Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Brand family papers, circa 1880-1965
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Brand family
- Title
- Brand family papers
- Dates
- circa 1880-1965 (inclusive)18751970
circa 1880-1910 (bulk)18751915 - Quantity
- 8 boxes, (3.5 cubic feet)
- Collection Number
- 1981.7328 (accession)
- Summary
- Photographs, hotel registers, books, sheet music and other materials related to the Brand family, Swedish immigrants that came to Seattle in 1883
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
August (circa 1862-1950) and Anna Brand (1869-1952), natives of Sweden, came to the United States in 1883. August (born August Niklasson) cam from Kvill, on Sweden's West Coast, and Anna's family, the Erlandssens, came from Kalmar and nearby Backebo, in the region of Smaland on Sweden's east side. They were married 1893, and in 1903 they bought a hotel at the corner of Sixth Avenue and James Street The hotel, built around 1880, had previously been known as The Western and The Michigan; Mr. Brand renamed it the Hotel Kalmar, after his wife's home in Sweden. The Kalmar served mostly working men, offering rooms by the day, week, and month. After August and Anna passed away in the early 1950s, the hotel was administered by their children, Viola and Leonard. It was under their watch that the Kalmar was demolished in 1962, to clear space for Interstate 5.
The Brands had three children: Garfield (circa 1894-1903), Viola (circa 1895-1981), and Leonard (circa 1902-1969). In 1900, the children's cousin Frida (Gottfrida) Gabrielson (b. 1896) came to live with them in Seattle; she was roughly the same age as Viola.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection consists largely of loose photographs (approximately 140), some identified and dated but others unidentified. The photos come in different formats—mounted, photo booth, tintype, glass-encased, and postcard. Half of the photos are stamped; half of these are from Seattle, and half are from Sweden (mostly Kalmar and Stockholm). Most are family portraits, but there are also images of rural Sweden and Seattle. In 1900, August and Anna Brand made a visit to Sweden, and many of the photos were taken at that time. August's younger brother Anders (Andrew) Brand and their sister Beata and her son Carl accompanied them on their return to the United States. The collection also includes family documents (such as baptismal certificates), hotel registers, books, and sheet music. Also included are newspaper articles from the 1960s regarding the Kalmar's imminent demolition. The collection conveys a sense of the Brand family's business affairs as well as their recreational activities; they appear pious, close-knit, and well-connected to their Swedish roots.
A wealth of additional information about the family was provided by a relative, Gunilla Rydberg of Habo, Sweden, after initial publication of the finding aid. The finding aid was edited to reflect this new material.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Brand Family Papers, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in series:
- Photographs
- Family papers
- Ephemera
- Hotel Kalmar registers
- Books
- Sheet music
Location of Collection
13B.1.5, 9-10Location of Collection
1a.3.16 (oversize photos)Location of Collection
1a.4 (oversize certificate)Acquisition Information
Gift of Marion Pommer; received in 1981.
Processing Note
Duplicate and damaged materials were removed from the collection during processing.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Photographs, circa 1893-1957Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Anna and August Brand |
circa 1893-1930 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | .1: Wedding photograph
3 copies
Glass-encased duplicate in Box 2 Oversize duplicate in oversize box L1. |
circa 1893 |
1/1 | .2: Formal portrait |
circa 1895 |
1/1 | .3: Anna holding child
Tintype
|
circa 1896 |
1/1 | .4: Anna with two children, possibly Viola and a cousin |
circa 1897 |
1/1 | circa 1899 | |
1/1 | .6: August and Anna, likely with Garfield and Viola
Glass-encased duplicated in Box 2
|
circa 1899 |
1/1 | .7: August and Anna, likely with Leonard |
circa 1909 |
1/1 | .8: August and Anna outdoors with Leonard |
circa 1920 |
1/1 | .9: August and Anna outside |
circa 1930 |
Brand children |
circa 1877-1930 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/2 | .10: Probably Garfield and a female cousin |
circa 1897 |
1/2 | .11: Probably Garfield and Viola |
circa 1899 |
1/2 | circa 1901 | |
1/2 | .13: Probably Garfield and Viola |
circa 1901 |
1/2 | .14: Probably Garfield and Viola
Glass-encased duplicate in Box 2
Oversize, hand-colored duplicate in box oversize box L1
|
circa 1901 |
1/2 | .15: Probably cousin Frida |
circa 1901 |
1/2 | .16: Cousin Frida
On verso: 'Frida Gabrielson 1907'
|
1907 |
1/2 | .17: Leonard and Viola |
circa 1908 |
1/2 | circa 1910 | |
1/2 | .19-.20: Anna with Leonard and possibly his schoolmates |
circa 1910 |
1/2 | .21: Probably Leonard and Viola |
circa 1910 |
1/2 | .22: Leonard seated |
circa 1910 |
1/2 | .23: Leonard at a desk |
circa 1910 |
1/2 | .24: Leonard seated |
circa 1910 |
1/2 | .25: Leonard standing |
circa 1910 |
1/2 | .26: Leonard |
circa 1910 |
1/2 | .27: Leonard |
circa 1910 |
1/2 | .28-.32: Probably Viola |
1912 |
Identified family |
circa 1900-1905 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/3 | .33: Family portrait
On verso: 'Anna Brand's- Mother- 3 Brothers- 2 sisters and their families- taken in Kalmar, Sweden
1900'
|
1900 |
1/3 | .34: August's brother Anders (Andrew)
Anders Brand came to the U.S. in 1900, when August and Anna Brand visited Sweden.
