Hirsch family papers, 1871-2016

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.