Financial records of the Prussia & Co. store, the first women's apparel store in San Jose. Willard L. Prussia founded Prussia & Co. in 1903, and opened the location at 129-133 South First Street in 1909.

W. L. Prussia was a native of Danville, N.Y., where his father was a wholesale merchant. Prussia came to California by himself at the age of 16, and worked as a window trimmer for Taft & Penneyer in Oakland. Between 1884 and 1904 he was employed by stores in Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland and San Jose. He was associated with L. Loeb & Bros. in San Jose before going into business for himself. He founded Prussia & Co. in 1903, and opened the location at 129-133 South First Street in 1909. He died in 1937. The firm changed its name to W. L. Prussia & Son in January, 1933. Son Leland S. Prussia was added as a full partner in the firm, and they bought out the interests of original partner S. M. Grier of New York, thereby making Prussia's a wholly family-owned business. Leland Prussia continued to run operations with his wife Doris Fowler Prussia until they retired in 1954. In 1953 the store was taken over by chain menswear firm Harris & Frank.

4 linear feet

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