|
circa 1905 |
1/3 | .35: Anders standing |
circa 1905 |
1/3 | .36: Tilda, August's cousin, in Soli |
circa 1900 |
1/3 | .37: Konrad, Anna's brother |
circa 1900 |
1/3 | .38-.39: Cajsa Maria Jonsson Erlandsson (1825-1908), Anna's mother
Oversize copy of .38 in oversize box L1.
|
circa 1900 |
box:oversize | ||
L1 | .214: Drawing of Gabriel Petter Erlandson (1819-1888), Anna’s
father |
circa 1880 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/3 | .40-.41: August's sister, Justina |
circa 1900 |
1/3 | .42: Anna's sister, Amanda |
circa 1900 |
1/3 | .43: August's aunt, Beata Matilda Chriansdottir
On verso: 'Anders and Dad's aunt she was married to their father's brother'
August's uncle mentioned here was Gustav Jacobsson.
|
circa 1900 |
1/3 | .44: Anna's sister Amanda, their mother, and two other women
outdoors |
circa 1900 |
1/3 | .45: August and Anders's nephew, Karl.
On envelope: 'Till Tabror Anders, fran Karl° ("To Uncle Anders, from Karl")'
|
circa 1900 |
Unidentified portraits |
undated | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/4 | .46-.57: American portraits 12 photographs
12 unidentified photographs, most of them from studios in Seattle; also photographs from Indiana and
Minnesota. Includes six photos of women, three photos of men, three photos of children and a photo of a married couple.
Among these, there are three tintypes; the others are mostly mounted photographs.
|
undated |
1/5 | .58-.65: Foreign or unlabeled portraits 12 photographs
This folder contains 8 unidentified photos, most of them from Sweden. Among the photographers
represented are M. Jacobson (Lysekil), E. Aug. Eckstrom (Kalmar), Karl A. Johansson (Fjallbacka), and Carl Engelholm
(Sturegatan); two of the photos are not labeled with regard to a particular studio. With the exception of three small
photo-booth photos mounted together, each photo is individually mounted.
|
undated |
Landscapes and domestic scenes |
||
Seattle scenes |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/6 | .66: Anna and Viola, outside with a dog
On verso: 'Backyard 406-23rd Ave. 1901'
|
1901 |
1/6 | .67: A small room filled with chairs
On verso: '406-23rd Ave. Sitting room taken June 1902'
|
1902 |
1/6 | .68: Leonard standing in a barbershop
On verso: 'do you know him-this is my place-L.B.'
|
circa 1932 |
1/6 | .69: The Brand family (and dog) outside their home
On verso: 'Our home on 23rd Ave.'
|
circa 1900 |
Foreign or unlabeled scenes |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/7a | .70: Exterior of church in Backebo
Anna Brand's home church.
