Patton, Tilman, and Bruce Shoe Store
An excerpt from a 1962 newspaper article pertaining to Patton, Tilman, and Bruce Shoes in Greenville, South Carolina.
This image depicts a news article dated June 26, 1962. The business began in 1899, but it took almost thirty years and extensive remodeling before Patton, Tilman, and Bruce's rose to success. From 1925 onward, Patton, Tilman, and Bruce's was the trending shoe store in Greenville, South Carolina. The news clipping describes the store's opening when it was only Pride and Patton's and the years of success leading up to the sixties that are attributed to the men who helped put Greenville on the map. The article further mentions the 1946 renovations on the property that expanded the store to cater to women's fashion trends. Patton, Tilman, and Bruce's gained notoriety for its long-standing business in downtown Greenville. The letter mentions a shoe store in Greenville, yet it is unclear which store James H. Payne is talking about and if it was in the downtown area or perhaps another part of Greenville. Patton, Tilman, and Bruce's would have been the quintessential type of downtown business seen during the early 1900s, catering to the tastes of window shoppers and high-end customers. This link contains the article and a transcription of the article's contents.
Citation:
"Camp Wetherill story_Patton Tilman and Bruce ad and story_Gvl USA_June 26 1962 054" Newspapers.com. The Greenville News, June 26, 1962. https://greenvilleonline.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-camp-wetherill-story/45324170/.
It can be inferred that when James H. Payne mentions the year "1908" to Blanche Peden he is referring to marriage.
What is the significance of repeating the phrase "I love you," three times?
What is the significance of giving and receiving letters on Sundays?
What shoe store is James H. Payne referring to in his letter to Blanche Peden?
Have the responsibilities of shoe store clerks changed much since the early 1900s, or is the job description relatively similar?
A Glimpse into the Shoe Industry in Greenville, South Carolina and Beyond
The Patton, Tilman, and Bruce Shoe Store sat on Main Street in downtown Greenville until it became Hale's Jewelers. The store had the reputation of being one of the most popular shoe stores in Greenville. Patton, Tilman, and Bruce resided on the same street as one of Greenville's most frequented department stores, Efird's Department Store. These locations represented the finer elements of Greenville life, with some being inaccessible to members of the working class. James H. Payne mentions buying shoes and running into Blanche Peden's father. Though it is unknown which shoe store James refers to, Patton, Tilman, and Bruce was a hot spot in downtown Greenville where people loitered about and which likely would have come up in casual conversation. This link has more information on the businesses of Greenville, including the Stradley and Barr Dry Goods Store, formerly known as Efird's Department Store. For further information on the stores in downtown Greenville, follow this link.
A photograph taken at the Annual Banquet, National Boot and Shoe Manufacturers Association, February 23, 1906, in NYC.
This photograph shows the 1906 National Boot and Shoe Manufacturers' Association chapter at an annual banquet. This event, held in New York City at the Hotel Astor, depicts a scene of typical Edwardian fashion: A room of white, middle-aged men in fine evening suits, dinner jackets, and bowties. These men dominated the American shoe industry, and this photograph reflects their esteemed position. This banquet occurred nearly two months before James H. Payne wrote his letter to Blanche Peden. The image above raises questions about how South Carolina's shoe industry members were represented at this event. Was this event exclusive to "Big Business" owners, or were small businesses equally included? More information on Edwardian Fashion can be found here.
Citations:
Scott, Brian. “Stradley and Barr Dry Goods Store Historical Marker.” Historical Marker, June 16, 2016. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=28485.
Dishman, Lydia. “Historic Preservation Consulting - Historic Rehabilitations and Investments.” Palmetto Preservations Works - Greenville, SC - Home Page. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.palmettopreservationworks.com/14somaingreenvillemag.php.
Annual banquet, National Boot and Shoe Manufacturers' Ass'n., Hotel Astor, New York City. United States New York New York State, 1906. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2007663600/.
“Edwardian Era Tuxedos & Black Tie - 1900s - 1910s.” Gentleman’s Gazette, November 26, 2018. https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/tuxedo-black-tie-guide/black-tie-tuxedo-history/edwardian-tuxedo-black-tie/.
The following object description information includes basic elements from the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI). An additional notes field is included to list dates from the actual letter, envelope postmark locations, and any other identifying details.
The Progressive Era and the Progressive Movement in South Carolina
The Progressive Era was a period in South Carolina that challenged the emerging Progressive Movement in the United States. The middle class made up the population of progressives in the state and wanted to see reforms within growing American and social industries. However, conservative legislators prevented substantial reform policies from being implemented, and the state was often brought back to square one. Progressive reforms were shot down until Richard I. Manning became governor of South Carolina in 1915, and policies were finally implemented, yet conservative opposition persisted all the while. This link has more information on the Progressive Movement in South Carolina and goes into detail on some of the state's successful reforms.
The Jungle and Muckrakers
Men and boys working in the Meat Packing Industry filling sausage casings, circa 1906.
