In 1881, Isaac Gevurtz moved with his family from San Francisco, California, to Portland, Oregon, and started a small store on Front and Yamill streets. The enterprise developed into a large furniture business under the name of I. Gevurtz & Sons, and by 1909, it had expanded into two stores: Gevurtz & Sons downtown at First and Yamhill, and Gevurtz Brothers on East Burnside Street and Union Avenue. The family also expanded into real estate, developing the Multnomah, Mallory, Philip, and Carlton hotels in Portland, as well as apartment houses, including several in the Nob Hill neighborhood. But around 1915, while Isaac Gevurtz in ill health, a financial crisis forced the company into bankruptcy, resulting in the loss of the hotel and apartment properties. The family reorganized the business into two companies: the Gevurtz Furniture Company and Gevurtz Brothers, a wholesale clothing business, both of which were led by sons of Isaac Gevurtz.
In 1928, the furniture store moved to Second and Morrison streets, where it would operate for a little more than 50 years. In 1938, Isaac Gevurtz's son Louis Gevurtz became president of the business, which expanded to include stores in Salem and Coos Bay, Oregon. Gevurtz thrived until the early 1950s, when business weakened with the growth of the suburbs, and downtown Portland began to decline. In 1952, Louis Gevurtz's son Burton returned to Portland after two years in the Navy to find the company struggling, and he began to shift the company's focus toward contemporary furniture and to modernize its advertising. Other changes followed: The company sold its Salem and Coos Bay stores, and bought Hollywood Furniture at NE 33rd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard, which was subsequently managed by Barrie Itkin, Burton Gevurtz's brother-in-law. The company remodeled the downtown Portland store in 1967. After Louis Gevurtz died that same year, Burton Gevurtz succeeded him as president, and began to look for a suburban location for the business. In 1976, the company opened the Gevurtz Contemporary Furniture showroom in Tigard, Oregon, followed by a warehouse at the same location in 1979. Also during that time, ownership of Hollywood Furniture was transferred to the Itkin family, and, in 1980, Burton Gevurtz closed the downtown store.
The company operated in Tigard until 1997, when Burton Gevurtz decided to retire, and no other member of the family wished to take over the business. The company sold its property and closed after more than 100 years in operation.
Sources: Collection materials; Burton Gevurtz's obituary, 2013,
The Gevurtz Furniture Company records and Gevurtz family papers (1899-1997) consist of materials relating both to the operation and history of the company, and to family activities unrelated to business operations.
The materials in Series 1, Gevurtz Furniture Company records (1909-1997), make up the largest part of the collection, and document some of the corporate-level functions of a local family-owned furniture business that operated for more than 100 years in the Portland, Oregon, area. These materials include articles of incorporation, corporate by-laws and minutes, correspondence, employee information, company stock documents, lease agreements, records relating to the sale and improvement of real property, photocopies of newspaper clippings, trademark information, promotional materials, financial reports, and company historical information. The series also includes ephemera and photographs of company operations, events, and Gevurtz family members. The records do not contain information about general store operations and management, furniture styles, or the purchase and sale of furniture. Materials in Series 2, Gevurtz family papers (1899-1995), relate to Gevurtz family matters and activities that do not have a direct connection with the operation of the business, and include a diary kept by Belle Gevurtz, a last will and testament of Louis Gevurtz, personal papers, an abstract of title, property deeds, and mortgage documents relating to family property.
The collection is arranged in two series:
Collection is open for research.
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.
Gevurtz Furniture Company records and Gevurtz family papers, Mss 6011, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Gift of Burton Gevurtz, October 1998 (Lib. Acc. 23768).
Collection was initially processed by George Miller in approximately 2002, and a collection guide was prepared. Final processing and revision of the guide were performed by Andrew Bryans in 2005. In May 2024, the collection title was revised to reflect the family papers in the collection, and the collection guide was revised to conform to current standard. Collection was previously titled "Gevurtz Furniture Company records."
