A Guide to the Records of Roanoke Drug Company

Access and use

Location of collection:
Roanoke Public Libraries
Virginia Room
Roanoke Public Libraries
706 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, VA 24016
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Dyron Knick
Phone: (540) 853-2073

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection is comprised of office memos, photographs, news clippings, meeting minutes, stock ledger books, office directories and artifacts.

Biographical / historical:

Roanoke Drug Company has a long and complex history. Commercial druggist companies boomed in the 19th and 20th centuries. One such company that began during this time was Benton, Myers, and Company formed in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1884, Benton Myers merged with the Hall-Van Gorder Company. Meanwhile, in Roanoke, the Bowles-Robertson Drug Company had a shop in downtown Roanoke on Salem Avenue. In late 1916, the name changed from Bowles-Robertson to Roanoke Drug Company. It would remain Roanoke Drug Company until 1929, when drug conglomerate, McKesson-Robbins took over after merging with Hall-Van Gorder the previous year, in 1928. Many of the records have Dorothy Layman’s name on them. Ms. Layman began working at Bowles-Robertson while in her 20s. She later married and became Dorothy Cline, as some of the memos indicate. She was the only female accountant and office manager the company ever employed

Acquisition information:
Donated by Richard and Carol Conway
Arrangement:

Documents are arranged alphabetically by document type with all artifacts housed in Box 2.

Physical description:
1 record storage box and 1 short lid "shoebox"