Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Norman, J. Arthur July 30, 1880 - 
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Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 18, 2009, 3:32 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     J. ARTHUR NORMAN.  Portland has been the city of opportunity to J. Arthur 
Norman, a well known tailor and an enterprising business man who has 
progressed with the community. He has one of the most up-to-date tailoring 
establishments in the city, occupying nine rooms on the third floor of the 
Pacific building and catering to the most fastidious people of Portland. All 
of his woolens are imported and of the finest texture and also of the latest 
English patterns.
     
     Mr. Norman was born July 30, 1880, and is a native of Finland and a son 
of Simon and Matilda (Norman) Bjork, of Swedish-Finnish descent. In the public 
schools of Finland he obtained an education and worked for a time in his 
father's tailor shop, afterward serving an apprenticeship to the trade. He 
then traveled in several foreign countries as it was customary not to settle 
down after an apprenticeship was completed. He worked in Stockholm, Sweden; 
London, England; Hamburg, Germany; and after making a four weeks' visit at his 
old home started for the United States by way of Canada. This was contrary to 
the wish of his father who had always hoped he would return home and form a 
partnership with him. After his arrival in Toronto, Ontario, he decided to 
adopt his mother's surname because of its English form. He went from that city 
to Guelph, in the same province, mainly because its inhabitants were chiefly 
English and would afford him an opportunity to converse in English and drop 
his native language. There he entered the employ of a tailor, for whom he 
worked for six months. He then crossed the United States border and for a 
short time was employed in a tailoring establishment in Seattle, Washington.

     While in Canada Mr. Norman had become interested in Portland because of 
its beautiful name and in 1902 he allied his interests with those of this 
city. He followed his trade for a time and then qualified for the position of 
cutter and designer in the establishment of one of Portland's leading tailors. 
In 1904 he went to New York and took a special course in designing and cutting 
at the Mitchell Designing School. In 1905 he ventured in business for himself, 
opening a small shop at Twelfth and Washington streets in partnership with 
David Kallio, who became the senior member of the firm. Two years later Mr. 
Norman sold his interest in the concern to Mr. Kallio and worked as a cutter 
and designer until 1914, when he was joined by his brother, M. O. Norman. They 
planned an opening that was to eclipse all others but on that day war was 
declared in Europe and the enterprise seemed doomed to failure. What followed 
was not the business slump which they anticipated but a burst of war 
prosperity. When the United States entered the conflict there was very little 
demand for civilian clothes and the future again looked dark for the Norman 
Brothers, who had had no experience in making uniforms. Necessity forced them 
to undertake the task and they soon had more orders than they could fill as a 
result of their ability and resourcefulness. The business has steadily 
increased and they now have twenty employes, all of whom are experienced and 
skillful. In design and workmanship the suits made by the firm are unexcelled 
and range in price from one hundred and ten to one hundred and twenty-five 
dollars. The Norman Brothers are recognized as artists in the line in which 
they specialize, and their patrons are men of large affairs and impeccable 
taste.

     In 1909 J. Arthur Norman married Miss Alida Sophia Weston, who was a 
native of Sweden and passed away in 1926, leaving two sons, Wilmar A. W. and 
Harold S. C., both high school pupils. Mr. Norman is a thirty-second degree 
Mason, belonging to the blue lodge, No. 55, of Portland; Oregon Consistory, 
No. 1, A. A. S. R., and also to Al Kader Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. 
He is likewise connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being a 
member of Portland Lodge, No. 142. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, 
Progressive Business Men's Club, Royal Rosarians, Alderwood Golf Club and 
other small organizations. His political views coincide with the platform and 
principles of the republican party, and his support can always be counted upon 
in the furtherance of measures for the general good. Mr. Norman is an 
enthusiastic Oregonian and considers Portland an ideal place of residence. His 
success has resulted from tireless effort, good management and honorable 
dealings, and his business is an asset to the city.

     He was married in July, 1928, to Miss Alice Eleanor Chambers, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. George Maxwell Chambers, an old time Portland family.

Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 900-903

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