Herbst Department Store Records
Collection
Identifier: Mss 158-Mss 1596.12
Scope and Content
The Herbst Department Store Records cover the period from 1892 to the early 1970s. The records are very incomplete in regards to documenting the operations of the store. It appears to be a collection of significant items retained by the family after the closing of the store in 1982. The records have been arranged into five series: Correspondence, Newspaper clippings, Advertisement and promotional campaigns and awards, Subject files, and Scrapbooks.
The Correspondence Series, which is very incomplete, consists of letters dealing with the store business arranged chronologically from 1907 to 1976 and also some undated letters. In addition, there is correspondence related to J. Krohn Herbst's service in the United States Army during World War I.
The Newspaper Clippings Series, arranged chronologically, consists mostly of Fargo Forum clippings which deal with the store and the Herbst family's active involvement in Fargo community affairs.
The Advertisement Series arranged alphabetically, consists of sales and promotional advertisements. Included are an award for sales to young people, a sales promotion campaign sent to the Ankwright Co. in New York, and a story in Howard Binford's Guide focusing on the Herbst family business. There are also sale and full-page ads, a scrapbook for a salute to Italy sales week held in 1967, and its 75th anniversary sale advertisements (1967). Placed in Mss 1596.12 are two oversize newspaper advertisement supplements and two sale posters.
The Subject File Series contains business forms and general store procedures manuals from the 1930s to the 1950s. In the Employee Material files there are several employee job descriptions, an employee stock plan, several pamphlets and awards, and issues one and two of the staff newsletter The Herbst Hustler (1923). There is also a good run of the later employee newsletter, Herbstory from 1930 to 1935.and manuscript articles for 1973 issues. The employee social organization, Herbst Social and Benefit Club (also known as Herbst S & B Club) is documented through its minutes from 1920 to 1953 and other documents including a constitution, songs, programs and financial statement. The legal documents consist of a court deposition and building blueprints dealing with the 1974 fire. The procedure manuals were developed for the employees. Although some pages are dated from 1936, many are not and some are revised versions of earlier procedures. Section headings include: General Store Routine, Orders & Returns, Inventory Count, Receiving and Shipping, Marking Routine, and Mark Up-Down.
The Scrapbooks Series consists of three bound scrapbooks and loose pages from at least two others. The 1927-1934 volume includes newspaper clippings, letters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings regarding the Herbst Department Store and H. Krohn Herbst. There are also receipts and other documents from a buying trip in Europe in 1927. The 1934-1945 volume includes letters, advertising, newspaper clippings and articles about the store, employees and the war effort. There is also a 1942 reminiscence by Christ J. Moe regarding Isaac Herbst and the beginnings of his store. The 1891-1966 volume is more recent containing many newspaper clippings; an 1891 receipt for Lugar Furniture Co.; its Catalog of Fashions featuring women’s clothing; several issues of the employee newsletter Herbst’s S and B Gossip (1953); and photographs of window displays, departments, and the 1950 warehouse fire. Quite a number of items have been removed from pages in the volume. The final folder contains six loose pages from different scrapbooks than those described above. The pages contain primarily newspaper clippings and articles regarding the store and employees.
The Correspondence Series, which is very incomplete, consists of letters dealing with the store business arranged chronologically from 1907 to 1976 and also some undated letters. In addition, there is correspondence related to J. Krohn Herbst's service in the United States Army during World War I.
The Newspaper Clippings Series, arranged chronologically, consists mostly of Fargo Forum clippings which deal with the store and the Herbst family's active involvement in Fargo community affairs.
The Advertisement Series arranged alphabetically, consists of sales and promotional advertisements. Included are an award for sales to young people, a sales promotion campaign sent to the Ankwright Co. in New York, and a story in Howard Binford's Guide focusing on the Herbst family business. There are also sale and full-page ads, a scrapbook for a salute to Italy sales week held in 1967, and its 75th anniversary sale advertisements (1967). Placed in Mss 1596.12 are two oversize newspaper advertisement supplements and two sale posters.
