Finding Aids

Abraham & Straus was a Brooklyn, New York based department store chain. It started in 1865 as Wechsler & Abraham, founded by Abraham Abraham (1843-1911) and Joseph Wechsler (1837-1896) in downtown Brooklyn. In 1893, the Straus family, part owners of R.H. Macy and Company, bought out Wechsler, and the name changed to Abraham & Straus. This collection is a paper fold-out model of the Abraham & Straus Department Store in Brooklyn, New York.

In 1875, Philadelphia merchant, John Wanamaker, bought a freight railroad depot at 13th and Market Streets and made it Philadelphia’s first department store. In 1909, Wanamaker bought a huge pipe organ and installed it in Grand Court of the new building. Octave Denis Victor Guillonnet (1872-1967) was a French painter and medallic artist. This collection is a folded momento with of a reproduction of "Adoration of the Magi" triptych painted by O. D. V. Guillonnet which was exhibited in the Organ Loft, Grand Court of the John Wanamaker store, Philadelphia.

Kennard-Pyle Company was a department store known for its women's clothing, and in the late-twentieth century it was one of Delaware's oldest independent clothing retailer. The collection consists of photographs relating to the Kennard's Department Store centennial celebration (1846-1946).

Sears, Roebuck & Company is a department store chain. This collection consists of seven pieces of ephemera from the company.

Strawbridge & Clothier was the last family-owned major department store chain in the Greater Philadelphia area. The store was founded as a partnership by Justus C. Strawbridge (1838-1911) and Isaac H. Clothier (1837-1921) on July 1, 1868 at 8th and Market Streets in Center City Philadelphia. This collection contains photographs, negatives, transparencies, lantern slides, glass negatives, slides, audio tapes, videotapes, and films from Strawbridge & Clothier. It is valuable to those researching all aspects of retail: history, architecture, department stores, shopping malls, employment, operations, promotion, advertising, fashion, and merchandising. Other topics include family-owned businesses, distinguished Quaker families, business response on the homefront during World War II, the Gallery and Market East, and Philadelphia and its environs. There are also proposal albums from the Pavlik Design Team of store design for the Cherry Hill, King of Prussia, and Willow Grove stores and from Neil/Carter Design Associates for Heritage Hall in the Market Street store.

Strawbridge & Clothier was the last family-owned major department store chain in the Greater Philadelphia area. The store was founded as a partnership by Justus C. Strawbridge (1838-1911) and Isaac H. Clothier (1837-1921) on July 1, 1868, at 8th and Market streets in Center City, Philadelphia. Success had brought the need for a new building, and it was decided to remain at 8th and Market. Construction on the new store began in July 1928. The thirteen-story, $10 million store was dedicated in October 1932. This small album documents the construction progress of the store on 8th and Market streets from 1929 to 1930 and the store opening in 1932.

The Kleinhans Company was a high-end men's clothing store located in Buffalo, New York. Edward Kleinhans (1864-1934) and his brother, Horace Kleinhans (1852-1903), opened the store in 1893. The original store was located in the Brisbane Building. This small collection of photographs of window displays at Kleinhans features men's clothing and the tagline "Kleinhans - Where Women Like to Shop for Men!" All images credit Clement Kieffer Jr. (1888-1968), display director; most seem to be intended for Display World magazine. The images date from 1955 to 1958.