IT is a history spanning more than a century, offering snapshots of what the well-heeled lady was wearing in the 1920s, the must-have appliances for the 1950s' housewife and the intricacies of pulling together a late 19th-century colonial wardrobe for the perfect expat lifestyle.
The official archive of House of Fraser will go online for the first time on Christmas Day, bringing to life a rich and colourful retail heritage.
Dating back to the mid-19th century, the extensive collection managed by Glasgow University comprises 132 metres of records and contains 10,000 items.
It includes in-depth details of 200 former and current stores, including product catalogues, wage ledgers, apprenticeship registers and staff newsletters.
At Glasgow University, assistant archivist Clare Paterson unveiled some of the key pieces that visitors to the new online site will be able to discover.
Her white-gloved hands opened the delicate pages of beautifully preserved catalogues showcasing styles from a bygone age, including wedding attire, winter sports, ladies' golf and hunting apparel dating from the early 1900s through to the 1920s.
This was an era when entire departments were dedicated to embroidered robes, petticoats, corsets, gloves and linens.
A leaflet for an in-store fashion show to highlight the "autumn and winter novelties of 1901" promises the latest "mantles, costumes, millinery, lace, furs, ribbons, silks and trimmings".
Ms Paterson said: "In the past it has perhaps been difficult for people to find out exactly what's in the archive, but this online catalogue will allow the public to browse by different descriptions such as a record type or particular product.
"If, for example, you had an interest in 1920s women's fashion you could browse on that criterion and find out what the trends were across the entire country or, if you wanted to be more specific, you could search solely within a single shop during that period."
One of the earliest product catalogues dates back to 1894, proffering a range of Christmas presents where, tellingly, socks and hankies appeared to be the order of the day.
Another, dated 1893, features household essentials to help furnish a colonial adventure, including an oak carved gong stand and bamboo furniture.
Also documented are the cutting-edge white goods of the 1950s and lime-green bathroom suites considered the height of sophistication in the 1970s.
Among the treasures is an advert from The Glasgow Herald announcing the grand opening of the chain's first shop on Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in 1849.
Founded as Arthur & Fraser, the department store opened on a single floor, specialising in drapery lines of silks, linens and woollens. This was later expanded to include clothing, accessories, home furnishings, toys and gifts.
In the years that followed, the business grew, opening new premises across Scotland and the UK with the acquisition of other leading retail outlets such as Arnott & Co Ltd, Robert Simpson & Sons Ltd, Dalys, Stewart & McDonald, Dallas's Colosseum Ltd and Wylie & Lochhead.
Glasgow University began managing the House of Fraser archive 30 years ago, with plans to create an online catalogue taking seed in 2006 as part of a three-year project by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Ms Paterson said: "House of Fraser is one of the big success stories of Scottish retail and hopefully everyone will find something they are interested in. It is a good tool for design students and designers to use as an inspirational resource for their own work.
"It will be useful, too, for family historians. If your ancestors worked in a store or even shopped there – someone could think: 'Oh my goodness, my granny had that dress' – they can use the archive to find out more."
Gary Slattery, general manager at Frasers in Glasgow, said: "With an impressive 162-year history there are many stories, images and more that we haven't been able to share with loyal Frasers customers. So, we're delighted the archive services at the University of Glasgow are able to share the store's history with people all over the world, thanks to the launch of their new online catalogue for the House of Fraser archive project."
l To access the archive, visit: www.housefraserarchive.ac.uk from Sunday.
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