My book centers on A. Cressy Morrison, the advertising manager at the Pabst Brewery from 1887 until 1897.
He came to take the job at Pabst when he was in his mid-twenties.
With both his writing skills and his passion for chemistry, he was able to write persuasive material at the Brewery to promote the Best Tonic.
![1894 illustration from the booklet Fiftieth Anniversary: Pabst Milwaukee [MilwHist]](http://pabstextract.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Cressys-Pabst-Office-small-300x246.jpg)
1894 illustration from the booklet Fiftieth Anniversary: Pabst Milwaukee [courtesy of Milwaukee County Historical]
The office employed several workers who were needed to respond to the large correspondence the office conducted.
Cressy wrote the Secret booklets, which were pamplets filled with jokes and stories, and lots of testimony from customers about the Best Tonic. Over 1,000,000 Secret booklets were distributed annually. .
Cressy promoted the Pabst medicinal beverage in many ways, and with various campaigns.
He wrote: “The Best Tonic is a malt extract…It is a food…If your druggist does not keep the ‘Best’ Tonic, write to us.”
And write they did, simply at this address: Pabst Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.
The mail landed in Cressy’s office.