Collection on Art Barduhn

Collection on Art Barduhn, 1920-1953

Overview of the Collection

Title: Collection on Art Barduhn
Dates: 1920-1953 (inclusive)
19201953

1943-1953 (bulk)
19431953
Quantity: .63 cubic feet, (2 boxes, including 130 photographs)
Collection Number: 2008.4 (accession)
Summary: Photographs and other materials related to the early career of a musician and performer from Seattle
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

Arthur S. Barduhn (b. 1922), son of Carl E. and Blanche Etta Douglas Barduhn, began studying piano at age 4 and formed his first band at age 15, while attending Lincoln High School in Seattle. Barduhn attended the University of Washington School of Music intermittently beginning in 1941, studying composition and conducting. He joined the Coast Guard in 1942, serving at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu as a Seaman 1st class; later, having proven himself as a musician and performer, his rating was changed to Musician 2nd class. Barduhn performed with the Coast Guard band in 1943 and 1944, first in Honolulu, then in the St. Louis Guard District.

After the war, Barduhn formed a quartet with three fellow servicemen, traveling to play at lounges and hotels. Barduhn performed with various musicians before forming the Art Barduhn Trio in the early 1950s, with Barduhn playing piano, vibraphone and accordion, Glenn Thompson on guitar and Russ Phillips on bass. The trio performed at many venues in Seattle and elsewhere, with regular gigs at the Georgian room of the Olympic Hotel, the Grove Club in the Grosvenor House, and contracts for work in other states, including a summer stint at the Gay 90s Bar in the Last Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. The group also recorded music with Linden records.

Barduhn's early musical career grew hand-in-hand with his television and radio career with KING-TV in Seattle. In 1949, Barduhn and University of Washington classmate Stan Boreson were invited by KING-TV to participate in "Campus Capers," a local 15 minute television show featuring university students. Afterwards, Barduhn and Boreson starred in their own television show "Two B's at the Keys," which offered viewers music, parodies, and comedy sketches, with an emphasis on the Scandinavian humor for which Boreson is still known. The two musicians, along with trio members Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips, were contracted with the Clipper Oil Company in 1950 for the radio-television show "Clipper Capers." The trio plus Boreson also performed in People's National Bank's "People's Parade" in 1952-1953, and in public service radio programs for the Office of Price Stabilization. The popularity of the group grew as a result of this exposure, increasing the demand for live performances by the Art Barduhn Trio and Stan Boreson.

Art Barduhn married his wife Marie in Minneapolis in 1946 and the couple had a son and daughter. Art Barduhn continues to perform as a musician based in California as of 2009.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs, scripts, correspondence, and other materials related to the early musical career of Seattle musician and performer Art Barduhn.

Early photographs depict Barduhn's parents, and Barduhn and his older brother, Allen, as children. The beginnings of Barduhn's musical career are documented in photographs of his performances as a musician and leader of a Coast Guard band, circa 1942-1943, including performances in Honolulu, where he was stationed. The photographs follow the trajectory of his career throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s, depicting early trios as well as the group with which Barduhn made a name in local television, radio and live performances: Barduhn, guitarist Glenn Thompson, bassist Russ Phillips, and accordionist and humorist Stan Boreson. Photographs, correspondence, contracts, scripts and ephemera document the group's performances in front of live audiences and well as in the KING-TV studio, and the various TV and radio programs with which the group was involved in the early 1950s.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.

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

Collection on Art Barduhn, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in series and subseries:

Photographs and drawings
- Family
- Coast Guard
- Art Barduhn musical groups
- KING-TV
- Miscellaneous photographs
- Drawings
Papers
- University of Washington
- Coast Guard
- King-TV
- Correspondence
- Programs, brochures and publications
- Ephemera
- Miscellaneous

Location of Collection

3a.4.4

Acquisition Information

Gift of Feliks Banel; received in 2008.

Processing Note

Processed by Leila Martin and Jody Hendrickson, 2009.

