Thomas Kerr, Jr. family papers, circa 1900-2001
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Kerr, Thomas, Jr., 1910-1982
- Title
- Thomas Kerr, Jr. family papers
- Dates
- circa 1900-2001 (inclusive)19002001
- Quantity
- 1.4 cubic feet, (2 legal document cases; 1 flat box (13x16); 1 oversize folder (20x30))
- Collection Number
- Coll 973
- Summary
- Papers relating to the business career and family of Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982). Kerr lived in Portland, Oregon, and was an executive of several grain trading firms, including Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc., Kerr Pacific Corporation, and Helix Milling Company.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Thomas Kerr, Jr. was born in 1910 in Portland, Oregon. His father, Thomas Kerr, Sr., and uncle, Peter Kerr, were prominent in the local grain trade. He studied at the Thatcher School in Ojai, California, and at Yale University. He worked for his family's business, Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of major. After the war, he rejoined Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc. as vice president, and in 1950 became president and general manager, a post he held until Cargill Inc. purchased the firm in 1953. Kerr founded the Kerr Grain Corporation in 1955. He was also president of the Kerr Pacific Corporation, Helix Milling Company, Hawaiian Flour Mills Inc., Kerr Pacific Milling Co., and Kerr Land and Livestock Co.
Kerr married Barbara Poole Labbe (later Barbara Pooley Wilson, 1915-1990) in 1948. The couple had two children, Josephine and Tim. They divorced in 1970. Kerr died in 1982.
Sources: Articles in the Oregonian, 1970-1990; vital records on Ancestry.com.
Content Description
The collection consists of papers of Portland, Oregon businessman Thomas Kerr, Jr. and his family, particularly correspondence, records, and photographs relating to Kerr's career in the grain trade. Business correspondence and records include issues involving a property at Camp Ono in California, dealings with the firm Andrew Weir & Co., and materials relating to the Helix Milling Company. Photographs relating to business include images of business meetings and gatherings, grain facilities, the construction and demolition of grain elevators, and grain fires. Other business-related materials in the collection include grain price tables, and records and memorabilia of the firm Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc., including a payroll ledger and cipher codes.
Family papers in the collection include photographs; correspondence of, clippings about, and obituaries for Kerr's mother, Mabel Macleay Kerr; Peter Kerr's account ledger; and ephemera. Other materials consist of railroad timetables; materials relating to Charles E. Dant; and blueprints for the Eric Hoffman residence, designed by architect Van Evera Bailey.
Use of the Collection
Preferred Citation
Thomas Kerr, Jr. papers, Coll 973, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on 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.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Gift of Josephine Kerr Lowe, March 2023 (RL2023-015).
Processing Note
Letters written on behalf of Fatherless Children of France were removed from frames during processing for preservation.
Related Materials
Other collections at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library relating to the Kerr family include: the Kerr family collection, Coll 74; the Peter and Thomas Kerr family photographs collection, Org. Lot 443; the Peter Kerr correspondence and records, Microfilm 68; and a vertical file, Biography - Kerr, Peter.
Detailed Description of the Collection
-
Description: Handwritten biographical and employment history of Thomas Kerr, Jr.Dates: circa 1944Container: Box 1, Folder 1
-
Description: Business correspondence to and from Kerr and related recordsDates: 1940 December 27-1945 July 19Container: Box 1, Folder 2
-
Description: Business correspondence to KerrDates: 1944-1945Container: Box 1, Folder 3
-
Description: Partial letter from Kerr to Peter KerrDates: 1945 June 16Container: Box 1, Folder 4
-
Description: Business correspondence to and from Kerr and related recordsDates: 1952-1964Container: Box 1, Folder 5
-
Description: Correspondence and records relating to Camp Ono propertyDates: 1952-1953Container: Box 1, Folder 6
-
Description: Correspondence and records relating to Andrew Weir & CompanyDates: 1953Container: Box 1, Folder 7
-
Description: Notebook with information about grain trade, possibly for Kerr's job trainingDates: circa 1935Container: Box 1, Folder 8
-
Description: Clippings about fire at Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc. flour mill in The Dalles (photocopies)Dates: 1943 OctoberContainer: Box 1, Folder 9
-
Description: Records and correspondence relating to Helix Milling CompanyDates: 1944-1964Container: Box 1, Folder 10
-
Description: Newspaper and magazine articles about Helix Milling CompanyDates: 1964-1970Container: Box 1, Folder 11
-
Description: Records relating to proposed terminal grain storage facility at Oregon ShipyardsDates: 1956Container: Box 1, Folder 12
-
Description: Program for the 36th annual meeting of the Oregon Wheat Growers LeagueDates: 1963 DecemberContainer: Box 1, Folder 13
-
Description: Remarks by Kerr to Grain Marketing Counsel of the Western Farmers AssociationDates: 1964 June 4Container: Box 1, Folder 14
-
Description: Newspaper article about Cargill, Inc. (photocopy)Dates: 1969 October 30Container: Box 1, Folder 15
-
Description: Memoranda by Kerr on visits to Japan, Taiwan, and the PhilippinesDates: 1974Container: Box 1, Folder 16
-
Description: Opening statement by Kerr at management seminarDates: 1977 FebruaryContainer: Box 1, Folder 17
-
Description: Proposed plans for Kerr Pacific CorporationDates: 1977Container: Box 1, Folder 18
