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Resinol Chemical Company Collection 1895-1950, MS. 2178
Maryland Historical Society
Library of Maryland History
Resinol Chemical Company Collection, 1895-1950
Maryland
Historical Society
(Text converted and initial EAD
tagging provided by Apex Data Services, March 1999.)
Resinol Chemical Company Collection, 1895-1950
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Historical Society Library
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Descriptive Summary
RESINOL CHEMICAL COMPANY COLLECTION
MS. 2178*
Maryland Historical Society
Baltimore MD 21201-4674
Dr. Merville Hamilton Carter (1857-1939), his brother Allan L. Carter (1871-1944), and their cousin Henry Stier Dulaney (1849-1928), started the Resinol Chemical Company in 1895. It was first listed in the Polk Baltimore City directories at 801 Bloomingdale Rd. (1896), then at 316 W. Lombard St. (1897-1902). Since 1903 the company has been located at 517 W. Lombard St., Baltimore. The company manufactured skin-care products developed by Dr. Carter in his private practice. Resinol ointment or unguentum was (and is) a general-purpose preparation used in treating psoriasis, eczema, poison ivy, mild burns, etc. Other products were Resinol soap, Resinol shaving sticks, and Elixir Cascanata, a laxative and tonic. Company advertising was vigorous, with ads in many newspapers and journals, large mailings of circulars and pamphlets, and (apparently) baby beauty contests in the early years. The company achieved world-wide distribution. Its British outlet was John H. Buffham & Co., with whom Resinol dealt from 1899 to 1943 and perhaps longer. After the deaths of the original principals, the firm was continued by H. LeRoy Carter (son of Merville H. Carter) and later by Henry LeRoy Carter, Jr. At some point (1940s??) the company began to decline. After 1956 Resinol was listed in the Baltimore directories as a soap manufacturer, but it continued to distribute ointment.
The Royal Drug Company, also called the Royal Drug Company, Inc. or the Royal Drug Company of Baltimore City, may have been started in 1895/6 by George R. Debnam. It was incorporated in 1901. Then or soon after it apparently was taken over by Resinol (Carter) interests; by 1904 it was located on the Resinol premises at 517 W. Lombard St. Debnam was out of the operation by 1906. In 1900 the company dealt in “Royal Headache Tablets.” By 1939 its sole function was to package tablets made by others. The corporation officers at that time were Allan L. Carter, his wife Caroline C. Carter, and Arthur S. Dulaney (son of Henry Stier Dulaney). The enterprise yielded little income: by 1945 it was starting to show a loss, and probably was dissolved after 1950.
Directory
Information
Resinol Chemical Company Selected directory information - Polk's Baltimore City Directory 1894 Not listed 1895 Not listed 1896 Resinol Chemical Co., 801 Bloomingdale rd Not listed in business directory 1897 Resinol Chemical Co., 316 W. Lombard In business directory under Chemical manufacturers, dealers, and importers 1898 RESINOL CHEMICAL CO (Henry S. Dulaney, Merville H. Carter, Allen L. Carter) Manufacturers Pharmaceutical Specialties, 316 w Lombard. In business directory under heading given above 1902 Same as 1898 1903 Listed at 517 w Lombard 1904 Same as 1903. In business directory under Chemists, manufacturing 1905 Same 1906 Same 1915 Same..., 517 w Lombard Phone St. Paul 8160 1924-25 Same..., Phone Plaza 5461 1929 Merville H. and Allan L. Carter only, given as officers (owners) 1930 RESINOL CHEMICAL COMPANY (Merville H, Allan L and H. LeRoy Carter)... 1936 Same as 1930 1940 Allan L. and H. LeRoy Carter only, given as officers (owners) 1942 Title of company printed in small letters instead of all caps, perhaps for the first time since 1898 [indication of decline?] 