David D. Doniger (1874-1949) was born in Suwalki, Poland (then part of Russia). His family moved to Manchester, England, which had a significant community of displaced Russian and Eastern European Jews involved in the textile trades. An uncle started a cap making business (M. Doniger, Ltd), and two of his cousins owned Empire Cap Works (see their 1919 patent filing http://www.wikipatents.com/GB-Patent-139374/improvements-in-cloth-caps).
In 1888 he next moved to New York. He both married Florence Block (1885-1965) and became a naturalized citizen in 1902. They had children Harold E. (1904-1961), William N. (1908-1972), and Judith (1912-2007).
The 1905 New York census describes his occupation as a hat manufacturer employee.
At some point (apparently in 1919) he decided to import caps from his cousins in Manchester and the first shipment arrived in 1920. His import business also early on included "golf hose and knickers" and did so well that in 1921 he incorporated as David D. Doniger & Company. "The company grossed $148,000 in 1921" according to one source.
The US trademark database has the McGregor name as being first registered in 1938 with Doniger reporting on the application its first use in commerce as February, 1923. (That ought to be definitive, but other sources say it was used even earlier.)
One newspaper advertisement by a clothing store in 1924 described his caps as "Imported directly from England, made of those classy English materials and strictly English in style".
His sons joined the business, Harold in 1925 after graduation from Cornell University, and William in 1928. (William may have gone to Philadelphia University since there is a scholarship program there in his name.)
Each son in turn became company president as first David then Harold died. Richard H. Goldman (husband of William's daughter Patricia) became president following the death of William.
The company went public in 1956 changing its name to McGregor-Doniger Inc.
Rapid-American Corporation (owned by leaveraged buyout specialist Meshulam Riklis, an Israeli) acquired McGregor-Doniger in 1977 (the same year Riklis married Pia Zadora).
Harold and wife Marion married in 1941 and had children William (1942), and Joy (1944).
William and wife Beatrice (1915-2008) had children Patricia (1941), Bruce (1943), Peter (1953), and David (1956).
Judith Doniger married Dr. Merrill D. Lipsey (1901-1988), a surgeon, and had children Louise (1936), Wendy (1940), and Roger (1942).
In 1888 he next moved to New York. He both married Florence Block (1885-1965) and became a naturalized citizen in 1902. They had children Harold E. (1904-1961), William N. (1908-1972), and Judith (1912-2007).
The 1905 New York census describes his occupation as a hat manufacturer employee.
At some point (apparently in 1919) he decided to import caps from his cousins in Manchester and the first shipment arrived in 1920. His import business also early on included "golf hose and knickers" and did so well that in 1921 he incorporated as David D. Doniger & Company. "The company grossed $148,000 in 1921" according to one source.
The US trademark database has the McGregor name as being first registered in 1938 with Doniger reporting on the application its first use in commerce as February, 1923. (That ought to be definitive, but other sources say it was used even earlier.)
One newspaper advertisement by a clothing store in 1924 described his caps as "Imported directly from England, made of those classy English materials and strictly English in style".
His sons joined the business, Harold in 1925 after graduation from Cornell University, and William in 1928. (William may have gone to Philadelphia University since there is a scholarship program there in his name.)
Each son in turn became company president as first David then Harold died. Richard H. Goldman (husband of William's daughter Patricia) became president following the death of William.
The company went public in 1956 changing its name to McGregor-Doniger Inc.
Rapid-American Corporation (owned by leaveraged buyout specialist Meshulam Riklis, an Israeli) acquired McGregor-Doniger in 1977 (the same year Riklis married Pia Zadora).
Harold and wife Marion married in 1941 and had children William (1942), and Joy (1944).
William and wife Beatrice (1915-2008) had children Patricia (1941), Bruce (1943), Peter (1953), and David (1956).
Judith Doniger married Dr. Merrill D. Lipsey (1901-1988), a surgeon, and had children Louise (1936), Wendy (1940), and Roger (1942).
