Stein, Adler & Co. and Stein-Bloch & Co. papers
Creator: Stein, Adler & Co.
Call Number: D.219
Dates: 1869-1882; 1883-1928
Physical Description: 1 box
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Table of Contents:

Biographical/Historical Note
Scope and Content
Subject(s)
Access
Use
Citation
Content List
Series I: Stein, Adler & Co.
Series II: Stein-Bloch Co.
Collection Overview
Title: Stein, Adler & Co. and Stein-Bloch & Co. papers
Creator: Stein, Adler & Co.
Call Number: D.219
Dates: 1869-1882; 1883-1928
Physical Description: 1 box
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Biographical/Historical Note
Stein-Bloch & Co. was one of the first Rochester manufacturers to nationally advertise a line of suits and coats. It became a leader in the manufacture of high priced, high quality clothing. So skilled were the workers and craftsmen at Stein-Bloch that the company was once visited by President Andrew Johnson, formerly a tailor himself, who after his visit always wore clothes bearing the "Stein" name. Nathan Stein and Leopold Bloch remained partners for the rest of their careers, and passed away within months of each other in 1908. Stein-Bloch & Co. remained in business for forty-five years until merging with Fashion Park Clothes, Inc. in 1928. So reputable was the label of "Stein-Bloch" that Fashion Park continued to manufacture clothing bearing the quality name. This small collection is housed in one box containing seven folders. Most of the materials consist of miscellaneous business documents and advertising ephemera. Of particular interest in Folder 4 is the original partnership agreement of 1879 between Nathan Stein, Levi Adler, Abram Adler, and Leopold Bloch.

Scope and Content
The 1850s and 1860s were important decades for the growth of the men's clothing industry of Rochester, NY. Business was booming for retail stores and wholesale clothing manufacturers alike, helping to create a stabilizing economic force in Rochester's early history. By the 1860s, clothing workers formed the largest industrial group in Rochester. The men's clothing industry would soon become the largest employer with the largest payroll in Rochester. An important contributor to that payroll was the firm of Stein, Adler & Co., later known as Stein-Bloch & Co. Nathan Stein (1828-1908), a merchant tailor and retailer from Geneva, NY, joined Levi Adler (1834-1907) to create the firm of Stein & Adler in 1869. The company's main product was a line of boys' and youths' clothing. As business quickly grew, the manufacture of men's clothing was added. Stein & Adler was the first manufacturer in Rochester to establish its own shops for the sewing of clothes, rather than using contract shops and private homes. The company was also credited as the first in Rochester to use the Genesee River falls as a power source for its sewing machines, which helped to speed production and proved to be a major step toward true factory operation. In 1879, Levi's brother Abram (b.1846) and Leopold Bloch (1852-1908) joined the company, and the name changed to Stein, Adler & Co. This new partnership was dissolved, however, in 1882. At that time, the Adlers went on to create a family business with their remaining brothers, and Nathan Stein and Leopold Bloch formed their own partnership, creating Stein-Bloch & Co. in 1883. Nathan Stein's three sons, Louis, Abram, and Simon were also active in the firm, which in 1890 was one of the first Rochester clothing firms to incorporate.

Subject(s):
New York (State)--Rochester
Men's clothing industry
Stein, Adler & Co.
Stein-Bloch Co.
Access
The Stein, Adler & Co. and Stein-Bloch & Co. papers 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.eduCitation
[Item title, item date], Stein, Adler & Co. and Stein-Bloch & Co. papers, D.219, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Administrative Information
Author: Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Publisher: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Address:
Rush Rhees Library
Second Floor, Room 225
Rochester, NY 14627-0055
rarebks@library.rochester.edu
URL:


Content List