Skip navigation
Close All Milwaukee Public Library Locations Closed...

Friday, March 29*, and Sunday, March 31 for Easter. All libraries open on Saturday, March 30. *View Early Voting Locations & Hours

Milwaukee Public Library Hours & Locations Close

MPL Digital Library

Milwaukee Historic Trade Card Collection

Jump to: More Information

Milwaukee Historic Trade Card Collection

Featuring business cards from Victorian era Milwaukee.


Back to all Digital Collections

More Information

Trade cards, also known as advertising cards, are small cards that businesses would distribute to clients and potential customers and are an early example of modern business cards. The Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room has a collection of over 500 trade cards that document Milwaukee’s business history from the Victorian era. To view the trade cards in person, please request an appointment here.