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Bloomingdale's (Firm)

 Organization

Staff Only

Dates

  • Existence: 1860 (date of establishment)

Biography

Joseph and Lyman Bloomingdale got their start in the fashion industry in 1860 as the purveyors of ladies' hoop skirts on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In 1872, they launched a department store called the East Side Bazaar which offered a variety of imported European fashions. Changing the name to Bloomingdales and expanding to 59th St. and Lexington Ave. in 1886, the store became well-known for its large plate glass window displays and dynamic ad campaigns. By the 1920s, Bloomingdales occupied the entire block of its 59th St. location, establishing itself as a premier shopping destination in New York City.

Found in 15 Collections and/or Records:

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
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Everfast Fabrics collection, 1921-1967 / Everfast Fabrics collection, Scrapbooks, 1921-1967

Catalogs, 1961-1963, 1961-1963

 folder
Identifier: SC.72.1.1
Scope and Contents

This folder contains approximately 60 catalogs from department stores, including Macy's, Lord and Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue.

Dates: 1961-1963
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Dorothy Jensen collection, 1958-1972 / Catalogs, 1961-1963

Jeanette Jarnow interview, 1994 December 20, 1994 December 20

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.4.15
Scope and Contents Jeannette Jarnow, former Chair of the Fashion Buying and Merchandising Department (FBM), discusses the small and intimate nature of FIT when she joined in 1956. She discusses the founding of the school by Morris Haft, Virginia Pope, and a handful of fashion industry insiders. She then describes the birth of the FBM department thanks to an endowment by Bergdorf Goodman as well as close relationships with Lord & Taylor, Abraham and Strauss, and Bloomingdale's. Jarnow touches on influential...
Dates: 1994 December 20
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Academic Affairs records / Gladys Marcus Library records / Special Collections and FIT Archive / FIT oral histories collection / FIT 50th Anniversary oral history series, 1994-1996

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
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Everfast Fabrics collection, 1921-1967 / Everfast Fabrics collection, Label Samples, 1930s-1967

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
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Everfast Fabrics collection, 1921-1967 / Everfast Fabrics collection, Scrapbooks, 1921-1967

Nicole Emmerich Teweles papers, 1948-1950

 Collection
Identifier: SC.493
Scope and Contents

This collection contains training materials for Bloomingdales used by Nicole Emmerich Teweles as well as drafts and final copies of the Tobé Report, where Teweles was a Junior Editor.

Dates: 1947 - 1950
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive

Retail Stores - Bloomingdale's I, 1964-1980, 1964-1980

 folder
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.7.1.122
Scope and Contents

Photocopied, pasted, and laminated articles concerning the retailer Bloomingdale's, including articles from Body Fashions/Intimate Apparel and HFD.

Dates: 1964-1980
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Academic Affairs records / Gladys Marcus Library records / Reference and Instructional Services / FIT Library Marketing Files, 1949-1995

Retail Stores - Bloomingdale's II, 1980-1983, 1980-1983

 folder
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.7.1.123
Scope and Contents

Photocopied, pasted, and laminated articles concerning the retailer Bloomingdale's, including articles from HFD and numerous press releases for Bloomingdale's "Fête de France."

Dates: 1980-1983
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Academic Affairs records / Gladys Marcus Library records / Reference and Instructional Services / FIT Library Marketing Files, 1949-1995

Retail Stores - Bloomingdale's III, 1984-1992, 1984-1992

 folder
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.7.1.124
Scope and Contents

Photocopied, pasted, and laminated articles concerning the retailer Bloomingdale's, including numerous press releases for "Japan at Bloomingdale's."

Dates: 1984-1992
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Academic Affairs records / Gladys Marcus Library records / Reference and Instructional Services / FIT Library Marketing Files, 1949-1995

Russell Stravitz interview, 1987 January 16, 1987 January 16

 Item
Identifier: SC.FITA.3.20.4.9.3.14
Scope and Contents In this interview, Stravitz focuses mostly on the challenges and successes he has faced in trying to expand the Bloomingdale's model into other markets. In doing this, he covers the importance of paying attention to each market's regional needs as well as ways in which marketing can be tailored to suit a particular market, culturally. At the same time, Stravitz explores what the New York store represents and how that can be carried through in other markets. A larger discussion of the...
Dates: 1987 January 16
Found in: Special Collections and FIT Archive / Academic Affairs records / Gladys Marcus Library records / Special Collections and FIT Archive / FIT oral histories collection / The Bloomingdale's interviews, 1986 November 5-1987 January 16

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