-
Description: Photographs from business events and gatheringsDates: circa 1950-1975Container: Box 2, Folder 1
-
Description: Photographs of Arlington grain elevator constructionDates: 1948Container: Box 2, Folder 2
-
Description: Photograph of "floating grain elevator" produced by International Elevating CompanyDates: circa 1950Container: Box 3, Folder 1
-
Description: Photograph of Kerr Grain Corporation display at Oregon Centennial ExpositionDates: 1959Container: Box 2, Folder 3
-
Description: Photographs of grain facility sites and trainsDates: circa 1960-1965Container: Box 2, Folder 4
-
Description: Photographs of grain fire in Portland, and reproductions of newspaper articles about the fireDates: 1966 OctoberContainer: Box 2, Folder 5
-
Description: Photographs of grain elevator demolitionDates: 1967 December 22Container: Box 2, Folder 6
-
Description: Postcard of men loading grain into trucks; photograph of a railyard, with possible fire in backgroundDates: undatedContainer: Box 2, Folder 7
-
Description: Portrait proof of KerrDates: circa 1950Container: Box 2, Folder 8
-
Description: Portrait proof of Kerr and related letterDates: 1954Container: Box 2, Folder 9
-
Description: Photograph of Kerr and others at unidentified gathering, with inscription to KerrDates: circa 1960-1965Container: Box 2, Folder 10
-
Description: Portrait of KerrDates: circa 1970Container: Box 2, Folder 11
-
Description: Payroll ledger for Kerr Gifford & Co.Dates: 1905-1911Container: Box 3, Folder 4
-
Description: Book of humorous poems about Kerr Gifford & Co. employees, "Ledger of Personnel"Dates: 1905Container: Box 2, Folder 12
-
Description: Kerr Gifford & Co. cipher code booksDates: 1906Container: Box 2, Folder 13
-
Description: Notice of Kerr Gifford & Co.'s incorporationDates: 1917 November 1Container: Box 2, Folder 14
-
Description: Memorandum, likely from Peter Kerr, about episode in history of Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc. (photocopy)Dates: 1951 January 24Container: Box 2, Folder 15
-
Description: Newspaper clippings about Kerr and about Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc.Dates: 1953Container: Box 2, Folder 16
-
Description: Clippings about history of Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc.Dates: circa 1960; 2001Container: Box 2, Folder 17
-
Description: Note about origin of Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc. logo based on image of ship Royal ForthDates: undatedContainer: Box 2, Folder 18
-
Description: Grain trade price tables; Merchants Exchange of Portland trading rulesDates: 1903; 1928Container: Box 2, Folder 19
-
Description: Photographs (prints and reproduction negative) of ships Royal Forth and AlsterdammDates: circa 1900-1910Container: Box 2, Folder 20
-
Description: Photograph of ship Alsterdamm loading at London Dock in Tacoma, WashingtonDates: circa 1900Container: Box 3, Folder 2
-
Description: Letters from Abbott Low Mills to Donald Kerr and Thomas Kerr, Sr. on behalf of Fatherless Children of FranceDates: 1917 January-FebruaryContainer: Box 2, Folder 21
-
Description: Peter Kerr account ledgerDates: 1931-1944Container: Box 3, Folder 5
-
Description: Newspaper clippings about Mabel Macleay Kerr and Macleay familyDates: 1931-1953Container: Box 2, Folder 22
-
Description: Letter to Mabel Macleay Kerr from "Chrissie"Dates: 1944 May 1Container: Box 2, Folder 23
-
Description: Christmas card from Mabel Macleay KerrDates: circa 1952Container: Box 2, Folder 24
-
Description: Obituaries for Mabel Macleay KerrDates: 1973 NovemberContainer: Box 2, Folder 25
-
Description: Obituary for Mabel Macleay Kerr by Thomas Kerr, Jr., and related form letters to newspaper editorsDates: 1973 NovemberContainer: Box 2, Folder 26
-
Description: Condolence letters and resolutions relating to Mabel Macleay Kerr's deathDates: 1973 November 30-1974 January 2Container: Box 2, Folder 27
-
Description: Letter from Andrew P. Kerr to E. Randolph Labbe and photocopy of enclosed 1925 Oregon Journal articleDates: 1991 February 6; 1925Container: Box 2, Folder 28
-
Description: Letter from Andrew P. Kerr to E. Randolph Labbe, with Thomas Kerr, Jr. letter and export extension program report that may have been enclosed with Andrew Kerr's letterDates: 1999 December 21; 1942 April 25; 1965Container: Box 2, Folder 29
-
Description: Honorable mention ribbons from Portland Rose Society rose showDates: 1956Container: Box 2, Folder 30
-
Description: Notice about garden tours including the Kerr residence; photograph (color positive) of Kerr residence gardenDates: circa 1964Container: Box 2, Folder 31
-
Description: Family photographsDates: circa 1920-1974Container: Box 2, Folder 32
-
Description: Photograph of Donald Kerr, George Kerr, Thomas Kerr, Jr. and other children with schoolteacherDates: circa 1920Container: Box 3, Folder 3
-
Description: Photograph of Patrick Gifford in uniformDates: 1915Container: Box 2, Folder 33
-
Description: Union Pacific Railroad timetablesDates: 1927Container: Box 2, Folder 34
-
Description: Postcard and photographs of Japan sent by Donald KerrDates: 1933Container: Box 2, Folder 35
-
Description: Materials relating to Charles E. Dant: proposal sent to Thomas E. Dewey and to Robert A. Taft; business card with note; telegram about Dant's death; and obituariesDates: 1944-1945Container: Box 2, Folder 36
-
Description: Blueprints of plans for Eric Hoffman residence, designed by Van Evera BaileyDates: 1945-1946Container: Folder Oversize 1
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Business enterprises--Oregon
- Businessmen--Oregon--Portland
- Grain trade--Oregon
Personal Names
- Kerr, Thomas, Jr., 1910-1982
Corporate Names
- Kerr Gifford & Co. Inc.
Family Names
- Kerr family
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
- photographs
