Levy, Hannah, 1905-1984
Biography
Hannah Levy became a nationally known fashion expert, traveling extensively to New York, Europe, and Asia to buy clothes for Fashion Bar, which was started by her brother Jack in 1933. Fashion Bar became the largest privately owned chain in Colorado. Hannah was born in the town of Haigerloch, near Stuttgart in Southern Germany, on May 19, 1918, to Raphael and Bertha Hilb Levy. Hannah's uncle, Isidore Hilb, came to Denver in the early 1900s and founded Hilb and Company, a wholesale clothing supply business. Jack Levy came to Denver in 1923 to work at his uncle's company as a salesman. Hannah Levy reached New York in 1925, working at menial jobs for 20 months to earn enough money for a train ticket to Denver. She worked as a cleaner, a nanny, a manicurist, and a delicatessen worker. Hannah Levy supported many Jewish, civic, and cultural causes, including Temple Emanuel, Rose Hospital, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Denver Symphony, Jewish Community Center, and the University of Denver's Holocaust Awareness Institute.After a 50-year career at Fashion Bar, Hannah Levy died December 1, 1984.
Citation
Not found in LCNAF or VIAF. mmata 2016-10-26
Sources: https://www.immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entry.php?rec=268 (article by Jeanne Abrams (2016).
Tales of a Little Trunk by Hannah Shwayder Berry.
Obituaries.
Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:
Box 1: Brown Leather Suitcase, between 1938-1993
A brown leather suitcase with two leather straps across the sides that buckle at the top. Two metal snaps are along the side of the top and a metal latch with a lock is featured in the middle. Originally belonged to Hannah Levy.
Box 6, 1938-1993
(7) file folders include: photographs of Fashion Bar buildings, events, logo images, employees, and Hannah and Jack Levy. Photos of trips to Hong Kong, Italy and Israel with Golda Meir. Also a photo with May D and F visible.
Box 8, 1950-1990
(1) file folder of Hannah Levy achievement awards; (1) bound master copy of Hannah's awards (1976-1985); news magazines, news clippings, and articles.
Box 9, 1961
Scrapbook from 1961 European Trip. Includes trip itinerary.
Box 11, 1980-1990
(1) framed interview with Hannah Levy; (1) framed governor's proclomation of Jack Levy day; (1) news article honoring Jack Levy at Rose Celebration, mounted on wood.
Box 12, 1900-1993
(1) framed photo of Denver Street James Hotel, future site of first Fashion Bar store (c. 1900); (1) framed photo portrait of Jack Levy (c. 1970).
Levy Family Portrait, circa 1929
Bertha and Raphael Levy stand in the center, surrounded by their children. Jack and Hannah stand to Bertha's right, and Edward Levy is to Raphael's left. Kate and Ruth Levy are sitting in the grass. This photograph was taken in Denver, Colorado. Hannah and Jack Levy were the founders of the Fashion Bar retail women's clothing stores throughout Colorado.
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- Jewish businesspeople 3
- Jewish families 3
- Colorado 2
- Denver (Colo.) 2
- Jewish women 2
- Awards 1
- Clothing and dress 1
- Clothing trade 1
- Department stores 1
- Europe 1
- Fashion 1
- Jewish merchants 1
- Merchants 1
- Photographs 1
- Social life and customs 1
- Special events 1
- Suitcases 1 + ∧ less