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Neisner Brothers, Inc. collection

 Collection
Identifier: D.432

Biographical / Historical note

Brothers, Joseph and Abraham Neisner began Neisner Brothers, Incorporated in 1911 with a single store in Rochester, New York. The store sold goods commonly found in "five and dime" stores throughout the country. At its peak, there were 175 stores in 21 different states.

The company's management deeply valued their employees and supported numerous company outings, as well as giving service awards to those employees who had worked for Neisner's for at least twenty-five years.

In December 1977, Neisner Brothers, Incorporated filed for bankruptcy and eventually Ames Department Stores, Incorporated bought the company.

Scope and Contents

The Neisner Brothers, Inc. collection is divided into two series: Company Records and Materials, and Printed Materials. The first series includes three files that chronicle the development of the company. There are annual financial statements from 1926-1973 that document the company's growth. Also included are newspaper clippings related to the company's 1978 sale to Ames Department Store Incorporated located in Connecticut. The majority of this series is comprised of photographs that capture store openings, Neisner employees, store fronts and inventory. Printed Materials include the company's quarterly publication 'The Neisner Reporter,' as well as two manuals illustrating career and advancement opportunities available at Neisner's.

Dates

  • Creation: 1911-1979

Language of Materials

English

Extent

1.25 linear feet (2 manuscript boxes, 1 clamshell box, 1 flat box)

Abstract

The Neisner Brothers Incorporated Collection documents the history, growth and eventual financial difficulties of a Rochester, New York, five and dime store that expanded to become a nationally recognized chain.

Access

The Neisner Brothers, Inc. Collection is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. Please note that some materials may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.edu

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Neisner Brothers, Inc. collection was made a gift of Lewis Neisner in December 2011.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Neisner Brothers, Inc. Collection, D.432, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Arrangement

The Neisner Brothers, Inc. collection is arranged by material type: company paper records, photographs and printed materials.

Separated Materials

Burton, Belle. A Simple Life. Great Neck, N.Y.: Todd & Honeywell, Inc., 1981.

Thomas, Bernice L. American's 5 & 10 cent stores: the Kress Legacy. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.

Title
Neisner Brothers, Inc. collection
Author
Finding aid prepared by Lori Birrell
Date
27 December 2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA