Jean Singer Savan photograph collection

Jean Singer Savan photograph collection, approximately 1920-1929

Overview of the Collection

Collector: Savan, Jean Singer
Title: Jean Singer Savan photograph collection
Dates: approximately 1920-1929 (inclusive)
19201929
Quantity: 144 photographs (1 box, 1 folder) : 31 loose photos, album with 112 photos and clippings ; sizes vary
Collection Number: PH1171
Summary: Photographs and clippings from 1920s era cabaret singer
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: The collection is open to the public. Selections of collection are available on digital site.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Jean Singer (1901-1999) was a Jewish cabaret singer in the 1920s. She was born in New York, New York of parents Benjamin Singer and Fannie Bernstein. She performed at the Palace Hippodrome theater in Seattle as well as other venues in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She married Edward Savan in Portland, Oregon in 1937 and eventually settled in Seattle. She died on March 26, 1999.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains photographs of Singer and her colleagues from Savan's stage career in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The collection also includes a scrapbook with photographs and clippings from Singer's career and personal life. Most are 1920s in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: Jackie Block Williams, April 16, 1999.

Processing Note

Processed by Don Romero; processing completed in 2013.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Scrapbook of Jean Singer's Career and TravelsReturn to Top

The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings regarding Jean's musical and stage career; the photographs show her theater colleagues, her travels, as well as friends and family. Locations include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Balboa Beach (California), and Mexicali, Mexico. The newspaper clippings make up the first 21 pages of the book and the photographs make up the following 27 pages.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1-1 thru 1-21	Newspaper clippings of show reviews, advertisements, and articles about Jean Singer and the Palace Hip, a Seattle theater	1920s
1/1	1-22a	Man in swimsuit on beach Written on photo: Vic-same beach-Madrona.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-22b	Jean Singer with Marie, Rose, and Edna in front of Palace Hip sign	circa 1920s
1/1	1-22c	Jean Singer with five other women near car Written on photo: Sunday on Highway.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-23a	Edna standing in front of porch	circa 1920s
1/1	1-23b	Young man standing next to car Written on photo: Little Brother.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-23c	Man in bathing suit at beach Written on photo: Vic at Madrona.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-23d	Don, Ruby, and Howard standing next to Palace Hip sign	circa 1920s
1/1	1-24a	Ruby, Jean Singer, Howard, Rose, and Edna	circa 1920s
1/1	1-24b	Louis and Sylvia next to car	circa 1920s
1/1	1-24c	Marie, Rose, Brownie, and Edna in front of Palace Hip sign	circa 1920s
1/1	1-24d	Sylvia next to car	circa 1920s
1/1	1-25a	Hammie, Bess, and Billie in front of building	circa 1920s
1/1	1-25b	Woman standing near steps Written on photo: Edna on Rose's steps.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-25c	Two women near brush Written on photo: Landlady at Barrymore.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-25d	Man with dog and cat outdoors Written on photo: Phil, Toots, and cat.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-26a	Joe and dog named Toots	circa 1920s
1/1	1-26b	Edna and Grace	circa 1920s
1/1	1-26c	Woman standing outdoors Written on photo: Eddie-again?	circa 1920s
1/1	1-26d	Jean Singer outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-27a	Edna outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-27b	Frankie and Edna on roof of Wilson Hotel, San Francisco	circa 1920s
1/1	1-27c	Woman on rooftop Written on photo: Kid Edna.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-27d	Woman on rooftop Written on photo: Gracie Mary herself.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-28a	Frankie on rooftop	circa 1920s
1/1	1-28b	Frankie and Jean Singer on rooftop	circa 1920s
1/1	1-28c	Jean Singer on rooftop Written on photo: Me myself.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-28d	Jean Singer and Eddie on rooftop	circa 1920s
1/1	1-29a	Woman standing next to windmill blades Written on photo: Buddie-again.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-29b	Dot and Jean Singer next to building	circa 1920s
1/1	1-29c	Woman sitting on bench Written on photo: Alice in Mexicali.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-30a	Man and woman standing outdoors Written on photo: Just a couple of eggs.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-30b	Jean Singer sitting on bench in Mexicali Written on photo:	circa 1920s
1/1	1-30c	Jean Singer sitting on sand at Balboa Beach, California	circa 1920s
1/1	1-30d	Jean Singer and other woman standing on porch Written on photo: A friend and myself in L.A.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-31a	House and sidewalk Written on photo: My parking spot, L.A.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-31b	Man and woman in front of biplane Written on photo: Who's the boyfriend Sylvia?	circa 1920s
1/1	1-31c	Portrait of Jean Singer Written on photo: Just a passport picture.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-31d	Man and woman in cockpit of biplane Written on photo: Up in the air again-Sylvia in L.A.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-31e	Buddie standing near windmill blades	circa 1920s
1/1	1-32a	Woman posing near trees Written on photo: Hey! Hey! Buddie.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-32b	Man with Sylvia and another woman in front of biplane	circa 1920s
