Photographs of Theodore Roethke and family, approximately 1908-1997 PDF
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Photographs of Theodore Roethke and family
- Dates
- approximately 1908-1997 (inclusive)19081997
- Quantity
- 60 photographic prints (1 box, 2 oversize folders) ; various sizes
20 negatives (1 folder) ; 35 mm - Collection Number
- PH0791
- Summary
- Photographs of Theodore Roethke and his family
- Repository
- University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 206-543-1929
Fax: 206-543-1931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Selections from the collection can be viewed on the Libraries Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view original photographs. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
American poet and author Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) was born in Saginaw, Michigan to Helen Huebner Roethke and Otto Roethke. He attended the University of Michigan from 1929 to 1936 and received BA and MA degrees. He married Beatrice Heath O'Connell in 1953. Roethke began his career as a teacher in 1931. Roethke taught English at a number of universities, culminating in an appointment to the University of Washington in 1947 that lasted until his death.
In 1941 Roethke wrote his first volume of verse, Open House. Roethke went on to write many other books of collected poetry. In 1954 Roethke received a Pulitzer Prize for his book The Waking: Poems 1933-1953. He inspired several other poets as an advisor to graduate students at the University of Washington including Carolyn Kizer, Richard Hugo, David Wagoner, and many others.
Sources:
"Roethke, Theodore (1908-1963) - HistoryLink.org." Accessed September 26, 2017. http://www.historylink.org/File/5410.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Theodore Roethke, his parents Otto and Helen Roethke, his sister June, their home and greenhouse in Michigan, as well as photographs of Roethke's wife Beatrice Roethke Lushington and his lifelong friend Katherine Stokes.
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. The Cunningham Trust holds the copyright and licenses reproduction rights for all Imogen Cunningham photographs. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Otto Roethke and Helen HuebnerReturn to Top
Otto T. Roethke was born on December 31, 1872 in Saginaw, Michgan. He and Helen Huebner were married in 1906. Otto's father, Wilhelm, a German immigrant, ran a large set of greenhouses. Otto became a market-gardener who owned a large local 25-acre greenhouse, along with his brother. Otto Roethke died from cancer on August 29, 1923 when his son Theodore was a teenager.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/1 | 1 |
Otto Roethke in a suit
Lyon, Saginaw,
Michigan (photographer)
|
between 1890 and 1895? |
| 1/1 | 2 |
Otto Roethke facing to the left
Beckmann, Saginaw, Michigan (photographer)
|
between 1890 and 1897 |
| 1/1 | 3 |
Otto Roethke facing to the right
Beckmann Bros, Saginaw,
Michigan (photographer)
|
between 1898 and 1917 |
| 1/1 | 4 |
Portrait of Otto Roethke in a suit and a hat
|
between 1910 and 1915? |
| 1/1 | 5 |
Otto Roethke and man, possibly Charles
Roethke
At some point, Karl changed his name to Charles--possibly to
Anglicize his name.
|
between 1890 and 1900? |
| 1/1 | 6 | between 1890 and 1900? | |
| 1/1 | 7 | beween 1896 and 1901? | |
| 1/1 | 8a |
Grandmother Huebner, Great Grandmother Wuest, Norman
Kromau, Laraine and Aunt Gustie in a bedroom
Beckmann Bros., Saginaw, Michigan (photographer)
|
between 1898 and 1917 |
| box:oversize | |||
| XC2 | 8b |
Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Huebner, Theodore and June
Roethke's grandparents
|
1870s? |
Theodore and June RoethkeReturn to Top
Theodore was born in 1908, June in 1913.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/2 | 9 |
Portrait of infant Theodore Roethke
Beckmann Bros (photographer)
|
1909? |
| 1/2 | 10 | 1917? | |
| 1/2 | 11 |
Theodore Roethke in front of a post
|
1917? |
| 1/2 | 12 |
June and Helen Reothke
Written on verso: My favorite, June and Mother
|
between 1919-1921? |
| 1/2 | 13 |
Helen Roethke standing among flowers.
