Anderson-Wanamaker family papers, 1859-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Anderson-Wanamaker family
Title
Anderson-Wanamaker family papers
Dates
1859-1985 (inclusive)
circa 1920-1959 (bulk)
Quantity
6.92 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Collection Number
4524 (Accession No. 4524-001)
Summary
Papers of Washington State pioneer family prominent in the logging industry, in state politics, and in public education at the state and national levels
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

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Nils Anderson, patriarch of the family, was born in 1860 in Sweden. He emigrated to Washington Territory in the late 1870s where he worked as a woodsman. He settled on Whidbey Island where he developed a logging operation and operated a Post Office. Later he homesteaded on Camano Island, establishing a logging camp there. In addition to his logging interests, Anderson also served as a county commissioner of Island County and as a Representative to the Washington State Legislature in 1921.

Anderson married Johanna (Hannah) Hellman in 1891. The union produced three daughters and a son: Mabel, Helen, Pearl and Niles. Helen Dorothy Anderson remained single and was a teacher in the Seattle Public School system. Pearl Anderson married Lemuel Wanamaker, an engineer employed by Island County, in 1927. Also educated as a teacher, Pearl Anderson Wanamaker later earned a law degree and followed in her father's footsteps in 1928 when she was elected Representative to the State Legislature. Later, she was elected State Senator from the 38th District and then State Superintendent of Public Instruction (1941-1956). The Wanamaker children include Robert (Bob), Joanna (Jo) and James (Jim).

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, diaries, day books, calendars, certificates, ledgers, financial records, photographs, legal and real estate records, public school papers, typescripts, scrapbook, clippings, and ephemera. Included are substantial concentrations of papers from various family members including: Nils Anderson, Helen Anderson, Pearl Anderson Wanamaker, Lemuel Wanamaker, and the children of Pearl and Lemuel.

Subgroup of E.G. Hogle papers: the papers document his work as caretaker of Mabana, the site of Nils Anderson's logging camp on Camano Island.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Literary rights of Anderson and Wanamaker family members transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Judge James Wanamaker, 4/6/1998.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Camano Island
  • Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Whidbey Island

Personal Names

  • Anderson-Wanamaker family--Archives

Geographical Names

  • Camano Island (Wash.)
  • Whidbey Island (Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Anderson family (creator)
    • Anderson, Helen D (creator)
    • Anderson, Niles (creator)
    • Anderson, Nils (creator)
    • Hogle, E.G (creator)
    • Wanamaker family (creator)
    • Wanamaker, Lemuel A (creator)
    • Wanamaker, Pearl Anderson, 1899- (creator)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)