Oral history interview with Francis J. Heitkemper

Collection

Identifier: SR 9556

Staff Only

Oral history interview with Francis J. Heitkemper

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Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Francis J. Heitkemper was conducted by Charles Digregorio in Portland, Oregon, on March 22, 1977, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library’s oral history program.

In this interview, Heitkemper speaks at length about his family background and describes how his grandparents came to Portland in the 19th century. He talks about the history of the family business, the Heitkemper Jewelry Store, discusses operating the store during the mid-20th century, and speaks about the types of merchandise the store sold.

Dates

Creation: 1977 March 22

Creator

Heitkemper, Francis J. (Francis James), 1910-1988 (Interviewee, Person)
Digregorio, Charles (Interviewer, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the estate of Francis J. Heitkemper. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Francis James Heitkemper was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1910. In 1928, he and Jane Cullers were married; they later had three children. He was a jeweler and owner of his family's business, the Heitkemper Jewelry Store in Portland. He died in 1988.

Sources: Vital records on Ancestry.com; information provided by Heitkemper in his interview.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassette (31 min., 38 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Francis J. Heitkemper conducted by Charles Digregorio on March 22, 1977. Heitkemper discusses the history of his family's business, the Heitkemper Jewelry Store, in Portland, Oregon.