DEPARTMENT STORE CHARGE CARDS
The owner of one of the country's largest collections of vintage department store charge cards has generously shared images of them with the Department Store Museum. The cards are arranged by state, and more will be added in time.
If you were a customer of one of these stores, this is the item that you personally carried in your wallet or purse, identifying you as their customer. Possessing a certain credit card was also a status symbol of the time as well.
Most of these cards did not have a magnetic strip across the back; mechanical embossers of several different types were used to imprint the raised information on the plastic card onto a duplicate sales slip.
The Department Store Museum is indebted to Scott Nimmo for making this colorful, beautiful, and nostalgic exhibit possible! James and Richard Hyde are also major contributors who are deserving of thanks for their generosity of spirit in sharing these unique items.
Before the Charge Card, there was the Charge Coin, an example of which has been most kindly donated by Dorothy Wahl:
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| Abraham & Straus Brooklyn, New York, New York |
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| The Lasalle & Koch Co. Toledo, Ohio |
ALABAMA
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| Loveman's Birmingham, Alabama (Contributed by James) |
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| Pizitz Birmingham, Alabama (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Gayfers (1970s-1980s) Mobile Alabama (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
ALASKA
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| Northern Commercial Anchorage (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
ARIZONA
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| Diamond's Phoenix, Arizona (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Goldwater's Phoeniz, Arizona (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Buffums Long Beach, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Buffums (1970s) Long Beach, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Broadway Los Angeles, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Broadway Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Bullock's Los Angeles, California |
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| Bullock's Los Angeles, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Bullock's Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Bullocks Wilshire Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| May Co. Los Angeles, California (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Robinson's Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Robinson's Los Angeles, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Capwell's Oakland, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Harris' San Bernardino, California (Contributed by James) |
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| Harris' (1970s-1980s) San Bernardino, California (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| City of Paris San Francisco, California (Contributed by James) |
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| The Emporium San Francisco, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Macys San Francisco, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| I. Magnin San Francisco, California (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| I. Magnin (1970s-1980s) San Francisco, California (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
COLORADO
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| The Denver Denver, Colorado (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Denver Denver, Colorado (Contributed by James) |
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| May - D&F Denver, Colorado (Contributed by James) |
CONNECTICUT
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| Read's Bridgeport, Connecticut (Contributed by James) |
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| Read's Bridgeport, Connecticut (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| G. Fox & Co. Hartford, Connecticut (Contributed by James) |
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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| Garfinckel's Washington, DC (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Hecht Co. Washington, DC (Contributed by James) |
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| Washington Shopping Plate Washington, D.C. (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Furchgott's Jacksonville, Florida (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Richards Miami, Florida (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Jordan Marsh Miami, Florida (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Jordan Marsh Miami, Florida (Contributed by James) |
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| Maas Brothers Tampa, Florida (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Maas Brothers Tampa, Florida (Contributed by James) |
GEORGIA
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| Davison's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Davison's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by James) |
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| Davison's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by James) |
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| Rich's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by James) |
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| Rich's Atlanta, Georgia (Contributed by James) |
ILLINOIS
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| Carson Pirie Scott & Co. Chicago, Illinois (Contributed by James) |
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| Carson Pirie Scott & Co. Chicago, Illinois (Contributed by James) |
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| Marshall Field & Company Chicago, Illinois (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Wieboldt's Chicago, Illinois (Contributed by James) |
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| Ayres Indianapolis, Indiana (Contributed by James) |
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| Ayres Indianapolis, Indiana (Contributed by James) |
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| Block's Indianapolis, Indiana (Contributed by James) |
KENTUCKY
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| Bacon's Louisville, Kentucky (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Stewart's Louisville, Kentucky (Contributed by James) |
MAINE
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| Porteous Portland, Maine |
MARYLAND
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| Stewart & Co. Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Jordan Marsh Boston, Massachusetts (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Jordan Marsh Boston, Massachusetts (Contributed by James) |
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| Jordan Marsh Boston, Massachusetts (Contributed by James) |
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| R.H. Stearns Boston, Massachusetts (Contributed by James) |
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| Steiger's Springfield, Massachusetts (Contributed by James) |
MICHIGAN
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| Hudson's Detroit, Michigan (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Hudson's Detroit, Michigan (Contributed by James) |
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| Hudson's Detroit, Michigan (Contributed by James) |
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| Herpolsheimer's Grand Rapids, Michigan (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Steketee's Grand Rapids, Michigan (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Jacobson's Jackson, Michigan (Contributed by Bill Garbe) |
