Pharmaceutical Trade Catalog Collection - American Institute of the History of Pharmacy

A portion of the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy/AIHP Pharmaceutical Trade Catalog Collection in the Kremers Reference Files

University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy / American Institute of the History of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Trade Catalog Collection.

Housed in the Kremers Reference Files, the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Trade Catalog Collection is administered by the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy. The collection consists of more than 450 pharmaceutical and pharmacy-related trade catalogs published between 1829 and the 2000s.

Support for this collection was provided in part by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education with funding from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

The earlier part of the collection (from 1829 through 1924) has been cataloged (by company and year). See the .pdf Register of the UW–Madison SoP/AIHP Pharmaceutical Trade Catalog Collection, 1829-1924.

Highlights of the collection, include:

32 Whitall-Tatum catalogs (1879-1924);
31 Peter Van Schaack & Sons catalogs (1874-1916);
24 Eli Lilly & Co. catalogs (1885-1923);
19 McKesson & Robbins catalogs (1872-1901);
18 Parke, Davis & Co. catalogs (1885-1922);
11 Lord, Owen & Co. catalogs (1878-1899);
9 New York Quinine and Chemical Works catalogs (1897-1923);
7 Morrison, Plummer & Co. catalogs (1880-1920);
7 Noyes Bros. & Cutler catalogs (1888-1912);
5 John Wyeth & Bro. catalogs (1882-1901); and
5 W.H. Schieffelin catalogs (1878-1891).

To visit the Pharmaceutical Trade Catalog Collection or for reference assistance please email: research@aihp.org

Sample Images from the Trade Catalog Collection:

Advertisement for "The Celebrated Cocaine Compound" from the 1890 Noyes Brothers & Cutler catalog — Advertisement for “The Celebrated Cocaine Compound” from the 1890 Noyes Brothers & Cutler catalog

Advertisement for "Dr. Scott's Electric Hair Brush" from the 1884 Peter Van Schaack & Sons catalog — Advertisement for “Dr. Scott’s Electric Hair Brush” from the 1884 Peter Van Schaack & Sons catalog

Cover page of the 1883 McKesson & Robbins catalog

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AIHP Events

AIHP Calendar of Events

Upcoming events hosted by AIHP

November 6, 2025, 3:00 pm (Central): AIHP Annual Business Meeting - Save the Date!
November 19, 2025, 11:00 am (Central): Pharmacy History Working Group: Lauren Thompson, Kennesaw State University.
December 17, 2025, 11:00 am (Central): Pharmacy History Working Group: Beyond medical pluralism: Interactions between physician-pharmacists and other craftspeople in the Graeco-Roman world with Laurence Totelin, Cardiff University.
January, 21, 2026, 11:00 am (Central): Pharmacy History Working Group: Spring Semester Welcome Back Event: A critical reading of Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls, hosted by Kelly O'Donnell, Towson Unviersity.
February 18, 2026, 11:00 am (Central): Pharmacy History Working Group: Audrey Ke Zhao, UC Santa Cruz & CHSTM Research Fellow
March 18, 2026, 11:00 am (Central): Pharmacy History Working Group: Ryan A. Kashanipour, University of Arizona

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Calendar of Events

Upcoming events of interest to pharmacists and historians of pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, medicines, science, and related fields.

November 13-16, 2025: History of Science Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
November 16-18, 2025: APhA Joint Federal Pharmacy Seminar 2025 , Fort Lauderdale, FL.
December 7-11, 2025: ASHP Midyear, Las Vegas, NV.
July 18-21, 2026: AACP Pharmacy Education, Grapevine, TX.