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Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff photographs and other material, circa 1890-1994
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Plestcheeff, Guendolen Carkeek, 1892-1994
- Title
- Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff photographs and other material
- Dates
- circa 1890-1994 (inclusive)18851996
- Quantity
- 4 boxes and 1 oversize folder, including 235 photographs and 1 album, ( )
- Collection Number
- 1995.71
- Summary
- Photographs, papers and ephemera related to Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff and the Carkeek family
- 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
Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff was born in Seattle in 1892 at the First Hill mansion home of her parents, British-born Morgan and Emily Carkeek.
Born in Redruth, England, Morgan J. Carkeek emigrated to the United States in 1866. Carkeek married Emily Gaskill, also from England, in 1877, and the couple settled in Seattle in 1885. Morgan Carkeek was an accomplished stonemason and successful building contractor who built several of Seattle's early stone buildings, such as the Dexter Horton Bank, and large office buildings, including the Burke and Haller buildings. Carkeek built the family mansion in 1884 on Seattle's First Hill, at the southeast corner of Madison and Boren Streets, at the time one of Seattle's most fashionable neighborhoods. Emily Carkeek hosted many society events at the mansion, where she also founded the Seattle Historical Society on November 13, 1911 with the first “Founders' Day” ball, with guests dressed in historic costumes related to early Seattle. The party became an annual, invitation-only event, to which guests were asked to bring artifacts or documents related to Seattle history. In 1918, Morgan Carkeek donated land for a city park on Pontiac Bay on Lake Washington at Sand Point, designating a portion of the property for a museum to house the growing Seattle Historical Society collection. Such a building was never realized and the park was displaced in 1926 by the Sand Point Naval Air Station. Morgan Carkeek donated his compensation payment back to the City toward the purchase of land in Piper's Canyon for a new park, the present day Carkeek Park.
Guendolen was the second of two Carkeek children. Her older brother Vivian, born in 1879, was a graduate of the first University of Washington Law School class in 1901 and practiced law in Seattle. Guendolen attended elementary school at the old Pacific School in Seattle, and at age 13 was sent to Europe, first to a French school in England, and afterward to finishing school in Lausanne, Switzerland. Shortly after the teenaged Guendolen's return from Europe, she met dashing young Italian diplomat Paulo Brenna, who was serving as the Italian consul in Seattle. In 1921, young Guendolen and Brenna married in London, then moved to France where Brenna served on an international body for postwar reconstruction. She and Brenna took full advantage of all that Paris had to offer--theater, opera, museums, parties-- sometimes attending several events in one evening. Guendolen fell in love with the city, a second home which she would return to again and again throughout her life.
Shortly afterward, Brenna was named Italian minister to the new Republic of Estonia. After a brief stay in Brenna's hometown of Rome, the couple moved to Reval (now Tallinn), the Estonian capital. During this period, Estonia was home to many refugee Russian aristocrats escaping Bolshevism. Among them was a tall young man from Moscow named Theodor Plestcheeff who had, after several failed attempts, succeeded in escaping across the border using the identification papers of a sympathetic Russian policeman. Plestcheeff was from an aristocratic family related to the noble Stroganov family on his mother's side, and had once served in the court of Czar Nicholas II. Guendolen met Plestsheeff through mutual friends, and discovered that they shared many interests and tastes. Plestcheeff knew a great deal about Russian art and antiquities and introduced Guendolen to the world of Russian arts and crafts, particularly Russian porcelains, which she began to collect.
Guendolen's marriage to Brenna ended in 1928. Rather than returning to Seattle as her family wished, Guendolen moved to Paris, meeting Theodor Plestcheeff there; the couple married in 1929. The Plestcheeffs traveled back and forth between Seattle and Paris for a few years, settling in Seattle after Morgan Carkeek's death in 1931 and moving into the family mansion on Boren Street. In 1934, with the neighborhood no longer as fashionable as it once was, Guendolen decided to sell her parents' home, to be demolished and replaced with a Standard Oil service station. Not one to let such an event pass quietly, Guendolen commemorated the mansion's demise with an exclusive society event held on the premises. Guendolen decorated the house in 1890s style, guided by 1896 Christmas family photograph, and guests dressed in the fashion of the 1890s, the women in bustles and prim necklines, and the men in top hats and fake walrus moustaches. This "Gay Nineties" farewell party, according to local newspapers, was the social event of the season.
