A Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Families Collection Jewish ...

A Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Families Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Fonds Description
Series Descriptions
Complete File List
2
3
6
9
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
1

INTRODUCTION
This finding aid was prepared by McGill University practicum student Morgannis
Graham. The Steinberg/Rafman Family Fonds was donated to the Jewish Public Library
Archives by Sharon Steinberg (daughter of Jack Steinberg and Gertrude Dover) and
Nancy Rafman (daughter of Hyman Rafman and Lily Steinberg). The finding aid follows
the guidelines for arrangement and description as dictated by the Rules for Archival
Description.
Practicum Student
Morgannis Graham
Archivist
Shannon Hodge
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
2

FONDS DESCRIPTION
JPL006
Title: The Steinberg/Rafman Family Fonds
Dates: 1906-1990
Extent: 0.05m of textual records + 28 photographs
Biographical Note / Institutional History 1
Hyman Rafman
The son of Max Rafman and Sarah Rabinovich, Hyman Rafman was born on November
20, 1906. On June 4, 1939, he married Lily Steinberg. He passed away on January 31,
1974.
Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg)
The daughter of Vilmos Sternberg (later known as William Steinberg) and Ida Roth, Lily
Steinberg was born in 1909. As a child, she helped her mother run the family business
(Steinberg’s Stores). In 1931, after her brother Sam had taken over the family business,
she and her mother started up a small shop on Monkland Street in Montreal, where she
worked and lived until her marriage in 1939. She and Hyman Rafman had four children,
Sandra, Nancy, Marlene and Mark.
Steinberg’s
Ida Roth was born in 1884. In 1902, she married William Steinberg (an arranged
marriage). They had six children: Jack (1903), Sam (1905), Nathan (1908), Lily (1909),
Max (1912), and Morris (1914). After asking William to leave (not common at the time,
but not unheard of), Ida started a small grocery store in 1917 in order to provide for her
family. It was on St. Lawrence Boulevard in Montreal, and was quite successful. All
family members helped out around the store, but young Sam Steinberg quickly emerged
as a retail prodigy. He began opening new stores around Montreal. In 1930, he
incorporated the company, calling it “Steinberg’s Service Stores Ltd.” The first selfservice
outlet was opened in 1933, and a “Wholesale Grocereria” (offering limited
service but drastically-discounted prices) opened its doors in 1934. There was a great
expansion in the 1950s, where Steinberg’s opened up many outlets all over the
province, not just in Montreal.
Troubles for the grocery chain began in 1959. Sam attempted to expand into the Ontario
market, but the venture was a disaster. In the 1960s, he broadened into discount
department stores (Miracle Mart), but his experience in the food industry was apparently
non-transferable into the world of clothing retail, and it proved to be a loser as well. In
1966, Steinberg’s opened a few stores in France, but once again, the experience was a
costly one. In 1969, Sam stepped down as President of the company, and appointed his
son-in-law, Mel Dobrin, to take his place. He stayed quite active as Chairman and Chief
Executive up until his death in 1978.
Upon his death, Mel Dobrin took over the reins as Chairman and Chief Executive, and
the position of President was, for the first time in the company’s history, given to a nonfamily
member, Peter McGoldrick. After seventeen months, McGoldrick retired, after
1 Information for the Biographical Note/Institutional History was found both within the contents of
the Fonds, and from the book Steinberg: The Breakup of a Family Empire by Ann Gibbon and
Peter Hadekel (1990, Macmillan of Canada).
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
3

having spearheaded a disastrous five-percent discount campaign that lost the company
millions. Irving Ludmer was to replace him. His tenure would prove to be quite
successful and profitable. However, he had a number of disagreements with Sam’s
eldest daughter, Mitzi Dobrin, which would prove to be problematic. In 1985, Mitzi, then
an Executive Vice-President at Steinberg’s, quit her position. Soon after, she began
looking around for a buyer for the family business, much to the dismay of her sisters.
What followed was years of disputes between the women, including an attempt by
Marilyn and Evelyn to take over the company. After a number of purchase offers from
outside bidders, a Quebec buyer, Michel Gaucher acquired the company in 1989.
Custodial History
This material was donated to the Jewish Public Library Archives (JPL-A) directly by
Sharon Steinberg (daughter of Jack Steinberg and Gertrude Dover) and Nancy Rafman
(daughter of Hyman Rafman and Lily Steinberg). The material in the Fonds was in the
family’s possession until its transfer to the JPL-A.
Scope and Content
The Fonds consists of correspondence with Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg), her wedding
notes, her journal pages, a number of legal documents, some newspaper clippings and
stock certificates about Steinberg’s, and family photographs.
There are three series present within the Fonds. Series I covers Lily Rafman’s personal
papers. It includes correspondence. Series II is in regards to Steinberg’s store. Series III
contains photographs of both the Rafman and the Steinberg families.
Source of Supplied Title
The title of the Fonds was taken directly from the content and creator of the Fonds.
Restrictions
No restrictions were placed on the material in the Steinberg/Rafman Family Fonds.
Finding Aid
Detailed finding aid available; file level control.
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
4

