Archives of the Société Norden Frères

Collection description

Holding institution:: National Archives of Belgium 2 – Joseph Cuvelier Repository

Holding institution (official language):: Archives Générales du Royaume 2 – Dépôt Joseph Cuvelier

Scope and content:: In this fonds we firstly note series of subject files and documents typically found in business archives, including correspondence (clients, banks, suppliers), files regarding sales and purchases, ledgers and other registers, various bookkeeping records (invoices, balance sheets) etc. We also find documentation, including documents related to the personal finances of Kurt and Arthur Norden.

Administrative/biographical history:: Philippe Norden & Cie was founded in April 1905 by the German-Jewish family Norden. Philippe Norden as well as his sons Kurt and Arthur worked for the company, which was located in Lakenstraat in Brussels. Philippe Norden & Cie (called Norden Frères, Manufacture des Fourrures, from May 1910) was involved in production (manufacturing and preparation) of hides and skins as well as sales. In the early 20th century it would become one of the major players in the fur industry, i.a. because of its strategic position between the big fur auctions in Leipzig and London. The company was sequestered in 1919. The Norden family had returned to Berlin in the meantime. (R. Declercq, Duitse immigrantondernemers in de bonthandel en confectie, een etnische niche? Een onderzoek naar de opkomst en ondergang (1870-1920)., Master’s thesis, UGent, 2009.)

Subject terms:: Financial matters; Financial records; Personal records; Trade and commerce; Trade and commerce--Clothing and textile trade

Finding aids:: A summary description can be found in K. Carrein, F. Romano & C. Vancoppenolle, Fonds van sekwesterarchieven - Fonds des archives des séquestres XX : Inventaire collectif d’archives d’entreprises séquestrées après la première guerre mondiale – Verzamelinventaris van bedrijfsarchieven gesequestreerd na de Eerste Wereldoorlog, Bruxelles, ARA-AGR, 2006, pp. 197-198.