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Berry, Hannah Shwayder, 1895-1986

 Person

Biography

Rachel Kobey and Isaac Shwayder had 11 children: Solomon, Dora, Jesse, Raschelle, Mark, Gertrude, Florence, Maurice, Hannah, Benjamin, and Liebe. Having been persuaded by his wife's pioneering uncle Abe Rachofsky and great uncle Alexander Rittmaster, Isaac Shwayder first came to Central City, Colorado, in 1879 to find work, and after two years the rest of his family joined him. The Shwayders later moved to Nevadaville (Black Hawk), Colorado, and in 1888 they settled in Denver. Hannah Shwayder was born in Denver on August 21, 1920 and died in Denver on December 21, 1995. Hannah Shwayder married Harry I. Berry and wrote about the Shwayder family and business, Samsonite luggage, in "Tales of a Little Trunk and Other Stories."

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Shwayder Family Papers and Samsonite Corporation Records

 Collection
Identifier: B245
Abstract The Shwayder family of Denver, Colorado, is best known for the luggage company Samsonite Corporation, which the family founded and operated. Isaac and Rachel Shwayder had migrated from Manchester, England to Colorado in 1881 and eventually settled in Denver. In 1910 their son, Jesse Shwayder, opened a small luggage factory in Denver with his father along with his brothers Mark, Maurice, Benjamin, and Solomon Shwayder. The company started as Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company, was later...
Dates: 1896-2002

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  • Subject: Colorado X
  • Type: Collection X