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Table of Contents

Collection Summary

Biography/Organizational History

Scope and Content

Restrictions

Preferred Citation

Processing Information

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Access Terms

Collection Contents

Series 1 
General 

Series 2 
Correspondence 

Series 3 
Bound Records 

L.H. Guldman Golden Eagle Dry Goods Company Records, 1880-1936

Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives, Special Collections and Archives, Penrose Library, University of Denver

Email:  jabrams@du.edu
URL:  http://library.du.edu/About/collections/SpecialCollections/guldman/




Collection Summary

Title L.H. Guldman Golden Eagle Dry Goods Company Records
Dates (Inclusive) 1880-1936
Creator Golden Eagle Dry Goods Company
Abstract Leopold H. Guldman (1853-1936) founded the Golden Eagle Dry Goods Company of Denver in 1879, eight years after his arrival from his native Germany. He was one of Colorado's pioneer merchants and philanthropists. By the late 1870s he had come to the Colorado mountains in search of silver, but found it more profitable to open the Golden Eagle Clothing stores in Leadville and Cripple Creek, Colorado. In 1879, he moved to Denver and opened the third and most successful Golden Eagle store. This store was Denver's leading popular-price department store for many years. His vigorous advertising campaigns, combined with an aggressive policy of buying and selling for cash only, soon established record sales for him. The rapid growth of the Golden Eagle necessitated continual expansion and remodeling. By 1901, its five-story building occupied most of the block at 16th and Lawrence Streets. The store was closed and the stock liquidated upon Guldman's death in 1936. He donated the first Jewish Community Center, helped found Temple Emanuel, National Jewish Hospital, Beth Israel Hospital, and was a key figure in numerous other charitable endeavors. The records of the Golden Eagle were transferred by Deed of Gift from the University of Colorado Norlin Library to the Beck Archives in 1994. It represents all phases of the company's diversification, including general accounts, purchased and receiving records, sales and shipping records, etc. Although a few of the records extend back into the 1880's, most of the material covers the period from 1900 to 1936. The records are reflective of Denver's economic growth during that period.
Collection number MS 92
Extent 43 linear feet ; 238 Boxes and Bound Ledgers
Repository Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives, Special Collections and Archives, Penrose Library, University of Denver.
Languages English

Biography/Organizational History

Leopold Henry Guldman (1853-1936) emigrated from his native Bavaria when he was eighteen years old. Arriving in New York City, he immediately headed west to Watertown, Wisconsin. Once there, he worked for his brother-in-law, Morris A. Hirsh, who owned a New York Store. During his stay in Wisconsin, he learned the language, customs, and business practices of the United States. In the late 1870s, he headed for Leadville, Colorado, probably in the hopes of making his fortune in the silver bonanza that gripped the region at that time.

After only a year in Leadville, Guldman decided that he could make his fortune not in the mining camps, but in the dry goods business. The record shows that for a time between 1879 and 1880 he had a partner by the name of Simon M. Wineman and that the firm itself was being referred to as both Wineman and Guldman as well as the Golden Eagle. The partnership was officially terminated in August 1880.

That same year Guldman went into business with Bernhardt Heller under the name of the Golden Eagle Dry Goods House. Their partnership lasted approximately three years, until it was dissolved on July 12, 1883, with Guldman becoming the sole proprietor of the establishment on 391 Lawrence Street.

Through aggressive advertising and pricing, the company grew quickly. By 1889, the Golden Eagle of Denver sold children's suits, wraps, jerseys, jackets, dry goods, notions, hosiery, muslin underwear, seal garments, furs, cloaks, corsets, and millinery. Part of the success of Gulman's enterprise stemmed from his astute business acumen; for example, he only bought and sold in cash, procuring his stock from primarily bankrupted companies.