|
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .71: Rows of pews |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .72: Backebo church from different angle |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .73: Pews and the church altar |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .74: Pipe organ |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .75: Church with cornfields in foreground |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .76: Church surrounded by trees |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .77: Two large houses and a picket fence, Anna's home in
Kalmar |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .78: House with stone wall and dirt road, Anna's farm in
Kalmar |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .79: Boat in mountain lake |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .80: House in trees and family posing |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .81: Family in front of Anna's home in Kalmar |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .82: Three houses, a shed, a ladder, stone wall and large lawn |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .83: Cabins in a forest |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .84: Grave marker for Gabriel Peter Erlandsson and Cajsa Maria Erlandsson,
probably Anna's parents |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .85: Close-up of Erlandsson grave marker |
circa 1900 |
1/7a | .86: Grave marker for Johan Johansson and Stina-Kajsa Johansson, probably
Anna's relatives |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .87: Houses and trees |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .88: Three silhouettes and a picket fence |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .89: Town square with a fountain |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .90: Family posing with horse and wagon by barn |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .91: House and barn with horse grazing |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .92: Houses and barn from a distance |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .93: Farmhouses and fields |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .94: Farmhouses and grass |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .95: Family posing with farmhouses and stone walls |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .96: Family posing in the trees |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .97: Grassy fields and a farmhouse |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .98: Three children outside |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .99: Cristensen family and horse in front of house
On verso: 'Nestor Cristensen'
Nestor Cristensen's was married to August Brand's sister Anna; the family lived in Kleva,
Kvilleparish.
|
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .100: Men posing at bar |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .101: Sunrise campground at Mount Rainier |
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .102: Two women outside a cottage
On verso: 'Anders Brand'
This is probably August's mother Abela and her sister Justina at Hogen.
|
circa 1900 |
1/7b | .103: Teacher and student in a parlor
On verso: 'Ecklund'
|
undated |
Glass-encased photographs |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | .1: August and Anna's wedding photograph
Duplicate in Box 1, Folder 1.
|
circa 1893 |
2/1 | .6: August and Anna, likely with Garfield and Viola
Duplicate in Box 1, Folder 1.
|
circa 1899 |
2/1 | .14: Probably Garfield and Viola
Duplicate in Box 1, Folder 2.
|
circa 1901 |
2/1 | .105: Gabriel Petter Erlandson (1819-1888) and Cajsa Maria Jonsson Erlandsson
(1825-1908), Anna's parents. |
circa 1880 |
2/1 | .106: August Brand at 19 |
circa 1882 |
2/1 | .107: Anna Brand at 16 |
circa 1885 |
2/1 | .108: Probably Anna Brand |
circa 1895 |
2/1 | .109: August Brand |
circa 1895 |
2/1 | .110: Anders Brand at 19 |
circa 1900 |
2/1 | .111: Probably Anders Brand |
circa 1910 |
2/1 | .112: August, Anna, Viola and Leonard |
circa 1912 |
Photo booth photographs |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/8 | .104: Album
This folder contains a leather-bound photo album filled with photo booth photos. August, Anna, Viola
and Leonard are all present, but there are many subjects that remain unidentified. In contrast to most of the
collection, these photos showcase a more playful side.
|
undated |
3/1 | .113-133: Loose photographs
This folder contains photo booth photos (some still in strips) similar to the ones found in the album
above. August, Anna, Viola, Leonard, Garfield and Anders are represented. However, like the leather-bound album, there
are unidentified individuals as well. Many of the images feature just August and Anna together.
|
|
Hotel Kalmar
This folder contains images of the Kalmar's exterior, none of which differ greatly from another. Two of
the prints are mounted. The smallest image is roughly 3" x 5", but most are closer to 8.5" x 11". In the most
interesting photo, a streetcar is passing the front of the hotel.
|
circa 1905 | |
Box/Folder | ||
3/2 | .134-.140: Image of Hotel Kalmar Image of Hotel Kalmar |
circa 1905 |
Miscellaneous |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/6 | .174: Looking east towards First Hill neighborhood
On verso: 'Robt. I. Stanley, 1513 Dorothy Place, Seattle, Washington.'
|
1957 |
3/6 | 1908 |
Family papersReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3/5 | .167: Garfield's baptismal certificate |
1893 |
3/5 | .168: Viola's baptismal certificate |
1896 |
box:certificates | ||
1 | .213: Leonard's baptismal certificate |
1902 |
Box/Folder | ||
3/5 | .169: Abstract of title to lots 1 and 4 in Block 45 of Terry's First Addition
to Seattle (location of the Kalmar) |
1903 |
3/5 | .170: Death notice for Gabriel Peter Erlandsson (Anna's father, born
1819) |
1888 |
3/5 | .171: Death notice for Cajsa Maria Jonsson (Anna's mother, born
1825) |
1908 |
3/5 | .172: $150 scholarship to Moler Barber College, awarded to Leonard
Brand |
1929 |
3/5 | .173: Pamphlet: “The Law of Naturalization Made Easy to Understand” |
1908 |
EphemeraReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3/3 | .141-.151: Newspaper articles about the Hotel Kalmar
This folder contains newspaper articles directly or indirectly concerning the Kalmar. Almost all the
subject matter comes from the
Seattle Times. The articles are clustered around the hotel's demolition date
in the early 1960s. Some pieces feature the hotel exclusively, while others discuss its place among historic buildings
facing demolition. Viola and Leonard Brand are interviewed in some pieces. With the exception of one photocopy, the
pieces are all original newsprint.
|
circa 1955-1963 |
3/4 | .152: Invitation to the wedding of Ethel Jean Evans and Rolla L.
