Addis Gutmann papers, 1897-1966

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gutmann, Addis, 1901-1971
Title
Addis Gutmann papers
Dates
1897-1966 (inclusive)
1916-1954 (bulk)
Quantity
1.89 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Collection Number
1902 (Accession No. 1902-005)
Summary
Addis Gutmann was a fur merchant in Seattle and served in the Office of the Quartermaster General in Alaska during WWII. His papers reflect his personal, business, and military activities.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Simon David Addis Gutmann was born was born January 6, 1901 in Victoria B.C. to Adelaide Rosetta and Mortiz Gutmann. Addis Gutmann attended the Moran School, the University of Washington and the Army Industrial College. He married Estelle Schlesinger from Denver, Colorado on June 15, 1927. His father Mortiz was a fur dealer with the Hudson Bay Fur Company. Around 1923 Addis Gutmann became a manager for the fur company and would eventually become Vice President in 1930 working alongside his father the president of the company. In 1932 Addis became president of the Hudson Bay fur company later known as the Alaska Fur Company. He would go on to become the Vice President and President of the Alaska Fur Company until 1950 and the president of the Alaska Jewelry Company from 1951 to 1959.

Gutmann was a second lieutenant in the Officer’s reserve Corps in 1925 and became a Major in 1928. Among other activities he was a consultant for the Armed Service on winter clothing and equipment. Addis Gutmann was called from the reserves on January 4, 1941 to serve in the Chief Oversees Supply Division in the Asiatic-Pacific and in Europe. In 1945 Addis Gutmann assisted in providing food supplies to Jewish refugees with the goal of transporting 800 Jews to a French port to board a ship bound for Palestine. He was discharged February 21, 1946 awarded with a bronze star medal and the rank of Colonel.

After the war Gutmann returned to the fur business and managed the Alaska Fur Company. He became a part of the National Jewish Welfare Board and attended meetings in regards to Veterans Administration hospital volunteer expansion. In 1951 he traveled to Washington D.C. to serve as a consultant to the military on winter clothing. He was president of numerous organizations including the National Sojourners, the Jewish Community Center, Retired Officers Association and was installed as the comander of the American Legion Seattle Post 1 in 1953. Gutmann became the president of the Franklin Savings and Loan Association, that opened September 22, 1960 at Broadway and East Pine Street, Seattle and was on the legislative committee of the United States Savings and Loan League. He was chairman of the King County Cancer Crusade April, 1968 and was elected the County Cancer Society's president the next year. He died October 30, 1971.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, reports, designs and specifications, and memorabilia including scrapbooks.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged into three series:

  • Personal Papers
  • Alaska Fur Co. Records
  • U.S. Military

Processing Note

Processed by Gina Rappaport; processing completed in 2007.

Accession 1902-005 is a merger of accessions 1863, 1902-001, 1902-002, 1902-003 and 1902-004.

1200 Photographs were relocated to PH Coll 754 in the repository in 2007.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Addis Gutmann Photograph Collection (Collection No. PH0754)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Personal PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Biographical
Box/Folder
1/1
Biographical and genealogical papers
1/2
Citizenship documents
Correspondence
Box/Folder
1/3
Allen, Raymond B.
1950
1/4
Berger, Casper
1949
1/5
Boone, Abbott
1940
1/6
Chastek, Chester J.
1950
1/7
Clark, Mark W.
1949
1/8
Delta Sigma Fraternity
1920
1/9
Erickson, R.C.
1949
1/10
Frank, James E.
1941
1/11
Green, Joshua
1966
1/12
Jackson, Henry M.
1953
1/13
Jewish Community Council
1946
1/14
Little, James Raymond
1941
1/15
Littlejohn, Robert M.
1942
1/16
Radford, A.W.
1950
1/17
Humphries
1940
1/18
Stusser, Leslie
1950
1/19
United Jewish Appeal
1946
1/20
United Palestine Appeal
1946
1/21
U.S. Department of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt
1918
1/22
University of Washington Associated Students (ASUW)
1/23
Van Sickler, D.R.
1952
1/24
Unidentified
1940
Speeches and writings
Box/Folder
1/25
Alaskan defense
1/26
Battle of Jutland
1/27
Brotherhood lectures
Notes
Includes organized and typed notes on various topics, possibly from lectures attended.
Box/Folder
1/28
Civil defense
1/29
Economic intelligence
5/1
European tour of duty
1/30
Geopolitics
1/31
Logistics
1/32
Manpower
1/33
Military contracting and renegotiating
1/34
Nine principles of war
1/35
Organization for national security
1/36
Recruiting program
1/37
History of Russian expansion
1/38
Wartime facilities
1/39
Miscellaneous notes
Newspaper clippings
Box/Folder
5/2-6
Newspaper clippings
Awards and certificates
Box/Folder
5/7
Awards and certificates
5/10
Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibiton award plaques
Memorabilia
Box/Folder
1/40
Cards and ephemera
Includes Dachau concentration camp visitors pass
1/41
Menus
1/42
Invitations to FDR inaugural celebrations
1941
5/8-9
Scrapbooks
Two scrapbooks
Includes newspaper clippings, programs, and ephemera relating to Gutmann's personal and professional life and military career as well as copies of the Gutmann family Christmas cards.
Gutmann Family
Box/Folder
1/43
Moritz Gutmann
1897-1900
1/44
Addis Gutmann, Jr.
Includes letter from Rabbi Nadich.

