Sulfoam Shampoo

Sulfoam shampoo was produced by Lawrence Laboratories, of New York City. This medicated scalp treatment contained colloidal sulfur and lanolin to condition the scalp and cleanse the hair. It was used to treat dandruff, scalp itch, and dryness. Sulfur, which has antiseptic and skin softening properties, is used in many dandruff shampoos. Lanolin, or wool grease, helps to sooth and moisturize skin and hair. Sulfoam claimed to have a pleasing fragrance, unlike the sulfur with which it was made. In the mid-20th century, Sulfoam was often marketed with a picture of a nurse to reinforce the product’s medical claims.

Sulfoam first appeared in the 1940s and this bottle appears to date to that period. Sulfoam remains on the market today (2012) as a sulphur-based dandruff shampoo treatment, but the brand is now owned by Fougera Pharmaceuticals.

This object is one of over 700 items from Glaser’s Drug Store of Sayre, Pennsylvania. In 1921, Simon Glaser (1860-1936), an immigrant from Russian Poland, established the drug store at 121 West Packer Avenue in Sayre, PA. His son, Sidney Glaser (1899-1992), soon joined him in the business and continued to operate the store until 1961. After retiring, Sidney Glaser retained thousands of products dating from the 1920s – 1960s, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care products, and vitamins, and donated many of them to the Smithsonian in 1985.

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