Jack I. Straus interview, 1982 November 1 & 26, 1982 November 1 & 26
Scope and Contents
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.
Dates
- Creation: 1982 November 1 & 26
Creator
- Straus, Jack I. (1900-1985) (Person)
- Finger, Mildred (1924-1995) (Person)
Language of Materials
English Latin
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at [email protected] or call (212) 217-4385.
The contents of this collection are also available to the public via our Archive on Demand repository: https://archiveondemand.fitnyc.edu/items/browse?collection=22
Biographical / Historical
Jack I. Straus was the former chief executive officer of R. H. Macy & Company. Straus was R. H. Macy's chief executive officer in the 1940's to the 1960's, a period when the company expanded into a nationwide chain. He joined the company in 1921, where he went on to become vice president in 1933, acting president in 1939 and president as well as chief executive in 1940. In 1956 he became chairman, and from 1968 to 1976 he was chairman of the executive committee.
He was part of a prominent merchandising family on his maternal side, as his great-grandfather, Lazarus Straus, and his great-uncle, Nathan Straus, formed merchandising firm L. Straus and Sons, and sold imported china and glassware to Rowland H. Macy, the founder of R. H. Macy. Nathan Straus and Jack Straus's grandfather, Isidor Straus later leased selling space from Mr. Macy's heirs and, in 1896, purchased control of the company. His father, Jesse Isidor Straus, was president of R. H. Macy until 1931.
Biographical / Historical
"Mildred Finger Haines ... helped shape fashion tastes for four decades as a top buyer for department stores and a consultant to clothes makers and retailers.... From the late 1940's through the late 1960's, Mrs. Haines, known throughout her career as Mildred Finger, was a buyer of ready-to-wear at Macy's, Ohrbach's and Bergdorf Goodman, and was one of New York City's most often cited taste makers. At Bergdorf's, in particular, she was noted for bringing European styles to American consumers. She later became Vice President of Charles of the Ritz, headed fashion merchandising for Yves St. Laurent and became an independent consultant, with clients like the Limited and Arthur D. Little. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, she retired in 1986. In succeeding years, she frequently contributed her knowledge of the fashion industry to the oral history projects of the American Jewish Committee and the Fashion Institute of Technology...." New York Times Obituary, 1995
Full Extent
From the Sub-Group: 1 placeholder
Physical Description
Original media: 1 audio cassette
General
Jack I. Straus was the former chief executive officer of R. H. Macy & Company. Straus was R. H. Macy's chief executive officer in the 1940's to the 1960's, a period when the company expanded into a nationwide chain. He joined the company in 1921, where he went on to become vice president in 1933, acting president in 1939 and president as well as chief executive in 1940. In 1956 he became chairman, and from 1968 to 1976 he was chairman of the executive committee.
He was part of a prominent merchandising family on his maternal side, as his great-grandfather, Lazarus Straus, and his great-uncle, Nathan Straus, formed merchandising firm L. Straus and Sons, and sold imported china and glassware to Rowland H. Macy, the founder of R. H. Macy. Nathan Straus and Jack Straus's grandfather, Isidor Straus later leased selling space from Mr. Macy's heirs and, in 1896, purchased control of the company. His father, Jesse Isidor Straus, was president of R. H. Macy until 1931.
General
"Mildred Finger Haines ... helped shape fashion tastes for four decades as a top buyer for department stores and a consultant to clothes makers and retailers.... From the late 1940's through the late 1960's, Mrs. Haines, known throughout her career as Mildred Finger, was a buyer of ready-to-wear at Macy's, Ohrbach's and Bergdorf Goodman, and was one of New York City's most often cited taste makers. At Bergdorf's, in particular, she was noted for bringing European styles to American consumers. She later became Vice President of Charles of the Ritz, headed fashion merchandising for Yves St. Laurent and became an independent consultant, with clients like the Limited and Arthur D. Little. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, she retired in 1986. In succeeding years, she frequently contributed her knowledge of the fashion industry to the oral history projects of the American Jewish Committee and the Fashion Institute of Technology...." New York Times Obituary, 1995
General
Published
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository