In 1898 National Blue Print Company was located in a small loft on 17th Street, in Union Square, and offered only one service, blueprinting. Edwin J. Bernstein who had worked in the business for almost 20 years, purchased the company in 1923. Around 1920 the blueprinting process was automated and output jumped
from dozens of prints to hundreds of prints per machine per day. Although the blueprinting technology was improving, it was also maturing as a reprographic process. In the 1950's, diazo began replacing blueprinting and National made its last blueprint on April 12, 1969

In 1913, National moved from its 17th Street location to West 32nd Street. For 50 years the entire Company - office, sales, production, even a blueprint paper coating facility - was on a single floor in the building. It was not until 1964, when Robert and Madeline Bernstein, son and daughter-in-law of Edwin J. Bernstein, became responsible for the management of the Company, that National expanded its range of services, beyond blueprinting, diazo and contact photo work to include Camera, Offset and Xerox.

In 1973, New York City was on the verge of bankruptcy and National's customers were laying off employees in large numbers. Most competitors were doing the same. It was the feeling of management that things would eventually improve and that National should expand rather than cut back. So, during the same year, National opened its first branch at 3 East 57th Street. The city avoided bankruptcy, the customers got very busy, the branch was a huge success, and the rest is history.

In 1979, the name of the Company was changed to National Reprographics Inc. (NRI), in an effort to fully represent the range and diversity of services offered.

In 1984, NRI became one of the founders of ReproCAD, today known as ReproMax - a privately held international network of technology corporations dedicated to providing advanced reprographic services for the AEC community and other design graphics professionals. By 1987 NRI had gained sufficient experience with state-of-the-art computer aided laser and electrostatic plotting techniques to open Cadgraphics, the first Plotting Service Bureau in NYC.

Continuing its reputation as a technology leader, NRI was the first firm in New York to introduce
Megachrome—large format printing from digital files, Colormax—the first camera to make positive to positive
direct color photos up to 4 ft. x 8 ft. in one piece, and Megascan—the largest color scanning service in New
York City.

NRI Digital was formed in 1996. This new division was dedicated to promoting Color Digital Services both within and outside the AEC Community. In the same year, NRI installed the first Oce 9800 high-speed digital plotter/printer in New York City.

As the century turned again to the year 2000, NRI Outsourcing was formed. This division included Technology Consulting, Facilities Management, Merchandise and Maintenance. Once again, NRI was offering more services to facilitate the needs of its customers.

In August of 2001, NRI acquired Color Imaging Center (CIC) of Washington D.C. This acquisition will allow NRI to service its customers across a larger geographic region.

Today, National Reprographics Inc. is the largest reprographics firm in New York City and one of the largest in the United States. The business is still run by the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of E.J. Bernstein. The success of NRI is not because of its size or length of existence, but because there are people in it who live it, sleep it, dream it and build future plans for it.