Downtown department store enshrined at Historic Pittsburgh

Frank and Seder clothing store, for decades a business institution Downtown, is now remembered on the Internet.
The Rauh Jewish Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center has just posted a collection of photos from the Seder family at Historic Pittsburgh, an online digital research library hosted by the University of Pittsburgh.
The collection, which covers the period from 1910 through the 1960s, primarily depicts Frank and Seder business associates, and Isaac Seder’s family.
Isaac Seder was a Russian immigrant who came to the United States around 1885, at the age of 9. He started in the wholesale women’s wear trade with Jacob H. Frank, also a Russian immigrant. The partners moved from wholesale to retail trade and opened a Downtown store in 1907. Isaac Seder was co-founder and president of the original Frank and Seder store from 1907 until his death in 1924.
The department store expanded to major cities such as Philadelphia, Detroit and New York. After Isaac’s death, the business was run by his son and the partners until its closing in 1954.
In addition to being a business owner, Isaac Seder was a philanthropist and active in Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. He and his partners were major contributors to the campaign and building of the new Montefiore Hospital. Additionally, Isaac supported many public welfare organizations and institutions. He served as a trustee for the Tree of Life Synagogue, the Hebrew Institute and was a member of Congregation Rodef Shalom.
It’s not the first Jewish photo collection the Rauh has posted at Historic Pittsburgh — visitors can also find vintage images from the Hebrew Institute, the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and the Irene Kaufmann Settlement there.

Get The Jewish Chronicle Weekly Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up