ohy_coll817.xml Guide to the Harry E. Bell and Faye Bell papers circa 1900-2010 Bell (Harry E. and Faye) papers Jeffrey A. Hayes Oregon Historical Society, Davies Family Research Library 2019
1200 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 libreference@ohs.org https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-01-14. Finding aid is written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. English Oregon Historical Society, Davies Family Research Library
1200 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 libreference@ohs.org https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/
Harry E. Bell and Faye Bell papers Bell, Harry E., 1882-1964 Coll 817 9.65 cubic feet 4 record cartons; 2 legal document cases; 1 card file box (12 x 6 x 4); 2 card file boxes (12 x 8 x 5); 1 card file box (12 x 9 x 6); 6 flat boxes (13 x 16); 1 flat box (19 x 25); 1 map folder circa 1900-2010 1913-1967 Papers and ephemera of spouses Harry E. Bell and Faye Bell, who both worked in the apparel retail business in the early and mid-20th century. The collection includes advertising materials, publications and ephemera of retail manufacturers whose products the Bells sold; papers and designs documenting Hirsch-Weis's White Stag line of clothes and its work with the Adolph L. Bloch Advertising Agency; and papers and photographs of other individuals whose connection with the Bells, if any, is unknown.

Collection is open for research.

Gift of Jeff Stookey and Ken Baker, September 2010 (Lib. Acc. 27158).

The collection is arranged in three series: Series 1. Apparel business papers; Series 2. Bell family papers; Series 3. Papers of other individuals and non-apparel firms.

Harry E. Bell was born in 1882 in Nebraska. Faye Bell, born Goldie Faye Hines, was born in 1900 in Missouri. The two married in December 1925, and both worked as clothing retailers and representatives for apparel manufacturers; Harry was also the proprietor of Bell's Men's Wear in Bellingham, Washington. The couple resided in Portland, Oregon, from the 1940s onward, first at the Prince of Wales Hotel on Alder Street, and then at a residence on NE 37th Avenue. They frequently traveled for work. Harry was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Elks Club in Bellingham. Harry E. Bell and Faye Bell died in Portland in 1964 and 1987, respectively.

The Hansen Glove Corporation was a glove manufacturer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was incorporated in 1901 by O. C. Hansen under the name O. C. Hansen Mfg. Co. The name was changed to Hansen Glove Corporation in 1930. The company is no longer in business as of 2019.

The history of the White Stag company begins in 1931, when Harold S. Hirsch began to manufacture ski apparel at his family's firm, the Hirsch-Weis Manufacturing Company. The name "White Stag" was a literal translation of the names Weis and Hirsch. The line expanded to other types of sportswear, and in 1956 Hirsch-Weis changed its name to White Stag. The firm was purchased by the clothing firm Warner Brothers Company (later Warnaco) in 1966.

The Adolph L. Bloch Advertising Agency was founded in 1922 by Adolph L. Bloch of Portland, Oregon.

Harry E. Bell and Faye Bell papers, Coll 817, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Hirsch-Weis Company records, Mss 1436, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

The bulk of the collection consists of the personal papers, business records, and ephemera of clothing retailers Harry E. Bell and Faye Bell, and of advertising and publicity materials for apparel firms whose wares the Bells sold, particularly the Hansen Glove Corporation. The Bells' business papers include correspondence and account books. Personal papers include Harry E. Bell's diaries, which primarily note where he was on a given day; photographs; hotel stationery collected by the Bells; and self-improvement publications owned by Harry E. Bell. The collection also includes papers and advertising materials relating to the Hirsch-Weis Manufacturing Company's White Stag Line, and its work with the Adolph L. Bloch Advertising Agency. It is unclear whether the Bells sold White Stag items or were otherwise connected with either Hirsch-Weis or the Bloch agency. The collection also includes papers and photographs concerning other individuals and non-apparel firms; their connection to the Bells, if any, is unknown.

E. O. McCormick photograph album is designated Coll 186, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Artifacts were separated to Museum Collections, Oregon Historical Society.

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.

