How We Started  

Pacific Picture Frame was founded in 1893 in Seattle, Washington. Within the next century, that small West Coast frame manufacturer would become Larson-Juhl, the world's leader in manufacturing and distributing framing products.  

The same year Pacific Picture Frame was founded, inventor Columbus A. Wayland from Middlesborough, Kentucky, patented the first picture frame clamp. The clamp's invention, coupled with the first mat-cutting machines in 1894, made frame manufacturing quicker, more efficient, and more precise. Over the next half century, many new inventions were introduced, making custom framing a real business opportunity for entrepreneurs.  

Roger Larson founded the frame manufacturing business Larson Picture Frame in 1957 in Braham, Minnesota. The same year, Tom Juhl opened Juhl, Inc., a Minneapolis, Minnesota, frame shop. Framing expanded tremendously, and Roger Larson and Tom Juhl recognized the industry's potential.  

In 1968, Juhl merged with Pacific Picture Frame to form Juhl-Pacific U.S.A. By 1971, Juhl Pacific's distribution territory stretched throughout the West and Midwest.  

In the early 1980s, Larson Picture Frame recognized the need for fast, efficient distribution with a strong emphasis on customer service. The company expanded operations across the US to enhance much-needed material distribution. Larson later opened additional distribution centers to serve customers locally in Dallas, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.  

Larson and Juhl were a perfect match with similar ideologies and complementary product lines serving framers nationwide. The two companies merged in 1988 to form Larson-Juhl and soon expanded internationally.   

The sale of Larson-Juhl to Berkshire Hathaway was completed in February 2002. The current management team, including Jeff Cohen, Larson-Juhl's CEO, continues to lead the company with the same values that have made Larson-Juhl the premier manufacturer and distributor of fine custom picture frame moulding.