Harold S. Hirsch correspondence and memorabilia
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of correspondence, photographs, and ephemera relating to apparel businessman Harold S. Hirsch. The bulk of the materials relates to honors that Hirsch received in his later life. These honors include the "Harold Hirsch Day" celebration held at the Osborn & Ullman store at Lloyd Center in Portland, Oregon, on October 19, 1988; and Hirsch's induction into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame in early 1990. Other items in the collection include biographical information about Hirsch; Hirsch's obituary; a postcard of the White Stag sign; and a framed portrait of Hirsch.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1970-1990
Creator
- Hirsch, Harold S., 1907-1990 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Biographical Note
Harold S. Hirsch was born in Portland, Oregon, in September 1907. He studied anthropology at Dartmouth College and Oxford University, but the Great Depression forced him to work in the family tent business, Hirsch-Weis. Hirsch, who had skied while in college, began to make ski apparel using the name "White Stag," a literal translation of the name "Hirsch-Weis." The line became successful, and later branched out into other kinds of sportswear. Hirsch racially integrated his plants during World War II, and was active in efforts to hire people from underrepresented groups and combat prejudice in the workplace. Hirsch was a supporter of higher education, the Japanese Garden Society of Oregon, the Portland Youth Philharmonic, and the Nature Conservancy Foundation. Hirsch died in 1990.
Administrative History
Osborn and Ulland, Inc. was a retail firm based in Seattle, Washington. It had a store in the Lloyd Center in Portland, Oregon, and sold White Stag apparel beginning in the 1960s. The firm went out of business in 1995.
Extent
1.35 Cubic Feet (4 folders; 1 flat box (23x31.5))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Correspondence, photographs, and ephemera relating to honors that Harold S. Hirsch (1907-1990) received in his later life. Hirsch was a retail businessman and civic leader from Portland, Oregon, who founded the White Stag line of ski apparel.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Yosh Nakagawa, October 2018 (Lib. Acc. 29385).
Separated Materials
White Stag Experts Club plaque awarded to Yosh Nakagawa was separated to Museum Collections, Oregon Historical Society.
Subject
- Hirsch, Harold S., 1907-1990 (Person)
- White Stag Manufacturing Company (Organization)
- Osborn & Ulland, Inc. (Organization)
Genre / Form
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Harold S. Hirsch correspondence and memorabilia
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jeffrey A. Hayes
- Date
- 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org