B. Altman & Co.
Dates
- Existence: 1865-1990
Biography
The B. Altman Company was founded by Benjamin Altman in 1865 at 10th St. and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan's East Village and in the early 1870s, the retail establishment relocated to Ladies' Mile. As the department store steadily grew into one of New York's leading retailers, a larger premises was planned, opening in 1877 at 301 6th Ave between 18th and 19th Streets. In 1904, the New York Evening Sun described the Altman’s Sixth Avenue establishment as “one of the greatest stores in the world … a Bon Marché of the New World.” In 1906, the store relocated once again to a larger premises on Fifth Ave and 34th St. which was dubbed the "Palace of Trade...the store was organized literally by departments: women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, lingerie, maids’ uniforms, linens, fine lace, and even art objects and rare books and manuscripts, all under one roof." Customer's flocked to the Fifth Avenue location, making B. Altman a pioneer on the development of the Fifth Avenue retail scene.
Upon the death of Benjamin Altman in 1913, the store was operated by his philanthropic organization, the Altman Foundation. However in 1986, the New York state tax code changed, making it illegal for a charitable organization to own a for-profit endeavor which funded it. Sold to other business entities, the company floundered, filing for bankruptcy in 1989 and shuttering its doors in 1990. The B. Altman Building located on Fifth Avenue was granted landmark status by New York City in 1985 and now houses the CUNY Graduate Center and for a brief period was home to NYPL's SIBL Library.
Found in 46 Collections and/or Records:
Newspaper Advertisements, Everfast 1947-1948 / Ready to Wear 1948-1949 - 2, 1947-1949
This folder contains a scrapbook from 1947-1949 with newspaper clippings for women's, men's, and children's ready to wear made with Everfast Fabrics. There are designs from Joyce Hubrite, Cole of California, Jolyn Juniors, Kate Greenaway, and Carolyn Schnurer, sold at a variety of depertment stores, including Best & Co., Franklin Simon, and B. Altman.
Polynesian Zinnia Promotion, 1962, 1962
This folder contains a scrapbook from 1962 with magazine and newspaper clippings for the Polynesian Zinnia promotion in Vogue. Everfast Fabrics partnered with Northrup King Seeds to design a line of Zinnia-inspired Everglaze cottons for women's wear and drapery, which was sold at B. Altman and other stores. Some designs by Toni Owen are featured.
Ready to Wear Ads, 1945, 1945
This folder contains a scrapbook from 1945 with newspaper clippings for women's and children's ready-to-wear fashions from Everfast Fabrics. There are ads for fashions designed by Tina Leser, Emily Wilkens, and Mary Stevens, made with Erin, Sandringham, Chambray, Waffle Pique, Crashmere, and Dragonia fabrics.
Ready to Wear Advertisements, 1944 - 1, 1944
This folder contains a scrapbook from 1944 with newspaper clippings for women's wear made with Everfast Fabrics. The ads are primarily for ready to wear sold at various department stores, including B. Altman, Bonwit Teller, Best & Co., and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Ready to Wear Advertisements, 1944 - 2, 1944
This folder contains a scrapbook from 1944 with newspaper clippings for women's wear made with Everfast Fabrics. The ads are primarily for ready to wear sold at various department stores, including B. Altman, Bonwit Teller, Best & Co., and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Retail Stores - B. Altman, 1968-1990, 1968-1990
Photocopied, pasted, and laminated articles concerning the retailer B. Altman, including articles from Crain's New York Business and NRMA Ad/Pro. Folder also includes a booklet covering the first 100 years of B. Altman's history.
"See how America's great stores feature fabrics by Everfast," 1945, 1945
This folder contains a scrapbook from 1945 with newspaper clippings for women's wear and children's wear made with Everfast Fabrics. There are fashions designed by Emily Wilkens and ads from stores around the country, including Gimbel's, Bonwit Teller, Arnold Constable, Franklin Simon, and B. Altman.
Symposium records, 2017
The Everfast Story, Drapery Division, 1953-1967, 1953-1967
Women's Wear, 1934-1935, 1935
This folder contains a scrapbook from 1934-1935 with newspaper clippings for women's ready-to-wear made with Everfast Fabrics under N. Erlanger, Blumgart & Co. There are ads for sportswear, resort wear and bathing suits, and articles about current fashion and cotton fabric trends.