In 1937, the Plestcheeffs bought the five-story 1909 stone mansion on East Highland Drive that was built by eccentric Seattle capitalist and "Good Roads" advocate Sam Hill. The house had fallen into disrepair since Hill's death and Guendolen took charge of its renovation: she had the windows enlarged, installed a skylight and redesigned the rooms, decorating them with her own collection of European antiques. The Plestcheeffs also later bought and rejuvenated a waterfront cottage on Bainbridge Island as a summer home, placing the original iron gates from the Carkeek mansion at the entrance to the property.
Following in her mother's footsteps, in 1938 Guendolen became president of the Seattle Historical Society, a position she held for 17 years. She began to raise money for a new home for the Society's historical artifacts, originally collected by her mother Emily, and stored in the Plestcheeff's basement. After years of fundraising and political wranglings, the Seattle Historical Society acquired property off Lake Washington Boulevard, where the Museum of History & Industry opened in 1952.
Though Theodor Plestcheef died in 1967, his influence on Guendolen survived in her wish to share her enthusiasm for the decorative arts, and in tangible form in her extensive collection of Russian decorative ware. In 1987, Guendolen established the Plestcheeff Institute for Decorative Arts, a non-profit center for research and education in the decorative arts, to be housed in the Sam Hill house, which was still her home. Plestcheeff willed the house and its contents to the University of Washington, after plans to donate the building to the Seattle Art Museum fell through. She lived in the mansion until her death in 1994 at the age of 101, and the building continued to serve as the Plestcheeff Institute for Decorative Arts for a few years afterward.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs, papers and ephemera related to the life and interests of Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff, and related to the Morgan and Emily Carkeek family. 235 photographs depict Carkeek family members-- Morgan and Emily Carkeek and their children Vivian and Guendolen--individually and in groups; Guendolen Carkeek's husbands Paulo Brenna and Theodor Plestcheeff; Guendolen and Theodor Plestcheeff at home, in Europe, on vacations and at events; and friends, family and acquaintances, many unidentified. Other photographs document the Carkeek Mansion on Seattle's First Hill, including a "Gay Nineties" party thrown by the Plestcheeff's before the building's demolition, and the Plestcheeff's home in Sam Hill's mansion on Capital Hill.
Papers include legal documents regarding the distribution of Emily and Morgan Carkeek's estates to their children, and several pieces of original writing by Vivian Carkeek. Guendolen Plestcheeff's papers document the establishment of the Plestcheeff Institute for the Decorative Arts and her involvement in the Seattle Historical Society and the establishment of the Museum of History & Industry. Clipping files document the cosmopolitan life of Guendolen Plestcheeff, her ongoing interests in fashion and the decorative arts, and her commitment to preserving the history of Seattle through both the Seattle Historical Society and the establishment of a historical museum.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format here or by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory.
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
Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff photographs and other material, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged into five series:
- Photographs and drawings
- Carkeek family papers
- Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff papers
- Ephemera
- Miscellaneous
Location of Collection
3a.2.4-5 (4 boxes)Location of Collection
1a.3.11 (oversize folder)Acquisition Information
Gift of the Guendolen Plestcheeff estate; received in 1995.
Processing Note
Processed by Leila Martin and Jody Hendrickson, 2009.
Related Materials
The Collection of Seattle Historical Society Founders' Day and Other Event Photographs, Accession No. 2008.3.1, contains photographs of the Carkeek family, Carkeek Park and Founders Day celebrations at the Carkeek Mansion.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Photographs and drawingsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Carkeek family
Includes photographs of Morgan, Emily and Vivian Carkeek. A
separate series of photographs of Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff follows the
Carkeek family photographs.
