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Goldstein Family Papers

Dates

1890s–1970s (Bulk 1930s–1960s)

Creator

Goldstein Family

Summary/Abstract

The Goldstein Papers pertain to a family of Murfreesboro store owners and businesspeople. The family most prominently owned Goldstein’s Department Store on the Public Square, but also owned and operated several other businesses in the area, including Aultman’s Jewelers in Murfreesboro and Goldstein’s satellite store in Tullahoma. Members of the immediate and extended Goldstein family also owned, wholly or in part, Carolyn’s in Shelbyville, Friedberg Jewelers in Detroit, Howard Jewelers in Bowling Green, and Joy’s Jewelers in Clarksville. These papers primarily document the Goldstein family, local businesses in Murfreesboro, business life on the Public Square, and Jewish immigration and family life in Rutherford County.

Quantity/Physical Description

Approximately 2.25 linear feet

Language(s)

English

Repository

Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, (615) 898-2632

Restrictions on Access

None

Copyright

It is presumed that corporate and individual copyrights in manuscripts, photographs, and other materials have been retained by the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions apply. Users of materials should seek necessary permissions from the copyright hol

Preferred Citation

(Box Number, Folder Number), Collection Name, Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Acquisition

The items in this collection were salvaged from Aultmann’s Jewelers on Murfreesboro’s Public Square in 2005 when it was being closed. Steve Cates donated the items to the Albert Gore Research Center. The Peggy Goldstein Leftwich addendum was donated A

Processed By

Original processor undetermined, June 2007. Additional processing performed by Aja Bain, graduate assistant, 2012.

Arrangement

These papers are arranged into series by type of information documented and type of material. The four major series are: family papers, department store, other businesses, and publications and printed materials. These series are further arranged into subs

Biographical Note

William Goldstein, a Jewish Russian immigrant, moved to the United States in 1880 and settled in Murfreesboro in 1886. Soon afterwards, he opened a dry goods store in town, eventually settling into a space on the Public Square off of Church and Vine. He ran the store with his wife Dora until his death in 1930, when his son David took possession of the store. Upon David's death in 1942, the proprietorship transferred to David’s brother Bernard, who ran the store until selling out to a national chain in 1965. Bernard and his wife Evelyn financially supported many charities, among which was Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. The 1964 annual report is included in these papers. Goldstein’s Department Store ultimately closed its doors in 1982. The Goldstein family operated several other businesses in addition to Goldstein’s, was prominent in local society, and was well-known in the community for their benevolence.

Peggy Goldstein Leftwich (1916 – 2008) was the granddaughter of William and Dora Goldstein, and daughter of David and Flora Goldstein. The items of hers in this collection were donated to the Albert Gore Research Center upon her death.

Scope and Content

The Goldstein Papers include a wide assortment of personal and business documents, as well as some photographs. The bulk dates from the 1930s to 1960s, when Bernard Goldstein ran the business. Because of this, most of the papers relate to him. Included are tax records, sales records, financial statements, and letters and receipts from both the family’s business and their personal life. Although small, the collection is important, as not many records pertaining to Jewish families are available in Rutherford County

Associated Materials

None

Related Collections

Licker-Haney-Maxwell Papers and Aaron Weise Papers.

Subject Terms

Persons/Families

Goldstein, William, Goldstein, Bernard, Goldstein, Evelyn, Goldstein, David, Goldstein, Flora, Goldstein, Dora, Leftwich, Peggy Goldstein, Weise, Leah Goldstein, King, Andrew

Organizations/Corporate Names

Places

Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Tullahoma, Tennessee, Shelbyville, Tennessee, Detroit, Michigan, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Clarksville, Tennessee, New York, New York, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Subjects (General)

Local businesses, Department stores, Jewish families, Family history, Murfreesboro public square, Downtown Murfreesboro, Schools, Colleges and universities, Hospitals

Occupations

Material Types

Tax records, Sales records, Financial statements, Government documents, Correspondence, Receipts, Photographs, Publications, Yearbooks, Programs, Printed materials, Artifacts