Photographs of Theodore Roethke and family, approximately 1908-1997

Overview of the Collection

Title
Photographs of Theodore Roethke and family
Dates
approximately 1908-1997 (inclusive)
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: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
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

Acquisition Information

Donor: Beatrice Roethke Lushington, November 1999; June Roethke estate, September 1997 ; Karyl Winn, 1997; Hoyt Public Library, November 1999. James McCloud, April 7, 1978 - 6 photographs item #s 28-33. 21 photographs (20 prints and 1 contact sheet) and 20 negatives transferred from the Dave Duncomb collection PH1499, April 2019.

Processing Note

Processed by Marion Brown, 2008; Michael Lowry Lamble, June, 2019; Susan Fitch, 2020

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 1892 and 1902?
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 hat, suit and bowtie
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 1900 and 1909?
1/1 6 between 1900 and 1906?
1/1 7
Portrait of Helen Huebner and Otelia
Drago (photographer)
Otelia was Theodore Roethke's Aunt Tillie.
beween 1900 and 1906?
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 1923 and 1925?
1/2 13
Helen Roethke standing among flowers.
Written on verso: Mother--flowers she raised in backyard.
between 1919-1921?
1/2 14 1920?
1/2 15a between 1920 and 1923
box:oversize
XC2 15b
The Roethke Greenhouse
between 1890 and 1923
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.
1972?

PortraitsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/4 20a-20c
June Roethke
before 1945?
1/4 21 between 1936 and 1947?
1/4 22a-22b
Theodore Roethke looking away from the camera
James O. Sneddon (Photographer)
April 30, 1952
box:oversize
XC2 22c
Theodore Roethke looking away from the camera
James O. Sneddon (Photographer)
April 30, 1952
Box/Folder
1/4 23a-23b April 30, 1952
1/4 24-25 between 1955 and 1963
1/4 26-27 January 14, 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