| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Joseph and Feiss Company |
| Title: | Joseph and Feiss Company Photographs |
| Dates: | 1914-1950 |
| Extent: | 0.80 linear feet (2 containers) |
| Abstract: | The Joseph and Feiss Company was established in 1841, by Caufman Koch and Samuel Loeb, as a general store in Meadville, Pennsylvania. In 1845 they moved the store to Cleveland, Ohio, and began specializing in tailored men's clothing. The company underwent several name changes before becoming Joseph & Feiss in 1907. The collection consists of photographs of various operations, functions, facilities, events, and staff of the Joseph and Feiss Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Included are exterior and interior views of the factory; individual and group portraits of the founders of the company, other executives, and employees; views of employees at work and at various recreational activities; views of medical and sanitary facilities, the nursery, lunchrooms, and language and other classes for employees; views of machinery used in clothing manufacturing at the plant; and views of production and employees during World War II. |
| PG Number | PG 175 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The Joseph and Feiss Company had its origins in a small general store, opened in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1841. The proprietors were Caufmann Koch and Samuel Loeb, both Jewish merchants. Their store was called Koch, Caufman and Loeb.
In 1845, the proprietors moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they opened another small store on Superior Street near the Cuyahoga River. This time they specialized in tailored men's clothing. Their partnership did not last long, however, for in 1845 Samuel Loeb moved to New York.
Even without the assistance of his partner, Caufman Koch was so successful in his Superior Street enterprise that he was soon able to open two more shops, one on Union Street and the other at Merwin and Superior Streets. More workers were employed and the business grew into a lucrative manufacturer of men's clothing. The expansion also prompted Caufman to offer fellow businessmen Adolph Mayer and Jacob Levi partnerships. In 1865, two more men joined the firm as partners, Jacob Goldsmith and Julius Feiss. In the next few years, a number of other businessmen periodically joined or retired from the firm, and the hame successively changed from Koch, Levi, Mayoer and Company in 1865; to Koch, Goldsmith and Company in 1872; to Koch, Goldsmith, Joseph and Company in 1873; to Goldsmith, Joseph, Feiss and Company in 1889; and finally to the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1907. The company was formally incorporated as the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1920.
Expansion also prompted the owners of the Company to move six times in the first seventy-five years of its existence. The final location of the main plant was located at West 53rd Street in Cleveland.
For much of its early history, the Joseph and Feiss Company modeled itself on early twentieth century corporate paternalism, and went to great lengths to insure that workers enjoyed not only fair but pleasant working conditions. This paternalistic attitude was visible in the many recreational facilities provided by the Company for the enjoyment of the workers. These facilities included handball courts, a bowling alley, and a swimming pool. The Company also insisted that employees be offered mental as well as physical support and training, and offered classes to teach their many immigrant employees both English and good citizenship. In 1932, however, the Joseph and Feiss Company was unionized and all paternalistic activities and programs came to an end.
During World War II, Joseph and Feiss became an important manufacturer of uniforms for the United States army and navy. After the war, the company continued to expand its line of products, purchasing Samuel Spitz Company and its Cricketeer label in 1957 and Windbreaker-Danville in 1962. Joseph and Feiss also owned and operated several subsidiaries, including the Naval Uniform Service, Inc. In 1966, Joseph and Feiss merged with Phillips Van-Heusen Corporation and continued to operate under its own name. In 1989, it was acquired by the German clothing firm Hugo Boss. The Cricketeer label was discontinued in 1995 and in 1997 its Cleveland operations were moved to the Tiedeman Road facility in Brooklyn, Ohio. In 2010, the planned closure of that plant was averted after union negotiations. The plant continues to produce 150,000 suits a year.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Joseph and Feiss Company
The Joseph and Feiss Company Photographs, ca. 1914-1950, consist of photographs of various operations, functions, facilities, events, and staff of the Joseph and Feiss Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Included are exterior and interior views of the factory; individual and group portraits of the founders of the company, other executives, and employees; views of employees at work and at various recreational activities; views of medical and sanitary facilities, the nursery, lunchrooms, and language and other classes for employees; views of machinery used in clothing manufacturing at the plant; and views of production and employees during World War II. The collection includes 600 black and white photographs that measure 8 x 10 inches and smaller.
This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of the garment industry in Cleveland, Ohio, during the first half of the twentieth century.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 3886 Joseph and Feiss Company Records; and MS 5054 Joseph and Feiss Company Records, Series II.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 175 Joseph and Feiss Company Photographs.
These photographs were removed from MS 3886 Joseph and Feiss Company Records. Gifts of the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1977 and 1978.
Joseph and Feiss Company Photographs ca. 1914-1950 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1-3 | Individual portraits, founders, managers, and workers at Joseph and Feiss Company dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 4-6 | Group portraits, founders, managers, and workers at Joseph and Feiss Company (men and women) dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Group portraits, founders, managers, and workers at Joseph and Feiss Company (men only) dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Group portraits, founders, managers, and workers at Joseph and Feiss Company (women only) dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Group portraits, formal dinner, founders, managers, and workers at Joseph and Feiss Company dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Views, exterior of the Joseph and Feiss Company building dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Views, interior of the Joseph and Feiss building dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Views, Cutting Division of plant operations dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 13-14 | Views, material handling procedures in plant operations dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 15-16 | Views, business operations in the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 1 | 17-19 | Views, sewing operations at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Views, pressing operations at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Views, library facilities at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | Views, kitchen facilities at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 4 | Views, lunch room facilities at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 5 | Views, service and counseling facilities at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 6 | Views, storage facilities at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 7 | Views, machinery used at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 8 | Views, hygiene-related facilities at the plant, including washrooms, locker rooms, wash basins, sinks, and drinking fountains dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 9 | Views, medical-related facilities at the plant, including dispensary, dentist, and optometrist dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 10 | Views, nursery-related facilities at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 11 | Views, adult education facilities at the plant dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 12-14 | Views, recreational activities associated with the Joseph and Feiss Company dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 15-16 | Views, events sponsored by the Joseph and Feiss Company, including plays dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 17 | Views, war industry exhibit by Joseph and Feiss Company ca. 1940s | |||||||||
| 2 | 18-20 | Views, award presentation to Joseph and Feiss Company by the United States government for outstanding wartime achievement ca. 1940s | |||||||||
| 2 | 21 | Views, early newspaper advertisements dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 22 | Negatives dates vary | |||||||||
| 2 | 23 | Printed materials dates vary | |||||||||