In August 1904, for $60,000 in cash, Guldman purchased the Times Building on Lawrence, near 16th Street. This major purchase necessitated an equally large expansion of his establishment into a five-story department store. In 1912, plans were discussed for a twelve-story building, but such a structure never came to fruition.

The Golden Eagle's unrivaled success meant that L.H. Guldman was able to become one of Denver's philanthropic princes. He is credited with donating Denver's first Jewish Community Center, the Guldman Center, being one of the founders of both the National Jewish Hospital and the Beth Israel Hospital, and donating generously to a number of other charities. His most important gift was $50,000 to Beth Israel Hospital in 1923.

The company remained in operation through the years of the Great Depression, but finally closed for good in 1941, probably due to its founder's death five years prior.

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Scope and Content

The records of the Golden Eagle represent all phases of the company's diversification, including general accounts, payroll records, sales and stock records, department records, incoming and outgoing letters and telegrams, contracts, and various personal and miscellaneous items. The bulk of the material represents the period from 1900 to 1936. Unfortunately, few of the records represent the company's nascent period in the nineteenth century; in fact, the earliest complete record extends back only to 1885.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

The collection is open to qualified researchers. Contact Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives, Special Collections and Archives, Penrose Library, University of Denver.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Permission for use or reproduction must be obtained from the Director of the Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives, Special Collections and Archives, Penrose Library, University of Denver. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

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Preferred Citation

L.H. Guldman Golden Eagle Dry Goods Company Records, Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives, Special Collections and Archives, Penrose Library, University of Denver.

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Processing Information

The collection was processed by Western History Collections, University of Colorado.

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Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Western History Collections, Norlin Library, University of Colorado, July 24, 1995.

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Access Terms

Golden Eagle Dry Goods Company

Guldman, Leopold H.

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Collection Contents

Series 1 
General 

Description Container

Insurance, Bank, and Stock Records 

Box 1  

General Ledger and Accounts Receivable 

Box 2  

Accounts Payable Ledger 

Box 3  

General Inventory 

Box 4  

Grocery Ledger 

Box 5  

Payroll Records 

Box 6  

Payroll Records 

Box 7  

General Sales 

Box 8  

Markdown Sales 

Box 9  

Sales and Stock Records 

Box 10  

Department Reports 

Box 11  

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Series 2 
Correspondence 

Description Container

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 12  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 13  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 14  

Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence 

Box 15  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 16  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 17  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters 

Box 18  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters 

Box 19  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 20  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters 

Box 21  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 22  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters 

Box 23  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters 

Box 24  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters 

Box 25  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters 

Box 26  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 27  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 28  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 29  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 30  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 31  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 32  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 33  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 34  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 35  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 36  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 37  

