American Furniture Hall Of Fame Adds To Archives

Furniture World Magazine

The American Furniture Hall of Fame continues to add to its collection of archival history through contributions. Three new collections have been acquired in 1998: John R. "Jack" Gerken, past President and Chairman of Norwalk Furniture Corporation, was installed in the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 1997. Mr. Gerken recently contributed his files covering the Southern Furniture manufacturers Assn., the development of the International Woodworking Machinery Show and the Furniture Supply Fair (IWF) and the uniting of SFMA with the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers Association. Mr. Gerken played a leading role in all of these developments. Lyons J. Heyman, Fox Manufacturing Company, Rome, Georgia who served as at President of SFMA and as chairman of the early committee to oppose flammability standards, which became UFAC, has contributed his files. Mr. Heyman's father also served as president of SFMA. Bob Keiningham, CEO of Cosec, International and Scott Hood, President, have contributed a series of LEGENDS video tapes made in the early 1980's featuring octogenarians (80 plus years) of the furniture industry. These tapes, moderated by Keiningharn and produced by Hood, cover the earliest days of furniture retailing from peddlers into stores, in New York and Chicago. The LEGENDS videotapes include: Sidney Rosenberg, 84-year-old dean of retailers and founder of the American Furniture Association (AFA). Rosenberg was nominated to the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 1998. Milton Fish (106) of L. Fish Furniture in Chicago. David Fish, an immigrant from Germany, started as a peddler then rented a store and lived above. The company grew and at one time they had five large retail stores on Wabash Avenue. They survived for four generations through the Chicago fire, the Civil War, battles with the unions, and at one time started their own trading stamps-fish shaped stamps given with purchases. William A. (Bill) Feinberg, (91 years old) son of the founder of Standard Furniture Company in Albany, New York started the first store in 1907, where rent was $20 a month. Later he rented two large stores for $28. Over the years Standard became a large, respected company lasting for four generations. The American Furniture Hall of Fame archives are available for study and research. In addition to the collection of video/film, books, catalogs, design portfolios, and furniture models, oral interviews conducted with AFHF members and other leaders, collect historical perspectives.