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RadioShack and Tandy Corporation Records, 1924-2000Add to your cart.View associated digital content.

By Cody Rone

Collection Overview

Title: RadioShack and Tandy Corporation Records, 1924-2000Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Predominant Dates: 1960-1990
ID: 01/ AR0897
Extent: 9.0 Boxes
Arrangement: The RadioShack and Tandy Corporation Records are organized into 4 series, reflecting the corporation's subsidiaires: Tandy Corporation, RadioShack, Leonard's, Meacham's. Within each series, the folders are in alphabetical order. Within each folder, the items are ordered chronologically with some exceptions. Any exceptions are noted in the description of the particular folder.
Date Acquired: 09/00/2017. More info below under Accruals.
Languages: English

Abstract

This collection contains the records of the Tandy Corporation and some of its subsidiaries, including RadioShack, Leonard's, and Meacham's. The records are mostly comprised of newsletters, news releases, photographs, memos, and ads pertaining to these various companies.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The RadioShack and Tandy Corporation Collection contains documents from the Tandy Corporation and some of its divisions, such as RadioShack, Leonard's, and Meacham's. These documents include: magazines, newsletters, correspondence, news releases, ads, artifacts, company booklets, photographs, agreements, employee books, and scrapbooks.

Collection Historical Note

Starting as a family owned leather business in the early 1900’s, the Tandy Corporation was created by Dave Tandy. The corporation started trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1960 and purchased RadioShack in 1963. The Tandy Corporation also purchased Leonard’s department stores in 1967 and Meacham’s fashion stores in 1968. Charles Tandy, the son of Dave Tandy, grew RadioShack and the Tandy Corporation into one of the leading companies in consumer technology. RadioShack found success by taking a vertically integrated approach to the company’s structure, with much of the store’s products being produced by the company itself. The Tandy Corporation became the RadioShack Corporation in 2000. After filing for bankruptcy in 2015, RadioShack was sold to Standard General.

Leonard’s started out as a small, one-room store in Fort Worth. Established in 1918, the store was created by J. M. Leonard, with his brother, Obediah, joining two years later. The store saw regular expansion into the surrounding area over the next 12 years. In 1962, the store took another big step forward in expansion, adding on a 3 ½ story Home Store next to the main Leonard’s store. In addition, the company constructed a 1,400 foot subway underneath Fort Worth to carry passengers from a large parking lot to the Leonard’s complex. This subway is one of the only privately owned subways in the world. Leonard’s was sold to the Tandy Corporation in 1967 and then later sold to Dilliard’s in 1974.

The H. C. Meacham Company was a women’s specialty store founded in 1907, centered mainly in the Southwest. The company was bought by S. J. Amstater and M. B. Amstater in 1937. After the death of S. J. Amstater in 1953, the company was renamed Meacham’s, Inc. and M. B. Amstater became president of the company. M. B. Amstater would go on to sell the company to the Tandy Corporation in 1968.

Sources:

Box 1 Folder 4, Tandy Corporation Company History Booklets, RadioShack and Tandy Corporation Collection, University of North Texas Special Collections.

Box 1 Folder 6, Tandy Corporation Scrapbooks, RadioShack and Tandy Corporation Collection, University of North Texas Special Collections.

Box 8 Folder 23, Leonard’s 50th Anniversary Booklet, RadioShack and Tandy Corporation Collection, University of North Texas Special Collections.

Box 8 Folder 32, Meacham’s News Releases, RadioShack and Tandy Corporation Collection, University of North Texas Special Collections.

Access Information

Access Restrictions:

This collection is not restricted.

Use Restrictions:

Reproduction and publication of materials in this collection are subject to the policies of the UNT Special Collections department. Copyright restrictions may apply.

Physical Access Note:

This collection is stored off-site and requires a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to use.

Technical Access Note:

Portions of the collection are digitized and can be accessed through the Portal to Texas History.

Reading Room or Duplication Requests

Depending on any access restrictions noted above, you may be able to request items be delivered to our reading room, or that we make reproductions for you. Just click on either the or icons in the listings below to be routed to our request form.

Administrative Information

Repository: University of North Texas Special Collections
Accruals: 2017-061
Acquisition Method: Purchased at the 2017 bankruptcy auction.
Preferred Citation: Radio Shack and Tandy Corporation Records, University of North Texas Special Collections.

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Box and Folder Listing
Series 1: Tandy Corporation, 1924-1989Series 2: RadioShack, 1961-2000Series 3: Leonard's, 1968-1977Series 4: Meacham's, 1968-1972

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