In 1906, journalist Upton Sinclair released a groundbreaking and condemning book titled The Jungle. The book exposed the deplorable conditions within the nation's meatpacking industry and later initiated a chain of sweeping reforms to protect public health. Sinclair was deemed a "Muckraker," an investigative journalist who was a thorn in the sides of conservative policymakers. He was also seen as a hero to public health in the eyes of progressive reformers. The problem of the meatpacking industry and the release of The Jungle was the subject of much debate and discussion among politicians and society. James H. Payne and Blanche Peden were likely aware of this expose and even the resulting legislation passed due to the awareness raised on the meatpacking industry. This link features more information on how The Jungle reshaped the meatpacking industry in the United States.
The Meat Inspection Act of 1906 and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
An image of an early food safety label, circa 1906.
The Meat Inspection Act of 1906 was a federal law that regulated the meat packing industry in the United States. For the entirety of the nation's existence, all aspects of meat processing were left up to businesses. The poor standards set by businesses prevented good quality meat from being provided to the public. The risks to public health and lack of initiative or accountability from the meat packing industry made it a target for the reforms backed by progressives during the early 1900s. The promise of keeping the public healthy also transcended from meat inspection to other foods and drugs.
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was another federal law that held companies responsible in order to protect the public. The purpose of the act was to ensure that people were not misled or misinformed by businesses when purchasing food and drug products. This law serves as another example of the Progressive Movement's determination to enact policies that ensure the well-being of American citizens regardless of political affiliation. The effects of both the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act would have been felt universally across the nation as people received official assurance that the federal government would look after public health in a manner never before seen. More information on the Meat Inspection Act can be found here. For further details on the Pure Food and Drug Act follow this link.
Muckrakers and Theodore Roosevelt
On April 14, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech called "The Man with the Muck Rake." Roosevelt's speech labeled investigative journalists as "Muckrakers" and condemned their actions to expose business practices and business owners in the public sphere. By denouncing the Muckrakers, President Roosevelt confirmed his position as the sole regulator of "Big Businesses" in the United States, seeking reform when necessary without dismantling the nation's entire economic system. Roosevelt's speech was delivered the same day as James H. Payne wrote his letter to Blanche Peden. If either James or Blanche had access to a radio, then it is possible that they heard the President's speech on investigative journalists. However, the letter does not reveal how James or Blanche may have felt about the speech. To read President Theodore Roosevelt's speech, follow this link.
President Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Tillman of South Carolina
South Carolina former Senator and Governor, Benjamin Tillman.
South Carolina Senator, former governor, and white supremacist Benjamin Tillman formed a pact with U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt to begin the process of cracking down on the railway industry, thus significantly impacting South Carolina's railway industry. Senator Tillman helped ease the impact of the Hepburn Act on South Carolina railroad companies. As a Democrat and former governor of South Carolina at the beginning of the twentieth century, Tillman would have significantly influenced public opinion. Trying to work with a trailblazing Republican president like Roosevelt was a challenge in and of itself, yet the cooperation displayed to the nation was the sort of bipartisanship needed to implement an effective policy during the Progressive Era. Being South Carolinians, James H. Payne and Blanche Peden probably knew who their state representatives were and likely parts of the representatives' political agendas. More information on Benjamin Tillman and his alliance with President Theodore Roosevelt can be found here.
The Hepburn Rate Act of 1906
A caricatured illustration of the Hepburn Rate Bill by Clifford K. Berryman, dated May 15, 1906.
The Hepburn Rate Act was brought before the U.S. House of Representatives in January 1906. The act awarded the Interstate Commerce Commission, or the ICC, the authority to regulate railway industry shipping rates. The cartoon above depicts the Hepburn Rate Bill, with amendments tacked on by the Senate and returned to the House of Representatives for further consideration before being brought before President Theodore Roosevelt for signing, shown in the illustration as a small bear. Cartoons like the one above gave the public a sense of levity and silliness when they read or heard about legislative proceedings, providing insight into the policy-making process through the lens of comedy. The cartoon further demonstrates the tedious process of passing bills into law, often with several revisions before the bill makes it to the president, if at all. This link gives more details on Clifford K. Berryman's cartoon of the Hepburn Rate Bill.
Citations:
Hudson, Janet G. “Progressive Movement.” South Carolina Encyclopedia, August 22, 2022. https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/progressive-movement/.
Klein, Christopher. “How Upton Sinclair’s ‘The Jungle’ Led to US Food Safety Reforms.” History.com, May 10, 2023. https://www.history.com/news/upton-sinclair-the-jungle-us-food-safety-reforms.
“Food Safety and Inspection Service | U.S. Department of Agriculture.” Federal Meat Inspection Act. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/food-safety-acts/federal-meat-inspection-act#mm-13.
“The Pure Food and Drug Act.” The Pure Food and Drug Act | U.S. Capitol - Visitor Center. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/exhibitions/congress-and-progressive-era/pure-food-and-drug-act.
Roosevelt, Theodore. “The Man with the Muck Rake, 1906.” PBS. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tr-muckrake/.
- Speech Text courtesy of the Program in Presidential Rhetoric, Texas A&M University
“Benjamin Ryan Tillman.” Clemson University. Accessed October 7, 2023. https://www.clemson.edu/about/history/bios/ben-tillman.html.
“Hepburn Rate Bill.” National Archives. Accessed October 6, 2023. https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/hepburn.