Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
John Edward Chilberg papers, 1864-1953
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Chilberg, John Edward, b. 1867
- Title
- John Edward Chilberg papers
- Dates
- 1864-1953 (inclusive)18641953
- Quantity
- 3.2 cubic feet (7 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 vertical file, and portion of one microfilm reel)
- Collection Number
- 0166
- Summary
- Reminiscences and clippings of a businessman and civic leader
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
John Edward "Ed" Chilberg (1867-1954) was a prominent Seattle merchant, investor, and banker best known for his leadership in organizing the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.
Chilberg was born in Wapello County, Iowa on January 19, 1867, to Swedish immigrants Nelson and Matilda Chilberg. He moved to Seattle when he was five years old, where his father started a grocery business. His uncle, Andrew Chilberg, was already a prominent figure in Seattle and president of the Scandinavian-American Bank, who later became the vice-consul of Sweden and Norway in 1879.
Chilberg was briefly enrolled in the Territorial University of Washington and worked as a traveling salesman before following his father and uncle’s footsteps in the sales, grocery, and mining industries. J.E. Chilberg and Company dealt in a variety of goods, including crockery, glassware, flour, feed and grain.
He lost many of his businesses in The Great Seattle Fire of 1889, but seized the opportunities that arose from the ashes of the recuperating city. That same year he married Anna Mary Rinehart of Seattle and later fathered two sons, Hugh Rinehart Chilberg and Carl Edward Chilberg. He moved to Alaska and turned his attention to steamships, becoming master of the Transit and operating the Monarch and the Sovereign. He also had interests in the Pioneer Mining Company and Miners & Merchants Banks of Nome and Ketchikan. Upon returning to Seattle, he worked his way to become vice-president of Seattle’s Scandinavian-American Bank and president of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
Chilberg invested in Seattle’s culture, believing it to be as important as infrastructure. He was one of 20 local investors who collectively donated $50,000 to help support Edward S. Curtis produce his well-known work “The North American Indian.”
Chilberg was also involved in several high-profile real estate developments. In 1903, Chilberg, Jafet Lindenberg, and others led Seattle's Scandinavian-American Bank to purchase the southeast corner of 2nd Avenue and Cherry Street with the intention of constructing a new bank building but were persuaded by J.C. Marmaduke to construct something more ambitious. The Alaska Building was finished in 1904, and until 1910 was Seattle tallest “skyscraper” at 15 stories. In 1906 Chilberg and Marmaduke purchased the northeast corner of Stewart Street and 2nd Avenue for $200,000 to construct the New Washington Hotel, later the Josephinum. President Theodore Roosevelt was the New Washington’s first guest, and many more would follow, as the hotel was built in anticipation of the crowds coming to the World’s Fair in 1909.
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition was Chilberg’s most outstanding contribution to the Pacific Northwest. After being first proposed by Godfrey Chealander in 1905, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce unanimously decided that Seattle should host the fair and Chilberg would serve as president. Prominent Seattle figures such as R.A. Ballinger, Edmond Meany, and W.H. Perry also made significant contributions. The initial idea was to honor Seattle’s impact on the Yukon Gold Rush but expanded to celebrate the entire Pacific Rim, extending invitations to British Columbia, Canada, Japan, California, Oregon, the Philippines, and China. The AYPE opened in June 1909 and saw 3.7 million visitors before closing four months later. It would transform Seattle from a port city narrowly associated with the Klondike Gold Rush to a city representative of cultural and social modernism.
Sources: Historylink, Pacific Coast Architecture Database
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Reminiscences, clippings, report on the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, other papers documenting Chilberg's involvement with the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, various business endeavors, correspondence, photographs, reminiscences, and ephemera. This collection also includes writings, scrapbooks, and ephemera relating to William V. Rinehart (Chilberg's father-in-law), Anna Mary Chilberg (wife), and Ann Inez Devlin (daughter-in-law). Included are photos from travel to Guatemala.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 2 accessions.
- Accession No. 0166-001, John Edward Chilberg papers, 1889-1939
- Accession No. 0166-002, John Edward Chilberg papers, 1864-1953
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 0166-001: John Edward Chilberg papers, 1889-1939Return to Top
Scope and Content: Reminiscences, clippings; ca. 1889, 1910, 1912, 1924, 1939. Titles Include: Steamboating on the Yukon River in 1899, Business with Puget Sound and Central America, 1892-1897; Wreck of the Colima, June 27, 1895; From Manzanillo to San Salvador and 'Back Home'. Also includes Report on the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, 1909.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Bibliographic Source: Gift of Mabel Chilberg, 1961-05-10. Report on Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition transferred from the Glover photograph collection in Northwest Collection, 1969.