|
circa early 1884-1920s | |
Morgan Carkeek |
circa early 1900s-1920s | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | .1: Studio portrait of Morgan
Carkeek
James &
Bushnell
(photographer)
|
circa early 1900s |
1/2 | .2-.3: Studio portraits of Morgan
Carkeek
Edward Curtis
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa early 1900s |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/1 | .4: Etching of Edward Curtis
photograph of Morgan Carkeek |
undated |
4/2 | .5: Studio portrait of Morgan
Carkeek
Bushnell
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa early 1900s |
Box/Folder | ||
1/3 | .6-.7: Studio portraits of Morgan
Carkeek
Lothrop
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa early 1900s |
1/4 | .8: Full length portrait of
Morgan Carkeek
Webster &
Stevens
(photographer)
|
circa early 1900s |
1/5 | .9: Morgan Carkeek outside
house
Hand-colored
|
circa 1920s |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/3 | .10: Morgan Carkeek and
unidentified work crew |
circa early 1900s |
Box/Folder | ||
1/6 | .11: Morgan Carkeek and 3 men in
office |
circa early 1900s |
1/7 | .12: Morgan Carkeek (?) facing
formation of Boy Scouts |
circa early 1900s |
Emily Carkeek |
circa 1900-1911 | |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/4-5 | .13-.15: Emily Carkeek near window,
probably inside Carkeek home |
circa 1900 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/8 | .16: Portrait of Emily
Carkeek
Hand-colored photograph on ceramic
|
circa 1900 |
box-folder:oversze | ||
4/6 | .17: Emily Carkeek on steps of
Carkeek mansion
Handwritten on mount: "Mrs. Morgan Carkeek. Back from Paris
1911!"
|
circa 1911 |
Vivian Carkeek |
circa 1884-1921 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/9 | .18: Vivian Carkeek as a
child
Moore
, Seattle, W.T.
(photographer)
|
circa 1884 |
1/9 | .19: Schoolchildren on steps,
including Vivian Carkeek |
circa late 1880s |
1/9 | .20: Vivian Carkeek
Boyd
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa 1890s |
1/9 | .21: Vivian Carkeek and others in
a geometry classroom |
circa 1890s |
1/10 | .22-.23: Vivian Carkeek as a young
man
Curtis
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa 1900 |
1/10 | .24: Portrait of Vivian Carkeek in
hat
Lothrop
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa early 1900s |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/7 | .25: Vivian Carkeek and others in
front of Hotel Vendome, San Jose, California
Bob's Studio
, San Jose
(photographer)
Handwritten on photo: "Puget Sound" guests at Hotel
Vendome.
|
1910 March 22 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/11 | .26-.27: Vivian Carkeek in
hat
Ralston
(photographer)
|
circa 1920s |
1/12 | .28-.36: Vivian Carkeek on trip to
British Columbia 9 photographs
Some of the images depict Carkeek with Florence Lewis, his
future wife
|
1921 |
Other family
photographs |
circa 1905-1926 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/13 | .37: Morgan, Emily and Guendolen
Carkeek |
circa 1905 |
1/14 | .38: Emily Carkeek adjusting
Morgan Carkeek's tie |
circa 1920s |
1/15 | circa 1920s | |
1/16 | .40-.43: Family and others at annual
Park Board picnic at Carkeek Park 4 photographs
Includes photographs of Morgan Carkeek ringing the lunch
bell; Morgan Carkeek and others at a picnic table; Morgan, Vivian and Florence
Carkeek; and Morgan and Emily Carkeek.
|
1922-1924 |
1/17 | .44-.46: Family at Carkeek
Park
Images of Carkeek Park, two of which show the old Seattle
fire bell, and all with Morgan, Guendolen and Vivian Carkeek in the
distance
|
circa 1922 |
1/18 | .47-.48: Carkeek tombstone
Two images of Morgan and Emily Carkeek's tombstone, taken
sometime after Emily Carkeek's death. Morgan Carkeek stands to the stand in one
of the photographs.
|
circa 1926 |
Guendolen Carkeek
Plestcheeff
Arranged roughly chronologically
|
1892-1990 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/19 | .49-.50: Guendolen Carkeek as an infant
Frank La Roche
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
1892 |
1/19 | .51: Morgan, Emily and Guendolen Carkeek seated
outdoors |
circa 1896 |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/8 | .52: Guendolen Carkeek, Clare Shannon and dog "Rover" in
Carkeek garden |
circa 1897 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/19 | .53: Guendolen Carkeek in
chair |
circa 1898 |
1/19 | .54: Guendolen Carkeek and Margaret
Tyler |
circa 1901 |
1/19 | circa 1905 | |
1/20 | .56-.57: Studio portraits |
1906 |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/9 | .58-.60: Guendolen Carkeek with other
young women
J. Chenhalls
,
West End Studio
, Redruth
(photographer)
These photographs may date from the period when Guendolen
Carkeek was sent to England for schooling. One of the photographs portrays an
unidentified family group, including a young woman shown in the other two
photographs with Carkeek.
