B. Altman & Co. window display photographs, 1933-1954

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Summary

Creator:
B. Altman & Co.
Abstract:
B. Altman & Co. was a department store chain founded New York, N.Y. in 1865 by Benjamin Altman. Collection consists of a binder containing approximately 70 black-and-white photographs and display design cards of Altman store window displays. Depicted are men's and women's fashions, perfumes and cosmetics, furniture and fabrics, along with holiday and historical scenes and sets. Some displays are credited to Altman employees Louis Villela and Richard Wallace. Photographers and media outlets represented include Charmante Studio, Herbert Bruce Cross, J.M. Biow, John Adams Davis, Karl Worsinger, Korb Photo Co. of Toledo Ohio, Mary Brosnan, Nick Malan, Retail Reporting Bureau, Studio Yves Hervochon, and Virginia Roehl. Brands and designers represented include Adele Simpson, Christian Dior, Maggy Rouff (trade name of Maggy Besancon de Wagner), Mary Chess, Shiaparelli, Toni Owen and Warner's. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
1.0 Linear Foot
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11735

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of a binder containing approximately 70 black-and-white photographs and display design cards of Altman store window displays. Depicted are men's and women's fashions, perfumes and cosmetics, furniture and fabrics, along with holiday and historical scenes and sets. Some displays are credited to Altman employees Louis Villela and Richard Wallace. Photographers and media outlets represented include Charmante Studio, Herbert Bruce Cross, J.M. Biow, John Adams Davis, Karl Worsinger, Korb Photo Co. of Toledo Ohio, Mary Brosnan, Nick Malan, Retail Reporting Bureau, Studio Yves Hervochon, and Virginia Roehl. Brands and designers represented include Adele Simpson, Christian Dior, Maggy Rouff (trade name of Maggy Besancon de Wagner), Mary Chess, Shiaparelli, Toni Owen and Warner's. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.

Biographical / historical:

B. Altman & Co. was a department store chain founded New York, N.Y. in 1865 by Benjamin Altman. The main Fifth Avenue store closed in 1989 and the firm closed its last store in 1990.

Acquisition information:
The B. Altman Co. window display photographs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, May 2019;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2019-0068

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

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Subjects:
Advertising
Department stores
Show windows
Clothing and dress
Clothing trade
Women's clothing
Retail trade
Display of merchandise
Names:
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Christian Dior, Inc.

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], B. Altman & Co. window display photographs, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.