General Notes: Merger of 0166-001 and 1148-001
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Accession | ||
VF 248 | 0166-001 | The Organization and Management of the Business of the
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909
Scope and Content: Account written by J.E. Chilberg
|
1953 |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | Steamboating on the Yukon River in 1899
Scope and Content: Account written by J.E. Chilberg
|
undated |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | Business with Puget Sound and Central America
Established and Developed by J.E. Chilberg, 1892 to 1897
Scope and Content: Account written by J.E. Chilberg
|
undated |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | The Wreck of the S.S. Colima June 27, 1895: How the
Vessel Sank in the Southern Storm
Scope and Content: Account written by J.E. Chilberg "of the disaster written by the
survivor to his wife in This City"
|
undated |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | From Manzanillo to San Salvador and Back
Home
Scope and Content: Account written by J.E. Chilberg
|
undated |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | Obituary
Scope and Content: Typewritten copy of erroneous obituary written by the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer
|
1895 |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | The Alaska Building, Seattle
Scope and Content: Account written by J.E. Chilberg
|
undated |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | Clippings |
approximately 1909-1939 |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | Ephemera
Scope and Content: High school commencement program, menu for 50th anniversary of
The Times
|
1889-1911 |
VF 248 | 0166-001 | List of Chilberg's accomplishments, club
memberships
Scope and Content: Accompanied by letter from Mrs. J.E. Chilberg
|
1960 |
N8 | 0166-001 | Microfilm Reel (negative) 1 microfilm reel
Scope and Content: Scanned copies of Chilberg's reminiscences "Steamboating on the
Yukon River," "Business with Puget Sound and Central America," "The Wreck of
the S.S. Colima," "From Manzanillo to San Salvador," "The Alaska Building"
|
approximately 1979 |
Accession No. 0166-002: John Edward Chilberg papers, 1864-1953Return to Top
Scope and Content: Papers documenting Chilberg's involvement with the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, various business endeavors, correspondence, photographs, reminiscences, and ephemera. This collection also includes writings, scrapbooks, and ephemera relating to William V. Rinehart (Chilberg's father-in-law), Anna Mary Chilberg (wife), and Ann Inez Devlin (daughter-in-law). Included are photos from travel to Guatemala.
- Series 1, Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
- Series 2, Business files
- Series 3, Personal files
- Series 4, William V. Rinehart
- Series 5, Anna Mary (Rinehart) Chilberg
- Series 6, Ann Inez Devlin
- Series 7, Miscellaneous
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.
Acquisition Info: Collection was purchased from Matthew J. Landers, who acquired materials from Chilberg estate sale, October 2022.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Series 1: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/1 | 0166-002 | Financial statements and budget balances |
1909-1910 |
1/2 | 0166-002 | Groundbreaking Day 4 photographic prints
Scope and Content: Photographs of J.E. Chilberg, the crowds, Chilberg's speech, a
commemorative ribbon
|
1909 |
1/3 | 0166-002 | AYPE programs
Scope and Content: 2 special edition issues of The Argus, publicity materials,
AYPE directory
|
1909 |
1/4 | 0166-002 | Honorary Days at Alaska-Yukon-Pacific
Exposition 5 photographic prints
Scope and Content: Miss Columbia of Labrador, 2 photos from New York Day, a group
photo on Minnesota Day, dedication of statue on Seward Day
|
1909 |
1/5 | 0166-002 | President Taft at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific
Exposition 10 photographic prints, 1 negative
Scope and Content: Photographs of Taft's visit, negative of a congratulatory
telegram, clipping
|
1909 |
1/6 | 0166-002 | Awards presented to John Edward Chilberg 2 slides
Scope and Content: Speech from Japanese consulate, slides of gifts, photograph of
trophy, congratulatory letter from A.J. Anderson
|
1909 |
1/7 | 0166-002 | AYPE ephemera
Scope and Content: Menu for officers' dinner, AYPE passes and tickets,
invitations
|
1909 |
1/8 | 0166-002 | "Copy of Conover's cogitations, subjects: The Alaska
Yukon Pacific Exposition and the University of Washington when A.J. Anderson
was president, succeeded by L.J. Powell in 1882" |
undated |
folder:oversize | |||
OS Folder 1 | 0166-002 | Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition diploma presented to
J.E. Chilberg |
1909 |
Series 2: Business files |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/9 | 0166-002 | Financial proposals |
undated |
2/1 | 0166-002 | Letter of introduction with President Barrios of
Guatemala |
18793 |
2/2 | 0166-002 | Central America travel 5 photographic prints
Scope and Content: Photos, notebook, clippings
|
1895-1897 |
2/3 | 0166-002 | Theodore Roosevelt 1 photographic print
Scope and Content: Photo, clipping, souvenir pin
|
1901 |
2/4 | 0166-002 | The Pacific Mason
Scope and Content: Bound copies of Masonic publications
|
1885-1886 |
1/10 | 0166-002 | Ship sale documents and ephemera 2 photographic prints
|
1916, 1920 |
2/5 | 0166-002 | Pins and Ribbons
Scope and Content: Washington Bankers Association, National Chamber, Seattle
Washington Delegate, Young Men's Republican Club
|
1915-1918 |
2/6 | 0166-002 | Mining Shares
Scope and Content: Atascadero Mining Company, Gold Ore Mining Company
|
1932, 1934 |
2/7 | 0166-002 | Large group photographs 2 photographic prints
Scope and Content: Mining company workers?