1955 Not listed under name or business 1956 Resinol Chemical Co H. LeRoy Carter jr mgr soap mfrs 517 W Lombard 1957 No listing for Resinol, although H. LeRoy Carter is listed as sls mgr Resinol 1958 Resinol Chemical Co (Mrs. Caroline Z.[C.?] Carter, H. LeRoy Carter jr) soap mfrs... 1959 No listing for Resinol; Henry LeRoy Carter, Jr. listed as Supt. Resinol 1961 Resinol Chemical Co.; H. LeRoy Carter Jr mgr soap mfrs 517 W Lombard 1963 No listing for Resinol; Henry LeRoy Carter Jr listed as mgr Resinol Chemical 1964 Resinot Chemical Co (H. LeRoy Carter) soap mfrs 517 W. Lombard Under Carter's name, Resinol is given as Resinoil -- lousy proofreading in this edition of Polk 1976 Listed in phone book at 517 W. Lombard Note: As of 1975, the company continued to distribute ointment. According to a University of Baltimore student doing a market study on the company, the market for Resinol products became completely static some time ago, and the company made little effort to expand it. The people who buy Resinol products today are the same who bought it fifty years ago -- and they're dying out. [Douglas S. Harrington, personal communication to E.M. Daniels, 5/26/76. Please do not quote this.] Royal Drug Company Selected directory information - Polk's Baltimore City Directory 1892 Not listed 1895 Not listed 1896 Royal Drug Co, George R. Debnam, proprietor, 2031 St Paul 1898 Same as 1896 1899 Royal Drug Co, George R. Debnam, manager, 235 Equitable Building 1900 Royal Drug Co., George R. Debnam, mngr, 217 e Baltimore 1901 Royal Drug Company, George R. Debnam, Manager, Royal Headache Tablets 106 w Lombard 1902 Royal Drug Co (The) 106 w Lombard 1903 Same as 1902 1904 Royal Drug Co, Oliver J. Matthews, sec, 517 w Lombard 1905 Royal Drug Co., 517 w Lombard 1906 Same as 1905 1907 Same as 1905 1916 Royal Drug Co., Allan L. Carter pres 517 w Lombard 1926 Not listed 1936 Not listed 1940 Royal Drug Co. Inc, Allan L Carter pres, Arth S. Dulaney sec-treas drugs whol 517 W Lombard 1942 Not listed 1947 Listed in phone book 1948 Not listed in phone book 1949 Not listed in phone book 1976 Not listed in phone book Debnam, George R. 1892 Debnam, George R., druggist, 2031 St. Paul 1895 Same as 1892 1896 Same 1898 Same 1899 Debnam Geo R, mngr, 235 Equitable Bldg, h 507 e 23d n 1900 Debnam Geo R, mngr, Royal Drug Co, 217 e Balto, h 507 e 23d n 1901 Debnam Geo R, mngr Royal Drug Co, h 507 e 23d n 1902 Debnam, George R, mngr The Royal Drug Co.... 1903 Debnam, Geo R, mngr The Royal Drug Co.... 1904 Debnam, Geo R., vice-pres, 517 W. Lombard, h... 1905 Debnam, Geo R, chemist, 2305 N. Charles 1906 Not listed 1907 Debnam, Geo R, propr Chesapeake Drug Co [nw c Pratt & Light], h 2305 N. Charles Biographical information - Dielman File Polk's Baltimore City Directory Dulaney, Henry Stier, 1849-1928 Biographical sketch in Andrews Tercentenary History..., II:190-193 1894 Dulaney, Henry S. (H.S. Dulaney & Co.) 2129 Maryland Ave. 1896 Dulaney, Henry S., mngr, 22 s Gay, h 2106 Oak 1897 Dulaney, Henry S., mngr 300 w Lombard, h 2106 Oak 1898 Dulaney, Henry S. (Resinol Chemical Co), 2106 Oak (Dulaney, H S & Co., Wm J. Ogden, mngr., furnace grates, 22 s Gay) 1904 Dulaney, Henry S (Resinol Chemical Co) 2321 Md av 1915 Dulaney, Henry S. (Resinol Chemical Co) h Charles-st av ext nr Forest av 1924-25 Dulaney, Henry S (Estelle; Resinol Chemical Co) installing player pianos 611 W. Redwood h. 4000 n. Charles 1929 Not listed Dulaney, Arthur Sim, Sr., d. 11/16/1953 aet. 69 Son of Henry Stier Dulaney. Was executive secretary of Eudowood Sanatorium 1916 Dulaney, Arthur S. pres Fruit Puddine Co 1936 Dulaney, Arthur S. pres Fruit Puddine Co 1940 Dulaney, Arthur S. (Ethel S.) pres Fruit Puddine Co, [also, sec-treas of Royal Drug Co., Inc.] h 910 W. Belvedere av Carter, Merville Hamilton, 1857(6?)-1939 Biographical sketches in Men of Md., (MF. 180.M53), p. 34; Hall, II:440; Andrews Tercentenary History..., II:172-175; Men of Mark in Maryland, IV:75-76 1894 Carter, Merville H., physician 1800 w Balto 1895 Same 1896 Same 1897 Same 1898 Carter, Merville H (Resinol Chemical Co), physician, 1800 w Balto 1904 Carter, Merville H. (Resinol Chemical Co) physician, 2900 n Calvert 1915 Carter, Mervill H. (Resinol Chemical Co) h 2900 N. Charles [almost certainly an error for Calvert] 1924-25 Carter, Melville H. (Resinol Chemical Co) pres. Southern Hotel Co, v. pres Boyden Steel Corp, 2900 n. Calvert 1936 Carter, Merville H (Mary G; Resinol Chemical Co), phys 2900 n Calvert h do See also the newspaper clipping of April 29, 1926 in the collection (MS. 2178) Carter, Henry LeRoy, 1882-1951 Son of Merville Hamilton Carter 1936 Carter, H. LeRoy (Virginia; Resinol Chemical Co) h 843 University pkwy Carter, Henry LeRoy, Jr. See under Resinol Chemical Company, 1956-64 1976 Listed in phone book at 843 W University Pkwy Carter, Allan L., 1871-1944 Brother of Merville H. Carter. Wife was Caroline Corse (d. 1/5/1958). Died with an estate possibly close to $1 million 1894 Carter, Allen L., trav. agt., 1800 w Balto 1896 Carter, Allan L., salesman, 1800 w Balto. 1897 Carter, Allen L., salesman, 1800 w Balto 1898 Carter, Allen L. (E A Carter Shoe Co and Resinol Chemical Co), 2110 Mt. Royal ter 1904 Carter, Allan L. (Resinol Chemical Co) 2120 Mt. Royal ter 1915 Carter, Allan L (Resinol Chemical Co) h 3902 n Charles 1916 Carter, Allen L. chemist h n Charles nr w 39th 1924-25 Carter, Allan L. (Caroline C.; Resinol Chemical Co) treasurer Prodento Tooth Paste Co h 3902 n Charles 1936 Carter, Allan L (Caroline C, Resinol Chemical Co) h 3902 n Charles Collection description RESINOL CHEMICAL COMPANY SALES BOOKS 15 vols. # 1 Daybook Feb. 1896-Dec. 1896 # 2-4 Orderbooks Jan. 1897-April 1901 # 5-13 Sales books May 1901-July 1914 # 15-16 Sales books Dec. 1915-Feb. 1918 [GENERAL] JOURNALS 4 vols. Unnumbered Aug. 1895-Jan. 1899 Feb. 1899-Dec. 1905 Jan. 1924-Dec. 1931 Jan. 1932-Dec. 1943 LEDGERS 7 vols. General ledgers (contain ledger and control accounts) Ledger A Aug. 1895-Dec. 1897 Private Ledger 1898-1918 Subsidiary ledgers (contain customer accounts) Ledger B 1898-1901 C 1901-1906 D 1907-1912 E 1913-1917 F 1917-1918 [CASH] JOURNALS 14 vols. First series (so designated for convenience: the two sets of books run concurrently) - Books appear to be those in which transactions were first recorded, sometimes called daybooks. One unnumbered volume without cover Feb. 1896-Oct. 1897 # 1-8 Nov. 1897-Dec. 1911 # 9-11 Daybooks Jan. 1912-Dec. 1918 Two unnumbered Cash journals Jan. 1919-Jan. 1921 Sept. 1923-Dec. 1925 CASH BOOKS [JOURNALS] 20 vols. Second series - Seems to be the official set of books, with entries properly labelled for posting # 1-20 Aug. 1895-June 1946 LETTER BOOKS 41 vols. # 2-3 Oct. 31, 1896-Aug. 31, 1897 # 5-43 Dec. 24, 1897-Aug. 26, 1911 ROYAL DRUG COMPANY Account book - money spent on newspapers ads and ads in drugstores (?) 1899-1900 Account book - special journal (?), showing mostly debits to Interest and credits to Sundries April 1900-April 1901 Ledger B [general ledger] 1929-1950 BOX - Most of these items were found scattered through the account books; slips in the folders indicate where items were. The Royal Drug Co. material was all in Ledger B of that company. RESIONAL CHEMICAL COMPANY Sales summaries 14 folders 1898, August-December Cascanata, Soap 1 item(s) 1899, January-November Cascanata, Soap 1 item(s) 1899, December-1904, December Soap 5 1904 Canadian Cascanata 1 1905, 1906 Cascanata, Soap 4 1907, 1908 ? 