The Subject File Series contains business forms and general store procedures manuals from the 1930s to the 1950s. In the Employee Material files there are several employee job descriptions, an employee stock plan, several pamphlets and awards, and issues one and two of the staff newsletter The Herbst Hustler (1923). There is also a good run of the later employee newsletter, Herbstory from 1930 to 1935.and manuscript articles for 1973 issues. The employee social organization, Herbst Social and Benefit Club (also known as Herbst S & B Club) is documented through its minutes from 1920 to 1953 and other documents including a constitution, songs, programs and financial statement. The legal documents consist of a court deposition and building blueprints dealing with the 1974 fire. The procedure manuals were developed for the employees. Although some pages are dated from 1936, many are not and some are revised versions of earlier procedures. Section headings include: General Store Routine, Orders & Returns, Inventory Count, Receiving and Shipping, Marking Routine, and Mark Up-Down.
The Scrapbooks Series consists of three bound scrapbooks and loose pages from at least two others. The 1927-1934 volume includes newspaper clippings, letters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings regarding the Herbst Department Store and H. Krohn Herbst. There are also receipts and other documents from a buying trip in Europe in 1927. The 1934-1945 volume includes letters, advertising, newspaper clippings and articles about the store, employees and the war effort. There is also a 1942 reminiscence by Christ J. Moe regarding Isaac Herbst and the beginnings of his store. The 1891-1966 volume is more recent containing many newspaper clippings; an 1891 receipt for Lugar Furniture Co.; its Catalog of Fashions featuring women’s clothing; several issues of the employee newsletter Herbst’s S and B Gossip (1953); and photographs of window displays, departments, and the 1950 warehouse fire. Quite a number of items have been removed from pages in the volume. The final folder contains six loose pages from different scrapbooks than those described above. The pages contain primarily newspaper clippings and articles regarding the store and employees.
Dates
- 1891-1979
Creator
- Herbst Department Store. (Organization)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
The NDSU Archives owns the copyrights.
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, 1893-Nov. 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.
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, 1893-Nov. 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.
Extent
1.6 Linear Feet (1.6 linear feet)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Started by Issac Herbst in 1891 as a dry goods store, Herbst's survived several fires and continually expanded with stores in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Jamestown and West Acres Shopping Center in Fargo in the 1970s. The store went out of business in 1982.
Provenance
Donated by Robert B. Herbst, 1986 (Acc. 2174).
Separation Record
The following non-manuscript items were removed from the Herbst Department Store Records and placed in the pertinent Institute collections: 16mm film of Herbst 75th anniversary (1965) and is also available on 1/2” videotape; 501 photographic prints; 145 negatives; and five boxes of slides relating to the Herbst store and family.
Herbst Department Store Photograph Collection: Photo 2043 & Folio 75
Herbst Department Store Negative Collection: Photo 2100
Herbst Department Store Photograph Collection: Photo 2043 & Folio 75
Herbst Department Store Negative Collection: Photo 2100
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Advertisements.
- American newspapers -- North Dakota.
- Department stores -- Employees -- North Dakota.
- Department stores -- Employees -- Societies, etc.
- Department stores -- Fires and fire prevention.
- Department stores -- North Dakota.
- Depositions.
- Fires -- North Dakota.
- Herbst Department Store.
- Herbst family.
- Herbst, Emma Krohn, 1867-1925.
- Herbst, Isaac, 1858-1910.
- Herbst, J. Krohn, 1893-1934.
- Herbst, Michael B.
- Herbst, Richard K.
- Herbst, Robert B.
- Herbst, Robert K., 1903-1981.
- Newsletters.
- Scrapbooks.
- United States. Army. -- : Military life.
- World War, 1914-1918.
Creator
- Herbst Department Store. (Organization)
- Herbst Social and Benefit Club. (Organization)
- Isaac Herbst & Co. (Organization)
- I. Herbst and Co. (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Herbst Department Store Records
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu