African American Ambulance Service Advertising Fan, Columbus Ohio $80

Item Details

Large advertising fan with photo of Black mother and child advertising Norman E “White & Son” Ambulance Service on Vernon Ave. in Columbus, Ohio. With a “Lady Attendant”, likely the Janet White listed on the back and presumably depicted on the front. Modern records list “C. D. White & Son” funeral home at the same address, with the statement: “For over 100 years, C. D. White & Son Funeral Home, Inc. has served bereaved families of Central Ohio with care, compassion, dignity, and respect. Family owned as operated since 1908, we are extremely proud to stand on the foundation laid for us.” 

And from digital collections at the Columbus Library: “C D White & Son Funeral Home was founded in 1908 by Rev. C.D. (Chesley Daniel) White and his son, Norman. Norman enrolled in the Cincinnati Embalming School and earned his license at the age of 17, but was too young to obtain a funeral director's license, so his father acquired one to get the business started. Rev. C. D. White was also a minister of the A.M.E. Church for 38 years. The funeral home, located at 1217 Mt. Vernon Avenue, catered to the King-Lincoln neighborhood, a predominately African-American community.”

Sadly the business seems to now be closed, at least at the Vernon location. Unusual piece measures about 10” x 11” and appears to be circa 1950s. With some creasing and light staining as shown.