4 1907, 1908, 1909 Soap, Ointment, in St. Paul, Duluth, Minneapolis, Kas. City, Saint Louis, St. Joseph, Mo. 1 1909 Ointment, Shaving Sticks, Toilet Soap 3 1910 Ointment, Shaving Sticks, Toilet Soap 3 1911 Ointment, Resinol Soap, Shaving Sticks 3 1912 Ointment, Resinol Soap, Resinol Shaving Sticks 3 1913 Resinol Ointment, Resinol Soap, Resinol Shaving Sticks 3 1916 Resinol Ointment, Resinol Soap, Resinol Shaving Sticks 3 1917 Resinol Ointment, Resinol Soap, Resinol Shaving Sticks 3 Balance sheets 3 folders n.d. [period 1914-16] 1925, June 30 1928, November 30 3 items Assets in London, n.d. 1 folder 1 items Sundry creditors 7 folders 1906, Dec. 31 1 item 1907, June 30 1 item 1917, June 30 Dec. 31 2 1918, June 29 Dec. 31 2 1921, June 30 1 1925, December 31 1 1926, December 31 1 Advertising expenses 3 folders 1906, December 31 Medical Journal Advertising Account 1 1912 Medical Journal advertising expenses 1 1916 Advertising expenses? 1 Business letters 3 folders 1898-1902 15 items 1912-1914 7 1916-1918 6 Testimonial letters 6 folders [These letters and photographs were taken as a sample from a number found in a box in the basement of the Resinol building] 1902, Nov. 11 photograph enclosed 2 items 1902, Nov. 23 photograph enclosed 2 1902, Dec. 3 photograph enclosed 2 1902, Dec. 6 photograph enclosed 2 1902, Dec. 12 Bachrach photograph enclosed 2 1904, May 9 1 Miscellanea 1 folder 1931, Dec. 31; n.d. 4 items Advertising pamphlets 1 folder n.d. “Gleanings” n.d. “The Hygienic and Remedial Value of a Good Medicinal Soap” n.d. “The Resinol Beauty Album” n.d. [“How to Care for the Skin, Hair and Complexion” (?) - outer pages missing] 4 items ROYAL DRUG COMPANY Profit and loss statements, etc. 10 folders 1941 Profit & Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, Trial balances, inventories, working papers 6 items 1942 Working Papers - Profit and Loss Statements, Balance Sheets; Trial Balances, Inventories, misc. expenses 6 1943 Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, Trial balances, inventory 4 1944 Trial balances, Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, Inventory 2 1945 Profit and Loss Statements, Balance Sheets, Trial balances, inventories 4 1946 Preliminary Trial Balance, Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, Inventory 2 1947 [Working papers] - Trial Balance, Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet; [Inventory] 2 1948 Working Papers - Trial Balance, Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet; inventory 2 1949 Estimated Profit and Loss; Working Papers - Trial Balance, Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet 2 1950 Inventories for 3/10, 12/31 2 Applications for renewal of manufacturer's permit by the Maryland Board of Pharmacy, 1939-1950 1938-1949 1 folder 22 items 1938, September 1 Royal Drug Company to State Tax Commission of Maryland 1 folder 1 item 1947, October 29 State Tax Commission of Maryland to Royal Drug Company 1 folder 1 1950, March 11 United States Corporation Income Tax Return for Calendar Year 1949 1 folder 1 1930, Dec. 4 Buffham, John H. to Dr. M.L. Sarup, India 2 items n.d. Buffham, John H. Advertising letter and circular 2 items [These items were taken as a sample from a boxful of similar ones, addressed to different parts of the British dominions.] Newspaper clippings 1 folder 1926, April 29 Dr. Merville Hamilton Carter n.d. Virginia Le Roy Carter 2 items n.d. Composition (?) book, probably owned by a young woman 1 vol. Material transferred to Graphics Division, 7/76 6 items 4 postcards 1 Resinol business card with the name H. Beinhardt and an address on the back 1 Order of service and announcements, Mount Vernon Place Methodist Episcopal Church, Dec. 6, 1914
