The Bergdorf Goodman Custom Salon sketches collection contains 8,976 pencil, ink, and watercolor sketches by staff artists representing clothing and millinery available in Bergdorf's custom salon. These garments were made to order either from designs purchased by special arrangement from the leading coutouriers of the day or from sketches by Bergdorf's then well known in-house designers. Representative designers include Dior, Balenciaga, Halson and Courreges. House designers include Leslie Morris, Mary Gleason, and Bernard Newman. There is a complete run from 1950 to 1969. In addition, there is a representative sampling of sketches from the 1930s and 40s.
In addition to the sketches, the collection contains preliminary manuscripts and galley proofs of Booton Herndon's book Bergdorf's on the Plaza (NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1956) as well as typescripts of his interviews with and about members of the Goodman family and with and about such key members of the staff as Ethel Frankau, Odna Brandeis, and house designers Bernard Newman, Leslie Morris, and Mary Gleason.
The last series contains the original finding aid for the collection.
Sketches by Leslie, Spring 1951
Sketches by Leslie, 1950
Sketches by Leslie, 1950
Sketches by Leslie, 1930s-1950
Sketches by Legroux, 1930s-Spring 1959
Sketches by La Roche, Spring 1963-1969
Sketches by La Roche, 1950s-1961 (hats), Spring 1957-Spring 1963
Sketches by Lanvin, Spring 1960-Fall 1966
Sketches by Lanvin, Spring 1959-Spring 1961 (hats)
Sketches by Lanvin, Fall 1957-Fall 1959
Anonymous sketches, Spring 1956-Fall 1957
Research notes; Booton Herndon's article on Bergdorf's, published in Collier's
Sketches by Descat, 1947- Spring/Summer 1949
Sketches by Lanvin, 1930s-Fall 1957 (hats)
Sketches by Helen, 1930s-Fall 1957; Jeantette, 1969; Jones, 1930s; Sadie Kaufman, 1930s; LaChasse, Spring 1953-Fall 1964; Lafaurie, Fall 1950-Spring 1956; Lancetti, Spring 1967
Sketches by Heim, Fall 1954-Spring 1963
Sketches by Hartnell, Fall 1964-Spring 1965; Heim, Fall 1951-Fall 1954
Sketches by Halston, Spring 1962-Fall 1963
Sketches by Halston, Spring 1960-Fall 1960
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by Halston, Fall 1960
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by Halston, Fall 1960
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by Halston, Spring 1960
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by Halston, Spring 1958-Spring 1960
Sketches by Columbier, Spring/Summer 1949-Fall/Winter 1949
Research correspondence
Anonymous sketches from a box which contained materials from both Spring 1956 and Spring 1957, without differentiating them.
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by Griffe, Fall 1954-Spring 1963
Sketches by Griffe, 1950s-Spring 1954
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by Gres, Fall 1957-1969
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by miscellaneous designers, most undated. Folder contents may be unprocessed materials.
Sketches by Goma, Fall 1958-Spring 1959; Gisle, 1930s; Goupy, 1930s; Guy, 1930s; Gres, 1950-Spring 1957
Gleason, Spring 1954-Fall 1954
Anonymous sketches, Fall/Winter 1949
Gleason, Fall 1953-Spring 1954
Anonymous sketches, Spring/Summer 1949
Gleason, Spring 1953-Fall 1953
Anonymous sketches, 1947
Gleason, Spring 1953
Anonymous sketches, Spring 1946
Anonymous sketches, Spring 1945- Fall/Winter 1945
Sketches by Gleason, Fall 1952
Anonymous sketches, undated
Sketches by Gleason, Fall 1952
Sketches by Charlotte, 1947
Anonymous sketches, Fall 1956
Manuscript draft
Sketches by Valais, Spring/Summer 1949
Sketches by Gleason, Fall 1951-Fall 1952
Sketches by Talbot, 1946- Spring 1948
Sketches by Gleason, Spring 1951-Fall 1951
Sketches by Gleason, Spring 1951(evening)