Sarah Winchester's Automobile Purchase

Sarah Winchester's Automobile Purchase

Leib Family Collection

Sarah Winchester's Finances

These are two images of a record of a financial transaction between Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company and Sarah Winchester for an automobile provided by the Samuel Leib Collection. This transaction is also mapped visually from her estate in San Jose to the Pierce-Arrow headquarters that used to be in Buffalo, New York. I believe this automobile is even referenced to by Ralph Rambo as he wrote, "In later years came a French Renault, a buick 'town-car' and finally two Pierce-Arrows, one done in stunning lavender and gold" (Rambo 13). I would not be surprised if these Pierce-Arrow automobiles were kept by Sarah Winchester's heiress Daisy, therefore excluding possibly one of the most fascinating items to be seen at the house tour if it was there. These items relate to public memory because it highlights the importance of materiality. Without these financial records and even Rambo's evidence of these automobiles, then this aspect of Sarah Winchester's life would have been forgotten.

Source:
Photo: Samuel Leib Papers. "Leib Family Collection". Historysanjose.org. https://historysanjose.pastperfectonline.com/archive/F814C862-DA7C-4B99-8464-515384070141

Quote: Rambo, Ralph. Lady of Mystery (Sarah Winchester). 1967.

historysanjose.org

Kevin Thich,
Dominick Ott

1909-1920