]> brannock_cf Charles F. Brannock Papers An inventory of the collection at Syracuse University MRC &su_name; &su_address; 25 Feb 2019 Michele Combs 25 Feb 2019 English 6 Apr 2020 - Related material updated (MRC) 19 April 2023 - Processed collection and updated finding aid (SAB) Overview of the Collection &su_name; &su_address; Brannock, Charles F. Charles F. Brannock Papers 1943-1993 3.75 linear feet Correspondence, printed material, business records, and other ephemera relating to the business and personal interests of the American businessman and inventor. 5203333 English Biographical History

Charles Brannock (1903-1992) was an American businessman and inventor, and an alumnus of Syracuse University.

Brannock was a co-owner of the Park-Brannock Shoe Store in Syracuse, New York and invented the Brannock device, the industry-standard metal plate with adjustable slides used to measure foot size. He later founded the Brannock Device Company for the manufacture and sale of Brannock Devices. Brannock was a stakeholder in the General Electric company and brother-in-law to the company’s vice president of labor and communications, Lemuel Boulware. Brannock was also involved in American conservatism at local and national levels, regularly donating to political campaigns and conservative educational groups such as the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Numerous members of Brannock’s family, including himself and his sister Norma Boulware (née Brannock), dealt with diabetes in their lifetimes.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Charles F. Brannock Papers consist of correspondence, clippings, printed materials, purchase orders, advertising art, and miscellaneous material related to Brannock's business and personal interests.

Advertising contains photographs, drawings, print layouts, and proofs intended for use in advertising or promoting the Brannock Device, as well as a few final printed advertisement.

Correspondence is subdivided into business and personal. Business correspondence contains communications related to the Park-Brannock Shoe Store and the Brannock Device Company. Personal correspondence is largely between Brannock and his friends and family.

Notes contains product research notes, a prototype scale model of a portion of the Brannock Device, assorted receipts, and handwritten notes documenting blood glucose levels and meal plans.

Printed materials contains assorted shoe industry ephemera, along with clippings and other informational materials related to diabetes, local politics, conservatism, and the General Electric Company.

Purchase orders contains records of sales made by the Brannock Device Company to J.C Penney Co. and Sears Roebuck Inc.

Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged into the series indicated above. Advertising is arranged alphabetically by company. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent within each subseries. Purchase orders are arranged chronologically within each subseries. All other series are in no particular order.

Related Material

The Brannock Device Company Records are held by the Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Subject and Genre Headings Business and Industry New York State Syracuse University -- Alumni Boulware, Lemuel R., 1895-1990. Brannock, Charles F. Brannock Device Company. General Electric Company. Intercollegiate Studies Institute. J.C. Penney Co. Park-Brannock Shoe Store. Sears, Roebuck and Company. Syracuse University -- Alumni and alumnae. Conservatism -- United States. Diabetes -- Treatment. Footwear industry -- New York (State) Inventors -- United States. Shoes -- Sizes. Syracuse (N.Y.) Advertisements. Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence. Layouts (printed matter) Order forms. Photographs. Sales records. Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Charles F. Brannock Papers, &su_name;

Acquisition Information

Transfer from University Archives, 2019.

Inventory Advertising Boot and Shoe Recorder original art, layouts, proofs, printed ads 1943-1951, 1957 2 folders 1 Brannock promotional material fliers, brochures, usage instructions, printed ads, etc. 1954 1 Chicago Shoe Show fliers, brochures, usage instructions, printed ads, etc. 1963-1964 1 Coe Advertising Agency, Inc. original art, proofs, layouts 1954 1 Dix Typesetting Co. original art, proofs, layouts undated 2 Footwear News printed items 1960 2 folders 1 Footwear News original art, proofs, layouts 1960, 1966 2 Men's Wear 1943 2 Syracuse Litho original art and layouts undated 2 Unidentified companies original art and layouts undated 2 Correspondence Business J.C. Penney Company 1981-1993 2 folders 1 Sears Roebuck Inc. 1981, 1984-1991 2 folders 1 Miscellaneous 1 Personal Bendixen, E. Hawley Conservative Council of Syracuse 1961-1967 1 Boulware, Lemuel and Norma 1955-1960 1 Cecil, William B. and family 1957-1963 1 Intercollegiate Studies Institute 1965-1971 1 Miscellaneous A-M 1955-1965 1 Miscellaneous N-Z and unidentified 1947-1968 1 Notes Brannock Device 1960, 1964 2 Woodward and Wright 1968 2 Miscellaneous 2 Printed materials Canada maps, tourist information, etc. 2 Clippings Business Carrier, General Electric, Brooks Brothers, etc. 1956-1960, 1967, 1984, 1987 2 Diabetes 1956-1963 2 Miscellaneous 1957, 1961 2 General Electric 1955-1958 2 Shoe business 2 Miscellaneous 2 Purchase orders J.C. Penney Company 1987-1988 3 folders 2 J.C. Penney Company 1989-1993 8 folders 3 Sears Roebuck Inc. 1986-1987 4 folders 3 Sears Roebuck Inc. 1988-1993 4 folders 4