Hirsch family papers

Collection

Identifier: Coll850

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of papers and memorabilia of the Hirsch family, particularly of Max S. Hirsch, his son Harold S. Hirsch, and his grandson Fred S. Hirsch. Materials include scrapbooks that Max S. Hirsch compiled, a photograph album of the Seller and Hirsch families, and biographical and genealogical materials. The collection also contains materials relating to the Hirsch-Weis Manufacturing Company, which Max S. Hirsch co-founded. Related families represented in the collection include the Seller family, the Meier family, the Frank family, and the Honeyman family.

Dates

1871-2016

Creator

Hirsch family (Family)

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

Max S. Hirsch (1871-1959) was born in Worms, Germany, to a Jewish family. He immigrated to the United States in 1886 at age 15, and settled in Portland, Oregon, where his aunt Jeannette Hirsch-Meier lived. Hirsch worked at the Meier and Frank department store for nearly 20 years, rising to the position of superintendent. He left Meier and Frank in 1907, and purchased the Willamette Tent and Awning Company with Henry Weis; they renamed the firm Hirsch-Weis Manufacturing Company.

Max Hirsch married Clementine Seller, and the couple had two children: Harold Seller Hirsch and Helene Hirsch. Harold S. Hirsch (1907-1990) worked at Hirsch-Weis Manufacturing after studying at Dartmouth and Oxford University, and founded the White Stag brand of skiwear. Hirsch-Weis' name would later be changed to White Stag Manufacturing Company. Harold S. Hirsch married Barbara Honeyman in 1934. They adopted two children, Frederic and Janet.

Extent

1.46 Cubic Feet (1 legal document case; 1 card file box (12x5x3); 1 flat box (11x14); 1 flat box (16x20))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers and memorabilia of the Hirsch family and related families, including scrapbooks and photographs. Max S. Hirsch (1871-1959) was a Jewish German immigrant to the United States. He founded the Hirsch-Weis Manufacturing Company in Portland, Oregon. His son Harold S. Hirsch (1907-1990) founded the White Stag brand of skiwear, and renamed the Hirsch-Weis Manufacturing Company as White Stag Manufacturing Company.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Kim Everett-Hirsch, August 2019 (RL2019-112).

Related Materials

Records of Hirsch-Weis Manufacturing Company are designated Mss 1436, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Correspondence and memorabilia of Harold S. Hirsch is designated Coll 838, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.