Thorsdale |
circa 1912 |
3/4 | .153: Miniature booklet from A. Itkin (fur retailer); used to track
expenses |
circa 1930 |
3/4 | .154: Swedish Christmas card with image of child, lock and key |
circa 1889 |
3/4 | .155: Blank Christmas postcard, embossed |
undated |
3/4 | .156: Christmas card addressed to Mrs. Brand |
undated |
3/4 | .157: Folding triptych card with flowers and lattice |
undated |
3/4 | .163: Seattle streetcar ticket |
undated |
3/4 | .164: Bill of sale for August Brand's purchases at Lake Union Furniture
Manufacturing Co. |
1893 |
3/4 | .165: Bill of sale from M. Seller & Co. (cutlery, crockery, glassware,
lamps, etc.) |
1893 |
3/4 | .166: Bill of sale for August Brand's purchases at Z.C. Miles & Co.
(stoves, ranges, ironware) |
1893 |
Hotel Kalmar registers, 1903-1960Return to Top
This folder contains two registers from the hotel, Room Register No. 1 (1903-1914) and Room Register No. 2 (1914-1960). Each page features five columns: date, room, name, residence, and time of arrival. Newspaper articles about the Kalmar (duplicated in Box 3, Folder 3) are taped inside the front cover of both registers. The back of Room Register No. 1 contains notes regarding forwarding addresses and missed calls for the hotel's tenants.
The folder also contains a small business card listing the hotel's location and its numerous amenities ('double beds, dresser, wash stand, wardrobe, rockers, etc.'). The hotel is described as being 'strictly modern' with '[a]ll the modern improvements.' It bills itself as 'the scenic hotel of Seattle.'
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
4 | .176-.178: Hotel Kalmar registers |
1903-1960 |
BooksReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Cookbooks |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/4 | .158:
Puddings and Dainty Desserts |
circa 1886 |
3/4 | .159:
Cake Secrets, by Igleheart's |
circa 1925 |
3/4 | .160:
Delicious Recipes Waffle-ized |
circa 1922 |
3/4 | .161:
Dainty Desserts for Dainty People |
circa 1896 |
3/4 | .162:
Cake Secrets, by Igleheart's |
circa 1928 |
Family books in Swedish |
||
Box | ||
5 | .179:
Doktor Mårten Luther's Lilla Katekes
Inside cover: 'Anna Rugutta Erlandsson''
|
1878 |
5 | .180:
Biblisk Historia För Hemmet Och Skolan |
1887 |
5 | .181:
Undervisning i Christendomsfunsfaven |
1887 |
5 | .182:
Biblisk Historia |
1877 |
5 | .183:
C.T. Odhners Lärobok i Fäderneslandets Historia |
1881 |
5 | .184:
Dokt. Mårt. Luthers Lilla Katekes
Inside cover: 'August Brand'
|
1881 |
5 | .185:
Barnens Andra Bok För Skolan Och Hemmet |
1890 |
5 | .186:
Bedergwekande Ciåla-ro |
1855 |
5 | .187:
Doktor Mårten Luther's Lilla Katekes
Inside cover: 'Carl Niklasson' (probably August's brother)
|
1881 |
5 | .188:
Läsebok för Småskolan |
1880 |
5 | .189:
ABC eller Barnens Första Bok För Skolan Och Hemmet |
undated |
5 | .190:
ABC eller Barnens Första Bok För Skolan Och Hemmet
Inside cover: "Leonardt Brand, Hotel Kalmar, Seattle, Wa 1910'
|
1910 |
5 | .191:
Svensk-Amerikansk Kokbok
Inside cover: 'Mrs. Annie Erlandsson, Seattle, Wash.'
|
1890 |
5 | .192:
Gustafva Björklunds Kokbok För Husmödrar |
1893 |
5 | .193:
Nya Testamentet |
1893 |
5 | .194:
Una Testamentet |
1870 |
6 | .195:
Una Testamentet: Normalupplaga |
1883 |
6 | .196:
Den Swenska Psalm-Boken af Konungen |
1905 |
6 | .197:
Biblia eller Den Heliga Skrift |
1879 |
6 | .198:
Doktor Martin Luthers Huspostilla |
1899 |
6 | .199:
Predikningar, Skriftermål och Confirmationstal |
1883 |
Family books in English |
||
Box | ||
7 | .200: Browning, Robert.
