Blucher Custom Boot Company Records

Collection

Identifier: 2001-022

Staff Only

Blucher Custom Boot Company Records index

Scope and Contents

The Blucher Custom Boot Company Records contains 218 “Fitting Books” which are day books dating between 1915 and 1982 and used to record customer transactions. An index of the more than 111,000 customer records is available for searching by clicking "external documents" at the bottom of the page or by looking at the digital object. A typical entry on a Day Book page includes: customer name, address, date of order, price of boots and payments made, style number, boot material, style preferences, customer instructions, shoe sizes, heel size, carbon blue outline of customer’s foot probably transferred from original patron order form, and the notation of date “out,” meaning the date the boots were completed or repaired and sent to the customer. From what volumes are present, it can be assumed that volume 1 of the day books is missing. Pages 153 through 197 of Volume 20, 1919-1920 contains names and addresses of customers up to the point Blucher resumes business at Olathe, Kansas.

Five volumes dating between 1915 and 1936 are indexes to the earlier “Fitting books.” Names of individuals in the indexes are organized by the first letter of the surname, but not alphabetized beyond that. From what indexes are present, it can be assumed that Index F-R to Day books 20-90, 191-1936 is missing.

A 1969 order form and several catalogs dating between 1989 and 1998 are included. Corporate records dating between 1986 and 1999 are present.

Dates

1915 - 1999

Creator

Blucher, C. G. "Gus" (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The Blucher Custom Boot Company Records has no restrictions and is available for research. If you are interested in researching the materials, please contact the Dickinson Research Center to make an appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

The Blucher Custom Boot Company Records is the property of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Materials, even if owned by the NCWHM, may be protected under third party copyright. It is the patron’s responsibility to research and secure any such additional copyright and pay any required fees or royalties. It is not the intention of the NCWHM to impede upon any third party rights, and the NCWHM cannot be held responsible if the patron is involved in legal action due to violation of third party copyright claims.

Biographical / Historical

In 1915 G.C. “Gus” Blucher incorporated the Blucher Custom Boot Company in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Blucher had been employed by the Justin Boot Company for twenty seven years before branching out on his own. In 1918 or 1919, Blucher moved the business to Olathe, Kansas and built the Blucher name. In 1969 the company moved to Fairfax, Oklahoma, and experienced the ups and downs of business. Ownership changed hands several times throughout the decades, and Blucher Boots is currently owned and operated by James “Smitty” Smith in Beggs, Oklahoma. Smith custom makes every pair of boots and keeps the over one hundred year old Blucher tradition going.

Extent

59.08 Linear Feet (218 fitting books)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Blucher Custom Boot Company Records contain 218 “Fitting Books” from 1915-1982 which were used to record customer transactions. Each custom order is detailed in the books and typically includes sketches of custom stitching and an outline of the customer’s feet.