Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
John D. Whiteaker Collection on the Denny and Graham Families, circa 1853-1945
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Whiteaker, John D., b. 1926
- Title
- John D. Whiteaker Collection on the Denny and Graham Families
- Dates
- circa 1853-1945 (inclusive)18501950
- Quantity
- .64 cubic feet, (2 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 2014.81
- Summary
- Photographs, scrapbook, diary and ephemera related to the Denny and Graham families of 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
David Thomas Denny (1832-1903) arrived at the future site of Seattle in 1851, shortly before the party led by his brother Arthur landed at Alki Point. On January 23, 1853, David Thomas Denny married Louisa Boren at Arthur Denny’s Alki cabin, in a civil ceremony performed by David “Doc” Maynard. After the ceremony, the couple embarked by canoe to their new home at the foot of Denny Way. They received a married land claim of 640 acres in what is now central Seattle.
Louisa Boren and David Thomas Denny had eight children, including David Thomas Denny II. By the early 1880s, they were among Seattle’s wealthiest citizens, with a fortune estimated at $3 million dollars. In the Panic of 1893, however, the Dennys lost everything, including their newly built Queen Anne mansion. They retreated to a cottage at Licton Springs near Green Lake owned by their daughter, the artist Emily Inez Denny. In 1899, at the age of 67, Denny prospected for gold and worked overseeing improvements on the Snoqualmie Pass road. He died several years later at the Licton Springs house.
David Thomas Denny II (1867-1939) married Nellie Elizabeth Graham (1871-1956), the daughter of Seattle pioneers Elizabeth Crammond and Walter Graham. Nellie Elizabeth Graham attended the University of Washington and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Washington State Pioneers Association, and Daughters of Pioneers of Washington. Her daughter, Inez Louisa Denny (1893-1968) attended the University of Washington. She married John Charles Whiteaker (1894-1958.) and their son, John D. Whiteaker, was born in 1926. Inez Louise Whiteaker was a member of the Guild of Children’s Orthopedic Hospital and the Washington State Historical Society.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains studio portraits and informal snapshots of Denny and Graham family members, including David Thomas Denny II, Elizabeth Crammond Graham, Nellie Graham Denny, and Inez Louisa Denny Whiteaker. A scrapbook contains Seattle newspaper clippings related to Denny family activities, and obituaries. Loose diary pages handwritten by David Thomas Denny II while living at Licton Springs relate primarily to his declining state of health. Certificates, awards, wedding invitations, church booklets and correspondence document family business interests and other Seattle activities. A collection of telegrams, bills, and receipts relate to the illness and death of Walter Claude Denny, Inez Louisa Denny’s brother. A small Bible and poetry book belonged to Nellie Graham Denny.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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
John D. Whiteaker Collection on the Denny and Graham Families, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Location of Collection
4a.1.4Acquisition Information
Gift of John D. Whiteaker, 2014.
Separated Materials
Two items received with the donation were housed separately. A placemat from the Coon-Chicken Inn (2014.81.55) is housed with the Ephemera Collection, and a brown paper book cover from the University Book Store (2014.81.56) is housed with miscellaneous accessions.
Related Materials
David Thomas Denny II Family Papers, 2011.26.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Photographs, circa 1853-1940Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | 2014.81.1: Photograph of marriage certificate for David Denny and Louisa Boren
Photograph of handwritten letter certifying marriage
|
1853 |
| 1/2 | 2014.81.2-3: David T. Denny, Sr.
Two copies of same photo, one is hand-colored.
|
circa 1900 |
| 1/3 | 2014.81.4-5: Two photographs in envelope: man posing in military uniform, and two
young women
Two calling card size photographs in small envelope addressed to Wm. P. Hart, Petroleum Center,
Pennsylvania, with notation "Politeness of Mr. Walter Graham."
|
circa 1850 |
| 1/4 | 2014.81.6: Tintype of Elizabeth Crammond Graham as a young woman
Removed from bible. Handwritten on back: 2444 Harvard St., Seattle
|
circa 1860 |
| 1/5 | 2014.81.7: Elizabeth Crammond Graham with a young child
Braas (photographer)
|
circa 1925 |
| 1/5 | 2014.81.8: Elizabeth Crammond Graham
La Roche, Seattle (photographer)
|
circa 1925 |
| 1/6 | 2014.81.9: David Thomas Denny II as a young man
Bellevue Studio, Seattle (photographer)
|
circa 1890 |
| 1/6 | 2014.81.10: David Thomas Denny II in middle age
Copy of photograph.
|
circa 1920 |
| 1/7 | 2014.81.11-13: David Thomas Denny II in the Philippines
Three photographic postcards showing David Denny II and 2 other men
|
circa 1895 |
| 1/8 | 2014.81.14: Nellie Elizabeth Graham
|
circa 1940 |
| 1/8 | 2014.81.15: Nellie Elizabeth Graham
Walters (photographer)
|
circa 1940 |
| 1/9 | 2014.81.16: David Thomas and Nellie Graham Denny standing outdoors holding flowers
Lawrence Denny Lindsley (photographer)
|
circa 1935 |
| 1/10 | 2014.81.17: Family portrait of Denny and Graham family, three generations
P. Croule U'Renn (photographer)
Left to right: Elizabeth Crammond Graham, David Thomas Denny, Nellie Graham Denny, Inez Denny Whiteaker,
John C. Whiteaker.
