by
Erin Doane, Senior Curator
There
are nearly three dozen embossing seals in the museum’s collection and each one
is a unique piece of history. Their purpose was to impress seals on official
documents. Government agencies, businesses, organizations, and individuals used
embossing seals as their signatures to establish authority and prevent fraud.
They are fairly simple machines that were often made to be beautiful as well as
functional.
 |
| Just a few of the embossing seals in CCHS’s collection |
Stamp
seals were first used around the 6th millennium BCE in Mesopotamia.
They were carved stone dies used to press symbols into the soft clay of
business records at the time. Thousands of years later, the basic concept of
the stamp seal remains with some added mechanical technology. The embosser
holds a custom die set that produces a raised image on paper when pressure is
applied to the handle. The embossing seals in our collection range from the
late 1800s through the mid-1900s. Most are heavy cast iron with long handles to
create enough force to leave an impression. Later seals are lighter metal with
mechanical leverage to make embossing easier. My
favorite embossing seals are those made to look like a lion’s head. That seemed
to be very popular in the late 1800s. Other examples have decorative floral and
geometric patterns painted on the sides. New designs appeared in the early 20th
century offering improvements that made them easier and more comfortable to use
but their essential function was still the same. I think they’re all wonderful
little machines and want to share some of them with you.
Star Gazette Building
Company
 |
| Star Gazette Building Company embossing seal |
The
Star-Gazette Building Company was incorporated in Elmira in 1910. It was
created to oversee the purchase of property at the Corner of Baldwin and Market
Streets and the creation of a building on the site “to be occupied for
publishing purposes” according to the incorporation papers. I’m sure the
company’s beautiful embossing seal shaped like a lion’s head, which was
patented in 1904, came in handy for all its official business dealings. In
1919, after the building was completed, the Star Gazette Building Company and
the Star Gazette Company (publisher of newspapers for whom the building was
constructed) consolidated to form the Elmira Star-Gazette, Inc. and the seal
became obsolete.
Elmira Consolidated Ice
Company, Inc.
 |
| Elmira Consolidated Ice. Co., Inc. embossing seal |
In
1924, the Elmira Ice Company, the Crystal Ice Company, and Fell’s Ice Company
merged to become the Elmira Consolidated Ice Company, Inc. The company’s
embossing seal was simple and functional. It was only used until 1930 when the
company merged Hygeia Ice to become the Elmira Hygeia Company.
Fort Hill Land Company
 |
| Fort Hill Land Company embossing seal |
W.
Charles Smith, who was among the organizers of the Bohemia Land Company in
1902, formed the Fort Hill Land Company five years later for the purpose of
developing a summer village along the Chemung River near Rorick’s Glen. I was
not able to find out much about the company in my research. I didn’t find
mention of it in newspapers after 1907. Smith passed away in 1910 but the
company must have continued at least through 1912. That’s when the embosser
holding its official seal was patented. I plan on doing some more intensive
research about the Fort Hill Land Company in the future.L.J. Houck & Sons,
Inc.
 |
| L.J. Houck & Sons, Inc. embossing seal |
The
embosser used for L.J. Houck & Sons’ official corporate seal has a real
industrial look to it with its green paint. It was patented in 1920 and
included a latch to hold the handle down when it wasn’t in use. L.J. Houck
& Sons Dairy began in 1904 and was incorporated in 1926. They delivered
milk on routes through Elmira, Horseheads, Elmira Heights, Big Flats, and
Breeseport using horses and wagons up until 1965 when the company was purchased
by the Dairymen’s League.First United Church of
Christ
 |
| First United Church of Christ |
One
of our most modern embossing seals, patented in 1955, was used by an old
institution. The First United Church of Christ was established in Elmira in
1874. It served German American population in the city and was also called Erste
Deutsche Evangelische Kirche. The large stone church constructed at 160 Madison
Avenue starting in 1898 still stands but the last service was held there on
July 10, 2022.
 |
| 1955 embossing seal patent |
Notaries Public
 |
| A selection of notary public embossing seals in CCHS’s
collection |
An
important subset of embossing seals are those used by notaries public. A notary
public is an official appointed by the state government who witnesses and
verifies the signing of important documents to prevent fraud. Anyone interested
in taking on the duties of a notary public can do so by applying to the
Department of the State, passing the official exam, and paying all necessary
fees. New York State does not require the use of a notary seal but a notary
public is required to print, typewrite, or stamp certain information on every
single document they notarize. Embossing seals speed up this process and are
thus still available to purchase (with proof of official status). We have several
notary public seals used by local residents in the museum’s collection.
W.S. Gerity
 |
| Notary Public embossing seal of W.S. Gerity |
William
S. Gerity (b.1847-d.1912) had a decades-long career in the drugstore business.
He began as a clerk and went on to be the co-owner and operator of the Gerity
Bros. drugstore at 126 Lake Street in Elmira. From as early as 1906, he also
served as a notary public. His embossing seal is interesting because it reads
“Elmira, N.Y.” All of the other notary seals in our collection read “Chemung
County, N.Y.” I wasn’t able to find out why his was different.
J. Raymond Shoemaker
 |
| Notary Public embossing seal of J. Raymond Shoemaker |
J.
Raymond Shoemaker (b.1882-d.1973) worked for many years for the Hygeia
Refrigerating Company. He started with the company in 1906 and was vice
president and general manager by 1920. He later became chairman of the board of
Hygeia and also served as the director of the Elmira Bank and Trust Company.
His notary public seal with a beautiful inscribed leaf or feather design was
patented in 1900.
Anna O. McTiernan
 |
| Notary Public embossing seal of Anna O. McTiernan |
Anna
T. O’Hern McTiernan (b.1880-d.1965) came to Elmira to take courses at Meeker’s
Business Institute. After completing her studies in 1904, she went to work in
the bookkeeping department at the Star-Gazette. She retired in 1950 after 46
years with the newspaper. She served as a notary public from as early as 1910
through at least 1948. She was Anna T. O’Hern when she began as a notary
public. In 1924, she wed Bill McTiernan and had a brand new embossing seal made
with her married name.
Ralph E. Fudge
 |
| Notary Public embossing seal of Ralph E. Fudge |
Ralph
E. Fudge (b.1908-d.2000) holds a special place in our institutional history as
he was a longtime member and former president of the Chemung County Historical
Society. He worked as a funeral director at Smith-Fudge Funeral home at 1058 W.
Church Street in Elmira until retiring in 1972. His embossing seal was patented
in 1924. It has a spring-type mechanism in the handle that makes it easier to
use, requiring much less strength to emboss paper than earlier models.
