Abraham & Straus collection
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Abstract
Various materials relating to Abraham & Straus, a major department store founded in Brooklyn by Abraham Abraham and Joseph Wechsler in 1865. The store became part of Macy's department stores in 1995.
Historical Note
Abraham & Straus was a major department store founded in Brooklyn by Abraham Abraham and Joseph Wechsler in 1865. Originally called Wechsler & Abraham and located at 285 Fulton Street, the store was so successful that it moved to a new and larger location at the corner of Fulton and Hoyt Streets in 1885. The name of the store changed to Abraham & Straus in 1893 when the Straus family, partners of Macy's department stores, bought out Wechsler's interest in the store. By 1965, Abraham & Straus had become the third largest department store in the United States, with several branches in and surrounding the New York City area in addition to its flagship location at Fulton and Hoyt Streets. The store became part of Macy's department stores in 1995. Until 2024, the original Abraham & Straus location on Fulton and Hoyt Streets continued to operate under the Macy's name.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into 5 series by type. Within each series, the arrangement is roughly chronological.
Scope and Contents
Series 1: Publications includes a catalog dating from 1886, when the store was known as Wechsler & Abraham; an 80th anniversary booklet from 1945; and newsletters dating from 1941-1995.
Series 2: Centennial includes correspondence between Abraham & Straus employee Juli Daves and Harriet Stryker-Rodda, Archivist at the Long Island Historical Society, regarding research for the store's centennial; a press kit with releases, including a detailed history of the business; newspaper clippings; and press photographs. The photographs depict Abraham & Straus founder Abraham Abraham; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Sidney L. Solomon; President Walter N. Rothschild, Jr.; and the Wechsler & Abraham store at its original Fulton Street location. They have biographical and historical information attached to their versos.
Series 3: Ephemera and images includes a metal tag, color postcard, various printed ephemera and a color 4x6 photograph of the store's facade from 1995. There is also an oversize print showing an aerial view of the flagship Abraham & Straus store at its location on Fulton and Hoyt Streets, along with other parts of Downtown Brooklyn, circa 1893.
Series 4: Armida Giglio materials consists of material collected by longtime Abraham & Straus employee Armida Giglio and given to the Brooklyn Historical Society in 2009. These materials include store directories, branded shopping bags, centennial materials, and various printed ephemera.
Finally, Series 5: Digital materials consists of digitized recordings of the Walter Rothschild Sr. 40th anniversary celebration dinner in 1953.
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction. Please consult library staff for access to digitized recordings.
Conditions Governing Use
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Abraham & Straus collection, ARC.223, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accessions 1977.242 and V1990.009 were the gifts of Juli Daves and Harriet Stryker-Rodda, 1965. Accession 1986.037 was purchased from Xerxes Fine and Rare Books and Documents, 1986. Accession 2009.013 was the gift of Armida Giglio, 2009. Digitized recordings of the Walter Rothschild Sr. 40th anniversary celebration dinner were the gift of Michael J. Lisicky, with the support of Walter (Trip) Rotschild III, 2017.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
Existence and Location of Copies
Item-level description and digital versions of two images from the collection are available for searching via the image database in the library under the object ID prefixes V1990.1 and V1997.87.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Originally minimally processed to the collection level, this collection was reprocessed to the file level by Dee Bowers in 2025.
The collection combines the accessions 1977.242, 1986.037, 2009.013, V1990.009, and V1997.087.
Accession V1997.087 added to the collection by John Zarrillo in 2014. Digitized recordings of the Walter Rothschild Sr. 40th anniversary celebration dinner added to the collection by John Zarrillo in March 2017.
Sponsor Note
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
Series 1: Publications
Wechsler and Abraham catalogue, 1886
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase from Xerxes Fine and Rare Books, 1986.
Spotlight newsletter, 1941-1945, inclusive
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Some or all issues were the gift of Armida Giglio, 2009.
80th anniversary booklet, 1945
Specials newsletter, 1979-1989, inclusive
Processing Information
Duplicate copies were discarded.
Coast to Coast newsletter (Federated Department Stores, Inc.), Spring 1995
Series 2: Centennial
Harriet Stryker-Rodda and Juli Daves correspondence, 1964-1965, inclusive
Press kit folder and press releases, 1965
Press images, 1965
Scope and Contents
Includes a photographic copy of a woodcut image of the original store and photographic portrait images of Abraham Abraham, Walter N. Rothschild, Jr., and Sidney L. Solomon.
Processing Information
One photographic copy of a woodcut illustration of the original Wechsler and Abraham building was accessioned and cataloged under the number V1990.009.
Clippings, 1965
Processing Information
The archivist photocopied clippings and discarded the originals.
Series 3: Ephemera and images
Metal tag, circa 1940s, inclusive
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Jane F. Levey, 2025.
Postcard of revolving Christmas tree, circa 1950s-60s, inclusive
Processing Information
Accessioned and cataloged under number V1997.087.
Department Managers letter, 1957, inclusive
Fulton Mall Improvement Association booklet, 1977
Oversize flyer, Brooklyn Bridge centennial, 1983
Macy's booklet, 1995
Images, circa 1893, 1995, inclusive
Scope and Contents
One oversize black and white print depicting the A&S building circa 1893; one color 4x6 print of the new Macy's sign on the building, 1995.
Series 4: Armida Giglio materials
Scope and Contents
The donor also gifted some or all of the Spotlight newsletters in Series 1 and may have given other materials in the collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Armida Giglio, 2009.
A&S directories, circa 1960s-1980s, inclusive
Shopping bags, circa 1960s-1980s, inclusive
Clippings and ephemera, 1965-1989, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes centennial materials, 1965, and 1980s ephemera.
Processing Information
The archivist photocopied clippings and discarded the originals.