1/1	1-32c	Dolly sitting on horse	circa 1920s
1/1	1-32d	Jean Singer standing on wing of biplane	circa 1920s
1/1	1-32e	Man and woman embracing outdoors Written on photo: Just the boy and girlfriend.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-33a	Woman standing outdoors Written on photo: Jessie Perry-whom I like.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-33b	Man in suit leaning on railing Written on photo: Mr. ?	circa 1920s
1/1	1-33c	Three women standing on hillside Frankie is on the right.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-33d	Dog sitting on step	circa 1920s
1/1	1-33e	Frankie Silveri in costume	circa 1920s
1/1	1-34a	Jean Singer and Dorothy outside of the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles	circa 1920s
1/1	1-34b	Jean Singer outside of the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles Written on photo: All alone.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-34c	Two men outside of the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles Written on photo: Just a couple of well meaning stage hands.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-34d	Woman standing on steps of house Written on photo: Same girlfriend.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-35	Jean Singer standing outdoors Written on photo: Just me at Balboa, California.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-36a	Child sitting on beach at Balboa, California	circa 1920s
1/1	1-36b	Woman standing outdoors Written on photo: A very sweet lady.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-36c	Woman in costume Written on photo: Mexicali entertainer.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-36d	Jean Singer sitting on steps holding a kitten Written on photo: Me-again?	circa 1920s
1/1	1-37a	Three people sitting at picnic table Written on photo: Buddie and Earl and open spaces.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-37b	Man in front of hat store Written on photo: Just my brother.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-37c	Jean Singer sitting on steps holding a kitten Written on photo: Me and my family.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-38a	Woman and child under beach umbrella at Balboa, California	circa 1920s
1/1	1-38b	Woman standing near bushes Written on photo: Just a girlfriend.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-38c	Woman standing next to mounted police officer Written on photo: Kearnsey-herself.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-38d	Woman holding kitten on steps Written on photo: Same girl-my kitten.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-39a	Woman sitting on sand at Balboa Beach, California	circa 1920s
1/1	1-39b	Four women standing outdoors Written on photo: Revue in Mexicali.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-39c	Three women standing outdoors Written on photo: Same Mexicali bunch.	circa 1920s
1/1	1-40a	Woman standing on running board of car	circa 1920s
1/1	1-40b	Two women in costume outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-40c	Group of women in costume outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-40d	Woman in dance costume posing outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-40e	Group of women in costume behind people in horse costume	circa 1920s
1/1	1-41a	Woman sitting next to painted spare tire cover on car	circa 1920s
1/1	1-41b	Jean Singer sitting next to painted spare tire cover on car	circa 1920s
1/1	1-41c	Group of women in costume in front of door	circa 1920s
1/1	1-41d	Two women putting their heads between fence slats	circa 1920s
1/1	1-42a	Woman in dance pose outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-42b	Woman carrying another woman in costume	circa 1920s
1/1	1-42c	Woman in costume standing outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-42d	Jean Singer standing next to wall	circa 1920s
1/1	1-42e	Jean Singer sitting on top of painted spare tire cover	circa 1920s
1/1	1-43a	Woman in costume dancing outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-43b,c	Jean Singer standing next to door	circa 1920s
1/1	1-43d	Four women in bathing suits on dock	circa 1920s
1/1	1-44a	Two women and a child, probably on a ship	circa 1920s
1/1	1-44b	Ship's officer on sidewalk with child sitting on curb	circa 1920s
1/1	1-44c	Jean Singer and two other women onboard a ship	circa 1920s
1/1	1-44d	Two women next to building	circa 1920s
1/1	1-45a	Ship's officer sitting on deck chair	circa 1920s
1/1	1-45b	Woman next to railing	circa 1920s
1/1	1-45c	Ship's officer standing on deck	circa 1920s
1/1	1-45d	Jean Singer standing on deck wearing swimsuit	circa 1920s
1/1	1-45e	Jean Singer standing next to railing	circa 1920s
1/1	1-45f	Woman standing outdoors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-45g	Woman standing next to car	circa 1920s
1/1	1-46a	Probably Jean Singer and another woman on deck chair	circa 1920s
1/1	1-46b	Three women standing on deck of ship	circa 1920s
1/1	1-46c	Ship's officers and sailors	circa 1920s
1/1	1-46d	Passengers and crew onboard ship	circa 1920s
1/1	1-47a	Woman standing next to car	circa 1920s
1/1	1-47b	Two passengers onboard ship	circa 1920s
1/1	1-47c	Woman standing in front of house	circa 1920s
1/1	1-47d	Two children selling newspapers in Panama	circa 1920s
1/1	1-47e	Woman lying on deck chair	circa 1920s
1/1	1-48a	Two women in front of building advertising a cabaret	circa 1920s
1/1	1-48b	Boy sitting in deck chair	circa 1920s
1/1	1-48c	Woman holding two stuffed animals next to ship's railing	circa 1920s
1/1	1-48d	Group of four children	circa 1920s
1/1	1-48e	Ship's officers on deck chairs	circa 1920s
1/1	1-48f	Woman standing next to building	circa 1920s
1/2	1-49 thru 1-53	Loose clippings from scrapbook 5 clippings advertising shows.	1920s

