Lane Bryant catalog collection, 1918-1970s

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Summary

Creator:
Lane Bryant (Firm), John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History, and Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Abstract:
Retail chain of women's clothing, founded by Lena Himmelstein Bryant (1877-1951) in New York, now headquartered in New Albany, Ohio. Collection consists of an incomplete run of mail order catalogs for maternity clothing and plus-size women's wear. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History and the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.
Extent:
0.2 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.13150

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of an incomplete run of mail order catalogs for maternity clothing and plus-size women's wear.

Biographical / historical:

Retail chain of women's clothing, founded by Lena Himmelstein Bryant (1877-1951) in New York, now headquartered in New Albany, Ohio.

Lena Himmelstein Bryant (1877-1951) was a Jewish Lithuanian who emigrated to the United States in 1895. In 1904 she opened a dress shop in New York's 5th Avenue where the popularity of her designs for maternity dresses and plus-sized women's clothing Bryant to expand her business. A misspelling on a business loan application resulted in the business being named Lane Bryant. Lane Bryant added a mail-order catalog sales operation which expanded sales further. The company was acquired by The Limited in 1982; the catalog operation was sold in 1993 but repurchased in 2007. Retail operations were acquired by Charming Shoppes in 1999, which was bought by Ascena Retail Group in 2012. In 2021 Lane Bryant was acquired by Premium Apparel LLC.

Acquisition information:
The Lane Bryant catalog collection was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, June 2025;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2025-0007. Other items include materials previously cataloged separately, merged into this collection.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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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 Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lane Bryant catalog collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1c737