Kaufman Footwearwas aKitchener, Ontario-based shoe company. It was known for itsSorelbrand.
History
editTheKaufman Rubber Companywas founded byJacob Kaufmanand his sonAlvin Ratz Kaufmanin 1908, in Berlin, Ontario - what is nowKitchener, Ontario.[1]It became Kaufman Footwear in 1964.[2]
A.R. Kaufman took over as president of the company in 1920, a position he held until 1964, when his son, William H. Kaufman, assumed the role.[3]A. R. Kaufman was a leading Canadianeugenicistwho encouragedsterilizationof his workers. When Kaufman Rubber laid off workers during theGreat Depression,Kaufman's proposed solution to their financial woes was sterilization. Kaufman would later take credit for over 1000 male sterilizations performed at Kaufman factories between 1930 and 1969.[4]
Kaufman Rubber Co. brands includedFoamtreadslippers, introduced in 1953;Showertogs,an early use ofPVCas a clothing material, in 1954; and its Sorel line of winter boots, which was later developed as a utility and fashion winter footwear brand.[2]
In 1961 Kaufman purchasedL.H. Packard & Co.ofMontreal,followed byProspect Shoes Ltd.ofSherbrookein 1966.[2]Footwear production for the company became centred inQuebec.Kaufman also manufactured under the brand names "Oomphies" (women's casual and duty shoes), "Snowbelles" (slush-molded vinyl boots), "Feelings" (women's casual sandals), "The Real Thing" (women's footbed sandals), "Kingtreads" (safety footwear) and "Black Diamond" (industrial footwear and clothing).
Kaufman Footwear declared bankruptcy in 2000 and the Sorel trademark was bought byColumbia Sportswear.[5]
References
edit- ^Richardson, Lynn E."KAUFMAN, JACOB – Volume XIV (1911-1920) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography".biographi.ca.Retrieved15 May2020.
- ^abc"Kaufman Footwear fonds".University of Waterloo.RetrievedApril 30,2018.
- ^Hogan, David B. (11 November 2011)."What's Behind a Name: The Kaufman Prize of the Canadian Geriatrics Society".Canadian Geriatrics Journal.14(3): 56–60.doi:10.5770/cgj.v14i3.10.ISSN1925-8348.PMC3516348.PMID23251314.
- ^"Kaufman, A. R."Eugenics Archive.RetrievedApril 30,2018.
- ^"Sorel's demise leaves boot shortage".CBC News.2000-11-21.Archivedfrom the original on December 10, 2007.Retrieved2009-11-16.
External links
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