Montag Brothers, Inc. records
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of Montag Brothers catalogs, price lists, and product samples for use by their salesmen and shops or businesses carrying Montag Brothers brands. Of particular note, one catalog was typewritten by salesman Ely Kaufman. Dating from 1928, Kaufman organized alphabetically by product type, made edits in pencil, and bounded clippings from Montag’s other catalogs.
Dates
- 1911-1957, undated
Creator
- Montag Brothers, Inc. (Atlanta, Ga.) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Sigmund Montag (1864-1948) was born in Germany to Simon Montag (1835-1912) and Susanna Haas (1839-1900). He had five brothers and two sisters: Adolph Montag (1861-1938), Edward Montag (1868-1940), William A. Montag (1869-1947), Ludwig Montag (1879-1903), Anna Montag Hein (1866-1920), and Bertha Montag (1866-1917). In 1879, Sigmund Montag immigrated to Galveston, Texas. While working as a salesman for the Chicago-based clothing company Hart Brothers, Montag was able to pay for his family to emigrate from Germany to Texas.
In 1889, Sigmund Montag moved to Atlanta, Georgia and established Montag Brothers, Inc., selling notebook tablets with covers while working for Hart Brothers. In 1891, Sigmund Montag married Clementine Guthman (1870-1951) and in 1893, he retired from Hart Brothers to focus on Montag Brothers. Over time, the company grew selling additional stationery, school supplies, and sundry products. All of the Montag brothers worked for the company as salesmen, and some held executive positions later in their lives. Sigmund Montag was the company president and then chairman of the board until his retirement in 1936. After his death, his son Harold Edward Montag (1897-1969) was chairman of the board until 1960. Sigmund Montag’s nephew Louis Adolph Montag (1903-1982) was the company treasurer until World War II. When Louis returned, he founded Investment Counseling Service, later known as Montag and Caldwell.
At one point, Montag Brothers, Inc. owned 370 brands including Scripto, Inc. Originally named the National Pencil Company, this brand produced mechanical pencils and later lighters. One of the most popular brands was Blue Horse, a school supplies brand which focused on notebooks and paper. In 1924, the company expanded west to Los Angeles and built a warehouse, specifically for selling products in Asia. Montag Brothers also expanded to New York. By 1959, the Atlanta location was acquired by Champion Paper and Fibre Company, a firm from Hamilton, Ohio. Starting in the 1960s, the company became known as Montag, Inc.
Extent
1.04 linear ft. (two document cases and one half document case)
Language
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically by titles supplied by staff.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, 1998
Bias in Description
As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information. We choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not accurately convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. In working with this collection, we often re-use language used by the former owners of the material. This language provides context but often includes bias and prejudices reflective of the time in which it was created. The Kenan Research Center’s work is ongoing to implement reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete.
Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or descriptions, please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.
Processing Information
This collection was processed in June 2025.
- Business enterprises -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Christmas cards
- Envelopes (Stationery)
- Family-owned business enterprises -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Greeting cards
- Greeting cards -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Jewish businesspeople -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Montag Brothers, Inc. (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Stationery -- Georgia -- Atlanta
- Stationery trade
- Title
- Montag Brothers, Inc. records
- Subtitle
- ahc.MSS1284
- Author
- Christine Jankowski
- Date
- July 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository