Sidlow and Hoffman Family Papers and Photographs, 1912-2022
Arrangement
Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Sidlow and Hoffman Family Papers and Photographs
source
Greenberg, Terri Hoffman.
Creator
Sidlow Family.
Creator
Hoffman Family.
Collection Number
MSS 1247
Extent
5.75 linear feet(2 boxes and 2 oversize folders)
Date
1912-2022
Abstract
The Sidlow family came to Pittsburgh from Cleveland in the early 20th century. The Sidlow and Hoffman Family Papers and Photographs document the Sidlow family through its involvement in the Model Box Company and the Congregation Beth Shalom building fund.
Language
The materials in this collection are in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Catelyn Cocuzzi in August 2021. Additions to the collection were added and access documents updated by Catelyn Cocuzzi in July 2022.
The Sidlowitz family came to Pittsburgh from Cleveland in the early 20th century. Anna (Perlman) Sidlowitz and Abraham Sidlowitz's son Nathan Sidlow (1914-1967) owned and operated Model Box Company at 24th Street and Penn Avenue in the Strip District. He was also vice president of Congregation Beth Shalom and was campaign chairman for an effort to build an educational wing onto the Squirrel Hill synagogue. The project ultimately came to fruition after his death. Sidlow was a member of Westmoreland Country Club and was chairman of its finance committee. He was also a board member of Riverview Apartments for senior citizens and a co-chairman of the manufacturing and paper division of the United Jewish Fund.
He married Georgiana Ruth Smisek, and they had three children, Judith (1935-1998), Joan (b. c1941), and Alan (c1946-2012).
Judith Sidlow was confirmed by the Congregation Beth Shalom Religious School in 1951 and graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1953. She married Allen Hoffman (1932-2015), a University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy graduate. Hoffman's parents, Rae (Abrams) Hoffman (d.1968) and Joseph Hoffman (d.1944) ran Hoffman Ice Company in the Hill District. A great uncle, Israel Fireman, ran a produce company in the Fifth Avenue district of Pittsburgh.
Judith and Allen Hoffman had two daughters, Terri (b.1957) and Jill (b.1961).
The Hoffman family acquired HALCO Inc. in 1977. HALCO was started by Julius and Bernard Halpern, friends of the Sidlow family. The company originally produced a wide selection of toys and costumes for children before the Halpern family sold the company to outside interests in 1967. Allen Hoffman purchased the Christmas portion of the business from new owner Kusan Inc., leaving Kusan with the Halloween portion of the business.
As part of the acquisition, HALCO established a factory and warehouse in New Eagle, Pa. The building was destroyed in an arson fire in 1986. HALCO relocated to a new factory and warehouse in Belle Vernon, Pa. and in 2012 relocated again to a new factory and warehouse in Verona, Pa. In the 21st century, the company outsourced its production facilities overseas while retaining its local warehouse. In the 2020s, the Hoffman family sold the remaining portions of the business.
Under the Hoffman family, HALCO became one of the largest manufacturer of Santa suits, with clients worldwide. Its products were regularly featured in television shows and movies, including "Elf," "Jingle All the Way," and episodes of "Law and Order," and the "Tonight Show with David Letterman." HALCO also notable produced a blue Santa suit as part of a Hannukah promotion and a sequin Santa suit to fool a competitor that was stealing their ideas and rushing them to market before they had a chance to. The Hoffman family also took their merchandise on the road, traveling across the country to shows like the New York Variety Merchandise Show and the National Costumers Association show.
Scope and Contents
The Sidlow and Hoffman Family Papers and Photographs documents the Sidlow family through its involvement in the Model Box Company and the Congregation Beth Shalom building fund, as well as the Hoffman family through their involvement in Halco.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series, Series I: Sidlow and Hoffman, Series II: Congregation Beth Shalom, and Series III: Halco. The first series is arranged generationally and further chronologically, the second series is arranged chronologically, and the third is arranged topically and further chronilogically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Terri Hoffman Greenberg in 2001 and 2022. Archives accession # 2021.0051 and 2022.0064
Preferred Citation
Sidlow and Hoffman Family Papers and Photographs, 1912-2022, MSS 1247, Rauh Jewish Archives, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Copyright may be retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Related Materials
Halpern Family Papers and Photographs, MSS 1218
Separated Materials
To the museum collection:
2021 accession, 2021.184
Droopy Dog (MGM costume), c1960
Chinese-inspired costume
NCA Harry Palmer Award
Terri Greenberg nametag for the National Costumer's Association
