collection SC.140 - Jacques Fath collection, 1949-1974

Identity area

Reference code

US NNFIT SC.140

Title

Jacques Fath collection, 1949-1974

Date(s)

  • 1949 - 1974 (Creation)

Level of description

collection

Extent and medium

1.75 linear feet

Context area

Name of creator

([1896]-1959)

Biographical history

Joseph Halpert was an American clothing manufacturer. In 1914, Halpert went into business with Julius Golstein as a dress manufacturer until 1930 when he established The Joseph Halpert Corporation. Hapert's dresses were known for their high style yet wearable designs. He was a founder of the Fashion Originators Guild and served on the board of Marine Midland Trust Company. He liquidated The Joseph Halpert Corporation in 1954 and then served briefly as President of the J.R. McMullen Company before his death in 1959.

Name of creator

(1912-1954)

Biographical history

Jacques Fath was born in Lafitte, France, on September 12, 1912. He began a career in bookkeeping, later becoming a trader at the Paris Bourse from 1930 to 1932. Fath opened his couture house in 1936. In 1937, Fath showed his first fashion collection in Paris but had to wait until 1940 to reopened his salon. After the war, Fath added a perfume line in 1945. Fath designed a ready-to-wear collection for American manufacturer Joseph Halpert in 1948. Fath is considered to be part of the "big three" post-war Parisian designers, along with Dior and Balmain. In 1954, Fath launched a ready-to-wear collection in Paris. Unfortunately, in November of that year, Fath passed away at the age of 42.

Archival history

Son of an English mother and French father, Fath began his career as a portrait painter. In 1937, he turned his attention to dress design. In 1948, Joseph Halpert, the American dress manufacturer introduced Fath's couture designs to America, where they were enthusiastically received. Halpert, a former amateur prize-fighter and motorcyclist, had begun his apparel manufacturing business at the age of 18. In the years before World War II, he established himself as on of the country's leading dress manufacturers. His association with Fath benefited both men, and inspired them to form an independent firm, Halfa Sales Corp., which licensed boutique accessories designed by Fath.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Catherine Halpert Winn, c.1992

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This collection contains scrapbooks from 1949-1953. These scrapbooks include print ads, editorial copy, and biographical sketches. Photographs from 1949-1974 include portraits of Fath, Halpert and their wives, and highlights from the 1952 collection. It also contains press clippings regarding both men and their businesses.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

This collection is organized by 4 series. Series 1 contains tear sheets. Series 2 contains photographs. Series 3 contains press clippings on Jacques Fath and Joseph Halpert. Series 4 contains miscellaneous information.

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 FIT 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

  • English
  • French

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Notes area

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Description control area

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Dates of creation revision deletion

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      Accession area