Publicity PhotosReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Jean Singer Savan
Box/Folder	item
1/3	2	Jean Singer portrait Mushet, Seattle (photographer)	1920s
1/3	3	Jean Singer portrait Witzel Studios, Los Angeles (photographer)	1920s
1/3	4	Jean Singer sitting on cushioned bench Witzel Studios, Los Angeles (photographer)	1920s
1/3	5	Jean Singer in dance costume sitting on bench	1920s
Box/Folder	item
1/4	6	Rose Smith Gene Hanner (photographer)	1920s
1/4	7	Billie in dance costume Mushet, Seattle (photographer)	1920s
1/4	8	Woman wearing hat and fur stole or collar Mushet, Seattle (photographer)	1920s
1/4	9	Dorothy portrait Witzel Studios, Los Angeles (photographer)	1920s
1/5	10	Millie Pedro wearing fur DeForrest, Oakland (photographer)	1920s
1/5	11	Woman wearing overalls and newspaper hat	1920s
1/5	12	Mike Guglielmo Mushet, Seattle (photographer)	1920s
1/5	13	Howard Evans Davies, Portland (photographer)	1920s
1/6	14	Millie Pedro Ingram, Long Beach, California (photographer)	1920s
1/6	15	Scotty Neston Jr. Myers Studio, San Francisco (photographer)	1920s
1/6	16	Marguerite Donaldson DeForrest, Oakland (photographer)	1920s
1/6	17	Jackie wearing fur DeForrest, Oakland (photographer)	1920s
1/7	18	Woman holding roses Hartsook Photo (photographer)	1920s
1/7	19	Corine wearing hat with feathers Mushet, Seattle (photographer)	1923
1/7	20	Lillian Cole Hartsook, Seattle (photographer)	1923
1/7	21	Edna Lokke Mushet, Seattle (photographer)	1923
1/8	22	Ymar Ritter Hartsook Photo (photographer)	1925
1/8	23	Mildred Mantle Mushet, Seattle (photographer)	1925
1/8	24	Marelle Loring portrait	1926
1/8	25	Margie Roth wearing Spanish-style hat Empire, Los Angeles (photographer) Hand-colored photo.	1926
1/9	26	Dell sitting on wooden bench Empire, Los Angeles (photographer)	1926
1/9	27	Bert O'Leery DeForrest, Oakland (photographer)	1928
1/9	28	Gracie [?] DeForrest, Oakland (photographer)	1928

Jean Singer SavanReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/10	29	Jean Singer at her 90th birthday party	February 13, 1992

Chorus LineReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/11	30	Line of chorus girls in costume Jean Singer is in center. Webster & Stevens, Times Staff Photographers, Seattle (photographer)	circa 1920s
box:oversize
XH7	31	Line of chorus girls in costume Jean Singer is 7th from left.	circa 1920s

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