The first part of Series 1 consists of records relating to the history and operations of the Gevurtz Furniture Company (1914-1997). The second part of the series, beginning with Box 2, Folder 4, consists of ephemera, promotional materials and photographs (1909-1985).
Biographical information about Gevurtz family members, articles about the company's history, and articles about the closure of the company in 1997. Mostly photocopies.
Press release announcing Burton Gevurtz's retirement, closure of the Tigard, Oregon, store, and end of the Gevurtz Furniture Company.
Excerpts from E. Kimbark MacColl's book, describing the early history of the Gevurtz family and its enterprises in Portland, Oregon.
Bills of sale of Sanford C. Brant, A. H. Gevurtz, and Louis Gevurtz to Gevurtz Furniture Company.
Materials include dockets, proxies, meeting announcements, and certificates of election of directors.
Includes canceled Gevurtz stock certificates; Hollywood Furniture, Inc., stock certificates; Gevurtz certificates of increase in capital stock; stock valuation report; and correspondence.
Agreement between Gevurtz stockholders that the stock of a deceased stockholder be acquired by the company and that the company have first option to purchase stock of any stockholder.
Correspondence and audited financial statement relating to sale of stock in Gevurtz Furniture Company.
Correspondence and agreement relating to sale of stock in Gevurtz Furniture Company.
Lease agreement between Clara Kaufman and Gevurtz for downtown Portland, Oregon, store (210 SW Morrison Street), and lease agreement between Burton Gevurtz, Barrie Itkin, and Gevurtz Furniture Company for Tigard, Oregon, store.
Lease agreement between Trustees of Estate of Clara Kaufman and Gevurtz for downtown Portland, Oregon, store (210 SW Morrison Street). Materials include correspondence, lease extension agreements, and circuit court order authorizing execution of lease.
Real property purchase agreements and infrastructure improvement agreements, including maps, for Tigard, Oregon, showroom and warehouse building; agreements with the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, Smets Machinery Company, City of Tigard, and Unified Sewerage Agency of Washington County, Oregon.
Bill of sale, lease agreements, and associated documents relating to Burton Gevurtz, Barrie Itkin, and the Gevurtz Furniture Company for the store and warehouse in Tigard, Oregon.
Contract and related documents for purchase of real property and building at 210 SW Morrison Street, Portland, Oregon, by Burton Gevurtz.
Agreement of sale, real estate contract, correspondence, and documents relating to sale of Gevurtz store in Coos Bay to Purkeys, Inc.; agreement between Gevurtz and Charles A. Robinson of Coos Bay terminating employment contract.
Documents relating to the Hollywood Furniture Company, T. King and Charles Simpson.
Documents and correspondence relating to investments at the First National Bank of Oregon and in the Metropolitan Hotel Corporation.
Company resolutions establishing a commercial payroll account.
Correspondence between Arthur A. Goldsmith, Barrie Itkin, Stella B. Schabner, Mattlyn B. Gevurtz, and others relating to banking and corporate administration.
Business card, cash register tape, savings account books, insurance documents, and assumed business name registration form.
Oregon trademark application and certificate; correspondence with the North-Mehornay Furniture Company, Kansas City, Missouri, and law firms concerning challenge to mark used by Gevurtz.
Action of board of directors, correspondence, agreements, stock ownership agreement, financial information, and notes relating to the Hollywood Furniture Company's corporate spin-off from Gevurtz.
Financial records, promissory notes, IRS correspondence and other materials relating to payments made to Belle Gevurtz by the Gevurtz Furniture Company.
Employee newsletters by Burton Gevurtz, employee list, and employee handbook.
Gevurtz Furniture Company Competitive Analysis report and handwritten analysis reports prepared by Brad Gevurtz, son of Burton Gevurtz; correspondence between Burton Gevurtz and Brad Gevurtz.
Cast of a KGW radio serial sponsored by Gevurtz.