Guendolen's father, Morgan Carkeek, was a native of Redruth in Cornwall, England. The family in the photographs may have been Guendolen's English cousins. |
circa 1908 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/21 | .61-.63: Studio portraits, with long
hair
James & Bushnell
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
1909 |
1/22 | .64-.65: Guendolen Carkeek near window
inside house, with fancy dress and hairstyle |
circa 1909 |
1/23 | .66-.68: Studio portraits
Francis de Jongh
, Lausanne
(photographer)
Includes two hand-colored copies of number ??
|
1911 |
1/24 | .69-.70: Guendolen Carkeek in
costume
Guendolen Carkeek dressed up, probably for the annual Founders
Day parties held at Carkeek Mansion.
|
1911-1912 |
1/25 | .71: Guendolen Carkeek in fancy
dress for her "coming out" celebration |
1912 |
1/26 | .72: Guendolen Carkeek with bride
Mildred Gibson Oakes
Field
Studio
(photographer)
|
1917 |
1/27 | .73-.78: Guendolen Carkeek 6 photographs
Includes one image of Guendolen Carkeek and a "Mrs. Farris"
wearing Red Cross hats at the "Red Cross Jumble Shop."
Link
|
circa 1916-1919 |
Folder | ||
OS | .79: Black and white print of
painted portrait of Guendolen Carkeek
Ambrose
Patterson
(artist)
Frank
Kunishige
(photographer)
oversize photo shelf 1a.4.8
Label on back of mount: "G. Carkeek 1918-19. Portrait by
Ambrose Patterson. Photo by F. Kunishige (original). In anger the painting was
destroyed by Ambrose Patterson."
|
circa 1918 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/28 | .80: Studio portrait
H.G. Oakley
, Victoria Parade, Newquay
(photographer)
|
circa 1920 |
1/28 | .81: Guendolen Carkeek Brenna and
first husband Paulo Brenna |
circa 1921 |
1/28 | .82: Guendolen Carkeek Brenna in
Russian costume for a party in Estonia
Handwritten of verso: "Reval"
Reval was formerly the name of the capital of Estonia, now called Tallinn. |
circa 1921 |
1/28 | .83: Guendolen Carkeek (Brenna?) on
snowy grass with large building in distance |
circa 1921 |
1/28 | .84: Guendolen Carkeek
Brenna
Wayne Albee
,
McBride Studio
(photographer)
|
1924 |
1/28 | .85: Guendolen Carkeek Brenna and
Theodor Plestcheeff in Viareggio, Italy |
1924 |
1/29 | .86-.91: Studio portraits 6 photographs
Copy negatives on file for .86 and .87
|
1928 |
1/30 | .92-.97: Guendolen and Theodor
Plestcheeff on vacation 6 photographs
Alfred S. Witter
, Seattle
(photographer)
Photographs document a trip by the Plestcheeffs to Honolulu
and possibly other locations.
|
1931 |
1/31 | .98: View of diners at the Royal
Hawaiian in Honolulu, including Guendolen and Theodor Plestcheeff |
1931 |
1/32 | .99: Guendolen Plestcheeff seated in
window, Paris
Walters
(photographer)
|
1931 |
1/32 | .100-.101: Guendolen and Theodor
Plestcheeff
Number .100:
Cosmo
, New York
(photographer)
Inscribed on verso on each photo: on Mauritania
|
circa 1931, 1935 |
1/32 | .102: Cutout silhouette of Guendolen
Plestcheeff
Carl Gould,
Jr.
(artist)
|
1933 |
1/32 | .103: Guendolen Plestcheeff and woman
seated on fence at ranch
Handwritten on verso: "Jamison Ranch. Pryde Mathewson, Guen
P."
|
circa 1940 |
1/32 | .104-.105: Guendolen and Theodor
Plestcheeff and others in restaurant
Number .105 is in a photo display folder for Club 18 on West
52rd Street in New York, with the inscription "New York with the Mathewsons
1941-'42."
