Donaldson Brothers
Donaldson Brothers was an American lithography and printing firm based in the Five Points district of Manhattan, New York City. The company was operated by four brothers—Frank J., George W., John L., and Robert M. Donaldson—all born in Edinburgh, Scotland, who emigrated to the United States in 1856. The firm became known for its chromolithographic trade cards and advertising prints, produced on high-speed steam presses that generated brightly colored images in large quantities. In 1892 Donaldson Brothers was consolidated into the newly formed American Lithographic Company, a large printing conglomerate in New York City.
History
Origins and founding
The Donaldson brothers were born to John Donaldson and Barbara Hume Donaldson in Edinburgh, Scotland. The family emigrated to the United States in 1856, and by the 1860 Federal Census they were living in Brooklyn, New York. All four brothers pursued careers in lithography, and by 1878 they were listed in the New York City directory as lithographers operating from 2 Mission Place in the Five Points neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. According to Frank J. Donaldson's obituary in American Stationer, Frank may have been the principal founder of the firm, though all four brothers were actively involved in its operations.Operations and products
The Donaldson brothers ran their lithography business out of 2 Mission Place in the Five Points district. Their output included chromolithographed advertising ephemera such as trade cards, posters, and commercial labels. The firm utilized modern steam-powered printing technology to produce colorful images in large quantities, establishing a reputation for high-quality commercial lithography.At the end of 1892, the Donaldson firm was absorbed into Joseph Palmer Knapp's American Lithographic Company.
Fire at Five Points
On 10 December 1875, a major fire destroyed two adjoining buildings on Mission Place, immediately facing the open square where Worth Street and Park Street intersect Baxter Street.According to the article reporting the incident, the blaze was first noticed shortly after 5 a.m. by a patrolman from the Sixth Precinct, and fire engines from the Second Battalion responded promptly. When the buildings were entered, the flames had already engulfed the first floor and spread rapidly through the elevator shaft to the upper storeys. Several neighbouring structures were also damaged, and the total loss was estimated at US$300,000.