Skip to main content

Salet's Department Store. Records and Photographs, 1930s - 1962

 Collection — Hollinger box: 01
Identifier: SMHC Collection 0226

Scope and Contents

The Salet collection is primarily composed of the financial records of Salet’s Department Store in Winona, Minnesota. This particular branch included three separate stores – Salet Winona Company, Salet Small Store and Warehouse, and Salet Winona Mode – each specializing in different areas. All records for these three stores fall within a five year period from 1958-1962. Each store has monthly sales and expense records that summarize gross sales, but give detailed direct and indirect expense information. Thorough sales records can be found within the monthly merchandise statements, and are broken down to the department level for each store. Merchandise plans for future purchases of stock have also been included in this collection. The reports are arranged primarily in chronological order by branch

Other records related to budgets, inventories, and purchases can be found in this collection, but are not comprehensive and largely incomplete. A number of photographs are present, but pertain to Salet’s in Mankato only. These photographs include storefront views, manager meetings, and large Christmas and costume parties thrown for Salet’s employees.

Dates

  • 1930-1962

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property and libel laws as they apply.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property and libel laws as they apply.

Biographical / Historical

Leon Salet, the founder of Salet's Department Store, first engaged in selling goods in Mankato with a mobile shop marketing soft goods in 1896. He opened his first fixed-site department store in the 100 block of North Front Street. In 1914, Salet formed a partnership with his son Louis. By 1917, the Salet's purchased a larger store on the corner of Main and Front streets. Thereafter, the family opened department stores in New Ulm, South St. Paul, Winona, Owatonna, and Rochester. Salet’s operated at 59-61-63 Third Street in Winona and was under the management of Bernard R. Shumski in 1957. There is no inclusion of Salet’s in the Winona City Directory of 1963, therefore indicating closure of this particular branch before that year.

Extent

0.50 Cubic Feet (1 Hollinger Box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Salet collection is primarily composed of the financial records of Salet’s Department Store in Winona, Minnesota. This particular branch included three separate stores that collectively specialized in clothing, furnishings, dry goods, and floor coverings. Besides financial records, the collection contains inventories and merchandise purchasing plans for Salet’s in Winona, and photographs from Salet’s Department Store in Mankato. Though the collection spans from the 1930s to the 1960s, the records from Winona span a period of less than five years, from 1958-1962.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Dave Latterell donated this collection in March, 2004. Mr. Latterell is the nephew of Ross Shelley who managed Salet’s Department Store in Mankato in the late 1930s and later managed the regional Salet’s branches. Ross Shelley was born December 25, 1891 and passed August 26, 1991.

Title
SMHC Collection 0226. Salet's Department Store. Records and Photographs, 1930s - 1962
Status
Completed
Author
Michael J. Gieseke processed this collection and developed the finding aid
Date
2004-09
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • 2004-09: Michael J. Gieseke processed this collection and developed the finding aid

Repository Details

Part of the Southern Minnesota Historical Center Repository

Contact:
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Memorial Library
PO Box 8419
Mankato MN 56002-8419 US
507-389-1029