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514 BROADWAY: EMPLOYEE ADDRESS BOOK

The Tirocchi business archives contain many miscellaneous types of records. One is a slim volume labeled "Girls’ Address Book."

This little book recorded the names and addresses, and sometimes a phone number, for the shop’s employees. However, not wanting to waste a perfectly good address book when there were few employees to fill it, someone–probably the bookkeeper–also used the book to record information about merchants, suppliers, and service firms. There are notations in this book for a plasterer and a plumber; for the Singer Sewing Machine Co.; and for appliqué work.

In the very back of the book are several pages devoted to notations regarding a wedding party. There are descriptions of the dresses for the bride, four women in the wedding party, and for the mother of the bride. Also included is a description of the bride’s bouquet.

What this little book demonstrates is that researchers should never take something at face value. The "Girls’ Address Book" does list information about the workers; but it also contains much more information that sheds light on unexpected aspects of the business. The process of discovery, which is at the root of all history, is embodied in little volumes like this one.