 Bell, Harry E., 1882-1964 Bell, Faye, 1900-1987 Hansen Glove Corporation (Milwaukee, Wis.) White Stag Manufacturing Company Clothing trade--Northwest, Pacific--20th century Business enterprises--Oregon--Portland Business enterprises--Washington (State)--Bellingham Advertising and Marketing Businesses and Corporations ephemera (general object genre) advertisements Bell, Faye, 1900-1987 Apparel business papers Series 1 1925-1967 1913-1964 Harry E. and Faye Bell business papers Subseries 1 1925-1960 Faye Bell - Bulletins, receipts, and quotas 1951 1 1 Faye Bell - publicity materials and account book circa 1925-1954 1 2 Blueprints for Bell's Men's Wear 1927 15 1 Stationery, publicity materials, and receipt book for Bell's Men's Wear, Bellingham, Washington 1927-1930; undated 1 3-5 Bell's Men's Wear - stickers for mailings undated 1 6 Calendars produced for and distributed by the Bells 1948-1955 1 7 Correspondence 1921-1934; 1943; undated 1 8 Correspondence 1939-1960 8 Correspondence - telegraph orders 1925-1951 1 9 Sign designs for Bell's Men's Wear circa 1925-1930 9 4 Counter signs advertising Harry E. Bell's wares at trade shows circa 1940 Oversize 1 Directories and inventories undated 1 10 Financial records - account books 1920-1933 8 Financial records - notebook and ledger 1933-1940 1 11 Financial notes and receipts 1927-1935 1 12 Financial records - letterpress copy order books 1951-1959 9 1-3 Financial records - letterpress copy order book 1956-1957 1 13 Hansen Glove Corporation advertising and catalogs Subseries 1 1935-1967 Advertising 1939; undated 1 14-15 Advertising and fabric color samples undated 15 3 Advertising kit 1937 15 4 Advertising kits 1941-1950 10 Advertising kits, including fabric and glove samples 1951-1953; undated 11 Advertising packet sent to the Bells 1949 1 16 Catalogs and fabric color samples 1935-1952 1 17-22 Catalogs and fabric color samples 1953-1967 2 1-4 Catalogs and fabric color samples undated 2 5 Convention sales packet 1951 2 6 Counter cards undated 15 5 Newspaper advertisements 1941-1953 2 7 Photographs circa 1939-1950 2 8 Issues of publication, "Hansen Hummer" 1944-1948 2 9 Stationery, ephemera, and publications undated 2 10 White Stag and Adolph L. Bloch Advertising Agency materials Subseries 2 1934-1945 Correspondence addressed to Hirsch-Weis 1934-1935 2 11 White Stag advertising circa 1935-1945 2 12 White Stag advertising circa 1935-1945 12 1 White Stag advertising designs circa 1935-1945 12 2 White Stag advertising plates circa 1940 15 6 White Stag advertising scrapbook 1940-1941 12 3 Scrapbook pages with White Stag advertisements circa 1940 12 4 White Stag advertising publications 1939; undated 2 13 White Stag advertising scrapbook circa 1940 12 5 White Stag - Sketches for advertisement in "Vogue" 1937 13 1 Correspondence of Adolph L. Bloch Advertising Agency regarding Hirsch-Weis and White Stag 1934-1935 2 14 Adolph L. Bloch Advertising Agency and Hirsch-Weis - Inventories and notes 1939; undated 2 15 Covers of outdoor magazines, possibly relating to Adolph L. Bloch Advertising Agency 1938-1940 13 2 Adolph L. Bloch Advertising Agency ephemera: certificate, envelope, and novelty check undated 13 3 Samples and advertising for other firms Subseries 3 circa 1926-1960 Harms of California catalogs, fabric samples, and stationery sent to Faye Bell 1957-1958; undated 2 16 Promotional photograph albums for Copper Wells & Co.; Hendan Products undated 2 17 Hendan Shirts counter card undated 15 5 Hendan Sportswear fabric color and pattern sample sheets circa 1950 2 18-19 Hendan Women's shirt color and pattern sample sheets circa 1950 2 20-21 Promotional materials for Iron Clad Hosiery circa 1926 13 4 National Association of Leather Glove Manufacturers advertising packet 1941 13 5 Advertisements and stationery for various firms circa 1930-1960 2 22-24 Advertisements and stationery for various firms circa 1930-1960 3 1-3 Catalogs for various firms 1938-1955; undated 3 4 Fabric samples from various firms undated 13 6 Glove advertisements, various