SERIES I DESCRIPTION
Title: Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg) Private Papers
Dates: 1919-1989
Extent: 0.04m of textual records
Scope and Content
This series covers Lily Rafman’s personal papers. There are letters and postcards both
to and from her, including some written by her as a child to her father, William Steinberg.
There is a folder regarding her wedding in 1939, which includes guest lists, gift lists, a
booklet from Birks, and postcards sent to her mother during her honeymoon. There are
also a number of legal documents, including her husband’s birth certificate, their
marriage contract and their marriage certificate. Lastly, there are some pages from a
personal journal written in January of 1989.
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
5

CONTAINER 001
1. Correspondence: From Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg). – Textual. – 1919-1920.
Childhood letters.
2. Correspondence: To Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg). – Textual. – 1935-1939.
3. Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg): Wedding Notes. – Textual. – 1939.
Correspondence, cards, booklet from Birks, guest lists, gift lists…
4. Legal Documents & Hyman Rafman’s Memoriam. – Textual. – 1939-1974.
Hyman Rafman’s birth certificate, Hyman and Lily’s marriage contract and
certificate.
5. Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg): Journal Pages. – Textual. – 1989.
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
6

SERIES II DESCRIPTION
Title: Steinberg’s
Dates: 1966-1990
Extent: 0.01m textual records
Scope and Content
This series is in regards to Steinberg’s store. It includes two newspaper clippings from
1990 and two stock certificates from 1966 and 1985.
CONTAINER 001
6. Steinberg’s: Stock Certificates and Newspaper Clippings. – Textual. – 1966-1990.
Two stock certificates and two newspaper clippings.
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
7

SERIES III DESCRIPTION
Title: Steinberg/Rafman Family Photographs
Dates: 1906[]-198[]
Extent: 28 photographs
Scope and Content
This series contains photographs of both the Rafman and the Steinberg families. Most
are loose, but there are two which are framed, and one which is matted.
CONTAINER 001
7. Photographs. – Photographs. – 1966-199[-].
8. Photographs. – Photographs. – 191[-]-194[-].
CONTAINER 002
9. Framed Photograph of Ida Steinberg (nee Roth). PR/007501. – Framed Photograph.
– 193[-].
10. Matted Photograph of Ida Steinberg (nee Roth). PR/007502. – Matted Photograph. –
193[-].
11. Framed Photograph of Interior of Steinberg’s Store. PR/007500. – Framed
Photograph. – 192[-].
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
8

CONTAINER LISTING
CONTAINER 001
1. Correspondence: From Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg). – Textual. – 1919-1920.
2. Correspondence: To Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg). – Textual. – 1935-1939.
3. Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg): Wedding Notes. – Textual. – 1939.
4. Legal Documents & Hyman Rafman’s Memoriam. – Textual. – 1939-1974.
5. Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg): Journal Pages. – Textual. – 1989.
6. Steinberg’s: Stock Certificates and Newspaper Clippings. – Textual. – 1966-1990.
7. Photographs. – Photographs. – 1966-199[-].
8. Photographs. – Photographs. – 191[-]-194[-].
CONTAINER 002
9. Framed Photograph of Ida Steinberg (nee Roth). PR/007501. – Framed Photograph.
– 193[-].
10. Matted Photograph of Ida Steinberg (nee Roth). PR/007502. – Matted Photograph. –
193[-].
11. Framed Photograph of Interior of Steinberg’s Store. PR/007500. – Framed
Photograph. – 192[-].
Finding Aid to the Steinberg/Rafman Family Collection
Jewish Public Library Archives, Montreal
9