Taylor Roofing Company records, ca. 1921-1931.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Organization: original order of photographs as found in two loosely-bound photograph albums has been retained.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Housed with Jersey Farms Milk Service Photographs.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: The Taylor Roofing Company Records is a small collection of photographs and copy photographs of customer testimonial letters (approximately 44 items total) that provide a brief history of this local business and a snapshot of life in Nashville in the middle 1920s. Photographs of local residences and other buildings are included in the collection. Customer testimonial letters provide further documentation of local community members, businesses, residences, and organizations. Evidence of changes in roofing and building practices during this time period are also seen; the transition away from wooden shingles and toward the use of asphalt and slate-surfaced asphalt shingles are noteworthy given the devastating impact of the 1916 East Nashville fire.

Businesses and organizations that used the company's services during this time period include the Fisk Model Training School, the Phillips Chapel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, Hooser's Pharmacy, Beasley's Corner Grocery, and the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, among others. The homes of John Campion (22nd Ave. N.); the "Johnson home" (Murfreesboro Pike); and Charles C. Trabue, Sr. ("Bonaventure" on Harding Rd.) also appear in the collection. A number of the homes and businesses remain unidentified.

The collection items were originally loosely-bound in two separate photo albums containing photographs and copy photographs mounted on linen support. The albums were likely used by the Taylor Roofing Company for sales and promotional purposes, and demonstrate the importance of customer testimonials and referrals for local businesses during this time period.

The inside cover of the first book (Book 1) was embossed with text that read "Taylor Roofing Company, Nashville, Tenn. Reward When Returned", indicating the value of these materials to the company. It is likely that Book 1 may have been a book of master photographs to be re-used by the company as needed since these photographs are identified with local photographer Marvin W. Wiles' signature label.

Cite as: Taylor Roofing Company Records, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

Some items may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

Photocopying of blueprints is prohibited due to their extreme sensitivity to light.

Source of acquisition unknown;,Acc. RT-100.

The Taylor Roofing Company was a Nashville, Tenn. business operating in the early to middle twentieth century. Resources on the history of the Taylor Roofing Company are limited, however, a search of city directories revealed advertisements and/or listings for the Taylor Roofing Company beginning in circa 1920. Prior to 1920, Leon Taylor is listed as a vice president and later president of the Uncle Hiram Roofing and Paving Company circa 1916 to 1918.

In English

Finding aid available in repository;,item level control,https://assets.library.nashville.org/documents/finding-aids/Special_Collections_Division_Finding_Aid_TaylorRoofingCompanyRecords.pdf.

Unknown provenance.

Process;,2012;,Tracey Howerton with assistance from volunteer Marty O'Reilly.

No further accruals are expected.