Poems of Robert Browning, Selected by the Author. New York: A.L. Burt
Co., no date given.
Inside cover: 'To Violet Brand, with best wishes from Ruth Madsen.'
|
undated |
7 | .201: Eliot, George.
Silas Marner. Philadelphia: Henry Altemus Co., no date given.
Inside cover: 'Viola Brand, from Ruth Madsen, Xmas-1910'
|
circa 1910 |
7 | .202: Gregg, John Robert.
Gregg Shorthand: A Light Line Phonography for the Million. New York: The
Gregg Publishing Co., 1902 |
1902 |
7 | .203: Hamilton, Mona.
Allspice. San Francisco: Alex Nicoll Printing Co., 1925.
Inside cover: 'Mrs. Mona Hamilton worked as a welder in the shipyard during World War I. She stayed
at our Hotel (Kalmar) while working in Seattle. A very interesting person. -Viola Brand';
'Yours Sincerely, Mona Hamilton (signature), 1927.';
Two newspaper articles about Mona Hamilton's cross-country hitchhiking tours.
|
1925 |
7 | .204: Hurst and Company, eds.
Daily Food for Christians. New York: Hurst and Co., no date given.
Inside cover: 'With love from Mrs. Madow, for Mrs. Aug. Brand, Dec. 25-1909.'
|
circa 1909 |
7 | .205: McGranahan, James, Ira D. Sankey, and George C. Stebbins.
Sacred Songs Nos. 1 & 2. New York: The Biglow & Main Co.,
1896 |
1896 |
7 | .206: Sankey, I. Allan, ed.
Hallowed Hymns, New and Old. New York: The Biglow & Main Co.,
1909 |
1909 |
7 | .207: Tennyson, Alfred.
The Complete Poetical Works of Alfred Tennyson. New York: Hurst and Co.,
no date given.
Inside cover: 'Viola Brand, From Ruth Madsen, Xmas 1911.'
|
circa 1911 |
7 | .208: West & Wheeler, Inc., eds.
Seattle, U.S.A. Seattle: West & Wheeler, Inc., 1906 |
1906 |
7 | .209: Wise, William H. and Company, eds.
Battle Stations! Your Navy in Action. New York: Wm. H. Wise and Co.,
1946‘ |
1946 |
7 | .210: Wright, F.E., ed.
Songs That Never Grow Old. New York: Syndicate Publishing Co.,
1913 |
1913 |
Sheet musicReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
8/1 | .211: Pedagogical sheet music 24 items
This folder contains the Brand family's pedagogical sheet music. Many of the items are from the
Schirmer's Library collection; titles in this series include
Mozart: Nineteen Sonatas for the Piano,
Clementi Sonatinas and
Haydn Sonatas. There are also many technical books by the Austrian pianist
Carl Czerny, with titles like
Practical Finger Exercises and
The School of Velocity. Most of the sheet music is for piano, but there are
some booklets dedicated to mandolin, banjo, and guitar, as well. Some of the booklets are thin, but many are around 100
pages long.
|
undated |
8/2 | .212: Other sheet music 87 items
This folder is comprised almost entirely of popular sheet music; there are, however, some compilations
of duets, sacred songs, and other more traditional melodies. Titles include
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (Kenbrovin & Kellette),
That Wonderful Mother of Mine (Clyde Hager and Walter Goodwin),
She Sang “Aloha” to Me (Joseph B. Carey), and many more. The 'Century
Edition' collection is well represented with titles like
Drawing Room Favorites, Choice Duets for the Piano, and
Favorite Compositions for the Piano. Most of the cover art is fairly
remarkable, especially when juxtaposed with the formal and drab covers in the pedagogical folder. Most of the booklets
are very thin (3-5 pages).
|
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Hotels--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Immigrants--Swedish--Washington (State)--Seattle
Personal Names
- Brand, Anna, ca.1870-1952
- Brand, August, ca. 1863-1950
- Brand, Garfield, ca. 1894-1903
- Brand, Leonard, ca. 1902-1969
- Brand, Viola, ca. 1895-1981
Corporate Names
- Hotel Kalmar
Geographical Names
- Sweden
- United States--Washington (State)--Seattle
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs