Bildner, Robert (son of Allen and Joan Bildner)

Summary: The bulk of the files in this record group document Allen Bildner's education, career as a grocery store owner, the expansion of the family business and its sale to Marks & Spencer, his activities in the industry, and his philanthropy. Mr. Bildner's Correspondence and Subject Files are comprised of six boxes of correspondence and documents (1941-2006 with gaps). The files include background on his extracurricular activities while a student at Dartmouth College, including his work on the constitution of the Undergraduate Council (1946-1947), and his college thesis on the super market industry (1947). There also are memos to his father, Joseph, concerning Kings and his professional training as a grocer (1948-1951), employment agreements and amendments (1970-1971, 1983-1986), correspondence with his children, Robert (1974, 1981, 1989) and James (1979-1983), correspondence concerning gifts and transfers of stock from his mother, Beatrice (1976), and files on his professional activities with such organizations as the Food Marketing Institute (1987-1997) and his tenure as a director of Fresh Fields Markets, Inc. (1993-1996). Some of James's correspondence with his father concerns his training program at Kings (1979-1980). Robert attended his father's last meeting as Chairman of the Food Marketing Institute and described his impressions in a letter dated May 7, 1989.

In addition to press coverage, Mr. Bildner's biographical files hold information about his education (Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College, 1948), his service in the Naval Reserve (discharged, 1956), and awards he received, such as the New Jersey Pride Award for economic development (1988), the Outstanding Citizen of New Jersey Award (1989), the New Jersey Food Council's "Good Government" Award (1989), Dartmouth College's Presidential Medal for Outstanding Leadership and Achievement (1991), and Food Marketing Institute's, Rabb Award (1993). In addition, Bildner and his wife, Joan, received the American Jewish Committee's Heritage Achievement Award (New Jersey Chapter, 1985). There are also copies of some of the awards and citations that are displayed in Bildner's office.

Other files document Joan and Allen Bildner's philanthropy, including their gifts to the Jewish Community Center in West Orange, NJ (The Joan and Allen Bildner Health and Wellness Center, dedicated, 1990), the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. (1992), Rutgers University (Bildner Family Foundation, two-year grant to aid transfer students, 1998, and The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for Jewish Life, dedicated May 1999), and Hadassah (a scholarship in memory of Beatrice Bildner, 1998).

In addition Allen Bildner's files illustrate the relationship that existed between Kings Super Markets and Marks & Spencer, a British retailer, from 1984 until Marks & Spencer bought Kings in 1988 in an effort to expand their business to the United States. The earliest correspondence between the two companies, in 1984, shows that Kings was interested in learning the quality control and operations methods practiced by M&S. The files contain documents pertaining to the sale of Kings, including notes and memos concerning Allen Bildner's personal goals, an analysis of the proposal, and records of the transition, including his "To Do" list, press and government contact lists, and memos regarding the announcement of the sale (1988).

There is also information about an expansion effort in New York (Bridgemarket 1983-1989) and other businesses such as Mojoda Holding Company, a real estate holding company (1988), and Super Market Equipment Company, an equipment leasing company (1977, 1988). Additional information about these businesses will be found in Record Group 9.

Mr. Bildner's Speeches and Writings files contain remarks to associates concerning key goals for Kings (1988) and introductory remarks and presentations to the Board of Directors of Marks & Spencer (1989, 1991).

Also in this record group are files for Allen Bildner's parents, Beatrice and Joseph, his wife, Joan, and his sons, James and Robert. The files for his father, Joseph Bildner, consist of copies of items displayed in Allen Bildner's office, a Certificate of Appreciation from the Super Market Institute (1956) and a plaque presented to him by the employees of Kings (1949). They also hold congratulatory letters written on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Kings in 1960.

Beatrice Bildner's two files consist of the lyrics to "Mrs. Bea," composed in her honor (no date), and a copy of an employment and consultation agreement (1979). In addition, there are few of Beatrice Bildner's speeches concerning the history of the company, which she presented on the occasions of Kings 45th and 50th anniversaries (1981, 1986) and at a service awards dinner (1982).

The files for Joan Bildner document her work for the Theresa Grotta Center for Restorative Services (1966-1989), a short-term medical rehabilitative facility, including a testimonial recognizing her dedication to the Center (1978). She was also named "Volunteer of the Year" by the New Jersey Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (1999). Other files contain her European Travel Journal (June 1-July 2, 1956), toasts noting her 50th birthday (1981) and her 40th wedding anniversary (toast by Rob Bildner, 1988) as well as clippings related to her philanthropic activities. Mrs. Bildner's remarks at a "Prevent Blindness" meeting (1989) also are included in her files.

James Bildner's file contains clippings about J. Bildner & Sons, his chain of specialty food stores (SEE Record Group 9 for additional information about his company) and an article he wrote concerning the marketplace in 1986. Other files hold an information about his philanthropy, including a donation to Massachusetts General Hospital to establish the Addiction Recovery Management Service (2007), and an advertisement for Blarney Irish Cheese featuring James's wife, Nancy, (no date).

In addition to his resume (1988), the files for Robert Bildner hold a review of his stay in Iran as part of the American Field Service, Americans Abroad, Summer Program (1967) and an article about to his gift, the Spungen Bildner Israel Travel Fund, to Yale University. He also wrote a tribute to Ed Edelstein (1985). The file for Robert's wife, Elise, contains a clipping with reference to her teaching career as an associate professor at Rutgers University (1998).

There are also files for Joan's father, Abram Lebson. Lebson's file holds a clipping concerning describing his winning a golf tournament sponsored by the Bergen County Bar Association.