|
circa 1941 |
1/33 | .106: Guendolen Plestcheeff walking
on Paris street |
1942 |
1/33 | .107: Guendolen Plestcheeff at
home
Seattle
Times
(photographer)
|
1947 |
1/33 | .108: Guendolen and Theodor
Plestcheeff on roof garden |
circa 1940s |
1/33 | .109: Guendolen Plestcheeff and woman
walking down street in Montecatini, Italy |
1948 |
1/34 | .110-.111: Guendolen Plestcheeff and three
women dressed for Christmas Ball |
1950 |
1/34 | .112: Theodor and Guendolen
Plestcheeff in Camigliano, Italy |
1951 |
1/34 | .113: Guendolen Plestcheeff at
Christmas Ball
McBride &
Anderson
(photographer)
|
1951 |
1/34 | .114-.115: Guendolen Plestcheeff on Paris
street |
1953 |
1/34 | .116: Passport photograph of
Guendolen Plestcheeff |
circa 1950s |
1/35 | .117: Guendolen Plestcheeff and
others at luncheon, Oasis Hotel, Palm Springs
Some identifications on verso
|
1956 |
1/35 | .118: Guendolen Plestcheeff and woman
in Palm Springs
Handwritten on verso: "Palm Springs. 1956. Jamisons."
|
circa 1956 |
1/35 | .119-.119a: Guendolen Plestcheeff and
others, possibly at Chi Chi Club in Palm Springs
.119a is an enlarged cropping of .119
|
circa 1956 |
1/36 | .120-.122: Guendolen Plestcheeff in Cairo,
Egypt |
1961 |
1/37 | .123-.130: Guendolen
Plestcheeff 8 photographs
Number .129:
Dan
Lamont
(photographer)
|
circa 1970s-1990 |
Other individuals |
circa 1864-1940s | |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/10 | .131: Drawing of Alexis Plestcheeff,
Theodor Plestcheeff's father
Signed H. Didier 1864
|
1864 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/38 | .132-.135: Paulo Brenna 4 photographs
Guendolen Carkeek's first husband was Italian minister to
Estonia.
Three of the images depict Brenna in uniform; in one of these he is wearing several medals. |
circa 1921 |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/11 | .136-.137: Paulo Brenna in uniform wearing
medals |
circa 1921 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/39 | .138-.143: Theodor Plestcheeff 6 photographs
|
circa 1928-1940 |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/12 | .144-.145: Theodor Plestcheeff 2 photographs
Richard
Erickson
(photographer)
|
1932 |
Box/Folder | ||
1/40 | .146-.151: Mildred Gibson
Oakes 6 photographs
Includes photographs of Mildred Oakes with her husband
Prescott Oakes, and with her son
|
circa 1920s |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/13 | .152-.153: Elizabeth McEwan
Page
Number .152:
Leonid
Fink
(photographer)
|
circa 1920s |
Box/Folder | ||
1/41 | .154-.156: Val May 3 photographs
|
circa 1930s |
1/42 | .157-.158: Corinne Allievi and Villa
Allievi
Number .157:
R.W. Alesfandri
, Rome
(photographer)
Number .158 is an image of an ornate interior captioned on
verso: "Villa Allievi. 1 Via Alessandro Farnese. Rome."
|
undated |
1/43 | .159: Prince Andrew of
Russia
Son of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia (Czar
Nicolas's sister) and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich.
|
circa 1924 |
1/43 | .160: Baron Max de Reuter
(?)
Drawing from photograph.
|
undated |
1/43 | .161: "Uncle Jack"
Langfier Ltd.
, London
(photographer)
Photograph is inscribed "To my dearest Florence - from her
affectionate Uncle Jack" and may have belonged to Florence Carkeek, Vivian
Carkeek's wife.
|
undated |
1/43 | .162: Clarence Blethen and
cat |
circa 1940 |
1/43 | .163: Postcard showing ten Estonia
officials
Postcard sent from Estonia by Guendolen Carkeek Brenna to her
mother Emily Carkeek, dated July 5, 1927, regarding Paulo Brenna's health. Also
indicates "Here are the heads of the country."
|
circa 1927 |
2/1 | .164: Woman with dog
Inscription on back of photograph has been cropped: "Myra
Romanoff (?) wife of Dimitri de Russie [cut off]on of gr. Duke Alexander"
|
circa 1940 |
2/1 | .165: Prince George Chavchavadze and
his wife Elizabeth de Breteuil
Constance Hope
Associates
(photographer)
George Chavchavadze (1904-1962) was an internationally noted
pianist.
|
circa late 1930s |
2/1 | .166: Duchess Simonetta
Colonna
Italian fashion designer, had a design business, Simonetta et
Fabiani, with husband Alberto Fabiani.
|
circa 1940s |
2/1 | .167: Young woman
Inscription on mount: "To Guen with best love Sybil C.
