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Clothing and Accessories
Men's Clothing ➔ Jacket
Identifier:
1983.87.1Description:
This coat is made of green polyester and has padded shoulders. It also has notched lapels and two buttons down the center front. There is a flap pocket on either side of the waist and a false pocket on the proper left breast. Each sleeve cuff has two buttons and there is a center vent on the back. The interior lining is made of white synthetic material and there is a label that reads "Mustang Shop, May's of Michigan". This coat was worn by Gary Kwapil during his senior year of high school. It is accompanied by vest number 1983.87.2 and pants number 1983.87.3.Date:
circa 1975Materials:
Polyester, Synthetic MaterialCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift Of Marged And Ray KwapilRelated Entities:
Kwapil, MargEd and Ray (donor) A. May and Sons (sold by)Alternate names: May's, Mays Of Michigan, The Giant
A. May & Son’s, also known as May’s of Michigan, was a men’s wear store based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The store was founded as the Giant Clothing Store by German merchant Abraham May in 1883 at Monroe and Lyon Streets, Grand Rapids and was nicknamed “the Giant”. After two years at the University of Michigan, Abraham's son Meyer May and other children in the family joined their father's business and the name of the store was changed to A. May & Son’s. It was the first store in the nation to display clothing on Batts hangers, an important first in the merchandizing of clothing. Meyer May became president of the company after his father's death in 1906. Meyer May and his wife Sophie Amberg were also known for their private residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Today the house is operating as a museum by Steelcase Inc. A. May & Son’s remained in the family until 1967, when it was purchased by Botany Industries. Norman Talmo, a former Botany executive purchased the store in 1972. The downtown store closed in 1986 and the building was demolished for parking in 1988.
Source: Michael Hauser and Marianne Weldon. Images of America, 20th Century Retailing in Downtown Grand Rapids. Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, 2014.
