I’ve talked about my dozen antique films of Fargo and the AOUW in the 1930s several times here, mostly because they’re so unique, but the reason I own them is part of why I like them so much: The
AOUW, the makers of the film, became Pioneer Mutual, a company I (partly) worked for a few years ago. Because of the insurance industry’s mergers of the 1990s, I ultimately worked for three insurance companies at once: Blue Cross, Lincoln Mutual, and Pioneer Mutual. I only had passing contact with Blue Cross, but I did have business cards for both Lincoln and Pioneer. I picked up a Lincoln Mutual bank at a rummage sale, I saved a 1940s underwriting manual from the trash when I worked at Lincoln, I bought an AOUW medal on eBay, I’ve been collecting information on the Pioneer Mutual Building, and I keep my eyes open for relics of both when I can. I don’t really owe either company my allegiance, haven’t worked either place in about four years, but both both do hold fond memories for me; work is such a big part of most people’s lives, it’s no wonder people choose their employer as the origin of a collection.
Most employer-collectors probably don’t start with the intentions of having a collection; somtimes, it just builds up on its own. At our rummage sale last weekend, a lovely old lady bought a Reddy Kilowatt 
ashtray with the explanation that her daughter-in-law works for the local rural electric cooperative and would appreciate the gift. Sure, her reaction may be, “I spend all day with the stuff, don’t fill my house with it!” but for the most part, people have jobs that they do enjoy. They aren’t opposed to owning things with the company logo on it. The company passes those out to employees all the time, too: logoed shirts, notepads, pens, letter openers, and all other sorts of ’swag’ that normally goes to clients and trade-show attendees will eventually make it to an employee’s home. I’m not encouraging theft, mind you, but most companies don’t mind it. Abuse aside, companies enjoy their logo getting out into public, often to the extent that the christmas and anniversary gifts to employees are plastered with the logo as well.
While there are advertising collectors looking for much the same thing, an employee-focused collection can have a little different of a direction. Old packing slips, letterhead and envelopes, employee manuals, and newspaper clippings can be part of a collection that is all about the company’s culture and employees, rather than about one treasured mascot or obscure logo.
While an employee, you’re swimming in branded collectibles every time you stop at the supply cabinet, but once you move on — or the company moves on to a new name or logo — it can become very difficult to track down your particular company. If you’re lucky enough to have worked for a national
company, like Apple or Microsoft, there’s plenty of logoed products to be found. The smaller and more localized, the harder it will be to find. Online auctions and stores are a modern boon, letting search engines do much of the searching for you, because most sellers know they better have the company’s name in the product listing if they expect it to sell. As all pen and ephemera collectors know, most corporate collectibles were designed to be disposable, so few survived long enough to make it into a collector’s hands. Be diligent, keep your eyes open, and watch the rummage sales of your coworkers — and you could find yourself with more of a collection than you bargained for.
