Collection is open for research.
Gift of the family of Alan and Janet Zell, August 2024 (RL2024-056).
Zell Bros. (sometimes written as Zell Bros) was a jewelry store in Portland, Oregon. The store was founded in 1912 by Julius Zell (1895-1976) and his brother Harry Zell (1893-1983). Their younger brothers Daniel Zell (1900-1991) and Milton Zell (1906-2001) became partners in the firm in 1920 and 1930, respectively. In 1932, the store moved to a location on SW Morrison and SW Broadway. In 1945, Zell Bros. purchased the jewelry firm Paul Feldenheimer, Inc.
In 1972, Zell Bros., described at the time by the Oregonian newspaper as "Oregon's best known jewelry firm," was sold to the Zale Corporation, but retained its name and policies. In 2008, the store moved to SW Salmon Street. The following April, the Zale Corporation announced that it would close Zell Bros. The firm's last day of business was on Christmas Eve of 2009.
Sources: Obituary for Julius Zell in the Oregonian, April 30, 1976, page 1; obituary for Harry Zell in the Oregonian, September 1, 1983, page D8; obituary for Daniel Zell in the Oregonian, December 16, 1991, page B5; obituary for Milton Zell in the Oregonian, April 19, 2001, page D17; "Zell Bros. Lease Important Center," Oregonian, August 28, 1932, page 1; "Feldenheimer Sells Business to Zell Bros.," Oregon Journal, December 30, 1945; "NW business community out of doldrums," Oregonian, September 3, 1972, page 26; "Shoppers say farewell to a Portland gem," Oregonian, December 25, 2009, page 1.
Zell Bros. records and memorabilia, Coll 1075, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Additional materials at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library relating to Zell Bros. are in the Business collection, Mss 1510; and the Oregon Journal photographs collection, Org. Lot 1027.
The collection consists of records, catalogs, photographs, and other memorabilia of Zell Bros., a jewelry store in Portland, Oregon. Records relate to property and finances, and include a will from the estate of William Henry to Zell Bros. co-founder Julius Zell and a bill of sale from Paul Feldenheimer, Inc. to Zell Bros. One catalog in the collection is from 1960, and one is from 1989, while the rest are from the 1990s and 2000s. Photographs include an image of the first Zell Bros. store in 1912, multiple exterior and interior shots of the store at SW Morrison and SW Broadway, and a 1950 group photograph of the Zell family. Other memorabilia in the collection consists of a souvenir publication from the 1940s; a 1947 issue of Gruen Time with an article about the firm; a poster advertising the opening of the store location on SW Morrison and SW Broadway; information, photographs, and correspondence relating to chandeliers in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall that the firm helped to refurbish; and advertising ephemera.
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.