firms 1949-1952; undated 3 5 Advertising photographs for various firms undated 3 6 Advertising placards undated 13 7 Magazine and sign advertisements undated 3 7 Magazine and sign advertisements undated 14 1 Publications and events Subseries 4 1926-1958 Dictionaries of textile terms 1946-1948 3 8 Directories for Oregon retailers 1932; 1950 3 9 Fashion and apparel magazines 1939-1958 14 2 Fashion and retailer newsletters 1937-1949 3 10 Publications concerning the glove industry 1927; 1948 3 11 Issues of "Gloves" 1937-1941 3 12 Issues of "The Sample Case" 1947-1948 3 13 Group photograph from 9th Annual Convention of Washington-Idaho Clothiers and Furnishers Association in Tacoma, Washington 1927 15 2 Report on the 9th Annual Convention of Washington-Idaho Clothiers and Furnishers Association in Tacoma, Washington 1927 3 14 Trade show programs 1926-1952 3 15-18 Bell family papers Series 2 circa 1913-2010 Correspondence and diaries Subseries 1 1915-1964 Correspondence 1921-1951; undated 3 19 Diaries of Harry E. Bell 1913-1914 8 Diaries of Harry E. Bell 1915-1948 7 Diaries of Harry E. Bell 1949-1964 8 Travel ephemera Subseries 2 circa 1920-1959 Hotel ephemera from sales trips circa 1920-1950 3 20 Ephemera from business trip 1938 3 21 Hotel ephemera from Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1943 3 22 Hotel stationery, Oregon circa 1920-1950 3 23-25 Hotel stationery, Oregon circa 1920-1950 4 1 Hotel stationery, Washington state circa 1920-1950 4 2-3 Hotel stationery, California circa 1920-1950 4 4 Hotel stationery, Idaho circa 1920-1950 4 5 Hotel stationery, Montana circa 1920-1950 4 6 Hotel stationery, Nevada circa 1920-1950 4 7 Hotel stationery, other states circa 1920-1950 4 8 Oregon Centennial programs 1959 4 9 Blank postcards depicting Oregon sites undated 4 10 Restaurant memorabilia undated 14 3 Travel and event ephemera, including tickets, programs, and promotional brochures circa 1920-1950 4 11-16 Self-improvement materials of Harry E. Bell Subseries 3 1904-1940 Book on how to run a business, "Personal Management" 1927 4 17 Books and brochures on how to run a business 1905-1940 5 1-4 Handwriting practice book 1904 5 5 La Salle Extension University series "Personal Efficiency" 1917-1922 5 6 La Salle Extension University publications 1916-1921 5 7 Other personal materials Subseries 4 circa 1925-2010 Bellingham, Washington telephone book 1928 6 1 Elks materials of Harry E. Bell undated 6 2 Issues of Elks newsletter "The Call" 1925-1926 6 3 Personal ephemera, including receipts, automobile mileage book, and ration books circa 1927-1945 6 4 Personal finances, including automobile payments 1927-1928 6 5 Genealogical information circa 2010 6 6 Guestbook of Faye Bell (photocopy) 1945-1983 6 7 Photographs of Harry E. Bell and Faye Bell 1929-1946; undated 6 8 Photographs developed at Sandy's of Portland, including negatives circa 1945 6 9 Photograph of the Prince of Wales Hotel in Portland, Oregon, possibly undergoing remodeling circa 1950 6 10 Portrait of Harry E. Bell and Faye Bell; photocopy of plaque awarded to Harry E. Bell circa 1940; 1958 November 28 14 4 Papers of other individuals and non-apparel firms Series 3 circa 1900-2000 Master's thesis by Carol H. Hoffman, "The Lives and Letters of Edward Fitzgerald" 1961 6 11 JQL estate slides - Flowers; people; Oregon scenes; house interiors; foreign countries circa 1955-1965 16 JQL estate slides - Seattle; Canada; Hawaii; San Francisco; Oregon coast circa 1937-1963 17 Miscellaneous materials collected by Jeff Stookey and Ken Baker 1934-circa 2000 6 12 Marie Vann papers 1919-1952 6 13 Marie Vann photographs circa 1920-1940 6 14 Unidentified group photograph undated 15 2 Photograph of unidentified man undated 15 2 Photographs of unidentified house interior circa 1920 6 15 Photographs of business named "Piano Hospital" circa 1910 14 5 Photograph of Iron Firemen basketball team circa 1920 6 16 Photographs of unidentified people circa 1900-1920 6 17 Scrapbook album with shipyard and travel photographs circa 1944 14 6