Portland Chamber of Commerce forum agenda honoring Gevurtz Furniture Company for 100 years in business and thank you notes to Burton Gevurtz from he Oregonian newspaper and Michael A. Rosen.
Certificate letter for Rose Hoenfeldt for $5 New Years present (also includes black-and-white transparency of letter), 1911; certificate of occupancy, Gevurtz Furniture store, Tigard, Oregon; and certificate from Friends of Pioneer Square for a Gevurtz Furniture Pioneer Square Brick.
Photocopies of newspaper advertisements for the Gevurtz Furniture Company and its predecessors, Gevurtz & Sons and Gevurtz Brothers. Also includes brochure with letter urging veterans to buy furniture with their bond money.
Reprints and copy negative of family photograph, circa 1900; Isaac and Louis Gevurtz are identified, and a proof of a Gevurtz Furniture advertisement featuring the photograph. Original photograph not present.
Photocopies of furniture advertisements sent by Brad Gevurtz to his father, Burton Gevurtz.
Black-and-white photograph of store interior, 210 SW Morrison Street, Portland, Oregon, including Louis Gevurtz in straw hat and unidentified employees.
Black-and-white exterior photograph of downtown store and color interior photographs relating to remodel of store. Color photographs were removed from photo book.
Consecutively numbered black-and-white and color photographs of the rededication party, including unidentified members of Gevurtz family and other individuals. Mayor Terry D. Schrunk is visible in several photographs. Photographs were removed from three photo books.
Includes color photographs of new company delivery truck; color photograph of Burton Gevurtz in front of Tigard, Oregon, store; black-and-white and color photographs of downtown store and Gevurtz family members during 100th anniversary celebration of company. Belle and Burton Gevurtz, and Richard Millison, advertising director of Oregonian Publishing Company, are identified. Mayor Francis J. Ivancie is visible cutting ceremonial ribbon for anniversary in one photograph.
Color photographs of warehouse under construction. Burton Gevurtz is visible in two photographs.
The first part of Series 2 consists of documents relating to Gevurtz family members (1899-1995). The second part of the series, beginning with Box 2, Folder 23, consists of documents relating to Gevurtz family property (1919-circa 1997).
Includes naturalization papers and copy of death certificate for Max Bloom, and deposition from Arthur A. Goldsmith stating that Rebecca Bloom, Max Bloom's daughter, is the same person as Belle Gevurtz.
Driver's license, Social Security card, and Al Kader Temple life membership card.
Correspondence, circuit court probate accounting and report, inventory and appraisement of property, and report on distribution of estate property.
Ben Dorgeo-Excelsior is standing with Burton Gevurtz in one photograph.
35-mm color slide of 1919 wedding certificate and paper conservation treatment information.
Abstract of Title to Lots 15 and 18, Block 14, Goldsmith's Addition, Portland, Oregon, with documentation of property dating from 1857. Property sold by I. C. and Emily C. Sanford to Louis and Belle Gevurtz in 1926.
Warranty deeds for Louis and Belle Gevurtz from Max Bloom, Laurine Honnes, J. H. Ford, and I. C. and Emily C. Sanford for properties in Goldsmith's Addition, Dolph Park, and Laurelhurst, Portland, Oregon; deeds transferring ownership of properties in Goldsmith's Addition and Broadmoor in Portland, Oregon, from Louis Gevurtz to Belle Gevurtz.
Quitclaim deed for Louis and Belle Gevurtz from Earl H. and Isabella M. Parker for property in Laurelhurst, Portland, Oregon; bargain and sale deed for Louis and Belle Gevurtz from the United States National Bank of Portland for property in Goldsmith's Addition, Portland.
Notes for I. C. Sanford and Emily C. Sanford from Investors Syndicate for property in Goldsmith's Addition, Portland, Oregon; notes for J. H. Ford from the City Mortgage Company and New York Life Insurance Company for property in Dolph Park, Portland.
Multnomah County property tax receipts and Portland, Oregon, street assessment receipt for Laurelhurst property of Louis Gevurtz.