Oral history interview with Stuart R. Kerr

Collection

Identifier: SR 9560

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Stuart R. Kerr was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on February 14, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society’s research library.

In this interview, Kerr discusses his family background and early life in Portland. He speaks at length about the history of his family's fruit conservation business, Kerr Fruit Concentrates, Inc. He talks about his father’s role in the business, about running the business after 1941, and about competition in the wholesale grocery industry. He also discusses his involvement with the Mazamas, a mountaineering organization; childhood vacations with his family; and traveling after college.

Dates

1977 February 14

Creator

Kerr, Stuart R. (Stuart Rob), 1907-1987 (Interviewee, 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 Stuart R. Kerr. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Stuart Rob Kerr was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1907. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington, and in 1929, he began working for the family fruit conservation business, Kerr Conserving Co. In 1936, he and Alice McNaughton were married; they later had two children. In 1960, he sold the family business, then named Kerr Fruit Concentrates, Inc., to International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. He continued with the company as a vice president of its Portland subsidiary until his retirement in 1972. Kerr died in 1987.

Sources: Vital records in Ancestry.com; information provided by Kerr in his interview; “Flavor-maker Stuart R. Kerr Dies,” Oregonian, February 5, 1987.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassettes (44 min., 12 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Stuart R. Kerr conducted by Charles Digregorio on February 14, 1977. Kerr discusses the history of his family's fruit conservation business, Kerr Fruit Concentrates Inc.