Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to The California Shop Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0572
Creators:
California Shop.
Kemp, Helen Misch, 1894-1948 (store owner/manager)
Kemp, Barbara
Dates:
1938-1942
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Cubic foot
2 boxes
Repository:
The records of the California Shop, a shop specializing in West Coast decorative arts located in New York City, New York.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Collection consists of a bound volume used as both a log of visitors to the shop and a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, ephemera, magazine articles, announcements, and invitations to fashion shows. The first few pages of the volume are the guest book. The remaining pages were used as the scrapbook and is in reverse chronological order. There are also loose pages from the volume and its wooden covers, with a portion of a map of the Audencia of Guadalajara used as the cover illustration. Of particular interest are the typewritten manuscripts documenting Kemp's ideas for starting the California Shop. In addition, there are photographs of the shop, possibly in 1941, and Helen Kemp.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Materials are arranged as a single series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Helen Misch Kemp opened the California Shop on November 15, 1938 at 677 Madison Avenue in New York City. Kemp was born April 22, 1894 in New York to Moses and Jennie Misch but had moved to California in 1936 where she worked in the women's clothing trade. Some time later she moved back to New York and noticed a distinction between the clothing and merchandise created in California as opposed to what was being offered in New York. California was also gaining a reputation in the fashion industry for its women designers who were combining chic styles, comfort, and unique colors for the American female market. Armed with a keen eye for fashion and shrewd business sense Kemp opened her shop to provide California craftsmanship to an eastern market. Kemp took annual trips to California to select what she considered was the best for her customers. While the California Shop sold mostly women's clothing it also offered products such as preserves, copper household utensils, cookware, trays, wastebaskets, spice jars, wall pockets, flower containers, pottery, and jewelry. On October 15, 1940, the shop moved to 674 Madison Avenue, where it occupied a larger space. Kemp closed her shop in 1942 due to war time difficulties in getting merchandise from California. Helen Kemp died on February 13, 1948, at the age of fifty-four.

Administration

Author
Vanessa Broussard-Simmons
Ownership and Custodial History
Donated by Barbara Kemp, 1997.
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Barbara Kemp
Processing Information
Collection processed by Vanessa Broussard- Simmons, August 1997.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
The California Shop Records, 1938-1942, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Barbara Kemp.

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Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Women in business -- 1930-1940 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women -- Employment Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women -- History -- 1930-1940 -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- 1930-1940 -- California Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Clothing and dress -- 1930-1940 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Clothing trade -- 1930-1940 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Fashion -- 1930-1940 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
California -- Fashion -- 1930-1940 Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings -- 1930-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
New York (N.Y.) -- Fashion -- 1930-1940 Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 1930-1940 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
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Suite 1100, MRC 601
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