Object ID
2011.7.226
Object Name
Letter
Object Collection
Alex's Candy Shop (is part of)
Date Created
June 1928
Measurements
21.1150200000 cm. W x 27.14752 cm. L, Item (Overall)
Material
Paper
Object Entities
Rassogianis/Franks families, By (owned by)
Rassogianis, (is related to)
Franks, Pauline (is related to)
Object Description
This is, what seems to be, a letter of some kind written on "Allied Confectioners Association" stationary/paper. At the top of the paper is "Allied Confectionary Association" with Chicago, IL printed underneath it, and "3459 W. 26th St" handwritten in cursive written above Chicago. The paper had been previously folded into eighths, indicated by the folds left on the paper. There is a hole in the middle of the paper.

On the paper is a paragraph written in Greek, sometime in June of 1928. Under the body of the letter, is it signed by 12 signatures on the front with an additional 27 signatures on the back, Alex Rassogianis being one of them.
Origin
Paulina Franks' grandfather, John Rassogianis, came to Chicago in the 1890s. He began his life in the new city by peddling fruits and later, with the help of his sons Alex and George, would open a candy store. In the 1920s Paulina Franks' father Constantine became a part of the family business and the store was able to prosper. When the second business closed Paulina Rassogianis chose to hold as many of the candy store's items as possible and, later, donate them to the National Hellenic Museum.

The Rassogianis family began their candy business in Chicago proper, working out of their own shop named "St. Louis Ice Cream Parlor." Eventually, the shop was closed and the Rassogianis' chose to continue their candy store venture in Berwyn, Illinois. The new shop they chose to open was named Alex's Sweet Shop.

Paulina Franks' father was a key contributor to the success of the Rassogianis candy stores. While Constantine Rassogianis was a noteworthy entrepeneur, he also had many other accomplishments. Among these was his four years of involvment in the Greek national military during World War I wherein he obtained the rank of sergeant. Also, he was a published author and poet, an experienced mandolin player, a church officer and had extensive knowledge of psalti.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Letter, June 1928, Alex's Candy Shop, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/8723. Accessed 04/20/24.