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
	Family
Box/Folder
1/1	1: Couple near house, probably Barduhn's parents Carl E. and Blanche Etta Barduhn	circa 1920
1/1	2: Man, probably Carl E. Barduhn Merrihew Studio , Seattle (photographer)	circa 1920
1/2	3: B. Etta and Allen John Barduhn (2 years old) Pinney , Seattle (photographer)	1920
1/2	4: Young Arthur Barduhn and his brother Allen "Buddie" Lothrop , Seattle (photographer) Writing on verso: Buddie - 4 years, Arthur - 15 months	1922 November 24
1/2	5: Young Arthur Barduhn and his brother Allen "Buddie" Lothrop , Seattle (photographer) Writing on verso: To Auntie Gertie & Uncle Will From Buddie - age 10 and Arthur - age 7. Xmas 1928.	1928 Christmas
	Coast Guard
Box/Folder
1/3	6: Portrait of Art Barduhn in military uniform holding mallets Stamped on verso: Art Barduhn, ME 21431, 2107 No. 57th, Seattle. Wash. Written on verso: A.D. Barduhn S1c R	circa 1943
1/4-5	7-10: Art Barduhn performing with Coast Guard band in Honolulu 4 photographs Barduhn is pictured playing piano, string bass and trumpet.	1943
1/6	11-13: Art Barduhn with Coast Guard band performing "The Wolves in Ship's Clothing" All 3 images are marked on verso: Art Barduhn S1c R Typed on verso of 11: Maier Lehner and Barduhn give out with a terrific vocal. (Just ask them) Typed of verso of 12: "Wolves" in Hilo. Pictured with the CO and his wife.	1943
1/7	14-15: Art Barduhn on piano in Coast Guard band with 4 others Written on verso of 14: Frank "Buss" Gauding on bass. "Broadcast"	194243
1/7	16: Frank "Buzz" Gauding playing bass in front of CBS microphone	1943
1/7	17: Art Barduhn playing vibraphone in Coast Guard band with 4 others Other musicians identified on verso as: Reeves Leo Murphy "Murph" on guitar; George "Willard" Powers on bass; Howard Lemon on drums; and John Maier on trumpet	1943
1/8	18: U.S. Navy Band performing with Art Barduhn on piano Typed on verso: This picture for my good friend and instructor PM "Mac" McClure. Chief Corricks US Navy Band. Art Barduhn S1c USCG at the piano.	circa 1943
	Art Barduhn musical groups	circa 1954-1953
	Publicity photographs
Box/Folder
1/9	19-21: Art Barduhn 3 photographs Showing Art Barduhn on piano and trumpet.	circa 1945
1/10-11	22-24: Art Barduhn trio: Barduhn with Glenn Thompson and Helen Chamberlain Doug Madison , Seattle (photographer) 3 photographs Photographs printed in lower border: "Art Barduhn Trio" and "Exclusive Management The Jack Belmont Agency. Seattle Office-314 Second & Pine Building. The photographs depict Barduhn on vibraphone or accordion, Thompson on guitar and Chamberlain on double bass.	circa 1945
1/12	25-26: Art Barduhn trio: Barduhn with 2 unidentified men Photo 26: Kennell-Ellis Artist Photographers (photographer) Photo 25 printed as 8 x 10 and as postcards, with caption in lower border: Art Barduhn Trio. Photo 26 inked on photo: Art Barduhn 3	circa 1948
1/13	27: Art Barduhn trio: Barduhn with 2 unidentified men Mr. & Mrs. Claude Harta Studio (photographer) Guitarist is the same as in 25 and 26.	circa 1948
1/14	28: Art Barduhn trio: Barduhn with Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips Hal Kaminske , Seattle (photographer) Printed in lower border: Art Barduhn Trio. Printed as 8 x 10 and postcard.	circa early 1950s
1/15	29-33: Art Barduhn trio: Barduhn with Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips	circa early 1950s
1/16	34: Art Barduhn trio: Barduhn with Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips Printed in lower border: Art Barduhn Trio.	circa early 1950s
1/17	35: Art Barduhn trio: Barduhn with Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips 8 x 10 printed in lower border: Art Barduhn Trio. Postcard printed in lower border: The Art Barduhn Trio. KING-Television. Linden Records. Management: Associated Booking Corp. Beverly Hills, Calif.	circa 1953
1/18	36: Art Barduhn trio: Barduhn with Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips Kaminske , Seattle Three publicity shots of the trio printed as one photo, with caption: The Art Barduhn Trio. More than "a Trio of Trios" Linden Records	circa 1953
1/19	37: Art Barduhn, Stan Boreson, Glenn Thompson, Russ Phillips and unidentified man and woman posed around Barduhn on piano Roger Dudley , Seattle	circa early 1950s
1/20	38: Art Barduhn and Stan Boreson Color photograph	circa early 1950s
