SSNs Issued by Woolworth: A Strange Chapter in Social Security History

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Introduction

One of the strangest stories in American Social Security history began in 1938 with a simple promotional idea: a wallet manufacturer wanted customers to see how a Social Security card would fit inside its product. The plan seemed harmless, but it led to thousands of people mistakenly adopting another person's Social Security number.

Because the wallets were sold through Woolworth and other department stores, the incident became known as the story of the Social Security number “issued by Woolworth.”

1. How the Incident Began

In 1938, the E. H. Ferree Company, a wallet manufacturer based in Lockport, New York, created sample Social Security cards to promote its wallets.

Douglas Patterson, the company's vice president and treasurer, used the actual number belonging to his secretary, Hilda Schrader Whitcher, on the sample card.

The wallets containing these examples were sold at Woolworth stores and other retailers across the country.

2. Why Customers Became Confused

The sample card looked different from an official Social Security card. It was printed in red, was smaller than a standard card, and displayed the word “SPECIMEN.”

Despite these warning signs, some customers mistakenly assumed the printed number was a valid number intended for them. Some even began using it on employment and other official records.

The incident demonstrated how easily a sample identifier could be mistaken for genuine personal information.

3. Thousands of People Used the Same Number

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the number appeared in thousands of people's records.

In 1943, the peak year reported in the historical account, 5,755 people were using the same number . Over time, more than 40,000 people reported it as their own Social Security number.

The confusion created recordkeeping problems because earnings and other information could be incorrectly associated with the wrong person.

4. How the SSA Responded

The SSA acted to address the problem by declaring the widely misused number invalid and informing the public that it should not be used. Hilda Schrader Whitcher was issued a new number.

However, the effects lasted for decades. The SSA reported that 12 people were still using the incorrectly adopted number as late as 1977.

Whitcher also received unwanted attention because so many people had mistakenly used her information.

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5. Lessons From This Historical Mistake

This incident offers several important lessons for modern identity protection.

First, sample information is not personal identification. A number printed on an example document should never be assumed to belong to the reader.

Second, verify information through official channels. Use the Social Security Administration's procedures for questions about your own number and records.

Third, protect sensitive details. Never use another person's SSN or rely on websites promising numbers for identity verification.

Conclusion

The Woolworth Social Security story remains a memorable example of how a small promotional mistake became a nationwide recordkeeping problem. The retailer did not issue the numbers; the confusion arose because a wallet manufacturer placed a sample card displaying a real person's number inside products sold at Woolworth and other stores.

The episode highlights why accurate identification, careful recordkeeping, and responsible handling of personal information matter.

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