Grant-Dalt[cut off]"
|
1911 September 3 |
2/1 | .168: Bertha Boeing
Alfred A. Witter
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa 1930 |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/14 | .169: Copy of drawing of William
Boeing
Inscribed on front: "To Gwen and Teddy--Bill"
|
1939 |
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | .170: Janet Tourtellotte |
undated |
2/1 | .171: Xenia Bogoiavlensky
James & Merrihew
, Seattle
(photographer)
Writing on verso: "Xenia Bogoiavlensky. Daughter of Russian
Consul [Nicholas N. Bogoiavlensky] Seattle. Died in Flu epidemic of 1918."
|
circa 1910s |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/15 | .172: Grand Duchess Marie of
Russia |
1940 |
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | .173: Three women under umbrella on
lawn
Depicts one woman pretending to buy flowers from another.
Writing on verso: "Helen Hughes Somerwell, Llewellyn Morrison,
Mrs. Champney"
|
circa 1910 |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/16 | .174: Portrait of Russian woman in
fancy dress
This photograph is visible, in a freestanding frame on a
table, in the Plestcheeff home in a photograph of the interior of the house in
Folder 2/11 of the collection. The woman may be a Plestcheeff relative from
Russia.
|
undated |
Box/Folder | ||
2/2-4 | .175-.184: Unidentified individuals and
groups 11 photographs
|
undated |
2/5 | .185: Young girls at doll
party |
circa 1910s |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/17 | .186: Unidentified man |
undated |
Carkeek mansion at 918 Boren
Avenue, Seattle
Located at the southeast corner of Madison and Boren Streets on
First Hill, the Carkeek mansion was built in 1894 and demolished in 1934. A gas
station was built on the site.
|
circa 1894-1924 | |
Box | ||
2/6-7 | .187-.194: Exterior of home 8 photographs
Number .188:
Peiser
(photographer)
|
circa 1894-1934 |
Individuals at "Gay Nineties"
party at Carkeek mansion
Guendolen and Theodor Plestcheeff threw a costume dinner at
the Carkeek home, the last party given in the mansion before being torn down.
Guendolen Plestcheeff decorated the rooms in 1890s style and played music of
that period, while the women wore petticoats and frilly trains, and the men,
fake handlebar moustaches and top hats.
|
1934 February | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/8 | .195: Glin and Ford
Trimble |
1934 February |
2/8 | .196: Emily and Clark
Burgard |
1934 February |
2/8 | .197: Charlotte Henry and Cam
Kelleher |
1934 February |
2/8 | .198: Mr. and Mrs. Lambuth and Mrs.
Prescott (Mildred) Oakes |
1934 February |
2/8 | 1934 February | |
2/8 | .200: Neil Jamison and Bertha
Boeing |
1934 February |
2/8 | 1934 February | |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/18 | .202: Clark and Emily Burgard, Nat
Paschal, Bertha Boeing, Neil Jamison, Val May, Theodor and Guendolen
Plestcheeff, Tom Pelly and Pendleton Miller |
1934 February |
Box/Folder | ||
2/9 | .203-.205: Young women dressed up for
Founders' Day party at Carkeek mansion 3 photographs
Identifications handwritten on backs of photographs.
|
circa 1911-1914 |
Plestcheeff home at Sam Hill
House |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/10 | .206-.209 : Exterior of house 4 photographs
|
undated |
2/11 | .210-.219: Interior and roof garden views
of Plestcheeff home 10 photographs
|
undated |
Folder | ||
OS | .220-.221: Pencil sketches of south
elevation of house 2 sketches
J. Lister Holmes
, Architect
(artist)
oversize photo shelf 1a.4.8
|
1937 January 21 |
.223: Theodor Plestcheeff photograph
album 134 photographs
|
1922-1925 | |
Box | ||
2 | .223.1-223.134
Includes photographs from the time that Plestcheeff lived in
Estonia. Photographs are captioned with place names, but other that "Reval"
these are difficult to decipher. Album includes a few photographs showing
Guendolen Carkeek Brenna, including a trip to Viareggio in 1924, and in
California in 1925.
|
1922-1925 |
Miscellaneous |
||
Folder | ||
OS | .224: Copy of watercolor of Central
Library Carnegie Seattle Public Library building at 1000 Fourth
Avenue
P.J. Weber
, Architect, Chicago, Illinois
(artist)
oversize photo shelf 1a.4.8
The library was built by Morgan Carkeek's building company.
