Mar 20 at 10:30 AM - Sale 2697 -
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Sale 2697 - Lot 77

Estimate: $ 600 - $ 900
(BUSINESS--BARBERS.) Checkbook of the Crystal Barbershop of Pittsburgh, with photographs and ephemera. 24 pages of bound completed check stubs, 1927 and 1944, 9 x 3¾ inches, plus about 60 pages of blank checks and stubs, 9 x 12 inches; first page worn, otherwise minimal wear. Pittsburgh, PA, 1927 and 1944
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Additional Details

The Crystal Barbershop was owned by William "Woogie" Harris, a close associate of Gus Greenlee (1893-1952)--Pittsburgh's most prominent Black businessman, who also owned the Pittsburgh Crawfords baseball team and ran the city's numbers racket. The shop was across the street from Greenlee's Crawford Grill.

In this checkbook, we find large cash payments to Greenlee and another of Greenlee's associates, Leonard "Big Bill" Williams. Among the checks written from 1927, we see several to "Cash, Bill Williams" for up to $700, one for "Cash, Gus / Bill Williams" for $100, and one to "Gus Greenleaf" for $300; these are much larger than most of the shop's other bills. The 1947 stubs include one for a check made out to the exclusive Loendi Social Club for dues.

Harris was also the brother of famed Pittsburgh photographer Charles "Teenie" Harris. Included with this lot are two photographs of the Crystal, unsigned and unstamped but attributed to Teenie Harris. One is 11 x 14 inches and shows several haircuts in progress, with the Crawford Grill visible across the street. Another is 3¼ x 4½ inches and shows barber Harold Slater in action.

Also included are an illustrated letterhead, envelope, order form and promotional card for Supreme Design Products of the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, selling "World's Finest Hot Combs and Pressers."

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