Wirtz and Wirtz Company Records (DeKalb)

Collection — Volume: 1-7

Identifier: RHC-RC-060

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The volumes in the Wirtz and Wirtz Company Collection partially document the financial activities of a small furniture and undertaking business in DeKalb, Illinois from 1920 to 1970. The collection contains nine volumes of books, journals, and ledgers and six volumes of purchase and sales records. Also included in the collection are WWII Office of Price Administration files. The documentation offered in this collection is modest, but does cover fifty of the eighty-five years the business existed. Missing are the non-financial records which would provide more information on the company's origin, operations and dissolution.

Dates

created: 1920-1970
Other: Date acquired: 05/02/1979

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

E.J. Wiswall organized the Wiswall Furniture store in DeKalb, Illinois in October of 1886. He came to DeKalb and bought the furniture business from P.C. Wagner when it was located on the corner of Second and Main Street (Lincoln Highway). Wiswall moved into a new building located at 142 E. Lincoln Highway where the business remained until 1971. In 1899, E.J. Wiswall and F.E. Wirtz organized the Wiswall and Wirtz Furniture and Undertaking business operating stores in DeKalb and Malta, Illinois. In 1920, when Wiswall retired, F.E. Wirtz, his son B.L. Wirtz, and his nephew W. W. Wirtz formed a new partnership operating the Wirtz and Wirtz Furniture and Undertaking business in DeKalb. In 1941, when F.E. Wirtz retired, the funeral part of the business became a separate organization, owned and operated by W. W. Wirtz (presently in operation as Wirtz-Roche Funeral Home). In 1946, Gerald T. Conde, son-in-law of W.W. Wirtz, entered the partnership. In 1961, W.W. Wirtz retired as an active partner of the furniture business. Gerald T. Conde, his nephew N.J. Conde, and his brother R.W. Conde continued to operate the business until its dissolution in 1971.

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