MacPherson

MacPhersons was founded in Montana in 1906 as a distributor to the shoe repair trade. Its modern history, however, began in 1978 by which time, the company had become a small, San Francisco-based distributor of art materials serving northern California. Over the next several years, the company expanded its geographical reach gradually, adding product lines and building operating infrastructures. Beginning in 1987 MacPherson's diversified into engineering and drafting products through the acquisitions of Fullerton Sales and US Blueprint in 1989. MacPhersons have acquired the marketing operations of Virginia-based Eastern Art Supply and New York-based Paularte Products. The combined companies now form a large art material distribution company.