|
1924 |
| 1/11 | 2014.81.18: John Charles Whiteaker as a young man
Musket (photographer)
|
circa 1910 |
| 1/12 | 2014.81.19-20: Inez Louisa Denny as a child
Brass (photographer)
|
circa 1896 |
| 1/13 | 2014.81.21-22: Studio portraits of Inez Louisa Denny as a young woman
P. Croule U'Renn (photographer)
|
1914 |
| 1/14 | 2014.81.23: Framed, hand-colored portrait of Inez Louisa Denny
Same image as 2014.81.22
|
1914 |
| 1/13 | 2014.81.24: Hand-colored portrait of Inez Louise Denny Whiteaker |
circa 1930 |
| 1/13 | 2014.81.25: Studio portrait of Inez Louisa Denny Whiteaker
Leonid Fink (photographer)
|
circa 1935 |
| 1/15 | 2014.81.26: Inez Louisa and John C. Whiteaker
Snapshot taken outdoors.
|
circa 1945 |
| 1/15 | 2014.81.27: Inez Louisa Whiteaker and another woman dressed in 1890s clothes,
probably for Founders' Day celebration |
circa 1945 |
| 1/16 | 2014.81.28: Whiteaker family at dining table
Left to right: Inez Denny Whiteaker, John D. Whiteaker, John C. Whiteaker
|
circa 1945 |
| 1/16 | 2014.81.29: Whiteaker family and others at dining table
Inez, John D. and John C. Whiteaker with five women, including Nellie Graham Denny and Sonia Lindsley.
Same setting as 2014.81.28.
|
circa 1945 |
| 1/17 | 2014.81.30-31: Studio portraits of a young man, possibly Harold Denny or Harold U'Renn
P. Croule U'Renn (photographer)
These photographs were identified by the donor as "cousin Harold."
|
circa 1940 |
| 1/18 | 2014.81.32: Home Consumer League Group at entrance to the Denny Renton Mine
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
|
1914 |
| 1/19 | 2014.81.33: Group of women in historical costume for Founders' Day
celebration |
circa 1915 |
| 1/20 | 2014.81.34: Nine people seated around a dining table |
circa 1920 |
| 1/20 | 2014.81.35: Woman in a hat standing outdoors |
circa 1920 |
| 1/20 | 2014.81.36: Safeway store exterior with automobiles |
circa 1930 |
| 1/20 | 2014.81.37: Studio portrait of unidentified young woman
Bushnell (photographer)
|
circa 1930 |
Scrapbook, diary, and autograph bookReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/20 | 2014.81.38: Scrapbook of clippings relating to the Denny and Graham families
|
circa 1920 |
| 1/20 | 2014.81.38b: Folder of loose clippings removed from scrapbook |
circa 1920 |
| 2/1 | 2014.81.39: Loose diary pages written by David T. Denny
Loose pages handwritten in pencil, appear to be written by D.T. Denny Sr. and mostly comment on his poor
state of health.
|
1901 |
| 2/2 | 2014.81.40: Nellie Graham autograph book
The autograph book was given to 8-year-old Nellie Graham by Mrs. L. Bagley, Sunday school teacher.
|
1880 |
Certificates, correspondence, and ephemeraReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/3 | 2014.81.41: Wedding invitation for Nellie Graham and David Thomas Denny |
1891 December 9 |
| 2/3 | 2014.81.42: Wedding invitation for Inez Louisa Denny and John C. Whiteaker
|
1918 April 13 |
| 2/4 | 2014.81.43: Certificate issued to Elizabeth Graham as a Life Member of King County
Woman's Christian Temperance Union |
1930 |
| 2/4 | 2014.81.44: American National Red Cross certificate to Louise Whiteaker for her
service during World War II |
1946 |
| 2/5 | 2014.81.45: Stock certificates issued to Nellie and David Thomas Denny
Stock certificates for Pacific Milling & Refining Co., Seven in One Co., Gold Creek Mining Co.
|
1895-1927 |
| 2/6 | 2014.81.46: Telegrams, bills and receipts relating to the illness and death of Walter
Claude Denny, brother of Inez Louisa Denny |
1932 |
| 2/7 | 2014.81.47: Nellie Denny correspondence and records relating to real estate
|
1928-1943 |
| 2/8 | 2014.81.48-50: First Presbyterian Church booklets and flier |
circa 1945 |
| 2/9 | 2014.81.51a: The Fluoroscope, newsletter of the Laurel Beach Sanatorium |
1926 February 25 |
| 2/9 | 2014.81.51b: Independent Order of Good Templars dues receipt to Nellie
Graham |
1898 October 31 |
| 2/9 | 2014.81.51c: Bank receipt from People's National Bank of Washington to Nellie
Denny |
1943 June 14 |
RealiaReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/10 | 2014.81.52: Leather wallet and contents
Contents include calling cards of Mrs. D. Thos. Denny and D.T. Denny.
|
circa 1920 |
BooksReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | 2014.81.53: Bible belonging to Nellie Graham |
circa 1900 |
| 2 | 2014.81.54: Charles Kingsley poetry book belonging to Nellie Graham
Nellie Graham's signature in front of book, dated January 1, 1885
|
1885 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Personal Names
- Denny, David Thomas, II, 1867-1939
- Denny, Nellie Graham, 1871-1956
- Graham, Elizabeth Crammond, b. 1842
- Whiteaker, Inez Denny, 1893-1968
Geographical Names
- United States--Washington (State)--Seattle
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Other Creators
-
Family Names
- Denny family (creator)
- Graham family (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Sue Terrible
2016
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
