Jacome's Department Store records

Jacome's Department Store began in 1896 as La Bonanza General Store. Company founder Carlos C. Jacome initially partnered with Loreto Carrillo and opened a store located at 84 West Congress Street, Tucson, Arizona. Jacome then partnered with Genaro S. Manzo in 1902. During their business partnership, Jacome and Manzo were involved with the Alianza Hispano-Americana, a fraternal benefit society for Mexican-Americans. The partnership between Jacome and Manzo was dissolved in 1913 and the store remained within the Jacome family until 1980 (Manzo later returned to work for the store as an employee). In addition to operating La Bonanza, Jacome was involved in Arizona territorial politics. He was the only person of Mexican-descent selected for Arizona's constitutional convention in 1910 and his active membership with the convention contributed to Arizona's obtaining of statehood in 1912. The store's name was changed from La Bonanza to Jacome's Department Store c. 1921 and it was incorporated in 1928. Carlos's son, Alex G. Jacome graduated from the University of Arizona with the degree Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1927 and served internships with department stores in New York City and Laredo, Texas before returning to Tucson to work at Jacome's. Alex was named vice-president of the company in 1928. The company's board of directors installed Alex as president upon the death of Carlos in 1932. Alex maintained ties with the University of Arizona throughout his life. He established and oversaw a scholarship fund named in honor of his father. He received the University of Arizona Distinguished Citizen Award in 1966 and he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1974. Over the years, Alex served on several boards of directors. He also was a member of the Arizona Board of Regents from 1952 to 1961. One of the highlights of Alex's tenure as president of Jacome's was the construction and grand opening of a $1,000,000 store at Stone and Pennington in Tucson in 1951. Alex became chairman of the board of Jacome's in 1972 and his son, Alex F. Jacome, was named president of the company. Alex G. Jacome died in 1980. Jacome's Department Store closed in April of 1980 and its assets were divided among the stockholders.