This is a finding aid (or, description) of materials available in the La Crosse Public Library Archives. At this time, none of the materials listed below are accessible over the internet.
Contact the Archives to learn more about using these materials.
Guide to the Rose Jewelers Financial Records, 1893-1902
MSS 169
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Abstract
- Financial records of a La Crosse, Wisconsin, based jewelry store, founded by German immigrant George B. Rose in 1856. Rose Jewelers continues today (2017) still owned by Rose descendants. The journals, consisting of daybooks and cash books, show the clientele to be a veritble "who's who" of the middle to upper class families in La Crosse.
- Collection Title
- Rose Jewelers Financial Records
- Date of Materials
- 1893-1902
- Creator
- Rose Jewelers.
- Call Number
- MSS 169
- Amount
- 0.8 cubic feet
- Physical Description
- 1 archives box and 1flat box
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- La Crosse Public Library Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Rose Jewelers Financial Records, 1893-1902, MSS 169, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Historical Note
George B. Rose, founder of Rose Jewelers, was born in Nordhausen, Germany, October 30, 1830. At the age of 21, he came to America and established himself at Poughkeepsie, New York. The westward movement was a challenge for him, and so he followed the rail lines “as far west as possible” to La Crosse, Wisconsin. He established his jewelry business on the north side of Pearl Street in the town’s business center in June 1856. His brother Louis joined him in business in August 1857. In 1881, the business was moved to 310 Main Street. After 79 years of operating at this location, the business again moved in 1960 to 111 5th Avenue South. The most recent move was in 1989 to the corner of 5th and Main Street where Steve Rose, along with his sons Jon, Jordan and daughter Heidi continue the family tradition.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of financial records of a retail jewelry business in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The journals are daybooks, showing the daily income and expenses of the business including sales. Other journals are cash journals and are intended to show the financial condition of the business. Lacking are the account hournals and ledgers showing more specifically clientele accounts and sources of merchandise. One folder contains a few letters from an unknown woman to Walter Rose.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
La Crosse Public Library Archives 2017 February
800 Main St.La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use.
Acquisitions Information
(Accession no. 2017.038) Donated by the La Crosse County Historical Society; original donor was Sue Mellon, 2008; LCHS accession number 2008-039
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- La Crosse County Historical Society (Wis.).
- Rose Jewelers.
Genre(s)
- Financial records
Geographic Name(s)
- La Crosse (Wis.)--Commerce
Personal Name(s)
- Mellon, Sue
Subject(s)
- Jewelry stores--Wisconsin--La Crosse
Collection Inventory
|
Cash Journals, 1898-1902 |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
1898 February-1900 January |
1 | 1 | ||
|
1900 February-1902 September |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Daybooks, 1893-1902 |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
1893 November-1895 January |
1 | 3 | ||
|
1896 September-1898 September |
1 | 4 | ||
|
1898 September-1900 September |
1 | 5 | ||
|
1900 October-1902 October |
1 | 6 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Sales Daybook, 1897 December-1901 September |
2 | 1 | ||
|
Correspondence to Walter Rose, circa 1899 |
2 | 2 | ||