MS-189 Rike Historical Collection

Introduction

This collection of historical material from the Rike-Kumler Company was acquired in the spring of 1988 as a result of the impending break-up of the Federated chain of department stores. At that time, cartons of material that had been kept as the company's archives were removed to the Wright State University Library. The collection consists primarily of photographs, many dating from early in the company's history, and also includes promotional material, employee publications and other memorabilia relating to the department store.

The collection is arranged into eight series and nineteen subseries as follows:

Series 1: Photographs

• Subseries 1: The Buildings
• Subseries 2: Window Displays
• Subseries 3: Promotional Events
• Subseries 4: Advertisements
• Subseries 5: People
• Subseries 6: Miscellaneous
• Subseries 7: Twenty Year Club

Series 2: Printed Material

• Subseries 1: Company Publications
• Subseries 2: Twenty Year Club
• Subseries 3: External Publications

Series 3: Store Promotions

• Subseries 1: Anniversaries
• Subseries 2: Sales Campaigns
• Subseries 3: Suburban Stores

Series 3: Store Promotions

• Subseries 1: Anniversaries
• Subseries 2: Sales Campaigns
• Subseries 3: Suburban Stores

Series 5: Twenty Year Club

Series 6: Dayton Industrial Prospectus

Series 7: Xenia Tornado Victim's Program

Series 8: Miscellaneous Artifacts

• Subseries 1: Blueprints
• Subseries 2: Various

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Scope and Content Note

The Rike Historical Collection is primarily a source for the promotional history of the company. The historical files were kept by the store's promotional department and the material was used as a resource for advertisements and anniversary celebrations.

Series 1, Subseries 1, The Buildings, contains excellent photography of the construction of an edition completed in 1938. Some of the photographs in Series 1 and printed material in Series 2 are oversized and are contained in the large boxes shelved at the end of the inventory. Series 3, Subseries 1, Anniversaries, contains audio cassette recordings of speeches given by both David and Frederick Rike on the store's eighty-fifth anniversary and also several radio programs presented on the occasion of the their 100th anniversary.

Many of the very old newspapers and wrapping paper contained in the collection had been gifts from employees or customers and were attached to notes which said, "we thought Mr. Rike would like to have this" or "we found this in the bottom of an old trunk".

Company History

The Rike-Kumler Department Store was a Dayton institution that not only interacted with and served the community, but evolved as the community evolved, enjoying a non-static relationship with the city and its people for over 100 years.

David L. Rike was born in 1824, grew up on a farm in Greene County and attended school in Xenia. In 1853 he became a partner in the Dayton dry goods firm of Prugh, Joice and Rike. Their first store was located at 15 East Third Street. Eventually both Prugh and Joice left the firm. After the Civil War, Rike took two of his employees into partnership, one was his brother-in-law Samuel Kumler.

In 1893, having outgrown its quarters, the company moved into a building at the corner of Fourth and Main Streets. This new building was modeled on the Exposition Building at the Chicago World's Fair and displayed an ornate interior and an electric sign.

After the death of D.L. Rike, his son, Frederick, became the company's president. The business continued to thrive and expansion again became necessary. In 1912 the company opened a new seven story building at the corner of Second and Main Streets. Rike's continued to grow and David Rike. Frederick's son, eventually took over as president of the firm

Rike's celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1953. In 1982 the company merged with Cincinnati's Shillito's Department Store and became Shillito-Rikes . In 1986 that corporation became Lazarus.

Container Listing

Series 1: Photographs, Subseries 1: The Buildings