Marshall Field & Company Porcelain Enamel Channel Letters
Porcelain enamel channel letters originally read, “Marshall Field and Company.” Museum chose to install “Marshall Field” due to space limitations. Circa 1955.
Porcelain enamel channel letters originally read, “Marshall Field and Company.” Museum chose to install “Marshall Field” due to space limitations. Circa 1955.
Letters originally identified the Marshall Field flagship store on State Street in Chicago, IL. Letters were removed when Macy’s bought the iconic Chicago department store, and chose to not continue the name. Because Marshall Field was so beloved by Chicago natives, Macy’s decided to have the letters removed in the early morning hours, to escape the possibility of protest. However, an angry crowd gathered around the storefront and as the donor remembers, one protester tried to grab the “M” and flee the scene. Fortunately, the “M” was recovered before it disappeared.
Excellent