Brand family papers, circa 1880-1965

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Brand family
Title
Brand family papers
Dates
circa 1880-1965 (inclusive)
circa 1880-1910 (bulk)
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, 9-10

Location 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 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

2 registers

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
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