Ellis, Estelle (1919-2012)
Dates
- Existence: 1919-2012
Biography
Estelle Ellis was born on November 12, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Hunter College in 1940, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Journalism, Ellis began a career in publishing. Ellis was crucial in the founding of Seventeen magazine in 1943, assisting Helen Valentine with design and advertising for the magazine. In 1958, Ellis founded Business Image, Incorporated, a creative marketing firm that stressed the importance of market and product positioning. Her company worked primarily with Condé Nast publications but other businesses, such as Yves Saint-Laurent Fragrances, Evan-Picone, AT&T, and Scoville, hired Business Image as well.
Beginning in the mid-1960s, Ellis began working with the Fashion Institute of Technology, creating programs and fundraising campaigns to help with financial support. During the 1990s, Ellis focused on writing, co-authoring At Home with Books: How Booklovers Live With and Care for Their Libraries (1995), At Home with Art: How Art Lovers Live With and Care for Their Treasures (1999), and The Booklover's Repair Kit: First Aid for Home Libraries (2000). Estelle Ellis passed away on July 12, 2012.
General Context
- The Estelle Ellis Collection at the Smithsonian Institution: https://sova.si.edu/record/NMAH.AC.0423
Found in 36 Collections and/or Records:
Lee Traub interview, 1987 January 16, 1986 January 16
Leonard Boxer interview, 1986 May, 1986 May
The Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries began informally in the late 1970s, and was officially funded by a grant from the Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries beginning in 1981. The project was guided by an industry advisory committee chaired by Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., and was largely guided by then director of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT, John Touhey.
Lester Gribets interview, 1986 November 19, 1986 November 19
Liz Claiborne interview, 1986 May, 1986 May
Liz Claiborne interview, 1990 July 10 and 17, 1990 July 10 and 17
This interview with Liz Claiborne discusses her experiences as she worked her way up as a designer. She describes her past work with designers and firms such as Ben Reig, Omar Kiam, Dave Schwartz, Juniorite, and the Rhea manufacturing company. Claiborne provides insight to the growth of her own company and all of the factors that go into the production of it.
Margaret Hofbeck interview, 1987 January 16, 1987 January 16
Marvin S. Traub interview, 1987 January 16, 1987 January 16
Nena Goodman interview, 1994 July, 1994 July
Interview with Nena Goodman about her relationship and history with the Bergdorf Goodman store.
Norman Axelrod interview, 1987 January 16, 1987 January 16
This series consists of 14 oral history interviews, which discuss the history of Bloomingdale's, President Marvin Traub, as well as the store's current status and future plans. Interviews were conducted between November, 1986 and January 1987 by Estelle Ellis.
Paul Leblang interview, 1989 December 28, 1989 December 28
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Retail 5
- Merchandising 4
- Department stores 3
- House furnishings 3
- Marketing 3
- Ready-to-wear clothing industry 3
- Boys' clothing 2
- Children's clothing 2
- Education 2
- Family life 2
- Fashion designers 2
- Food 2
- Furniture 2
- Manufacturing processes 2
- Men's clothing 2
- New York (N.Y.) 2
- Reproduction (copying) 2
- Customer service 1
- Family 1
- Fashion merchandising 1
- History 1
- Imports 1
- India 1
- International trade 1
- New York (State) 1
- Perfumes 1
- Purchasing 1
- Recruiting 1
- Regional marketing 1
- Retail trade 1
- Specialty stores 1
- Training 1
- Travel 1
- Women employees 1
- Women executives 1