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Best & Co.

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1879–1971

Biography

Best & Co. was a department store founded in New York City in 1879 by Albert Best. Part of the 'Ladies' Mile' shopping district, the stalwart Manhattan store expanded its footprint with locations in tony suburbs in the tri-state area before expanding to Washington, D.C. and Chicago in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1966, the chain included 20 US-based locations when it was acquired by a fashion conglomerate, McCrory's who closed and liquidated the Best & Co. properties during the 1970s.

Found in 55 Collections and/or Records:

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

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.28
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1934 with photographs, fabric swatches, and newspaper and magazine clippings from Everfast Fabrics under N. Erlanger, Blumgart & Co. There are ads for women's wear and children's wear, with a focus on beach wear and resort wear.

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

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

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.29
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1934 with photographs, fabric swatches, and newspaper and magazine clippings from Everfast Fabrics under N. Erlanger, Blumgart & Co. There are ads for women's wear and children's wear, with a focus on beach wear and resort wear.

Dates: 1934

Everfast Sunmere, 1946, 1946

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.108
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1946 with newspaper and magazine clippings for women's wear made with Sunmere rayon fabric by Everfast. The ads feature fashions designed by Emily Wilkens and Joan Kenley.

Dates: 1946

Glamour Magazine, Carolyn Schnurer Promotion, January 1953 / Glamour Magazine, Betty Barclay (Linsk of Philadelphia) Promotion, April 1953, 1953

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.159
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1953 with magazine and newspaper clippings, business correspondence, and photographs for two promotions by Everfast Fabrics. There are ads for Carolyn Schnurer designs made with Danish-inspired prints and for Betty Barclay designs made with "Spirit of Adventure" Panagra cottons. There are photographs of window displays at Best & Co.

Dates: 1953

Grace Line, 1955-1956, 1955-1956

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.178
Scope and Contents This folder contains a scrapbook from 1955-1956 with newspaper and magazine clippings, promotional materials, business correspondence, fabric swatches, and photographs for a women's wear promotion with Grace Line Cruises and Everfast Fabrics. There are ads for fashions designed by Alex Colman, Nelly de Grab, and De Weese Designs. There are photographs of displays at Best & Co., Peck & Peck, I. Magnin, and B. Altman. There are swatches of several Everfast Fabrics, including Fantikay,...
Dates: 1955-1956

Kodel 1963-1964 / 1964-1965, 1963-1965

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.210
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1963-1965 with fabric swatches, photographs, and newspaper and magazine clippings for women's wear, men's wear, and children's wear made with Kodel polyester fabric from Everfast Fabrics. There are hang tags for Kodel garments, and photographs of a Rosette Pennington display and window displays at Best & Co. and Tripler's.

Dates: 1963-1965

Label samples, 1930s-1967, 1930s-1967

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.3.1
Scope and Contents

This folder contains loose pages with over 200 woven fabric labels and printed hang tags from Everfast Fabrics' collaborations with department stores and designers in the 1930s-1960s.

Dates: 1930s-1967

Men's Wear, 1944-1945, 1944-1945

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.82
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from 1944-1945 with newspaper clippings and photographs for men's wear made with Everfast Fabrics. There are ads for Shan-o-lin, Erin, and Gabardine fabrics, and McGregor shirts, sold at a various department stores including Macy's, Best & Co., Filene's, and B. Altman.

Dates: 1944-1945

Nassau Promotion, April 1, 1955, 1955

 folder
Identifier: SC.411.1.173
Scope and Contents

This folder contains a scrapbook from April 1955 with newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, promotional materials, and business correspondence for a "Nassau Cottons" promotion from Everfast Fabrics. There are ads for designs by Mr. Mort, Sportlane Deb, and Arlene Henry Originals by Topsey. There are hang tags for "Nassau Cottons" and photographs of displays at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, and Best & Co.

Dates: 1955

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