Construction of the 55,000-square-foot library began in spring of 1905; the
building was demolished in 1957.
|
circa 1905 |
OS | .225: Japanese dignitaries at
banquet
Tomowe
(photographer)
oversize photo shelf 1a.4.8
|
circa 1900 |
Box/Folder | ||
2/12 | .226-.228: Race cars and
drivers 3 photographs
Webster &
Stevens
(photographer)
Writing on verso of 3 photographs: "Lewis"; "Charlie
Thompson's car"; "Bob Burman"
|
circa 1910 |
2/13 | .229-.231: Tambov 3 photographs
Photographs of an estate belonging to the Stroganov family,
relatives of Theodor Plestcheeff, in Tambov, a Russian city south of Moscow.
Plestcheeff spent much of his youth on this estate.
Two photographs of gardens are inscribed on verso as "Property Stroganoff at Tambov." The third photo, of a building, is inscribed on verso as "Tambov. Property Plestcheeff." |
undated |
2/14 | .232: Seattle Officers' Club room
designed by Guendolen Plestcheeff
Depue Morgan &
Co.
, Seattle
(photographer)
Handwritten on verso: "Room for 1940 troops in old assay
office 9th & James"
The Seattle Officers' Club at 9th Avenue and James Street in
Seattle opened in July 1943. The Club was founded by a group of prominent
Seattle women, including Guendolen Plestcheeff
|
1943 |
box-folder:oversize | ||
4/19 | .233.: Construction site or lumber
mill
Possibly related to Morgan Carkeek's construction
business.
|
undated |
Box/Folder | ||
2/15 | .234: White man in group of
Nigerians
Caption accompanying photo: "Nigeria. Peace Celebration Day at
Owo. B.M.C. (having read the Proclamation of Peace and explained the Peace
Terms to the Owa of Owo (on left of B.M.C.)) the Paramount Chief of the Owo,
Ifori [?] and Akokko people. B.M.C. seen holding a copy of the Peace Terms as
published by 'the Times'."
|
1919 August |
2/16 | .235: One white man and four black
men near bungalow
Handwritten on verso: "Bernard's bungalow and domestics."
|
undated |
2/16 | .236: View of Mount Rainier and
Seattle
Frank Jacobs
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
undated |
Carkeek family papers, 1894-1932, 1976Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Legal papers |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/1 | Morgan Carkeek
naturalization
1894 correspondence and certification of Carkeek's
naturalization, originally granted in 1875.
|
1894 |
3/2 | Piper's Canyon
donation
Receipt and correspondence regarding Morgan Carkeek's gift of
$25,000 toward the purchase of Piper's Canyon for a city park, the present
Carkeek Park.
|
1928 |
3/3 | Wills and codicils of Morgan
and Emily Carkeek |
1922-1929 |
3/4-7 | Papers regarding distribution
of Morgan and Emily Carkeek's estates 4 folders
Includes correspondence, court documents, statements of assets
and distribution, tax reports
|
1929-1932 |
3/8 | Deeds and leases--Morgan and
Emily Carkeek
Most of these deeds and leases were apparently requested from
safekeeping at Bank of California by Guendolen Plestcheeff in 1970.
|
1898-1931 |
Writings |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/9 |
Anti-Chinese Riots, narrative by
Morgan J. Carkeek |
undated |
3/9 | Poem
The Story of the Man Who Found
Happiness, a symposium in idealism by Vivian Carkeek
Typed on sheet with poem: "Dedicated to the memory of
F.H.B."
|
1901 June 8 |
3/9 |
The Story of the Man Who Found
Happiness, a symposium in idealism, by Vivian Carkeek |
1913 September 18 |
3/9 |
Little Anjim Masajima and the Wupu
Blocks, A Japanese Fairy Tale, by Vivian Carkeek |
1915 January 3 |
3/9 |
Little Benki Sumatsu and the Oku Bird, A
Japanese Fairy Tale, by Vivian Carkeek |
1915 January 10 |
3/9 |
The Law of Compensation,
commencement address delivered to the Tolt High School by Vivian
Carkeek |
1919 June 4 |
3/9 | Transcription of
Seattle Times article about the
discovery of Vivian Carkeek's diary |
1976 October 20 |
Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff papers, 1907-1991Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3/10 | Diary |
1907-1908 |
3/11 | Correspondence
3 letters, including one on Christian Dior letterhead about a
dress being sent to Plestcheeff.
