Lord & Taylor
Dates
- Existence: 1826 (date of establishment)
Biography
George Washington Taylor and Samuel Lord opened Lord & Taylor department stores in 1826 as a small dry goods company on 47 Catherine street in New York City. In 1853, the company moved into a building on the corner of Grand and Chrystie streets. By 1872, the stored had moved and opened two additional stores, one at 20th and Broadway, and the other at Grand and Broadway. In 1910, Lord and Taylor was purchased by United Dry Goods Companies, the parent company to the Associated Merchant's Company
By then, Lord and Taylor had expanded their building at 20th street to the end of the block at 5th avenue, making it the first department store to reside on the street which would later become a center of commerce. The company's final move came in 1914, when they relocated to a ten story Italianate building at 5th avenue and 38th street. The rooftop of this building was fitted with excellent employee facilities, such as an open air garden, a dining room, lounge, hospital, and gym. It was at this location that Lord and Taylor became known for its artful department store display windows for promotions and holidays. Lord and Taylor pioneered new retail policies in shopping for its time. They were the first department store with fixed-price policies, the first to include a steam elevator, the first who did not employ men to to entice customers to enter, and the first to open a branch in the suburbs at Manhasset. Lord and Taylor also opened the first juniors, maternity, bridal,and petites departments. Under the direction of retail executive Dorothy Shaver, Lord and Taylor launched "The American Look" campaign in 1932, becoming the first department store to promote the works of American fashion designers over Parisian designers.
Found in 59 Collections and/or Records:
Everfast Fabrics, Women's Wear, 1934 - 2, 1934
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.
Glenn Behrens collection
This collection holds pen & ink, pastel, and pencil print ad illustrations; print ads for E.A Stevens and Lord & Taylor; fabric swatches, store designs.
Harper's Bazaar Fashion illustrations, 1940-1942
This collection contains fashion illustrations (mainly garments) executed for Harper's Bazaar between the years of 1940-1942 by Dagmar Freuchen-Gale, Sara Johns and Reynaldo Luza. On the back of the illustrations there are Harper's Bazaar issue numbers that the illustrations were published in.
Jane Barton store catalogs
This collection is comprised of one Banana Republic catalog (Summer 1988), two Bonwit Teller catalogs (1973-undated 1970s), and eleven Lord & Taylor catalogs (1974-undated 1970s).
Jeanette Jarnow interview, 1994 December 20, 1994 December 20
Lord & Taylor collection, 1826-2010
Margaret Jerrold retrospective, 1982
This box holds photographs from the 1982 Margaret Jerrold retrospective exhibition at Lord & Taylor (many duplicates) along with a few sheets of Margaret Clark letterhead, a letter from Cyril Magnin, 3 copies of a short exhibition catalog, and some press and records related to the exhibition.
Newspaper Publicity 1947-1948, 1948-1949, 1949-1950, 1950-1951, 1947-1951
This folder contains a scrapbook from 1947-1951 with newspaper clippings for women's wear made with Everfast Fabrics. There are newspapers articles about current trends in cottons and fashions, and ads for sportswear, resort wear, and cruise wear, sold at department stores, including Lord & Taylor. There are fashions designed by Carolyn Schnurer, Mary Stevens, Ted Shore, Claire McCardell, and ads for sewing patterns from Simplicity.
Retail Stores - Lord & Taylor, 1976-1988, 1976-1988
Fourteen photocopied, pasted, and laminated articles concerning the retailer Lord & Taylor, primarily articles from Chain Store Age.
Sara Johns, 1942, 1942
This folder contains 5 copies of Harper's Bazaar magazine pages and 19 fashion illustrations signed by Sara Johns. The illustrations consist of two-piece ensembles, dresses and jumpsuits. Some garments shown are attributed to Claire McCardell, Abercrombie & Fitch; department stores Bonwitt Teller and Arnold Constable & Company labeled on the back. There are also 3 loose notes attributing designs to Tina Leser, Tom Brigance for Lord & Taylor, and B.H. Wragge.