This thesis has explained the history of Huddleston's, a small family business in Muncie, Indiana. Contained in the thesis are: a brief discussion of the importance of small business and the absence of historical scholarship on the subject; a chronological examination of Huddleston's as a business from 1956 to 1982; a brief history of the Huddleston family and the origins of the business; an historical review of Muncie, Indiana, as a business community and Huddleston's role; an explanation of the business' importance to the Huddleston family and to the Muncie community; an interpretation of the need for scholarly study of small business in America.