|
undated |
Box | |||
3 | 0166-002 | Group photograph at forest/camp site 1 photographic print
|
undated |
Box/Folder | |||
2/8 | 0166-002 | "These Tremendous Years 1912-1937: Flashes from the
History of a Quarter Century of Business Achievement" |
1937 |
2/9 | 0166-002 | Clippings |
1883-1929 |
2/10 | 0166-002 | Seattle Illustrated
Scope and Content: Publications published under the auspices of the Seattle
Chamber of Commerce
|
1890 |
Box | |||
3 | 0166-002 | Seattle Chamber of Commerce Business Men's Excursion
to Inland Empire 22 photographic prints
Scope and Content: Scrapbook of business trip to Stevensen, Washington State
Penitentiary, Kennewick, Pullman, Walla Walla, Yakima
|
September 22-27, 1908 |
Series 3: Personal files |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
2/11 | 0166-002 | Correspondence |
approximately 1890-1953 |
2/12 | 0166-002 | Correspondence--Ann and Hugh Chilberg |
1916 |
1/11 | 0166-002 | Photographic prints of J.E. Chilberg 9 photographic prints
|
approximately 1880-1900 |
2/13 | 0166-002 | Tintypes 2 tintypes
Scope and Content: 2 framed tintypes of unknown young children
|
approximately 1860 |
2/14 | 0166-002 | Hugh Rinehart Chilberg 5 photographic prints
Scope and Content: 5 cabinet cards of Hugh Chilberg taken at Curtis and Guptill
studio
|
1897-1899 |
2/15 | 0166-002 | Chilberg family photographs 54 photographic prints, 2 tintypes
Scope and Content: Unlabeled photographs, 2 tintypes of Mr. and Mrs. Chilberg in
San Francisco, Mabel Chilberg (J.E. Chilberg's sister)
|
approximately 1890-1920s |
2/16 | 0166-002 | Photographs of airplanes and automobiles 30 photographic prints
|
approximately 1911-1914 |
2/17 | 0166-002 | Negatives 19 negatives, 2 photographic prints
Scope and Content: 3 x 4" negatives depicting daily family life
|
approximately 1940s |
Box | |||
4 | 0166-002 | Guatemala photo album
Scope and Content: Hundreds of photographs of rural and urban life in Guatemala;
some featured locations: Antigua, Chinautla, San Salvador, San Antonia, Guada
Viejo, Ciudad Vieja, Mixco, Las Duenas; one photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Chilberg
aboard the Transit
|
1895 |
5 | 0166-002 | Guatemala photo album
Scope and Content: Hundreds of photographs of rural and urban life in Guatemala;
some featured locations: Acapulco, San Jose de Guat, Escuintla, Palin, Guati;
photos of the freighter Transit
|
undated |
Box/Folder | |||
2/21 | 0166-002 | "Mother" Francesca Xavier Cabrini
Scope and Content: Correspondence, clippings, biography of Mother Cabrini
|
1916-1946 |
2/22 | 0166-002 | Charles A. Kinnear
Scope and Content: Correspondence, Mrs. Kinnear's travel diary; correspondence
includes reminiscences of Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
|
1919-1952 |
2/23 | 0166-002 | Ephemera
Scope and Content: Postcards, handwritten notes, calling cards, Seattle Public
High School commencement programs, embossed notebook
|
undated |
Series 4: William V. Rinehart |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/12 | 0166-002 | Large mounted photographs of William V.
