H.S. Kaplan Scrap Iron and Metal records

Collection

Identifier: umja0170

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence, brochures, administrative records, slides, and a few artifacts.

Dates

1925-2000

Creator

Kaplan, Reuben (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.

Copyright

This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

Hyman Kaplan was born in 1894 in Belarus; at age sixteen he left for the United States, first working in sweat shops in New York before arriving in St. Paul in 1911. He worked in a clothing factory and at age 20 married Molly Karshenbaum. Hyman eventually moved to Northfield, Minnesota and in 1916 started a junk business, dealing in hides, furs, iron, metal, rags, and wool. The Kaplans stayed in Northfield until 1928 when Hyman moved his business back to St. Paul. The St. Paul location was on Shepard Road near downtown St. Paul.

Hyman and Molly had three children -- Louis, Celia, and Reuben -- before Molly passed away in 1950. Hyman retired in 1951 from the business and remarried in 1952, to Grace Mirviss. Hyman passed away in November of 1976 at the age of 83.

H.S. Kaplan Scrap Iron and Metal Company Inc. remained in business under the leadership of Hyman's two sons, Louis and Reuben. The dissolution of Kaplan Scrap occured in 1987 as they were purchased by Scrap Metal Limited Partnership. Reuben Kaplan passed away in 2009 and Louis Kaplan passe away in 2012.

Extent

1.15 Cubic Feet (1 Paige box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection includes records documenting Hyman Kaplan's scrap metal business in Northfield and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Esther and Reuben Kaplan to the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest in 1987.

Processing Information

At some point the scrapbooks were disassembled -- materials from the scrapbooks have been kept together to showcase the original organization of the scrapbooks, as best as we could discern.

Subjects

Family-owned business enterprises Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Jewish businessmen Subject Source: Local sources
Jews -- Minnesota Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Scrap metal industry Subject Source: Lcnaf
Scrap metals Subject Source: Lcnaf