Incoming and Outgoing Letters and Telegrams 

Box 38  

Contracts 

Box 39  

Contracts 

Box 40  

Contracts 

Box 41  

Personal and Misc. business 

Box 42  

Invoices  1930-1933
Box 43  

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Series 3 
Bound Records 

Description Container

Accounts Payable  1889
Box 44  

Journal  1889 June-September 1890
Box 45  

Ledger  1892
Box 46  

Journal  1892 February-1895 September
Box 47  

Journal  1894 April-1895 January
Box 48  

Journal  1895 February-1895 August
Box 49  

Journal  1895 August-1896 February
Box 50  

Journal  1896 March-1896 September
Box 51  

Journal  1896 September-1897 April
Box 52  

Journal  1897 May-1898 February
Box 53  

Journal  1898 February-1898 November
Box 54  

Journal  1899 January-1899 July
Box 55  

Journal  1899 August-1900 April
Box 56  

Sale Book  1899
Box 57  

Journal  1900 April-1901 March
Box 58  

Journal  1901 May-1902 January
Box 59  

Unknown 

Box 60  

Journal  1903 May-1906 January
Box 61  

Journal  1902 January-1904 November
Box 62  

Journal  1902 January-1904 May
Box 63  

Journal  1906 February-1908 December
Box 64  

Journal  1909 January-1911 December
Box 65  

Journal  1935 March-1936 October
Box 66  

Journal  1932 March-1933 July
Box 67  

Journal  1885
Box 68  

Journal  1887
Box 69  

Journal  1890
Box 70  

Journal  1894
Box 71  

Journal  1896
Box 72  

Journal  1898
Box 73  

Journal  1899
Box 74  

Journal  1905
Box 75  

Ledger  1896-1897
Box 76  

Ledger  1898-1899
Box 77  

General Ledger and Accounts Received  1906-1907
Box 78  

General Ledger and Accounts Received  1907-1908
Box 79  

Inventory Ledger  1913
Box 80  

Journal  1915-1916
Box 81  

Journal  1917
Box 82  

Journal  1919-1920
Box 83  

Journal  1920
Box 84  

Journal  1921
Box 85  

Journal  1921
Box 86  

Journal  1924
Box 87  

Journal  1923-1926
Box 88  

Journal  1924-1926
Box 89  

Journal  1925-1926
Box 90  

Journal  1926
Box 91  

Journal  1926
Box 92  

Journal  1927-1928
Box 93  

Journal  1926-1929
Box 94  

Journal  1930-1931
Box 95  

Journal  1931-1932
Box 96  

Journal  1935
Box 97  

Journal  1934-1937
Box 98  

Freight and Bill Reference 

Box 99  

Parcel Post Ledger 

Box 100  

Parcel Post Ledger 

Box 101  

Grocery Cash Ledger  1936
Box 102  

Ledger  1936
Box 103  

Ledger  1936
Box 104  

Ledger  1934-1936
Box 105  

Ledger  1935
Box 106  

Petty Cash Journal  1922
Box 107  

Mail Orders  1902-1903
Box 108  

Mail Orders  1903-1904
Box 109  

Mail Orders  1904-1905
Box 110  

Check Register  1912
Box 111  

Cash Journal  1914
Box 112  

Cash Journal  1919-1920
Box 113  

Purchase Register  1917
Box 114  

Purchase Journal  1920
Box 115  

Purchase Journal  1921
Box 116  

Purchase Journal  1924-1926
Box 117  

Purchase Journal  1926-1928
Box 118  

Cash Journal  1927-1930
Box 119  

Purchase Journal  1928-1930
Box 120  

Letters  1888
Box 121  

Letters  1889
Box 122  

Letters  1890-1900
Box 123  

Letter Books  1890-1892
Box 124  

Letters  1892
Box 125  

Letters  1892
Box 126  

Letters  1892
Box 127  

Letters  1893
Box 128  

Letters  1893
Box 129  

Letters  1893
Box 130  

Letters  1893
Box 131  

Letters  1907
Box 132  

Letters  1907
Box 133  

Letters  undated
Box 134  

Letters  undated
Box 135  

Letters  1919
Box 136  

Accounts Received  1909-1910
Box 137  

Purchase Ledger  1912
Box 138  

Accounts Received  1914-1919,1927-1931
Box 139  

Accounts Received  1930
Box 140  

Accounts Received  1930
Box 141  

Purchase Journal  1912
Box 142  

Purchase Journal  1932-1933
Box 143  

Purchase Journal  1933-1936
Box 144  

Purchase Journal  1930-1931
