Company History > The Whole Story

Fred F. Rogers used to say he was "dumb to know he couldn't afford to be in business," but after World War II, he and his partner, Aubrey Drew, saw that post-war peace would bring prosperity and, with it, office automation. In 1944, Fred and Aubrey founded Drew & Rogers in Newark, New Jersey.

Part of their vision was rooted in personal history. Fred's father, Fred Sr., owned an engraving company, Wilbur & Hastings, on Varick Street in New York City in the 1930s. Fred Sr.'s primary business was built on selling register books, stationery, and business forms to savings banks along the Hudson River. Typically, Fred Sr. would travel for weeks on end up one side of the river and down the other, taking orders along the way.

In those days, engraving plates were made from large limestone blocks weighing as much as 50 pounds each. Because each stone plate had to be engraved by hand, orders for office products had to be placed up to six months in advance.

The introduction of modern office practices and government regulations required companies to keep duplicate copies of most office documents. Items like carbon paper and mimeo sheets became hot products. From their offices in Newark, Fred Jr. and Aubrey Drew began selling boxes of carbon paper to meet the growing need. The two men expanded their business over the years, selling mimeo masters, snap-sets, and continuous forms.

Drew & Rogers thrived in Newark, which in the 1950s and 60s, was a major center for manufacturing and the location of several large insurance companies. Western Electric (AT&T's manufacturing company), Prudential Insurance, and Mutual Benefit Insurance were some of D&R's earliest clients.

Drew & Rogers remained in Newark until civil unrest in the city changed the business climate. In 1970, D&R relocated to West Orange, NJ. Due to growth demands in the 1980s and 90s, D&R moved to West Caldwell and finally to a 50,000 foot facility in Fairfield, NJ.

Until the early 1980s, Drew & Rogers sold almost nothing but business forms. But as technology and work flow changed, so did D&R. Today, Drew & Rogers supplies business forms, commercial printing, packaging, and promotional items to a wide and diverse group of clients across the country.

As in the past, D&R continues to evolve, from river travel days to e-commerce purchasing and web presentment. Drew & Rogers will continue to change with new technologies, business cycles, and standards. We look forward to this new century as one full of opportunity. When there is change, there is always room for innovation.