She traveled to more than 24 states to give lectures on Sears homes. Thornton made appearances on several television programs to promote her writing and bring attention to the existence of kit-homes. Since publishing her second book, hundreds of Sears and kit-homes have been found across the United States.

Kit-homes were first introduced by Bennett Homes in 1902. The houses were designed using a "balloon-style" framing system and pre-cut lumber. Each house came with at least 10,000 pieces of lumber and each piece numbered, stamped, and labeled, thus eliminating the need for measuring or cutting. As there was no need for a team of skilled carpenters for each house, kit-homes were affordable and the customer could either hire a carpenter to put the house together for them or put it together himself/herself. Most chose the latter.

Aladdin Homes began offering kit-houses in their catalogs in 1906, and sparked the true beginning of the kit-house trend. Their largest competitors were Montgomery Wards and Sears, Roebuck and Company. Sears began selling kit-homes in 1908. However, as most Americans already had Sears catalogs and ordered most of their home essentials from Sears, it was not long before Sears became the primary seller of kit-houses.

Advertising their kit-houses as Sears Catalog Homes, Sears offered more than 370 different house designs, and also offered barn and schoolhouse designs. Plumbing, electricity, and central heating were all offered as modern conveniences to be installed. The houses were affordable, with the cheapest ranging around $450, while a school house might have averaged $11,500. Sears also began to offer financing plans in 1916, including both mortgage programs and loans with low interest rates. From the introduction of Sears homes to their end, Sears sold more than 70,000 houses.

The success of kit-homes began to falter in 1930. The Great Depression, coupled with demand for more intricate house designs, slowed house sales. Sears was forced to liquidate $11 million in mortgages. Sears closed the Modern Homes department in 1940. All sales records were destroyed during the company's corporate house cleaning, leaving no record of where the houses were located. Thornton's third book, "Finding the Houses that Sears Built; A Guide to the 60 Most Popular Designs", revolves around identifying Sears homes, as the only way to find them now is one by one.  All other companies closed down their kit-home departments or were out of business by 1982.

Note written by Special Collections Staff

Scope and Contents

The contents of the collection include catalogs, photographs, and estimates from kit-house manufacturers, along with letters, photographs, newspaper clippings, and e-mails received and sent by Thornton.

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into two series: Series I: Kit-House Manufacturers; and Series II: Rosemary Thornton Correspondence.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Aladdin Company. Aladdin homes "built in a day"
  • Homes, Prefabricated
  • Montgomery Ward
  • Sears, Roebuck and Company
  • Sears, Roebuck and Company. Home Construction Division

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Thornton, Rosemary (1959-)
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Container List

Series I
Series I: Kit-House Manufacturers
circa 1908-2005, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains catalogs from kit-house manufacturers such as Aladdin Homes, Montgomery Ward and Company, and Sears, Roebuck and Company, as well as advertisements, estimates, floor plans, and photographs. The series is arranged in alphabetical order.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
    Box 1
    • Graphic Materials box: 1 Item 1
      Photograph: Montgomery Ward and Company: Group Photograph of Workers Outside Building
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      Photograph: Montgomery Ward and Company: Group Photograph of Workers Outside Building, undated, Box 1, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 Item 2
      Publication: Montgomery Ward and Company: Lighting the Path to Economy
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      Publication: Montgomery Ward and Company: Lighting the Path to Economy, undated, Box 1, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 Item 3
      Publication: Sears, Roebuck and Company: Peerless Wall Board, Roofing of the Future
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      Publication: Sears, Roebuck and Company: Peerless Wall Board, Roofing of the Future, undated, Box 1, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 Item 4
      Building Estimate: Sears, Roebuck and Company: Catalogue of Millwork, Specifications and Bill of Materials for Modern Home
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      Building Estimate: Sears, Roebuck and Company: Catalogue of Millwork, Specifications and Bill of Materials for Modern Home, undated, Box 1, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 2 Box 2
    Box 2
    • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 1 Folder 1
      Folder 1: Aladdin Homes: The New Home, Advance Messenger of Aladdin
      1914
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 1, Aladdin Homes: The New Home, Advance Messenger of Aladdin, 1914, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 2 Folder 2
      Folder 2: Montgomery Ward and Company: Book of Homes
      1915
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 2, Montgomery Ward and Company: Book of Homes, 1915, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 3 Folder 3
      Folder 3: Sears Home Construction Division, America's New Low Cost Homes
      circa 1934
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 3, Sears Home Construction Division, America's New Low Cost Homes, circa 1934, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 4 Folder 4
      Folder 4: Sears, Roebuck and Company: HonorBilt Modern Homes, HonorBilt Homes, Concrete Machinery, Starr Garages, The Book of Modern Homes, Modern Homes
      1938-1940
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 4, Sears, Roebuck and Company: HonorBilt Modern Homes, HonorBilt Homes, Concrete Machinery, Starr Garages, The Book of Modern Homes, Modern Homes, 1938-1940, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 5 Folder 5
      Folder 5: Sears, Roebuck and Company: Modern Plumbing and Heating Systems, Building Materials and Millwork
      1921-1930
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 5, Sears, Roebuck and Company: Modern Plumbing and Heating Systems, Building Materials and Millwork, 1921-1930, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 6 Folder 6
      Folder 6: Sears, Roebuck and Company: The Kit House in Southeastern VA
      2005
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 2, Folder 6, Sears, Roebuck and Company: The Kit House in Southeastern VA, 2005, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 3 Box 3
    Box 3
    • Mixed Materials box: 3 Item 1
      Building Plans for The Crafton, Model 3318
      1930-1931
      Preferred Citation

