Frank Russek

{{Infobox person

| name = Frank Russek

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = 1875/1876

| birth_place = Bolesławiec, Poland

| death_date = December 10, 1948 (aged 73)

| death_place = New York City, U.S.

| death_cause =

| resting_place = Beth David Cemetery

| resting_place_coordinates =

| nationality = American

| known_for = co-founder of the Russeks department store chain

| education =

| employer = Russeks

| occupation = Businessman

| title =

| boards =

| spouse = Rose Anhalt (or Anholt)

| children = 2

| relatives = {{nowrap| Diane Arbus (granddaughter)
Howard Nemerov (grandson)
Doon Arbus (great-granddaughter)
Amy Arbus (great-granddaughter) }}

}}

Frank Russek (1875/1876 - December 10, 1948) was a Polish-born American businessman, and the co-founder of the Russeks department store chain. He was the grandfather of photographer Diane Arbus (who in turn was the mother of photographer Amy Arbus, and of writer and journalist Doon Arbus) and of poet Howard Nemerov (who in turn was the father of art historian Alexander Nemerov).

Biography

Frank Russek was a Polish Jewish immigrant to the United States, born in Bolesławiec, Poland, who arrived in New York City in the late 1800s as a teenager.{{Cite book|first=Arthur |last=Lubow|title= Diane Arbus: Portrait of a Photographer |date=5 September 2016|url= https://www.barnesandnoble.com/readouts/diane-arbus-portrait-of-a-photographer/ }} The Russeks as a fur family dated back to prior to 1823.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1923/11/02/106016403.html?pageNumber=30 "GORHAM BUILDING SOLD,"] The New York Times. He started as a furrier in New York City in the late 1800s.{{cite web|url=https://serstyle.com/faded-beauty-russeks-department-store-little-history-left/|title=Faded Beauty: Russeks Department Store the Little History Left|date=5 September 2017|website=serstyle.com|access-date=3 May 2019}}

The company Russeks started as a furrier in Manhattan in New York City, co-founded in 1885 by Frank Russek and his brother Isidore H. Russek.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1948/12/11/86759336.html?pageNumber=15 "F. RUSSEK IS DEAD,"] The New York Times. Anne Commire, Deborah Klezmer (1999). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Women_in_World_History/gjFaAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22frank+russek%22+%22jewish%22&dq=%22frank+russek%22+%22jewish%22&printsec=frontcover Women in World History: Aak-Azz], p. 436.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/02/16/102274704.html?pageNumber=31 "CONTROL PASSES AT RUSSEKS CHAIN,"] The New York Times. It opened in 1901 at 19th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan with less than $1,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1000|1901|r=-3}}}} in current dollar terms) in capital, starting with muffs and fur scarfs, and expanded into luxury clothing and accessories, and became Russeks Fifth Avenue, Inc.{{cite web|url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/196114320abtcm1231116|title=ESTATE OF RUSSEK v. COMMISSIONER - 20 T.C.M. 123 (1961) - btcm1231116 |author=|date=|website=Leagle|accessdate=May 3, 2019}}[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1923/11/02/106016403.html?pageNumber=30 "GORHAM BUILDING SOLD,"] The New York Times.{{cite web|url=https://serstyle.com/faded-beauty-russeks-department-store-little-history-left/|title=Faded Beauty: Russeks Department Store the Little History Left|author=|date=September 5, 2017|website=serstyle.com|accessdate=May 3, 2019}} In 1905 they moved to 23rd Street, in 1911 they moved to 34th Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, and in 1913 they moved to 362 Fifth Avenue.