|
1919; 1939; undated |
3/12 | Diplomatic visas
Italian visas for traveling with her husband Paulo Brenna.
|
1924; 1926 |
3/13 | Mayoral proclamations
On the naming of Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff day (December 19,
1993) and Seattle Heritage Day in honor of Guendolen Plestcheeff (April 9,
1987).
|
1987; 1993 |
Box | ||
OS | Seattle Historical Society
Certificate of Merit presented to Guendolen Carkeek
oversize photo shelf 1a.4.8
|
1980 May 30 |
Box/Folder | ||
3/14 | Business and legal
correspondence 1 folder
|
1936-1969 |
3/15 | Correspondence regarding Seattle
Historical Society and Museum of History & Industry |
1951; 1982 |
3/16 | Plestcheeff Institute for the
Decorative Arts
Folder includes articles for Northwest Arts Magazine issues from
September 1980, December 1986, and August 1987; 1996 meeting minutes; 1990-1991
annual report; and brochures for the Institute and for the 1992 show "Très à la
Mode."
|
1986-1996 |
Ephemera, 1909-1960Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Clippings |
1921-1990 | |
Box/Folder | ||
3/17-20 | Guendolen and Theodor
Plestcheeff 4 folders
Includes "social page" type captioned news photos of the
Plestcheeffs; wedding announcement for Guendolen Carkeek and Cavaliere Paulo G.
Brenna in 1921; many photographs and articles related to Guendolen
Plestcheeff's interest in fashion; and general articles reviewing her life and
contributions to Seattle.
|
1921-1990 |
3/21 | Obituaries 1 folder
Obituaries for Morgan Carkeek, Vivian Carkeek, Theodor
Plestcheeff, and Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff.
|
1931-1994 |
3/22 | Vivian Carkeek
Article about the Vivian and Florence Carkeek Memorial Fund
for college scholarships; and an article about a Loyal Knights of the Round
Table banquet at which Vivian Carkeek spoke.
|
1924; 1964 |
3/23-24 | Carkeek mansion 2 folders
Includes clippings from 1934 about the "Gay Nineties" party
thrown by Guendolen and Theodor Plestcheeff at the Carkeek mansion before its
demolition.
|
1933-1960 |
3/25 | Visit by Grand Duchess Marie of
Russia
When the Grand Duchess Marie of Russia visited Seattle (not in
the role of royalty but as a "fashion consultant") in 1940, Guendolen
Plestcheeff threw a party at her home in the old Sam Hill mansion.
|
1940 September |
3/26 | Seattle Officers'
Club
The Seattle Officers' Club at 9th Avenue and James Street in
Seattle opened in July 1943, founded by a group of prominent Seattle women,
including Guendolen Plestcheeff
|
1943 |
3/27 | Sam Hill and the Sam Hill
mansion at 814 E. Highland Drive, Seattle
The Hill mansion was purchased by Guendolen and Theodor
Plestcheeff in 1937.
|
1937-1986 |
3/28-31 | Seattle Historical Society and
Museum of History & Industry |
1939-1989 |
Other ephemera |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3/32 | Emily Carkeek's Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
ticket |
1909 |
3/32 | Invitation to marriage of Guendolen Carkeek to
Cavaliére Paulo Brenna on January 19, 1921 in London |
1921 |
3/32 | Mailer for "Spirit of Seattle" day at Longacres, June
29 |
undated |
3/32 | Programs for meetings of the Seattle table of the
Loyal Knights of the Round Table 4 programs
Vivian Carkeek was a member of this fraternal organization.
Two of the programs postdate Carkeek's death and announce the death and a
eulogy to be delivered by Judge John A. Frater.
|
1934-1935 |
MiscellaneousReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3/33 | "Specifications for Garden walls,
casino and pool for Thomas D. Stimson, Seattle, Washington" by architect
Charles A. Platt, New York City |
1930 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Carkeek Park (Seattle, Wash. : 1918-1926)
- Mansions--Washington (State)--Seattle
Personal Names
- Brenna, Paulo
- Carkeek, Emily Gaskill, 1852-1926
- Carkeek, Morgan J. (Morgan James), 1847-1931
- Carkeek, Vivian M. (Vivian Morgan), 1879-1934
- Plestcheeff, Theodor
Corporate Names
- Seattle Historical Society
- Museum of History & Industry (Seattle, Wash.)
Geographical Names
- United States--Washington (State)--Seattle
Form or Genre Terms
- Ephemera
- Photographs