Identifier
MA 25
Dates
1883-1998
Extent
66.44 linear feet (64 boxes) sound recordings, moving image materials
Abstract
Vera Way Marghab (1900–1995) was a pioneering entrepreneur in the luxury textile industry. Born in South Dakota, she studied piano in New York before co-founding Marghab, Ltd. on the Portuguese island of Madeira in 1933 with her husband, Emile Marghab. Together, they built one of the most esteemed embroidery houses, producing linens celebrated for their craftsmanship, exclusivity, and innovative design. Following Emile’s death in 1947, Vera led the company for nearly four decades, navigating shifts in global markets and political changes in Portugal before closing the business in 1984. Today, Marghab linens remain a benchmark of excellence, with a complete collection housed at the South Dakota Art Museum.
The Vera Way Marghab Papers is a significant resource for understanding women’s leadership in business, the evolution of luxury branding, and the artistry of fine embroidery. Encompassing her personal and professional life, it includes correspondence, business records, design archives, financial documents, and marketing materials. The collection sheds light on the meticulous standards that defined Marghab linens, the challenges of sustaining a high-end brand, and Vera’s pioneering role as a female entrepreneur in the mid-20th century. It offers invaluable insight for researchers in business history, textile design, and gender studies, preserving the legacy of a woman who shaped an industry.
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Language
English
Publisher
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.
Rights
In Copyright: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.
Recommended Citation
SDSU Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, "Marghab, Vera Way Papers" (2025). Archives Finding Aids. 26.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/archives_finding_aids/26
