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- Floral City Furniture Company "Lazy Boy" Reclining Chair with Detachable Back and Seat, 1929 - This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.

- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company "Lazy Boy" Reclining Chair with Detachable Back and Seat, 1929
This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- La-Z-Boy Advertising Sign, 2005 -

- 2005
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Advertising Sign, 2005
- La-Z-Boy Advertising Poster for Naugahyde, 1955 - La-Z-Boy, the reclining chair company founded in the late 1920s by Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch, continued to innovate during the 1950s. In addition to its own innovations, La-Z-Boy incorporated those developed by others. This advertisement announced recliners upholstered in Naugahyde, a coated fabric created by the U.S. Rubber Company. Naugahyde was the quintessential home decor material of the 1950s and 1960s.

- May 03, 1955
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Advertising Poster for Naugahyde, 1955
La-Z-Boy, the reclining chair company founded in the late 1920s by Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch, continued to innovate during the 1950s. In addition to its own innovations, La-Z-Boy incorporated those developed by others. This advertisement announced recliners upholstered in Naugahyde, a coated fabric created by the U.S. Rubber Company. Naugahyde was the quintessential home decor material of the 1950s and 1960s.
- La-Z-Boy Advertisement in Ebony Magazine, "A Beautiful Way to Relax," December 1974 - La-Z-Boy advertised in a variety of publications aimed at many demographics. This advertisement from the mid-1970s was aimed at an upscale African-American audience. The ad copy discussed the pride of home and stressed La-Z-Boy's unmatched styling, comfort, and quality.

- December 01, 1974
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Advertisement in Ebony Magazine, "A Beautiful Way to Relax," December 1974
La-Z-Boy advertised in a variety of publications aimed at many demographics. This advertisement from the mid-1970s was aimed at an upscale African-American audience. The ad copy discussed the pride of home and stressed La-Z-Boy's unmatched styling, comfort, and quality.
- La-Z-Boy Advertisement Featuring Johnny Carson, January 1969 - Naugahyde, a vinyl-coated fabric manufactured by Uniroyal Engineered Products, is a popular furniture upholstery material. The product's success inspired imitators, so Uniroyal hired ad-man George Lois to craft an advertising campaign that would differentiate their product. The Nauga, a fictional creature that painlessly shed its leather-like hide, was born. The Nauga featured in humorous advertisements and was even made into a promotional toy.

- January 01, 1969
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Advertisement Featuring Johnny Carson, January 1969
Naugahyde, a vinyl-coated fabric manufactured by Uniroyal Engineered Products, is a popular furniture upholstery material. The product's success inspired imitators, so Uniroyal hired ad-man George Lois to craft an advertising campaign that would differentiate their product. The Nauga, a fictional creature that painlessly shed its leather-like hide, was born. The Nauga featured in humorous advertisements and was even made into a promotional toy.
- La-Z-Boy Advertisement in American Home Magazine, "A Family Affair with the Bing Crosbys," October 1967 - In 1927, cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, established what would later become La-Z-Boy, Inc. in Monroe, Michigan. They were a perfect pair: Shoemaker was fascinated with technology and Knabusch was a master marketer. Celebrity endorsements, beginning with Bing and Kathryn Crosby in the 1960s, would become an enduring La-Z-Boy advertising strategy.

- October 01, 1967
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Advertisement in American Home Magazine, "A Family Affair with the Bing Crosbys," October 1967
In 1927, cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, established what would later become La-Z-Boy, Inc. in Monroe, Michigan. They were a perfect pair: Shoemaker was fascinated with technology and Knabusch was a master marketer. Celebrity endorsements, beginning with Bing and Kathryn Crosby in the 1960s, would become an enduring La-Z-Boy advertising strategy.
- Advertising Poster Featuring Joe Namath, "La-Z-Boy Father's Day Sale for Your Armchair Quaterback," 1975 - In 1927, cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, established what would later become La-Z-Boy, Inc. in Monroe, Michigan. They were a perfect pair: Shoemaker was fascinated with technology and Knabusch was a master marketer. Celebrity endorsements began with Bing and Kathryn Crosby in the 1960s. By the 1970s, La-Z-Boy employed multiple celebrities, including Joe Namath -- whose endorsement helped popularize the phrase "armchair quarterback."

- 1975
- Collections - Artifact
Advertising Poster Featuring Joe Namath, "La-Z-Boy Father's Day Sale for Your Armchair Quaterback," 1975
In 1927, cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, established what would later become La-Z-Boy, Inc. in Monroe, Michigan. They were a perfect pair: Shoemaker was fascinated with technology and Knabusch was a master marketer. Celebrity endorsements began with Bing and Kathryn Crosby in the 1960s. By the 1970s, La-Z-Boy employed multiple celebrities, including Joe Namath -- whose endorsement helped popularize the phrase "armchair quarterback."
- Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, circa 1970 - Cousins and business partners Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company through a combination of invention and marketing. The "La-Z-Boy" reclining chair technology they developed--and the creative ways they advertised it to customers--came to define the cousins' business.

- circa 1970
- Collections - Artifact
Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, circa 1970
Cousins and business partners Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company through a combination of invention and marketing. The "La-Z-Boy" reclining chair technology they developed--and the creative ways they advertised it to customers--came to define the cousins' business.
- La-Z-Boy Advertising Sign -

- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Advertising Sign
- La-Z-Boy Chair Company "Back Jack" Leisure Seat, 1980 -

- 1980
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Chair Company "Back Jack" Leisure Seat, 1980