R. H. John Trunk Factory

R. H. John advertising card, [1904]. Back side. Ephemera File, John (R.H.). The back side shows the firm’s trademark, which appeared on all its products. R. H. John conceived the design. According to the Galveston Daily News, September 1, 1927, the illustration shows R. H. John’s likeness standing on the back of an alligator, harnessing it. The alligator is pulling a Saratoga trunk on wheels. Alligator leather, made by tanning alligator skins, was a popular covering in the 19th century. Saratoga trunks, which had many compartments, also had wide use.

R. H. John advertising card, [1904]. Front side. Ephemera File, John (R.H.).

People who traveled long distances during the 19th century transported their clothes and belongings in bulky trunks. These were sturdy affairs, designed to withstand the rigors of travel and storage on railroads and aboard ships. Trunks were made of wood and covered with canvas or leather. They remained in vogue until they began to be supplanted by luggage at the end of the century.

Richard H. John founded the oldest trunk manufacturer in Texas. Born in Germany in February 1851, he migrated from Cincinnati, Ohio to Galveston, where he established a trunk factory in 1877. According to Port of Galveston, an 1890 publication, his firm operated from the top three floors of 2218 Market Street. R. H. John retired in 1914 and passed ownership to his son, R. H., John, Jr., who had been born in Texas in October 1892. The father died in Galveston on December 1, 1922.

The company celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in September 1927. The Galveston Daily News published a special section in its honor. R. H. John, Jr., died at Galveston on October 19, 1946. Fred J. Cappadona, an employee since 1928, purchased the firm from John’s widow and became owner in 1947. By that point, R. H. John no longer manufactured trunks but sold luggage and leather accessories.

During Hurricane Carla in 1961, the building at 2218 Market received heavy structural damage, necessitating its abandonment. The company reopened in May 1962 at 515 21st Street. It broadened its scope, offering not only luggage but also cameras and gifts, such as party supplies, cards, and candles. The firm did business as R. H. John Chart Agency since 1965, evidently ceasing operation at 530 Tremont as of 2017.