Title: Bitker Family Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1882-2002

Creator:

• Bitker, Pierce H., 1905-2002

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 27

Quantity: 0.7 cubic ft. (2 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

This collection consists of material related to Pierce H. Bitker, his family members and the family stores. Materials include correspondence, vital records, clippings and photographs.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0027

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Pierce H. Bitker was born December 2, 1905 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Jacob L. Bitker and Sara Rubin. Jacob and Sara also had a son, Bruno (1898-1984), a few years earlier. Pierce Bitker grew up in Milwaukee and attended the Milwaukee Country Day School. He was involved with the Students’ Army Training Corps Camp, Fort Sheridan and a member of the Zeta Beta Tau. As a young boy in 1918, he participated as a speaker in a Flag Day ceremony in Waterloo, WI. Pierce was in the Navy during World War II. He married Thelma Pollack in Great Neck, New York on January 25, 1942. They had two daughters, Patricia and Susan. Pierce passed away February 22, 2002.

Jacob Bitker opened the Bitker Department store in 1896. It was located at 1801-13 (later 1801 W.) Fond du lac Ave. in Milwaukee and sold general merchandise, piece goods and supplies to women making their own clothes. It was destroyed by fire in 1912. The Bitker-Gerner Store, the family’s second store, was located at 2345 N. 3rd Street in Milwaukee. Pierce Bitker joined the family business in 1929 and eventually became president.

This collection consists of material related to Pierce H. Bitker and his family members: Bruno Bitker, his brother; Jacob L. and Sara Rubin Bitker, his parents; Thelma Bitker, his wife; his children and grandchildren; and the Rubin family, his mother’s relatives. Also included is information and photographs of his family’s stores. The collection has been organized into the following subjects: Bitker, Jacob and Sara; Bitker Pierce; Bitker Pierce and Thelma; Bitker Stores and the Rubin family.

The subjects are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Bitker Family Papers, 1882-1998, Collection 27. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

• Marjorie Marks Bitker Papers. Local History Manuscript Collection 31.

• Bruno V. Bitker Papers. Local History Manuscript Collection 354.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Currently, no donor or acquisition information is available. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Arranged and described by Stephanie Giordano, Archives student, 2007. Processed by Casey Lapworth, 2018.

	Bitker, Jacob and Sara
Box   1 Folder   1	Bitker, Bruno, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Bitker, Jacob – Certificate of Naturalization, 1906
Box   1 Folder   3	Bitker, Jacob – Clippings, 1945
Box   1 Folder   4	Bitker, Jacob – Poem, 1932
Box   1 Folder   5	Bitker, Jacob – Legal papers, 1935-1996
Box   1 Folder   6	Bitker, Robert, 1990-1998
Box   1 Folder   7	Bitker, Sara Rubin – Certificate from Oriental Esoteric Society, 1911
Box   1 Folder   8	Bitker, Sara Rubin – Clippings, 1910-1960
Box   1 Folder   9	Family tree, undated
Box   1 Folder   10	Photographs, 1895-1944
	Bitker, Pierce
Box   1 Folder   11-12	Civic Activities, 1933-1995
Box   1 Folder   19	Correspondence, 1988-1991
Box   1 Folder   13-14	Photographs, 1906-1963
Box   1 Folder   15	Post store career, 1955-1994
Box   1 Folder   16-17	World War II, 1942-1977
Box   1 Folder   18	Youth, 1918-1926
	Bitker, Pierce and Thelma
Box   2 Folder   1	Certificates – birth, 1905-1910
Box   2 Folder   2	Certificates - marriage, 1942
Box   2 Folder   3	Clippings, 1942-2002, undated
Box   2 Folder   4	Correspondence, 1942
Box   2 Folder   5	Miscellaneous, 1991, undated
Box   2 Folder   6-8	Photographs, 1935-1987
Box   2 Folder   9-10	Photographs - family, 1944-1980s
	Bitker Stores
Box   2 Folder   11	Bitker Department Store – history, 1909-1978
Box   2 Folder   12	Bitker Department Store – photographs, 1910-1917
Box   2 Folder   13	Bitker-Gerner Store – clippings, 1934-1958
Box   2 Folder   14	Bitker-Gerner Store - employee manual, undated
Box   2 Folder   15	Bitker-Gerner Store – photographs, 1948-1968
	Rubin family
Box   2 Folder   16	Photographs, 1895-1939
Box   2 Folder   17	Rubin, Henry and William, 1882-1983