Images(4)

Award

Object number2019.40.10 a-c

Manufacturer Lillie Glassblowers (founded 1966)

Date1997

MediumGlass; Wood; Plastic; Paper; Ink; Metal; Adhesive tape

Credit LineGiven in honor of the McGinnis Family

DescriptionAward comprised of colorless glass top section, black base, and detached award plate. Top section of award. Colorless glass section comprised of three stylized human figures with shared wide flat body; figures reach upward with three arms and together hold a sphere; figures are different heights. Square flat black base bottom with trapezoidal top section that tapers toward top. Hole at top center for insertion of top section of award.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a-c together): 15.875 × 5.875 × 6.5 in. (40.3 × 14.9 × 16.5 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (a): 13.75 × 4.375 × 6 in. (34.9 × 11.1 × 15.2 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (b): 3.75 × 5.875 × 6 in. (9.5 × 14.9 × 15.2 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (c): 2.5 × 5 × 0.125 in. (6.4 × 12.7 × 0.3 cm)
Signed(a)
Artist signature on reverse in bottom proper right corner is difficult to decipher, but may read "[lily flower] Lillie".
Inscriptions(b)
Front of bottom section has white text "McGINNIS SISTERS".

(c)
Front has engraved with text "1997 / WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA / FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR / UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH / KATZ GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS / FAMILY ENTERPRISE CENTER / AND / FAMILY FIRM INSTITUTE PITTSBURGH".
Marks(b)
Underside has sticker with gold text "1966-1996 / 30 YEARS OF ARTISTIC AND / SCIENTIFIC INNOVATIONS / LILLIE GLASSBLOWERS".
Historical Notes1997 Family Business of the Year Award. This award was presented to the McGinnis Sisters as part of the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business Family Enterprise Center “Family Business of the Year” awards program in May 1997. This was one of many business and entrepreneurship awards that the McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores were awarded through the years, including Telly awards for local commercials, family business awards from the Pittsburgh Business Times, and Women of Achievements awards for both the second and third generations involved with the business. The Family Enterprise Center became part of the University’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence in 1998. Part of the McGinnis Family Food Stores collection that encompasses materials related to the operation of a chain of family-run food markets that started in Pittsburgh’s South Hills Baldwin neighborhood in 1946. The first McGinnis market (variously referred to as “McGinnis Supermarket” or “McGinnis Food Market”) was started by family patriarch James Elwood McGinnis when he could not find a job after WWII. Beginning with a fruit cart, he eventually opened a grocery and deli at 2872 Custer Avenue in Baldwin that proved so successful it expanded to multiple stores, including one in Carrick/Castle Shannon and later Monroeville. The stores were operated by different family members. In 1985, three McGinnis sisters – Sharon McGinnis Young, Bonnie McGinnis Vello, and Noreen McGinnis Campbell – assumed operation of the main set of McGinnis Stores, rebranding them “McGinnis Sisters” markets. (Two brothers split off and started other stores not considered part of the chain.) With the three women serving as active spokespersons, the stores garnered more media attention during this period. For most of its operation, the chain was largely connected with stores that operated in the South Hills and Monroeville. Between 2008 and 2017, a McGinnis Sisters market also operated north of Pittsburgh in a shopping center in Adams Township/Mars, Pennsylvania. A series of events between 2017 and 2019 eventually brought about the closure of the chain. Objects in the collection were gathered from throughout the stores and consolidated at the final property, the McGinnis Sisters Special Food Store at 3825 Saw Mill Run Boulevard.

Previous owner McGinnis Family Food Stores (1946 - 2019)

Related person James Elwood McGinnis

Related person Sharon McGinnis Young

Related person Bonnie McGinnis Vello

Related person Noreen McGinnis Campbell

Related institution University of Pittsburgh

Related institution Family Enterprise Center

Related institution Family Firm Institute

Subjects