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Shwayder, Jesse, 1882-1970

 Person

Biography

Jesse Shwayder was born in Blackhawk, Colorado in 1882, one of five sons of Isaac and Rachel Kobey Shwayder. The Shwayder family moved to Denver and Jesse encouraged his father to open a small luggage store. Jesse married Nellie Weitz and went to work as a salesman for Seward Luggage in New York City. After a year, he had enough money and experience to come back to Denver and open the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company in 1910, which became the renowned Samsonite Luggage Company. His son King D. Shwayder became president of Samsonite in 1962. Jesse Shwayder died in Denver in 1970.

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: Jewish families -- Colorado X