Archives of the Grands Magasins Léonhard Tietz

Collection description

Holding institution:: National Archives of Belgium 2 – Joseph Cuvelier Repository

Holding institution (official language):: Archives Générales du Royaume 2 – Dépôt Joseph Cuvelier

Scope and content:: This fonds contains bookkeeping and financial records, invoices, commercial correspondence, plans of the buildings of the company in Antwerp, and photographs of the family of Paul Wolff (1900-1921).

Administrative/biographical history:: Leonhard Tietz was a German Jew who managed a series of lingerie and haberdashery stores that had adopted the techniques of the large Parisian department stores. He settled in Antwerp around 1899-1900, where he opened a department store of over 3000 square metres. Tietz established branches in Mechelen, Bruges, Sint-Niklaas, Brussels and Liège. In addition to the production and sale of lingerie, the company also sold all types of fabrics, hardware, food, hygiene products, furniture, sporting goods, electrical appliances, music, toys and books. The company also encompassed a travel agency, a publishing house, a concert hall and exhibition hall. Its offices were located in Antwerp, Meir 92, and later in the rue Neuve in Brussels (no. 55 and eventually nos. 36-38). Fritz Hocheimer and Paul Wolff were appointed as commercial directors, responsible for the daily management and social affairs of the company. Grands Magasins Léonhard Tietz was placed under sequester in November 1918. It was acquired by À l’Innovation at public auction in December 1921. (C. Bulte & S. Soyez, Fonds van sekwesterarchieven – Fonds des archives des séquestres XIV : Inventaire des archives de la Société des « Grands Magasins Leonhard Tietz (1900-1921) ", I 334, Bruxelles, ARA-AGR, 2002.)

Subject terms:: Architectural drawings; Personal records; Photographs; Trade and commerce; Trade and commerce--Clothing and textile trade; World War I

Finding aids:: C. Bulte & S. Soyez, Fonds van sekwesterarchieven – Fonds des archives des séquestres XIV : Inventaire des archives de la Société des « Grands Magasins Leonhard Tietz (1900-1921) ", I 334, Bruxelles, ARA-AGR, 2002.