The L. N. Gross Company (1908-1984), a three-generation family owned and operated manufacturer and distributor of women's apparel, was founded by Louis N. Gross (1870-1941). Gross was born in Montasteristch, Ukraine, and immigrated to the United States in 1890. Louis N. Gross was president, principal stockholder, and manager of The L. N. Gross Company until his death on August 4, 1941. Following his demise, his sons, Nedward N., William V., and Julius S. Gross, and his son-in-law, Milton E. Reed, all active in the operation of the company for twenty or more years, continued as managers and officers of the Board of Directors. Julius S. Gross was elected president and filled that office until his retirement in 1963. He was followed in that office by Louis N. (Luke) Gross II, son of William V. Gross, who served as president until the sale of the company in 1984. Three other third-generation family members succeeded to management: Nedward N. Gross, Jr., Sanford D. Atlas, son-in-law of William V. Gross, and Phillip L. Moss, son-in-law of Julius S. Gross. Major product lines of The L. N. Gross Company have been women's shirtwaists, under the labels of "Victoria" and "Wirthmor" (1908-1920), dresses under "Avenue," "Stride-A-Way," "Nan Carson," and other labels (1920-1950), and knitted outerwear and sportswear under the "Bradley" label (from 1950). Sales, through company sales representatives, were made to department and retail stores throughout the United States. During both World Wars textile products were produced for the Armed Services. In 1919, The L. N. Gross Company completed a 125 foot by 99 foot four-story building at 1220 West 3rd Street in Cleveland, Ohio, for headquarters, manufacturing, and distribution. Prior to the new building, production was carried out in leased facilities in Cleveland and Kent, Ohio, and by branch companies, namely Sol Gross and Company, New York City, New York; Bleich and Gross, Hartford, Connecticut; and Rose Manufacturing, Conneaut, Ohio. In 1929, additional production facilities were acquired in Kent, Ohio (sold in 1936), and in 1937 facilities opened in Fayetteville, Tennessee (sold in 1949). The Welworth Realty Company, 1918-1941, a wholly owned subsidiary of The L. N. Gross Company, operated as title and leaseholder of the parent company's properties. From the early 1930s the company maintained an office in the New York City garment district as a showroom, sales office, and headquarters for design and production personnel. Beginning in 1950, product manufacturing was performed by subcontractors in their own facilities using fabrics purchased by The L. N. Gross Company. A wholly owned subsidiary, Bradley Knitwear Company, acted as sales outlet for the parent company; product distribution was handled at company headquarters. In 1974 company headquarters was relocated to 701 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio. Financial difficulties in the late 1970s and early 1980s brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. On January 9, 1984, control of the company was turned over to an outside investment group and on November 29, 1984, the name of The L. N. Gross Company was changed to Bradley Sportswear, Inc.
The L.N. Gross Company Records, 1913-1962, consist of a history of the company, an autobiography, passport and visa of Louis Gross, correspondence, reports, applications for patents, contracts, account books, and miscellaneous materials, including scrapbooks containing advertisements for garments made by the company.
This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of the garment industry, particularly the manufacturing of women's apparel in Cleveland, Ohio in the twentieth century. Those studying the history of the Jewish community in Cleveland, and the history of business, entrepreneurship, and organized labor will also find this collection useful.
The collection is arranged by document type and then chronologically.
The researcher should also consult MS 4711 L. N. Gross Company Records, Series II.
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[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 3823 L. N. Gross Company Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of Louis N. Gross in 1976.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.