Wooton Patent Desks

“One hundred and ten compartments, all under one lock and key.  A place for everything and everything in its place.  Order Reigns Supreme, Confusion Avoided.  Time Saved.  Vexation Spared.  With this desk one absolutely has no excuse for slovenly habits in the disposal of numerous papers, and a person of method may here realise [sic] that pleasure and comfort which is only to be attained in the verification of the maxim…”

Advertisement, The Graphic, May 17, 1884

For those who liked organization, a Wooton desk was ideal.  Originally created by William S. Wooton in 1874 in Indianapolis, Indiana, this desk was produced at a time when one man could manage a business with one large desk in which all of his records could be filed.  The desk’s heyday was in the 1870’s when the industrial revolution caused an increase in business activity and more desk and file capacity was required.  Sadly, by the 1890’s the Wooton became outdated, as typewriters and duplicating machines made smaller desks more popular.  The Wooton Desk is a testament of form following function.  The desk was immensely useful in its prime and still today stands as a beautiful piece of American history. 

Wooton Patent Cabinet Office Secretary Desks came in four different grades, ordinary, standard, extra grade, and superior grade.  White Hall has a standard grade desk, which Cassius M. Clay originally owned and then passed on to his son Brutus Clay. 

For additional information:
The King of Desks:  Wooton’s Patent Secretary
Betty Lawson Walters, author

Wooton Patent Desks: A Place for Everything & Everything in its Place 
J. Camille Showalter and Janice Driesbach, editors

Click Here to learn about Clay’s Gout Stool

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