Metadata: Mary Harris Gowns Ltd
Collection
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- Tyne and Wear Archives
- Holding institution (official language):
- Tyne and Wear Archives
- Postal address:
- Tyne and Wear Archives, Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA
- Phone number:
- 44(0)191 2772236
- Web address:
- https://twarchives.org.uk/
- Reference number:
- DT.MHG
- Title:
- Mary Harris Gowns Ltd
- Title (official language):
- Mary Harris Gowns Ltd
- Creator/accumulator:
- Lahav Jewish Project
- Date(s):
- 1960/1995
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 0.1 linear metres (2 files and 1 document)
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Photographic images
- Physical condition:
- Good
- Scope and content:
- This collection includes photographs and marketing materials relating to'Mary Harris Gowns Ltd', Team Valley, Gateshead, dating approximately 1960s-1970s. This collection also includes a staff handbook (approximately 1960s) and a printed biography of Mirium Levine (known as Mary Harris) written by her son Michael Harris in 1995.
- Archival history:
- Held by creating organisation/individual until gifted to Tyne and Wear Archives.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Mary Harris Gowns Ltd was founded in 1939 by Mary Harris (born Miriam Levine). The first factory was based in Team Valley, Gateshead, and by the 1950s the company ran two further factories, one in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne and the third in South Shields. By the early 1960s the business was established as one of the major manufacturers to Marks and Spencer as well as other leading chain store and mail order businesses, and in 1969 the Group launched its own fashion label 'Mary Harris'. By the 1960s the Group employed 500 people, producing between 12,000 and 15,000 garments per week. In the 1970s Mary Harris Ltd became a subsidiary of Vantona Group Ltd, and in 1982 Vantona Group Ltd closed all three Mary Harris Ltd factories.
- Access points: locations:
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Subject terms:
- Trade and commerce
- Trade and commerce--Clothing and textile trade
- Yerusha Network member:
- Tyne and Wear Archives
- Author of the description:
- Daniel Stoker; North East Museums; 2025
