Cooper Hewitt says...
Haskell was born in 1889 in Cannelton, Indiana. Her parents owned a dry goods store and later a clothing store in Indiana. From 1918 to 1921, she studied education at the University of Chicago but prior to graduating moved to New York in 1924 and opened a costume jewellery shop under her own name at the McAlpin Hotel. Haskell jewelry is distinguished by its use of filigree. She purchased her beads mostly from France and Venice, Italy, while most crystals came from Bohemia. In December of 1924 she opened a second sales outlet on West 57th Street. In 1926 she emplyed Frank Hess, previously a window dresser at Macy's, as her major designer. In 1929 Haskell moved her business to 392 Fifth Avenue where it remained until 1966. From 1933 to 1937 Haskell ran a successful boutique in Miami at the Hotel Roney Plaza. In 1936 Haskell secured her own dedicated area on the ground floor of Saks Fifth Avenue for exhibiting and selling both her own and imported French jewelry. In August 1950 the ownership of Miriam Haskell's company passed to Joe Haskell, Miriam's brother. In the next two decades top designers included Robert F. Clark, Peter Raines, and Larry Vrba. In 1976 the company moved to 800 Madison Avenue. In 1980, Camille (Millie) Petronzi assumed the role of chief designer. The company is still active and based in New York