1/21	39: Art Barduhn and Stan Boreson Printed with inscription: Sincerely Art Barduhn and Stan Boreson on "Clipper Capers"	circa early 1950s
	Performances and other photographs of Barduhn's musical groups
Box/Folder
1/22-29	40-47: Performance with Eddie Peabody at the Naval Hospital in Bremerton 8 photographs This series of photographs documents a visit by Commander Eddie Peabody of the U.S. Naval Reserve, accompanied by Art Barduhn, to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bremerton Washington. Includes 4 photographs of Peabody and Barduhn visiting and performing on Ward "A," and 4 photographs of Barduhn on piano and Peabody on banjo, performing in an auditorium in the Recreation Building of the hospital.	1949 April 13
1/30	48: Eddie Peabody on banjo accompanied by an early Art Barduhn trio on a children's hospital ward The trio is the same depicted in photos 25-26.	circa 1949
1/31-35	49-54: Art Barduhn, Russ Phillips and Glenn Thompson performing at unidentified venue, accompanied by various others Parker Studio , Seattle (photographer) Accompanied by various other individuals, including a man on piano, a woman singing, and a police officer singing.	circa 1952
1/36-39	55a-d: Quartet of Art Barduhn, Russ Phillips, Glenn Thompson and Stan Boreson performing on outdoor stage 4 photographs Alfred Witter , Seattle (photographer)	circa early 1950s
1/40	56: Trio of Art Barduhn, Russ Phillips and Glenn Thompson performing with couples dancing Roger Dudley , Seattle (photographer)	circa early 1950s
1/41	57: Quartet of Art Barduhn, Russ Phillips, Glenn Thompson and Stan Boreson performing in front of sign reading "Clipper Service"	circa early 1950s
1/42	58: Trio of Art Barduhn, Russ Phillips and Glenn Thompson in the Gay 90s Lounge of the Last Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas One 35mm color slide and 1 print	circa
1/43	59: Quartet of Art Barduhn, Stan Boreson, Russ Phillips and Glenn Thompson joking during performance Wilson Weaver , Seattle (photographer)	circa early 1950s
1/44	60: Quartet of Art Barduhn, Stan Boreson, Russ Phillips and Glenn Thompson and unidentified woman holding trumpet Wilson Weaver , Seattle (photographer)	circa early 1950s
1/45	61: Snapshot of Art Barduhn, Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips inserted into the back of a menu from the Olympic Hotel Written on menu: The Olympic Trio. Famous all over the Country	1951
1/46	62: Trio of Art Barduhn, Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips and 2 other musicians on drums and clarinet	circa early 1950s
1/47	63-69: Art Barduhn and group on tour 7 photographs 3 x 5 inches Barduhn with unidentified group of men and one woman outdoors, presumably a band on tour. A chartered North Coast Lines bus is visible in a few of the photographs.	1947 March
1/48	70-74: Art Barduhn and group of men and one woman, probably a band, outside building 4 photographs 2.5 x 3.5 inches	undated
Box
	: KING-TV
Box/Folder
1/49	75-76: Art Barduhn, Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips performing in front of a KING-TV camera	circa 1950
1/50-51	77-100: Art Barduhn, Glenn Thompson and Russ Phillips accompanying Eddie Peabody on banjo in front of KING-TV camera 24 photographs 4 x 5 inches	circa 1950
1/52	101-118: "Clipper Capers" episode on television 18 photographs 3.5 x 3.5 inches This set of snapshots depicts Art Barduhn, Russ Phillips, Glenn Thompson and Stan Boreson and others on a television screen performing in what appears to be an episode of their show "Clipper Capers."	circa 1949
	: Miscellaneous photographs
Box/Folder
1/53-54	119-120: VFW Community Service awards being presented to Stan Boreson and the Art Barduhn Trio 2 photographs	circa early 1950s
1/55	121: Hotel Olympic marquee showing "Art Barduhn Trio"	circa early 1950s
1/56	122-129: Art Barduhn and others in outdoor scenes 8 photographs 2.5 x 3.5 inches	circa 1945-1955
1/57	130: Photograph of collage of clippings about the Art Barduhn trio in Las Vegas at the Gay 90s Lounge in the Hotel Last Frontier	1953 August-September
	: Drawings
Box/Folder
1/18	131: Caricature of Art Barduhn with three cardboard "hairpieces" by Al Pratt, with accompanying letter In the letter, Pratt suggests to Barduhn that he might want to reduce the glare of his bald pate on television by using a hairpiece. The 3 "styles" are annotated on back with humorous descriptions.	1951
1/59	132: Caricature of Art Barduhn	undated

