Salesman Selling a Hat to a Customer in Chicago, Illinois, April 1952

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Delano, Jack, "Mr. Claude Walker trying on a new hat in the Henry C. Taylor Store for Men. The salesman is Mr. William Strong, who is manager of the store. 47th Street near State Street, Chicago, Illinois," April 1942

Description

#5 Occupation: Retail Trade Manager, Official or Proprietor
In other words, store owner or manager. Stores in the 1950s were more specialized than stores in the 1900s. In this photograph, William Strong is the manager of the Henry C. Taylor Store for Men in Chicago, and he is seen helping a customer to try on a new hat. This may seem similar to the milliner's job in the 1900s, but Strong cannot be called a milliner because he is only selling the hats, not making them.

Source-Dependent Questions

What is the working environment for a store owner or manager?
What skills does this store owner or manager need in order to be successful at his job?
Make a prediction: Why would stores be more specialized in the 1950s than in the 1900s?

Citation Information

Delano, Jack, "Mr. Claude Walker trying on a new hat in the Henry C. Taylor Store for Men. The salesman is Mr. William Strong, who is manager of the store. 47th Street near State Street, Chicago, Illinois," April 1942. Courtesy of Library of Congress