In September 1924, by which time the store was one of the leading fur stores in New York City, they opened a women's apparel department store on the eight floors of the southwest corner of 390 Fifth Avenue and West 36th Street in Manhattan, which at the time was the most fashionable shopping area in the United States.{{cite web | url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/756808 | title=Russeks | Russeks Fifth Avenue Catalog, 1924–25 | date=October 1924 }} The store sold among other items frocks, wraps, hats, dress accessories, ermines, Russian sables, dresses, gowns, coats, ensemble suits, tailored suits, and shoes, including new fashions from Paris.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1924/09/26/104263801.html?pageNumber=44 "RUSSEKS OPEN NEW STORE ON FIFTH AV.,"] The New York Times.{{cite news |title=RUSSEKS TO CLOSE FIFTH AVE. STORE; 5 Years' Losses Reported -Shops Will Continue in Hotel and Suburbs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/26/archives/russeks-to-close-fifth-ave-store-5-years-losses-reported-shops-will.html |accessdate=May 3, 2019 |work=New York Times |date=February 26, 1959}}{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Christopher |title=Streetscapes/The 1905 Gorham Building, at Fifth Avenue and 36th Street; Recreating a Stanford White Design -- Using Paint |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/22/realestate/streetscapes-1905-gorham-building-fifth-avenue-36th-street-recreating-stanford.html |accessdate=May 3, 2019 |work=New York Times |date=October 22, 2000}}

In August 1937, the company opened up a store in Brooklyn in a five-story building on the northwest corner of Fulton Street and Bridge Street.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/08/03/94408920.html?pageNumber=36 "RUNS NEW RUSSEK UNIT,"] The New York Times.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/07/31/94407115.html?pageNumber=26 "MODERN FUR STORE READY IN BROOKLYN,"] The New York Times. In July 1940, the company opened up a store at 200 North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1940/07/19/95779095.html?pageNumber=34 "NEW RUSSEKS BRANCH TO OPEN IN CHICAGO,"] The New York Times. In 1941, at 18 years of age the granddaughter of Frank Russek (and daughter of future chairman David Nemerov) Diane Nemerov (later known as Diane Arbus) married Allan Arbus, and they both went to work for the Russeks advertising department, and eventually became successful fashion photographers.[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/05/archives/from-fashion-to-freaks-the-camera-eye-of-diane-arbus-focused-on-the.html?searchResultPosition=9 "From fashion to freaks,"] The New York Times. In 1944 the company had over 1,000 employees.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1943/01/06/87407204.html?pageNumber=30 "GROUP INSURANCE IN EFFECT AT RUSSEKS,"] The New York Times.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1943/12/23/88589091.html?pageNumber=27 "RUSSEK'S DECLARES AN EXTRA DIVIDEND,"] The New York Times. In 1946, the company had a net profit of $1,272,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1271654|1946|r=-3}}}} in current dollar terms).[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1947/04/15/88779328.html?pageNumber=37 "RUSSEKS SALES UP,"] The New York Times. In 1948, it was one of the largest stores in the world that specialized only in women's furs, coats, suits, and dresses.

Personal life

He married Rose Anhalt (or Anholt) in Manhattan on June 18, 1899, and they had two children, Gertrude Russek (1901-1994), and Harold Russek (1903-?).Patricia Bosworth (2006). [https://www.perlentaucher.de/vorgeblaettert/leseprobe-zum-buch-von-patricia-bosworth-schwarz-weiss-das-leben-der-diane-arbus-teil-1.html Black & White. The life of Diane Arbus. Part 1.] Gertrude Russek married David Nemerov, and they were the parents of photographer Diane Arbus (who in turn was the mother of photographer Amy Arbus, and of writer and journalist Doon Arbus) and poet Howard Nemerov (who in turn was the father of art historian Alexander Nemerov).

Frank Russek was particularly active in the United Jewish Appeal. He died on December 10, 1948, at his home in the Hotel Lombardy in New York City, at 73 years of age.[https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-obituary-for-frank-russe/130888326/ "Obituary for FRANK RUSSEK,"] newspapers.com. He was a member of Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan, where his funeral services were held, and he is buried at Beth David Cemetery.{{Cite news|title=Frank Russek Dies at 73; Founder of 5th Ave. Firm |newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date= December 11, 1948|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7145083/frank-russek-obit/ }}{{cite journal |date=October 1919 |title=Ushers of Temple Emanu-El |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LE1JAQAAMAAJ&q=Frank+Russek&pg=RA2-PA4 |journal=The Emanu-El Review |volume=5-6 |issue=1 |pages=4 }}