: Papers, Return to Top

Container(s): Box

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2/1	133-134: University of Washington 2 items	1941, 1948
	Coast Guard	1944-1945
Box/Folder
2/2	135: Correspondence and press release 6 items	1944
2/3	136: Coast Guard Orchestra commendation	1944
2/4-8	137-141: Coast Guard radio program scripts 5 scripts Art Barduhn provided the music for the programs.	1944 February-June
2/9-10	142-144: Coast Guard Orchestra programs 3 programs	1944-1945
2/11	145-147: Soundings magazine 3 issues October 1944, April 1945 and May 1945 issues of U.S. Coast Guard publication Soundings, featuring mentions of Art Barduhn and the Coast Guard band.	1944-1945
2/12	148: Clippings	circa 1944-1945
	KING-TV Radio and TV
Box/Folder
2/13	149.1-3: Contracts and correspondence with Clipper Oil Company for radio and television shows	1950
	Scripts
Box/Folder
2/14	150-155: Clipper Capers 6 scripts	circa 1951
2/15	156-165: People's Parade 10 scripts	1952 January-April
2/16	166-169: People's Parade 4 scripts	1953 March-April
2/17	170-174: Office of Price Stabilization 5 scripts	undated
2/18	175: KING-TV script, unknown program 1 script	undated
	Correspondence	1950-1953
Box/Folder
2/19	176: Letters of thanks 6 letters Letters of thanks from the State of Washington, the American Red Cross, the U.S. Naval Hospital at Bremerton, and the Office of Price Stabilization for musical performances.	1949-1952
2/20	177: Miscellaneous correspondence 3 items	1950-1953
Box
	: Programs, brochures and publications Materials which mention Art Barduhn and the Art Barduhn Trio
Box/Folder
2/21	178-179: Seattle entertainment guides Marquee weekly entertainment guide, December 12, 1947 and Magazine Seattle, official monthly publication of the Hotel Greeters of Seattle, February 1952.	1947, 1952
2/22	180.1-4: Olympic Hotel (Seattle) brochures and program 4 items	1952, undated
2/23	181.1-3: Pages from Fabulous Las Vegas 3 items Related to the Art Barduhn Trio's 11 week engagement at the Gay 90s Lounge of the Hotel Last Frontier in Las Vegas.	1953 August
2/24	182-184: Other publications mentioning performances by Art Barduhn 3 items Madigan Messenger, publication of Madigan Army Hospital, October 17, 1952; Round Table, publication of the Advertising and Sales Club of Seattle, September 22 and November 24, 1953; and Seattle Business, publication of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, March 10, 1954.	1952-1954
	: Ephemera
Box/Folder
2/25	186: Promotional brochures, postcard and business card 6 items	circa 1948-1952
2/26	187: Clippings	circa 1949-1953
	Miscellaneous
Box/Folder
2/27	188: Typescript essay, with handwritten corrections, on Art Barduhn and the Art Barduhn trio 2 pages	circa 1953

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Musical ensembles--Washington (State)--Seattle
Musicians--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

Barduhn, Arthur Douglas
Boreson, Stan
Peabody, Eddie, ca. 1901-1970

Corporate Names

Art Barduhn Trio
United States Coast Guard Band

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