MINNESOTA
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| Dayton's Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Donaldsons Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota (Contributed by James) |
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| Donaldsons Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Powers Minneapolis, Minnesota (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Powers Minneapolis, Minnesota (Contributed by James) |
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| Herberger's St. Cloud, Minnesota (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
MISSOURI
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| The Jones Store Co. Kansas City, Missouri (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Charga-Plate St. Louis, Missouri (Contributed by Kevin Nickel) |
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| Famous-Barr St. Louis, Missouri (Contributed by Kevin Nickel) |
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| Famous-Barr St. Louis, Missouri (Contributed by Kevin Nickel) |
NEBRASKA
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| Brandeis Omaha, Nebraska v |
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| Kilpatick's Omaha, Nebraska (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Hahne & Co. Newark, New Jersey (Contributed by James) |
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| Hahne & Co. Newark, New Jersey (Contributed by James) |
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| Bamberger's Newark, New Jersey (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Bamberger's Newark, New Jersey (Contributed by James) |
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| AM&A's Buffalo, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| B. Altman & Co. New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Abraham & Straus Brooklyn, New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Abraham & Straus Brooklyn, New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Bergdorf Goodman New York City, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Bonwit Teller New York City, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Bonwit Teller New York City, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Gimbels New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Lord & Taylor New York City, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Macy's New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Saks Fifth Avenue New York City, New York (also submitted by Thomas Defeo) |
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| Saks Fifth Avenue (1970s-1980s) New York City, New York (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Stern Brothers New York City, New York (Contributed by James) |
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| Dey Brothers Syracuse, New York (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Belk Brothers Charlotte, North Carolina (Contributed by James) |
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| Ivey's Charlotte, North Carolina (Contributed by James) |
OHIO
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| Polsky's Akron, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Pogue's Cincinnati, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Pogue's Cincinnati, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Shillito's Cincinnati, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Shillito's Cincinnati, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Halle's Cleveland, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Halle's Cleveland, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Higbee's Cleveland, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Lazarus Columbus, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| The Union Columbus, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Rike's Dayton, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Lamson's Toledo, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Lasalle's Toledo, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| Lion Store Toledo, Ohio (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Strouss Youngstown, Ohio (Contributed by James) |
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| John A. Brown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Gimbels Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Gimbels Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Lit Brothers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| John Wanamaker Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Strawbridge & Clotier Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Gimbel Brothers Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Joseph Horne Co. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Joseph Horne Co. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| Pomeroy's Reading/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Pomeroy's Reading/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Contributed by James) |
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| The Outlet Co. Providence, Rhode Island (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Loveman's Chattanooga, Tennessee (Contributed by James) |
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| Lowenstein's Memphis, Tennessee (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Cain-Sloan Nashville, Tennessee (Contributed by James) |
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| Cain-Sloan Nashville, Tennessee (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Castner-Knott Co. Nashville, Tennessee (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Castner Knott Co. (1970s-1980s) Nashville, Tennessee (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
TEXAS
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| Neiman-Marcus Dallas, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Neiman-Marcus Dallas, Texas (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Sanger-Harris Dallas, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Sakowitz (1970s-1980s) Houston, Texas (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Titche-Goettinger Dallas, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Foley's (1980s) Houston, Texas (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Foley's (1990s) Houston, Texas (Contributed by Richard Hyde) |
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| Sakowitz Houston, Texas (Contributed by James) |
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| Hemphill-Wells Lubbock, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Joske's San Antonio, Texas (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Joske's San Antonio, Texas (Contributed by James) |
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| The Bon Marche Seattle/Spokane, Washington (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Frederick & Nelson Seattle, Washington (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Frederick & Nelson Seattle, Washington (Contributed by James) |
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| The Crescent Spokane, Washington (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
VIRGINIA
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| Thalhimers Richmond, Virginia (Contributed by James) |
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| The Diamond Charleston, West Virginia (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Stone & Thomas Wheeling/Charleston, West Virginia (Contributed by James) |
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| Gimbels Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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| Simpsons Toronto, Ontario (Contributed by Scott Nimmo) |
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