Information & Learning Services
The Kays Archive
The Kays Archive
Kays was a major employer in Worcester, from the time W. Kilbourne Kay formed the compay in 1890 until it's closure in 2007. As a national operation, Kays pioneered the concept of mail order shopping from it's beginnings as a watch and clock making business in Worcester in 1794. The Kay's catalogues in the Collection represent the English way of life in consumable goods from 1893 to 2006. The catalogues provide a window into over 100 years of social history and constitute a unique resource for study within the wider context of the century.
For more information on the history of the Kays Company click here.