Letter Correspondence Between Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois and Brooks Brothers

Per Jason Jules and Graham Marsh’s Black Ivy: A Revolt in Style, an acclaimed photography book recognized by The New York Times, “Dressing in Ivy style was not new to Black society. In places like Washington, Chicago, New Jersey, and Harlem during the years between the First and Second World Wars, many Black professionals wore the Ivy look of the day. In fact, for years, Black intellectual leader Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, who also studied at Harvard University, had an account at Brooks Brothers, and he'd regularly have tailor-made suits and shirts from their Madison Avenue store delivered to his home.”

Notably, Gilda George Tennis Club has compiled a collection of four letters dating from 1925 to 1948 between Du Bois and the oldest and most storied American clothing brand. The letters document the delivery of suits and Benson & Hedges gold-tipped cigarettes.

Letter from Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois to Brooks Brothers. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, 1925.

Letter from Brooks Brothers to Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois. Brooks Brothers, 1925.

Letter from Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois to Brooks Brothers. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, 1925.

Letter from Brooks Brothers to Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois. Brooks Brothers, 1948.

Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois was an American philosopher who graduated from Fisk University and Harvard University. He authored influential works such as The Philadelphia Negro and The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches. Additionally, Du Bois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served as a co-founder and editor of The Crisis, which is the oldest Black-oriented magazine in the world. Recognized as the architect of the modern civil rights movement, he was also a member of the Boulé. 1945.