Consumer Reports. Arthur Kallet papers, 1917-1993 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Consumer Reports (Firm)
Abstract:
Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936. Arthur Kallet was an engineer and leading consumer advocate, co-founder of Consumers Union. The Consumer Reports Arthur Kallet papers include clippings, tear sheets, correspondence, pamphlets, meeting minutes, book chapter manuscripts, reports and other printed materials that document Kallet's career in consumer advocacy groups including Consumers' Research and Consumers Union. Correspondents include Bernard Reis and Colston Warne. Topics include management benefits, organization and finance, labor relations, dealings with consultants and government agencies, as well as U.S. government investigations into allegations of communist links and Un-American activities during the Cold War era. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
7.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11774

Background

Scope and content:

The Consumer Reports Arthur Kallet papers include clippings, tear sheets, correspondence, pamphlets, meeting minutes, book chapter manuscripts, reports and other printed materials that document Kallet's career in consumer advocacy groups including Consumers' Research and Consumers Union. Correspondents include Bernard Reis and Colston Warne. Topics include management benefits, organization and finance, labor relations, dealings with consultants and government agencies, as well as U.S. government investigations into allegations of communist links and Un-American activities during the Cold War era. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.

Biographical / historical:

Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936. Arthur Kallet was an engineer and leading consumer advocate, co-founder of Consumers Union.

Arthur Kallet was born in 1902 in New York. Kallet received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1924. Kallet worked at New York Edison Commercial Department (1924-1927) and American Standards Association (1927-1934). Kallet served on the Consumers' Research Board to 1933 and as Director (1934-1935) before co-founding Consumers Union in 1936 and serving as Director (1936-1957). Kallet was Director of The Medical Letter from 1957 and was founder of the Buyers Laboratory in 1961. Kallet died in 1972 in New York.

Arthur Kallet was author of two books: 100,000,000 Guinea Pigs (1933), and Conterfeit (1935).

Acquisition information:
The Consumer Reports. Arthur Kallet papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, Oct. 2019;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2019-0130

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: General Files; Book Files; Consumers' Research; Consumers Union.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:
Consumer advocacy
consumer protection
Product safety
Names:
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Consumer Reports. Arthur Kallet papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.