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Samuel Joseph Bloomingdale (June 17, 1873 – May 10, 1968) was an American heir to the Bloomingdale's department store fortune and president of Bloomingdale's from 1905 to 1930.

Early life and education

Bloomingdale was born to Lyman Bloomingdale, founder of the Bloomingdale's department store, and Hattie Colenberg Bloomingdale, on June 17, 1873, at 938 Third Avenue, the first location of the family-owned department store. He was educated at private schools and graduated from Columbia University in 1895, where he studied architecture. However, after consultation with Dean William Robert Ware of the Columbia School of Architecture, he decided against becoming an architect and joined the family business.

Career

Upon his father's death, Bloomingdale became president of the department store in 1905. During his 25-year tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the department store and undertook a large scale reconstruction of the store into a modern eight-story structure occupying the entire block from 59th to 60th street between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue. As president, Bloomingdale was recognized as a pioneer of advertisement, which helped quintuple the sales volume of Bloomingdale's to $25 million annually. The department store was also the first in New York City to welcome an outside union.

In 1930, the store joined the chain of Federated Department Stores and Bloomingdale became a director of the company until 1962. He remained a chairman of Bloomingdale's until 1943 and became the honorary chairman thereafter.

Philanthropy

Bloomingdale was a trustee of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and Montefiore Medical Center, and was active in the American Jewish Committee.

Personal life

Bloomingdale died on May 10, 1968. He was a member of the Century Association, Harmonie Club, Salmagundi Club, Quaker Ridge Golf Club, and Congregation Emanu-El of New York.

He married Rita G. Goodman in 1916 and had two daughters:

• Susan Bloomingdale, who married investor Richard C. Ernst
• Louise Bloomingdale, who married Edgar M. Cullman, president of the General Cigar Company

References

1. ^ "Samuel Bloomingdale, 94, Dies; Department Store Head, '05-'30; Son of Co-Founder Was an Innovator in Retailing – Active in Charities". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
2. Schumach, Murray (September 7, 1972). "Bloomingdale's Is 100 and Is Still Looking Up (Published 1972)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
3. Columbia College today. Columbia University Libraries. New York, N.Y. : Columbia College, Office of Alumni Affairs and Development. 1957. p. 12.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
4. ^ Hellman, Geoffrey T. (October 30, 1964). "Bloomingdale's Bloomingdale". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
5. "SCHOFF TO BE HEAD OF BLOOMINGDALE'S; Chicago Store Man to Succeed Schaap, Who Will Be Elected Board Chairman Feb. 1 (Published 1943)". The New York Times. December 21, 1943. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
6. "Jewish Post 17 May 1968 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program". newspapers.library.in.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
7. "History of Golf in America: Westchester, the Birthplace of Golf". Westchester Magazine. April 11, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
8. "SUSAN BLOOMINGDALE WED; She Is Married at Purchase, N. Y., to Richard Charles Ernst (Published 1938)". The New York Times. August 12, 1938. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
9. "SUSAN B. ERNST (Published 1981)". The New York Times. April 21, 1981. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
10. Blair, William G. (June 20, 1984). "RICHARD ERNST OF BLOOMINGDALE UNIT IS DEAD (Published 1984)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
11. "MISS BLOOMINGDALE HAS HOME WEDDING; Daughter of Rye, N. Y., Couple Wed to E. M. Cullman, Dr. J. B. Wise Officiating SISTER MATRON OF HONOR Bride an Alumna of Sarah Lawrence--Her Husband Is a Junior at Yale WESTCHESTER BRIDE (Published 1938)". The New York Times. August 29, 1938. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
12. "Paid Notice: Deaths CULLMAN, LOUISE BLOOMINGDALE". query.nytimes.com. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

• 1873 births
• 1968 deaths
• American people of German-Jewish descent
• American retail chief executives
• Businesspeople from New York City
• American chief executives of fashion industry companies
• 20th-century American businesspeople
• Columbia College (New York) alumni
• Bloomingdale family
• Jews from New York (state)