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Gimbel Brothers

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1842-1987

Biography

Founded in 1842 by German Jewish immigrant peddler Adam Gimbel in 1842 in Vincennes, Indiana, by the 1920s Gimbel Brothers was the largest and most profitable department store retailer in America. The Gimbel’s name was known to everyone in New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Milwaukee, as well as millions of visitors to those cities. At its 1940s peak, over 500,000 people attended the Gimbel’s Thanksgiving Parade in Philadelphia, which predated the Thanksgiving Parade in New York, organized by arch-rival Macy’s. Millions more later watched the Gimbel’s and Macy’s parades on network television. Gimbel’s had a starring role in the popular 1947 movie Miracle on 34th Street.

Found in 22 Collections and/or Records:

1935 - 1, 1936-1937

 oversize folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.36
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1935 with newspaper and magazine clippings for women's wear and children's wear made with Everfast Fabrics under N. Erlanger, Blumgart & Co. There is a focus on Tahitian-inspired prints used in beach wear and resort wear. There are some fabric swatches and photographs of department store displays.

Dates: 1936-1937

1935 - 2, 1936-1940

 oversize folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.37
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1935 with newspaper and magazine clippings for women's wear and children's wear made with Everfast Fabrics under N. Erlanger, Blumgart & Co. There is a focus on Tahitian-inspired prints used in beach wear and resort wear. There are some fabric swatches and photographs of department store displays.

Dates: 1936-1940

1936-1937, 1936-1937

 oversize folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.40
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1936-1937 with fabric swatches and newspaper and magazine clippings for women's wear made with Everfast Fabrics. The ads are primarily for ready to wear and sewing patterns from various department stores.

Dates: 1936-1937

Emily Wilkens Originals in Everfast Fabrics, 1944, 1944

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.61
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1944 with newspaper clippings and other promotional materials announcing Emily Wilkens' designs for teenagers, called "Young Originals."

Dates: 1944

Everfast at Gimbel Bros. Inc., Milwaukee, 1944-1945

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.71
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a small scrapbook from 1944-1945 with a label, photographs of displays, and newspaper clippings for Everfast Fabrics sold at Gimbel Bros., Inc. There are some ads for designs by Madame Lyolene and Erin fabric.

Dates: 1944-1945

Everfast Fabric, Women's Wear, 1932, 1931

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.20
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1932 with promotional materials, and newspaper and magazine clippings for women's wear and children's wear made with Everfast Fabrics under N. Erlanger, Blumgart & Co.

Dates: 1931

Everfast Fabrics, Women's Wear, 1934 - 1, 1934

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.26
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1934 with newspaper clippings for women's ready-to-wear and some children's wear made with Everfast Fabrics under N. Erlanger, Blumgart & Co. There are also fabric swatches and photographs of store displays.

Dates: 1934

Everfast Fabrics, Women's Wear, 1934 - 2, 1934

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.27
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1934 with newspaper clippings for women's ready-to-wear and some children's wear made with Everfast Fabrics under N. Erlanger, Blumgart & Co. There are also fabric swatches and photographs of store displays.

Dates: 1934

Lynda Lee Mead, Miss America, 1960, 1960

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.200
Scope and Contents This folder contains a scrapbook from 1960 with newspaper and magazine clippings, promotional materials, photographs, and fabric swatches for the 1960 Miss America promotional tour with Lynda Lee Mead. Miss America's promotional tours were a collaboration between Miss America, Everfast Fabrics, Everglaze, and McCall's Patterns. In 1960, the tour visited Frederick & Nelson, Meier & Frank, Macy's, Bamberger's, Stewart's, F & R Lazarus, Block's, Gimbel's, and Hudson's. There are...
Dates: 1960

Maria Beale Fletcher, Miss America, 1962, 1962

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.205
Scope and Contents This folder contains a scrapbook from 1962 with newspaper and magazine clippings, promotional materials, photographs, and fabric swatches for the 1962 Miss America promotional tour with Maria Beale Fletcher. Miss America's promotional tours were a collaboration between Miss America, Everfast Fabrics, Everglaze, and McCall's Patterns. In 1962, they visited Meier & Frank, Eaton's, Frederick & Nelson, The Broadway, The Dayton Company, Gimbel Brothers, Block's, Stewart's, Cain-Sloan,...
Dates: 1962