Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1914-1929 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
5 linear feet of sketches on paper
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
A. Beller & Co. was a cloak and suit manufacturer established in 1890 by Abraham Beller. The A. Beller & Co. adaptions of imported models as well as the company's own original designs were of the highest quality and retailed at high-end department stores. The company's product was considered the gold standard for American manufacturers, and the company's executives, Abraham Beller and Max Meyer, were widely respected within the industry. The company shuttered its doors in 1931 amid the Great Depression.
Archival history
- This collection was originally referred to as the Max Meyer collection based upon the original donation from Mr. Meyer who worked for the company for a large portion of his life. Because the contents of the collection were created by A. Beller & Co., and would more likely be accessed by researchers via the company name and the various designers included, the name of the collection was changed in 2014 to the A. Beller & Co. collection. Mr. Meyer's name will be kept as an access point.
- In 2017, Molly Seegers reorganized the sketch collection from chronological order to alphabetical order by designer name as researchers had shown interest in the designers as access point. This change in order did not disturb the provenance of the collection as the chronological information that was present has been retained.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The A. Beller & Co. sketch collection was donated to the FIT library by Max Meyer probably in 1959.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection is comprised of A. Beller & Co. sketches for womenswear designs, 1914 - 1929
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by the name of designer and divided into 197 folders.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and College Archives. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at fitlibsparc@fitnyc.edu or call (212) 217-4385.
Conditions governing reproduction
The Department of Special Collections and College Archives does not own copyright for all material held in its physical custody. It is the researcher's obligation to abide by and satisfy copyright law (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#108) when copying or using materials (including digital materials) found in or made available from the department. When possible, the department will inform a researcher about the copyright status of material, the researcher's obligations with regard to such material, and, wherever possible, the owner or owners of the copyrights. Any and all reproduction of originals is at the archivist's discretion.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
sketches on paper
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
The Library of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Department of Special Collections and College Archives, 27th St. at 7th Ave., NY, NY , USA, 10001
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Beller, Abraham (Subject)
- Meyer, Max, 1876-1953 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
AAT; ANSI; DACS; DCMI; ISAD(G); ISO; LoC; NISO; etc.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin
Sources
Archivist's note
Arrangement, description, and archival processing by Diana Cadavid and Molly Seegers, FIT, NY, NY, USA.