Alaska Fur Co.Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Incoming correspondence
Box/Folder
2/1
Bon Marche
1951
2/2
Borg Fabric Division
1951
2/3
Craftmaster
1951
2/4
Fred Franke & Co.
1951
2/5
Harris Research Laboratories
1952
2/6
Jen-Cel-Lite Corp.
1950
2/7
Isaac A. Schoen & Sons, Inc.
1950
2/8
U.S. Army
1950-1953
2/9
University of Washington School of Medicine
1951
Outgoing correspondence
Box/Folder
2/10
Outgoing correspondence
1950-1953
General correspondence
Box/Folder
2/11
Celanese Corporation of America
1950-1951
2/12
E.K. Gubin
1953
2/13
B.P. John Furniture Corporation
1951
2/14
Ladisch, Rolf K.
1951
2/15
O'Brien, Clarence, and Jacobson, Harvey
1950-1953
2/16
Pinkley, Virgil
1951
2/17
U.S. Air Force, Air Materiel COmmand
1951
2/18
U.S. Army, Quartermaster General
1950-1953
2/19
U.S. Patent Office
1951
Sleeping bag garment design
Box/Folder
2/20
Specifications
2/21
Description and photographs
2/22
Correspondence, drawings, and photographs
1950-1954
2/23
Patent for Combined Garment and Sleeping Bag, designed by Addis Gutmann
1953
Cold climate clothing contacts
Box/Folder
2/24
Manufacturer's representatives
2/25
Equipment manufacturers
Catalogs and advertisements
Box/Folder
2/26
Hudson Bay Fur Co. catalogs
circa 1910s
2/27
Hudson Bay Fur Co. catalogs
circa 1920s
2/28
Alaska Fur Co. and Hudson Bay Fur Co. flyers and advertisements
2/29
Miscellaneous cold climate clothing notes, advertisements, and publications
2/30
Newspaper clippings

U.S. MilitaryReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
General military documents
Box/Folder
3/1
Orders, separation, and other documents
1941-1946
Correspondence
Box/Folder
3/2
General correspondence
1940-1950
Cold climate clothing
Box/Folder
3/3-5
Clothing communications for Alaska defense force
1940-1942
3/6
Authority for cold climate procurement
1941-1942
3/7
Negotiated purchase of cold climate clothing
Includes bids and transcripts of telephone conversations.
1941
3/8
Sleeping bag specification drafts and photographs
circa 1940-1942
4/1
Ski jacket design
1938
Reports
Box/Folder
4/2
Drafts of report on Alaska
1938
4/3
Report on Alaska
Confidential report on Alaska prepared by Addis Gutmann detailing general characteristics of Alaska, Japanese fishing activities, climate of Aleutian Islands, points of military importance, clothing in Alaska, and other general information. The report is illustrated with photographs of Alaska towns and features.
1938
3/9
Allocation of private industrial capacity
3/10
Arctic Clothing
1945
3/11
Associated Services for the Armed Forces, Inc.
3/12
Greenland
3/13
Invasion of Africa (Operation Torch)
3/14
Invasion of Europe (Operation Overlord)
3/15
Invasion of Italy
3/16
Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky)
3/17
“Manpower Controls are Necessary”
3/18
“Montgomery versus Patton”
3/19
“National Security Factors in Industrial Location”
1948
3/20
Ski equipment and patrols
1941
4/4
Weather reports on Iceland, Greenland, and Finland
Other papers
Box/Folder
3/21
Miscellaneous publications

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Businesspeople--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Civic leaders--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Executives--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Fur trade--Washington (State)
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Gutmann, Addis, 1901-1971--Archives
  • Jackson, Henry M. (Henry Martin), 1912-1983

Corporate Names

  • Alaska Fur Company (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Alaska Fur Company (Seattle, Wash.)--History--Archives
  • Hudson Bay Fur Co. (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Hudson Bay Fur Co. (Seattle, Wash.)--History--Archives

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington) (curator)