collection SC.146 - A. Beller & Co. sketch collection, 1914-1929

Identity area

Reference code

US NNFIT SC.146

Title

A. Beller & Co. sketch collection, 1914-1929

Date(s)

  • 1914-1929 (Creation)

Level of description

collection

Extent and medium

5 linear feet of sketches on paper

Context area

Name of creator

(1890-1931)

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

      Related descriptions

      Notes area

      Alternative identifier(s)

      Access points

      Place access points

      Name access points

      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.

      Accession area