Reference Number
ARC-0197
Level of description
collection
Title
Schwartz Brothers Records
Date
1955-1992
Size
10.21 (Linear feet)
Scope and Contents
Schwartz Brothers Records spans the years 1955 to 1992, with the bulk of the collection dating between 1965 and 1985. The collection consists primarily of vendor files compiled by Schwartz Brothers, Inc. during their day to day operations from 1965 to 1985. These files contain catalogs, correspondence, and invoices from the various record companies, large and small, whose records the Schwartz Brothers, Inc. distributed. The Arista Records, Inc. and Motown Record Corporation files also contain legal documents, including depositions, for two separate court cases against the two companies in which Schwartz Brothers, Inc. was the plaintiff. Other materials in the collection relate to the promotion of Schwartz Brothers, Inc. and their chain of record stores, Harmony Hut. Included are advertising, articles, photographs, and posters (some autographed). The collection illustrates the day-to-day operations of a regional record distributor from 1965 to 1985. Seen in a broader context, the collection provides insight to the growth of family-run businesses as well as changes in the record industry during this era and resulting lawsuits.
Biography / Administrative History
Schwartz Brothers, Inc., a regional record distributor for the northeast United States, was founded in 1946 by Harry Schwartz in Lanham, Maryland. By 1969, James Schwartz was president, and the company was one of the leading independent audio distributors in the United States, so he decided to take the company public. At the time of the public offering, they had three retail outlets, known as Harmony Hut, which sold records and tapes. By the mid-1970s, there were fifteen stores in Maryland and New Jersey also selling audio components. The company then began to distribute videocassettes. By the early 1990s the business had expanded its territory, but there were fewer record labels and the business of audio-video distribution had changed, forcing the Schwartz Brothers, Inc. to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 23, 1992. Within a month, they were able to sell their assets to Independent National Distributors, Inc., who also agreed to act as an agent to collect money owed to the Schwartz Brothers' audio business, as they had already shutdown their videocassette business.
Notes
Acquisition Note: The Schwartz Brothers, Inc. Records were received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, Inc. as a gift from James Schwartz on June 23, 1992.
Citation: [Identification of Item], Schwartz Brothers, Inc. Records, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Processing Information: Processed by James A. Kohler, Project Archivist. Completed November 14, 2011. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
Associated Persons
Associated Subjects
Creator
