Manuscripts Collection
William Donaldson and Company was organized in 1882 by Scottish immigrant brothers, William T. and Lawrence S. Donaldson. They bought out the Colton Store at Sixth and Nicollet which, because of its construction, was known as the "Glass Block." In 1899 William died and Lawrence assumed ownership, changing the name to L.S. Donaldson Company. In 1912 Donaldson bought out another Minneapolis firm, Gimbel-Zimmer. After the death of Lawrence in 1924 the store became known as "Donaldson's." In 1929 it became part of the Allied Stores Corporation and later acquired both the St. Paul department store, the Golden Rule (1961), and Powers Company, Minneapolis (1985). In 1987 the firm was sold to Chicago general merchandiser Carson Pirie Scott under which name it thereafter operated.
The records document company real property investments, building management and improvements, store promotions and special events, community involvement, other companies acquired by Donaldsons, and miscellaneous Donaldson family affairs. Basic corporate operating records are rather fragmentary. Architectural drawings (1914-1968), photographs, and construction and maintenance records (1904-1924) document Donaldson store facilities in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
There is much information on the acquisition by the Donaldsons of property in Minneapolis; the firm's relationships with the Syndicate Trading Company, Marshall Field and Company, Selfridge of London, and William Liddell of Belfast; and employee relations, including wages and salaries, committees and clubs, women employees, and men in military service during World War I. Ledgers (1896-1913) and monthly statements (1902-1922) give basic financial information, and photocopies of Donaldson advertisements from Minneapolis newspapers (1939-1955) document product lines.
A large portion of the collection details the construction, maintenance, operation, and alteration of the physical plant over the years. The papers are arranged by contractor and by subject, with information on such matters as building safety, elevators, conveyor systems, telephones, florists, patents, company automobiles and trucks, and garage, barn, and stable facilities. In addition to textual information are a large group of architectural drawings of the Golden Rule store, most prepared by Clarence H. Johnston, and a number of photographs of the Minneapolis store (undated, [1920s], [1980s]) and the Town Square store opening in St. Paul (1980).
The Donaldson's store was the scene of many public events, including Christmas programs, motion pictures, lectures, and art exhibits. Also L.S. Donaldson Company and the store participated in numerous civic and business activities including the Minnesota State Fair, tax protests, and Liberty Loan drives during World War I. These subjects are also documented in the records.
A small collection of Donaldson family personal papers include legal documents relating to the William Donaldson estate and the William J. Murphy estate, of which L.S. Donaldson was an administrator. There are also a minute book and stock records of the Gimbel-Zimmer Company (1911-1916).
Accession number: 9168; 14,372; 14,792; 14,955; 16,936; 17,550
Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, October 1991 and by Walter J. Baillon, May 1996; additions by Kathryn A. Johnson, September 1993 and by David B. Peterson, November 2014
Catalog ID number: 001715817
3 folders.
L. S. Donaldson, Administrator, including the Tribune Trust, 1918-1919.
Donaldson catalog sheets (undated. 2 items); Order sheet (undated); Menu from Famous Sea-Food Grill (undated); Donaldson’s Card with hook and eye samples (undated); Photographs of Donaldson Stores (undated); Colored post card of Donaldson Store (1910); Advertisement: Welcoming meeting of Knights Templar, sponsored by Donaldson’s, Minneapolis Tribune (June 22, 1931); Advertisement: Donaldson’s Jumbo Savings Days, Minneapolis Star (June 16, 1953); Mark down sheet, children’s clothing (March 31, 1962); Catalog: Circulating exhibition, The Jewish Museum (1970-1971).
Advertisements, merchandising methods, credit solicitations, programs, promotion, snapshots, and other papers relating to the opening of the new Donaldson’s store, Town Square, Saint Paul (August 1980).
Interior and exterior view of the Minneapolis Donaldson's store (undated and 1920s); exterior view of Donaldson's City Center store, Minneapolis (198-); and of Joseph Elsinger, founder of Saint Paul’s Golden Rule department store, undated.
Photographs: Exterior view of Minneapolis Donaldson’s store and Minneapolis skyline (undated, 2 items); Honorable mention citation to L.S. Donaldson Company by Allied Builders Club (February 23, 1950); Key Fixtures plan for Saint Paul Town Square store (1979); Sheet with signatures of Employees of Carson Pirie Scott (1980s).
Includes articles of incorporation (1905).
Floor plans of fur storage vaults and other store areas. Specifications for terrazzo floors, sketches of outside ornamental details and columns all pertaining to additions and alterations made to the Golden Rule store building. Drawings from the 1914-1926 period are by architect Clarence H. Johnston. The drawings are photocopies, unless otherwise noted.