      Building Plans for The Crafton, Model 3318, 1930-1931, Box 3, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 4 Box 4
    Box 4
    • Mixed Materials box: 4 Item 1
      Building Plans for The Osborn, Model 2050
      1917-1920
      Preferred Citation

      Building Plans for The Osborn, Model 2050, 1917-1920, Box 4, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 5 Box 5
    Box 5
    • Mixed Materials box: 5 Item 1
      Building Plans for The Somerset, Model 7008
      1920
      Preferred Citation

      Building Plans for The Somerset, Model 7008, 1920, Box 5, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 6 Box 6
    Box 6
    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 1
      Aladdin Catalog
      circa 1920
      Preferred Citation

      Aladdin Catalog, circa 1920, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 2
      Gordon Van-Tine Catalog
      circa 1948
      Preferred Citation

      Gordon Van-Tine Catalog, circa 1948, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 3
      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "HonorBilt Homes"
      1929
      Preferred Citation

      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "HonorBilt Homes", 1929, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 4
      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "Summer Cottages"
      circa 1927
      Preferred Citation

      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "Summer Cottages", circa 1927, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 5
      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "Simplex Sectional Buildings"
      1921
      Preferred Citation

      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "Simplex Sectional Buildings", 1921, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 6
      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "HonorBilt Homes"
      1924
      Preferred Citation

      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "HonorBilt Homes", 1924, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 7
      Sears, Roebuck and Company, Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans
      circa 1908
      Preferred Citation

      Sears, Roebuck and Company, Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans, circa 1908, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 8
      Gordon Van-Tine, "Book of Homes"
      circa 1941
      Preferred Citation

      Gordon Van-Tine, "Book of Homes", circa 1941, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 9
      International Mill & Timber Company, "The Famous Fifty and Other Favorite Homes, Built by the Sterling System"
      1916
      Preferred Citation

      International Mill & Timber Company, "The Famous Fifty and Other Favorite Homes, Built by the Sterling System", 1916, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 6 Item 10
      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "The Book of Modern Homes"
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      Sears, Roebuck and Company, "The Book of Modern Homes", undated, Box 6, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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Series II
Series II: Rosemary Thornton Correspondence
2001-2005, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains letters, photos, and publications received by Thornton on the subject of kit-houses. It also contains responses from Thornton and notes on possible and confirmed kit-houses. The series is arranged in chronological order.

  • Mixed Materials box: 7 Box 7
    Box 7
    • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 1 Folder 1
      Folder 1: Notes, Letters and Photos
      2001
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 1, Notes, Letters and Photos, 2001, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 2 Folder 2
      Folder 2: Notes, Letters, and Photos
      2002
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 2, Notes, Letters, and Photos, 2002, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 3 Folder 3
      Folder 3: Notes, Letters, and Photos
      2003
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 3, Notes, Letters, and Photos, 2003, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 4 Folder 4
      Folder 4: Notes, Letters, and Photos
      2003
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 4, Notes, Letters, and Photos, 2003, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 5 Folder 5
      Folder 5: Notes, Letters, and Photos
      2004
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 5, Notes, Letters, and Photos, 2004, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 6 Folder 6
      Folder 6: Notes, Letters, and Photos
      2005
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 6, Notes, Letters, and Photos, 2005, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 7 Folder 7
      Folder 7: Notes, Letters, and Photos
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 7, Folder 7, Notes, Letters, and Photos, undated, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 8 Box 8
    Box 8
    • Mixed Materials box: 8 Item 1
      E-mails and Correspondences
      2002-2004
      Preferred Citation

      E-mails and Correspondences, 2002-2004, Box 8, Rosemary Thornton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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