File:Rhodes Bros Co letter, September 25, 1919 (MOHAI 11894).jpg

Rhodes Brothers Company was a department store chain that started in 1892 as a coffee shop in Tacoma by Albert, William, Henry, and Charles Rhodes. In 1903, the brothers shifted into the department store business and expanded the business significantly. At one time there were signs on highways in Washington that said, "All roads lead to Rhodes," giving the number of miles to the Rhodes store in downtown Tacoma. Albert Rhodes left Rhodes Brothers in 1907 and moved to Seattle, where he established the Rhodes Department Store (also known as Rhodes of Seattle). By 1926, it anchored the corner of Second Avenue and Union Streets in the downtown retail core, and was know for its elaborate window display cases filled with hats, gloves, ribbons, and stationery. The letter pictured here is written on Rhodes Bros. Co. stationery and was sent to Margaret Elsie McCaughan (later Mansheim) informing her of an open sales position at the store. It appears Ms. McCaughan (1898-1972) got the job, as in the following year's Federal Census her occupation is listed as "Clerk, Dept Store."

Caption information source: http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/11401 Caption information source: https://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?ID=60219107

• Subjects (LCTGM): Correspondence; Department stores--Washington (State)--Seattle; Employment--Washington (State)--Seattle; Letterheads