| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Serbin, Inc. |
| Title: | Serbin, Inc. Records |
| Dates: | 1946-1986 |
| Extent: | 1.20 linear feet (1 container and 1 oversize volume) |
| Abstract: | Serbin, Inc. was founded in 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio, by Lewis I. Serbin and M. John Serbin to produce women's clothing, including dresses and sportswear. The firm quickly became known for its line of golf apparel, which was endorsed by golfer Babe Didrikson. In 1951, both Serbin, Inc. and the Serbin family relocated to Miami, Florida. The firm continued to operate under various names until it went out of business in 1991. The collection consists of advertisements, bulletins, catalogues, newspaper clippings, order forms, and a scrapbook. |
| MS Number | MS 5053 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
Serbin, Inc., was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, by Lewis I. Serbin (1907-1986) and M. John Serbin (d.1972) in 1943 to produce women's clothing, including dresses and sportswear. The firm quickly became known for its line of golf apparel, which was advertised through an endorsement by golfer Babe Didrikson (1911-1956). To meet rising demand, in 1948 Serbin reached an agreement with another Cleveland clothing manufacturer, the L.N. Gross Company, to share L.N. Gross's plant in Fayetteville, Tennessee. The next year, Serbin purchased this plant which then became exclusive to Serbin, Inc. In 1951, both Serbin, Inc., and the Serbin Family relocated to Miami, Florida. The firm continued to operate there under various names, including S&M Manufacturing Company and Serbin Fashions, until it went out of business in 1991.
The Serbin, Inc., Records, 1946-1986 and undated, consist of advertisements, bulletins, catalogues, newspaper clippings, order forms, and a scrapbook.
This collection is of interest to researchers studying style in sports, women in sports, the garment industry of Cleveland, Ohio, specifically the women's apparel segment, Jewish-owned enterprises, the Serbin family, and the L.N. Gross Company. The collection will also be of interest to those studying the move of the garment industry to areas where labor was cheaper and non-unionized. Those looking to track changes in styles and marketing of women's fashion will also find this collection useful, as will those exploring golf in the twentieth century, especially golf star Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Also featured is information on business relations between Cleveland and the American South, including Fayetteville, Tennessee, and Miami, Florida.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 3823 L.N. Gross Company Records and MS 4711 L.N. Gross Company Records, Series II for more information about the Fayetteville, Tennessee, facility.
Separated MaterialAll photographs have been removed to the Cleveland Picture File. The photographs include portraits of Babe Didrikson Zaharias modeling Serbin fashions.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5053 Serbin, Inc. Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of Robert J. Kahn in 1993.
Processed by Samuel Milner in 2010.
Serbin, Inc. Records 1946-1986 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Advertisements undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Bulletins to salesmen 1951 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Catalogues undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Newspaper clippings 1957-1986 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Order forms 1967 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Scrapbook (removed to Oversize Folder 1) 1946 | |||||||||