• Collection ID 1989.0562
  • Creator Names Green-Field, Benjamin B. (Benjamin Benedict), 1898-1988.
  • Title Benjamin Benedict Green-Field photograph collection, [graphic] ca. 1920-1988.
  • Physical description
    • 23 boxes of photographs, albums and scrapbooks.
    • 19 posterboards with mounted clippings and photographs.
    • 119 negatives : b&w ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller.
    • 19 transparencies : col. ; 35 mm. or smaller.
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • Advance appointment required to view color material in cold storage or negatives in cool storage; please email research@chicagohistory.org.
    • Boxes 5, 7 and 8 are temporarily unavailable to researchers due to conservation needs.
  • Collection summary
    • Primarily photographs and clippings relating to the life and business of Chicago milliner Green-Field, who was known for his imaginative women's hat designs and his unique personal sense of style. Twenty-one photograph albums (containing several thousand snapshots) relate to Green-Field's personal life and travels in Italy, Hawaii, India, Southeast Asia, South America, other destinations and on cruises (ca. 1930-1969). Nineteen posterboards, 12 scrapbooks of clippings and photographs and approximately 850 loose photographs and visual items regard his social life, his designs and the Michigan Avenue millinery salon Bes-Ben, Inc, operated by Benjamin Green-Field and his sister Bessie Green-Field Warshawsky. The loose photographic items also include several portraits of Green-Field and others, numerous snapshots of people who remain largely unidentified, and interiors of the Green-Field apartment showing his art and decorative art collections. Negatives show travel scenes and have matching photoprints.
    • Transparencies show models with Bes-Ben hats and interiors of the Green-Field workroom. Twenty negatives of large posterboards with mounted clippings and photographs were made by Chicago Historical Society, 1989.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the archival records of Bes-Ben, Inc., and the Jeanette Gaffin Original Millinery Shop records. Bes-Ben hats are in the artifacts collection of Chicago History Museum.
  • Finding Aids Note Container list available (1989-562).
  • Acquisition information
    • Gift of Benjamin Benedict Green-Field, 1979 (1979.6).
    • Gift of Benjamin Benedict Green-Field Foundation, 1989 (1989.0562.6).
  • Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Credit photographer(s).
  • Names
    • Green-Field, Benjamin B. (Benjamin Benedict), 1898-1988 Portraits.
    • Warshawsky, Bessie Green-Field, -1987.
    • Bes-Ben (Firm) Photographs.
    • 938 North Michigan Avenue (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Bes-Ben (Firm)
  • Subjects
    • Art Illinois Chicago 1920-1989. lctgm
    • Family-owned business enterprises Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Hats Illinois Chicago 1920-1989. lctgm
    • Millinery Illinois Chicago 1920-1989.
    • Men Clothing & dress Illinois Chicago 1920-1989. lctgm
    • Ocean Liners. lctgm
    • Voyages and travels 1920-1989.
    • Women Clothing & dress Illinois Chicago 1920-1989.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 20th century.
    • Hawaii Description and travel Photographs.
    • India Description and travel Photographs.
    • Italy Description and travel Photographs.
    • South America Description and travel Photographs.
    • Asia, Southeastern Description and travel Photographs.
  • Genre
    • Fashion photographs. gmgpc
    • Group portraits. gmgpc
    • Interior views. aat
    • Photograph albums. gmgpc
    • Portrait photographs. gmgpc
    • Snapshots. gmgpc
    • Photographic prints Color. gmgpc
    • Gelatin silver prints. gmgpc
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/1989/562.htm