Written on verso: Mother--flowers she raised in backyard.
|
between 1919-1921? |
| 1/2 | 14 | circa 1920 | |
| 1/2 | 15a | circa 1920 | |
| box:oversize | |||
| XC2 | 15b |
The Roethke Greenhouse
|
between 1890s-1920s? |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/2 | 16 |
Portrait of June Roethke
Le Clare (photographer)
|
1932 |
Beatrice Roethke LushingtonReturn to Top
Beatrice was a former student of Theodore's who married him in 1953. Although his junior, she quickly took on a caretaker role in his life, watching over him through his mental health crises and periods of hospitalization. Despite a sometimes difficult marriage, Beatrice remained a strong supporter of Theodore and had some of his works unpublished works released following his death. She remarried in 1972, and lived in England for the rest of her life.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/3 | 17 |
Studio portrait of Beatrice Roethke, Winchester
Virginia
Turgeon, Washington DC (photographer)
|
Spring 1943 |
| 1/3 | 18 | 1952 | |
| 1/3 | 19 |
Portrait of Bea Roethke Lushington
Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco (photographer)
Copyright belongs to Imogen Cunningham Trust. Restrictions may
exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections,
University of Washington Libraries for details.
Unsigned. Imogen Cunningham label on verso, stamped negative No.
6.
|
after 1972? |
PortraitsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/4 | 20a-20c |
June Roethke
|
Before 1945? |
| 1/4 | 21 | Before 1947? | |
| 1/4 | 22a-22b |
Theodore Roethke looking away from the
camera
James O. Sneddon (Photographer)
|
April 30, 1952? |
| Box | |||
| XC2 | 22c |
Theodore Roethke looking away from the
camera
James O. Sneddon (Photographer)
|
April 30, 1952? |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/4 | 23a-23b |
Theodore Roethke looking to the side of the
camera
James O. Sneddon (Photographer)
|
April 30, 1952? |
| 1/4 | 24-25 | Between 1955 and 1963 | |
| 1/4 | 26-27 | 1959 |
Photographs of Theodore Roethke by Imogen Cunningham, 1959?Return to Top
Copyright belongs to Imogen Cunningham Trust. Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Unsigned. Stamped on back with credit to Imogen Cunningham, 1331 Green St., San Francisco 9. Undated.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/5 | 28 |
Theodore Roethke looking into the camera with arms
folded
Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco (photographer)
|
1959? |
| 1/5 | 29 |
Theodore Roethke looking into the camera
Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco (photographer)
|
1959? |
| 1/5 | 30 |
Theodore Roethke looking at the camera
Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco (photographer)
|
1959? |
| 1/5 | 31 |
Theodore Roethke looking at the camera with mouth
open
Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco (photographer)
|
1959? |
| 1/5 | 32 |
Theodore Roethke looking into the camera
Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco (photographer)
|
1959? |
| 1/5 | 33 |
Theodore Roethke seen at slight angle with eyes
closed
Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco (photographer)
|
1959? |
Photographs of Roethke by Duncombe, March 7, 1962Return to Top
Duncombe was a student photographer at the University of Washington, working as part of the Tyee yearbook staff.
A series of photos originally taken for the University of Washington Tyee yearbook and later published in the poetry publication Madrona, Volume I, Number 3, 1972.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/6 | 34-42 | March 7, 1962 | |
| 1/6 | 43-45 | March 7, 1962 | |
| 1/6 | 46-53 | March 7, 1962 |
Roethke home and graves in MichiganReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/7 | 54 | 1997? | |
| 1/7 | 55 | 1997? | |
| 1/7 | 56-59 | 1997? |
Katherine M. StokesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/7 | 60 |
Portrait of Katherine M. Stokes
John Wanamaker, New
York, NY (photographer)
Kathy Stokes was a close friend of Theodore's and a lifelong
correspondent.
|
1935? |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
- Subject Terms :
- Greenhouses--Michigan--Saginaw--Photographs
- Poets, American--20th century--Homes and haunts
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
- Personal Names :
- Roethke, Helen H., 1881-1955--Photographs
- Roethke, June, 1913-1997--Photographs
- Roethke, Otto, 1872-1928--Photographs
- Roethke, Theodore, 1908-1963--Family--Photographs
- Roethke, Theodore, 1908-1963--Photographs
- Stokes, Katharine Martin, 1906---Photographs
2010 (Last modified: 5/20/2020)
About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West
