Collection inventory

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John B. Swinney Collection

An inventory of his collection at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Erin Carter
Date: 2015

Revision history:

Biography

John Bayly Swinney was born in Lost Creek, West Virginia on November 5, 1879. In 1886, he and his family moved to DeRuyter, New York. Swinney moved through a teacher's training class throughout his initial schooling and, after graduation, began teaching in the area. He attended Cortland Normal School, starting in 1897, in order to prepare for college. He continued to teach in various counties over the next few years before attending Syracuse University in 1900 where he followed the classical course. The following year, however, his father became ill. He left Syracuse to return to DeRuyter, teaching and serving as principal at the Union School of Bridgewater. He soon reentered Syracuse University to resume his college education, continuing to teach when not occupied with his own school work. While at the University, he was a member of the Syracuse Chemical Club and the Syracuse Academy of Science, and he was an associate editor for the Daily Orange. Swinney graduated in 1904 with an applied baccalaureate degree.

After graduation, Swinney began teaching at the Griffith Institute in Springville, New York. In 1906, however, he had a change of careers and worked his way into sales with the help of his cousin, Robert Ogden. He soon became a traveling salesman for Longmans, Green, and Company, thus beginning his merchandising career. Swinney worked for a number of large companies throughout his life, working his way up to positions such as the managing director of Uptown Retail Guild and Specialty Stores Association. He wrote two books on merchandising, Merchandising, published in 1917, and Merchandising of Fashions, published in 1942. True to form, Swinney still taught throughout his career in sales, leading classes in marketing and retailing at institutions such as Tulane University, Columbia University, and New York University.

He died in Utica, New York on September 6, 1948.

Scope and Content Note

The John B. Swinney Collection is divided into two series.

The Personal Life series contains materials such as a short biography written by his son, Holman J. Swinney, a course time sheet from his time at Syracuse University, correspondence, photographs, and information on his marriage to his wife, Alice.

The Professional Life series contains materials related to his time as both an educator and a merchandising specialist, including his two published books, correspondence, information on his time at the Griffith Institute, resumes, and written articles.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

More information on John B. Swinney can be found in the clipping files at the Syracuse University Archives.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Swinney, John B. (John Baley), 1879-
Syracuse University -- Alumni and alumnae.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Merchandising.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Correspondence.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

John B. Swinney Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Materials in this collection were donated to the Syracuse University Archives by Holman J. Swinney in 1989.

Processing Information

Materials are housed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged by series and in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Personal Life

Professional Life

Inventory