Herbst Department Store Negative Collection

Collection

Identifier: Photo 2100

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Herbst Department Store Negative Collection documents the operation and activities of one of Fargo’s major department stores for the years 1965 to 1969; most of which are in color. This negative collection is a part of a larger archives of materials related to the Herbst store including store records (Mss 158) and photograph collection (Photo 2043 & Folio 75). Although prints from some of the negatives in this collection may be found in the photograph collection, no attempt has been made to link the two. The negatives were generally kept in the original envelopes from the store’s camera department, and many of these were dated. These dates are noted on the individual pages of negatives. Occasionally, brief descriptions of the subject were written on the envelopes and this information was also written on the pages. The collection is arranged chronologically and the contents of the original envelopes were kept together and are ordered accordingly. There were also a good number of envelopes that were undated and unsorted; these were also kept together and organized by topic. Several of the envelopes contained exposures from numerous rolls. The majority of the negatives are color 35mm. There are relatively few black and white 35mm images. The aforementioned portraits were taken on 4x5 inch negative. There are several 70mm and 120mm film exposures, also. There are two color slides. The negatives are arranged into two series: Chronological and Topical. The Chronological Series had dates written upon the envelopes and were ordered accordingly. This series contains a number of images depicting community events that the store held, such as the Teen Board, Fashion Shows, and a Santa Breakfast for underprivileged children. There also many images of the interior of the store and images of the exterior of the building undergoing renovation for the store’s 75th anniversary in 1966. The 75th anniversary file includes a series of negatives taken over the course of the renovation of the store showing, week-by-week, the progress of the massive redecoration of the building’s façade. Several portraits of unknown teenaged female sitters are also present in the collection. Many casual and un-posed shots of the store staff and customers are also present in this series. The Topical Series were contained in undated envelopes. This series contains many images of retirement parties held during this time period, showing employees in a semi-formal dining setting. Of particular interest to music fans might be the images from the annual Battle of the Bands held at this time. Many bands are shown, along with shots of the crowd from overhead. Other images from this series include a Santa Train, a delivery van, and teen events.

Dates

1965-1969

Creator

Herbst Department Store. (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are held by the Institute for Regional Studies.

History

Isaac Herbst, born in April 1858 at Cincinnati, Ohio, came to North Dakota in 1884. He was employed at the Eppinger Company in Bismarck and with A.M. Eppinger in Jamestown before coming to Fargo in 1887. Mr. Herbst worked for the B. & I. Sternberg Store and the Yerxa Company in Fargo until 1889, when he went into partnership with Robert Adler, who supplied capital for the purchase of a bankrupt store's stock. The two opened "The Bankrupt Store" and in a period of about three months had sold out the complete stock. In 1891, Mr. Herbst opened his own dry goods store at 66 Broadway, calling it I. Herbst and Co. (later Isaac Herbst & Co.). About 1900 the name was changed to Herbst Department Store. In June, 1893, the store was struck by fire, but a new store was built at 16 Broadway by October. In February, 1894, another fire swept through. He was able to remodel, and the store soon became a thriving enterprise. Isaac met and married Emma Krohn in Fargo in 1893. She was born Sept. 13, 1867 at Freeport, Illinois, the daughter of Jacob and Dora (Fleishman) Krohn. The couple had two sons, J. Krohn (Dec. 10, 1893Nov. 28, 1934) and Robert K. (Aug. 17, 1903-Nov. 28, 1981). After Isaac's death June 21, 1910, Mrs. Herbst took over and became president of the store. She played a direct role in the growth and success of the store, and also instituted the Herbst Social and Benefit Club for employees in 1920. Mrs. Herbst stepped down when her eldest son J. Krohn Herbst became president in 1918, but continued on as vice-president. She died June 10, 1925. J. Krohn served as president until his sudden death after an appendix operation Nov. 28, 1934. Upon his death his younger brother Robert K. Herbst served as president. Robert K. Herbst married Frances Burton in 1926 and they had three sons: Robert, Michael, and Richard K. After their father retired, the three sons took joint control of the store and continued its expansion. In 1958, Herbst Department Store purchased the adjacent Luger Furniture Store and in 1966, the adjacent Edwards Building. In the early 1970s, branch stores were opened in Bismarck, Devils Lake and Jamestown, and at West Acres Shopping Center in Fargo. Once again the Broadway store was hit by fire in January 1974. It went out of business in February 1982.