Box 145  

Cash Journal  1931-1934
Box 146  

Purchase Journal  1936-1937
Box 147  

Journal  1914 January-1915 June
Box 148  

Journal  1921 October-1923 June
Box 149  

Journal  1925 September-1926 December
Box 150  

Journal  1926 April-1927 November
Box 151  

Journal  1927 November-1928 December
Box 152  

Journal  1928 April-1929 July
Box 153  

Journal  1929 March-1930 June
Box 154  

Journal  1928 July-1930 June
Box 155  

Journal  1928 July-1930 November
Box 156  

Journal  1930 June-1931 October
Box 157  

Journal  1930 November-1932 March
Box 158  

Journal  1931 October-1933 January
Box 159  

Journal  1935 February-1936 October
Box 160  

Ledger  1902
Box 161  

Ledger  1934
Box 162  

Ledger  1935
Box 163  

Department Sales Book  1901
Box 164  

Miscellaneous  undated
Box 165  

Stock Book  1899
Box 166  

Department Sales Book  1930
Box 167  

Department Sales Book  undated
Box 168  

Department Sales Book  1900
Box 169  

Purchase Journal  1903
Box 170  

Purchase Journal  1905
Box 171  

Purchase Journal  1907
Box 172  

Purchase Journal  1910
Box 173  

Purchase Journal  1914
Box 174  

Purchase Journal  undated
Box 175  

General Ledger and Accounts  1932-1936
Box 176  

Accounts Receivable A-K  1935-1936
Box 177  

Accounts Receivable L-Z  1935-1936
Box 178  

Accounts Receivable  1936-1937
Box 179  

Accounts Receivable  1921-1923
Box 180  

Accounts Receivable  1928-1929
Box 181  

Accounts Receivable  1928-1936
Box 182  

Petty Cash  1932-1936
Box 183  

Accounts Receivable  1932-1936
Box 184  

Accounts Receivable  1933-1934
Box 185  

Accounts Receivable  1933-1936
Box 186  

Accounts Receivable  1934-1935
Box 187  

Accounts Receivable  1934
Box 188  

Accounts Receivable  1934
Box 189  

Accounts Receivable  1935
Box 190  

Accounts Receivable  1935
Box 191  

Accounts Receivable  1935
Box 192  

Accounts Receivable  1936
Box 193  

Accounts Receivable  1935-1936
Box 194  

Purchase Journal  1922
Box 195  

Department, Stock Book  1901
Box 196  

Petty Journal  1915-1916
Box 197  

Accounts Receivable  1910-1911
Box 198  

Accounts Receivable  1912-1914
Box 199  

Current Ledger  1914-1920
Box 200  

General Ledger  1920-1923
Box 201  

Cash Ledger  1912
Box 202  

Cash Ledger  1916
Box 203  

Cash Ledger  1919
Box 204  

Cash Ledger  1923
Box 205  

Department Sales  1917
Box 206  

Mail Orders  1899-1900
Box 207  

Mail Orders  1901-1902
Box 208  

Mail Orders  1900-1901
Box 209  

Ledger  1902-1903
Box 210  

Ledger  1900-1901
Box 211  

Wholesale Charges  1918-1919
Box 212  

Accounts Receivable  1936
Box 213  

Accounts Receivable  1936
Box 214  

Accounts Receivable  1911-1913
Box 215  

Accounts Receivable  1911-1912
Box 216  

Accounts Receivable  1909
Box 217  

Accounts Receivable  1909-1911
Box 218  

Accounts Receivable  1910-1911
Box 219  

Accounts Receivable  1916-1919
Box 220  

Accounts Receivable  1917-1918
Box 221  

Accounts Receivable  1917-1922
Box 222  

Accounts Receivable  1920-1921
Box 223  

Department Purchase  1922
Box 224  

Accounts Payable  1922-1923
Box 225  

Accounts Payable  1922-1924
Box 226  

Department Purchase  1923-1924
Box 227  

Petty Cash  1923-1928
Box 228  

Accounts Payable  1923-1925
Box 229  

Accounts Payable  1925-1928
Box 230  

Accounts Payable  1925-1928
Box 231  

Accounts Payable  1929-1932
Box 232  

Accounts Payable  1932-1933
Box 233  

Journal Millinery  1931-1935
Box 234  

Accounts Payable  1933-1936
Box 235  

Journal  1923 February-1924 May
Box 236  

Journal  1926 December-1928 March
Box 237  

Journal  1928-1929
Box 238  

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