Rinehart |
approximately 1914 |
2/18 | 0166-002 | William V. Rinehart--correspondence with wife, Oregon
territory |
1864 |
2/19 | 0166-002 | William V. Rinehart and William V. Rinehart
Jr. 2 photographic prints
Scope and Content: Obituary, photos, biography, memoriam, embossed copy of
Seattle Chamber of Commerce publication "The Lake Washington Canal and the
Commerce of the Pacific"
|
approximately 1864-1941 |
2/20 | 0166-002 | Group photograph in front of Seattle National Bank
Block building 1 photographic print
Scope and Content: Mounted group photo; Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart in second row
|
1896 |
Series 5: Anna Mary (Rinehart) Chilberg |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
3 | 0166-002 | Scrapbook
Scope and Content: Unbound scrapbook pages contain clippings, photographs,
correspondence, ephemera
|
approximately 1895-1925 |
Box/Folder | |||
2/32 | 0166-002 | Travel Diary |
1911 |
Series 6: Ann Inez Devlin |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
6 | 0166-002 | Photo album
Scope and Content: Photos feature a trip to Europe, including the Tyrolean
Alps
|
approximately 1910-1920 |
6 | 0166-002 | Loose photographs approximately 200 photographic prints
Scope and Content: More photographs of Europe trip, James A. Haywise in Civil War
uniform, Willie Keiaper
|
approximately 1864-1920 |
6 | 0166-002 | Ephemera
Scope and Content: Advertising cards, prayer cards from Italy, correspondence,
illustrations by Ann Inez Devlin, memoriam card for Charles J. Devlin
|
1909, undated |
Series 7: Miscellaneous |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
2/24 | 0166-002 | Sam Barlow letter to granddaughter "Jennie" and Oregon
Trail ephemera |
1864, 1993 |
2/25 | 0166-002 | Publicity photos of child actor Jon
Provost 2 photographic prints
|
1956-1957 |
2/26 | 0166-002 | Photographs of Valeska Suratt 2 photographic prints
Scope and Content: Related by marriage?
|
approximately 1920s |
2/27 | 0166-002 | Wilton McCoy print of Jenny Lake
Scope and Content: Autographed
|
undated |
2/28 | 0166-002 | Captain Roald Amundsen 1 photographic print
Scope and Content: Photo, clipping, National Geographic Magazine, ode
|
1908 |
1/13 | 0166-002 | Prospectus and Outline of Edward Curtis's The North
American Indian |
1907 |
2/29 | 0166-002 | Miscellaneous publications
Scope and Content: Handbook of the National Society of the DAR, Stoke Poges
Church, Description of the Regalia of Scotland, Penn and Jordans. Chester,
reprints from The Business History Review
|
approximately 1911-1961 |
2/30 | 0166-002 | Edmond Meany publications
Scope and Content: Class of 1912 dedication, "Two Studies in the History of the
Pacific Northwest," The Washington Historical Quarterly
|
1911, 1912 |
2/31 | 0166-002 | Miscellaneous Oregon publications
Scope and Content: Pacific Northwest Quarterly, 42nd Reunion of the Oregon
Pioneer Association, Oregon Historical Society, Peter Skene Ogden: Fur Trader
Oregon: Prize of Discovery, Exploration and Settlement
|
approximately 1898-1944 |
1/14 | 0166-002 | Short story manuscripts
Scope and Content: Titles: "The Homestead" by Rusticus and "The Mask of Gold"
|
1855 |
1/15 | 0166-002 | Lineage paperwork
Scope and Content: Rufus Sylvester?
|
undated |
1/16 | 0166-002 | Scrapbook of fine art reproductions
Scope and Content: "Esquimo" Nome, Alaska, photograph taken by B.B. Dobbs
|
undated |
Box | |||
3 | 0166-002 | "Puget Sound and her Snow Capped
Mountains"
Scope and Content: Oversized booklet of Washington scenery reproductions
|
1915 |
7 | 0166-002 | Oversize photographic print of "Happy
Jack" 1 photographic print
|
1903 |
7 | 0166-002 | Oversize photo of Inuit woman with two
children 1 photographic print
|
approximately 1900-1910 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Corporate Names
- Alaska
- Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909 : Seattle, Wash.)
- Colima (ship)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Chilberg, John Edward, b. 1867 (creator)