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MacKenzie Family photograph collection, 1870-1920
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- MacKenzie (Family : MacKenzie, James Alexander, 1846-1905)
- Title
- MacKenzie Family photograph collection
- Dates
- 1870-1920 (inclusive)18701920
- Quantity
- 44 photographic prints (1 box and 2 folders)
- Collection Number
- PH0032
- Summary
- Photographs and ephemera relating James MacKenzie and his family including memorials to his wife and children killed in a train wreck in Toledo, Ohio
- 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
-
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital collections website. Permission of the Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English and German
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
James Alexander MacKenzie (1846-1905), was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 17, 1846, to Scottish immigrant parents Duncan MacKenzie and Jean "Jennie" Hamilton. He was raised in Hutchinson, Minnesota, during the 1850s. In 1862, his family moved to Minneapolis, where James worked as a traveling musical instrument salesman. In 1875, James was granted the first of his three patents for dulcimer improvements. In 1880, James married fifteen-year-old Eva Skinner (1865-1891), already a trained singer. From 1865 until 1891 James and Eva toured the country together, demonstrating and selling his musical inventions. James and Eva had two daughters, Maud Blanche MacKenzie and Pearl Marie MacKenzie. On November 28, 1891, the family was on a fatal railroad collision in Toledo, Ohio. James escaped, while an explosion fatally scalded Eva and their two daughters. As a result of injuries, Maud died the next day, Pearl died four days after, and Eva died 24 days after the collision, on December 22, 1891.
In December 1892, James married Mary Lillian Holtz (1868-1920), a member of his touring musical troop. In 1895 they moved to Hennepin, Minnesota, and in 1896 their daughter Myrtle Harriet MacKenzie (1896-1997) was born. James and Mary divorced in 1897. James continued manufacturing harps in Minneapolis, but sometime around 1898 his instrument shop, reported to have contained over 100 instruments at the time was destroyed by fire. James married a third time on August 3, 1898 to Anna Louise Kixmoeller. They had two children, Earl Hamilton MacKenzie (1899-1990), Gail and Marguerite MacKenzie (1901-2001). Earl was also nicknamed Gail. Anna died in 1904. James took his own life on May 4, 1905, in Eddyville, Iowa. James and Anna died, both children were adopted by Anna’s parents and Marguerite kept the last name of her grandparents, Kixmoeller. When he was an adult, Earl legally changed his name to Douglas Earl MacKenzie. Siblings of James MacKenzie were Elizabeth Hamilton MacKenzie, John Hamilton MacKenzie, David Duncan MacKenzie, Janette Rosetta MacKenzie, Jenny Maria MacKenzie, William Lyon MacKenzie, Sarah MacKenzie, Robert Lloyd MacKenzie, Joseph A. MacKenzie.
Submitted by: Douglas E. MacKenzie, Jr. (Grandson of James MacKenzie)
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs relating to the life of James Alexander MacKenzie, his family and friends, including the death of his first wife Eva Louise MacKenzie and their two daughters in a railroad disaster in Toledo, Ohio, in 1891.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View the digital version of the collection
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
James Alexander MacKenzieReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/1 | 1 |
Portrait of James A. MacKenzie Floyd's Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1870 and 1890 |
| 1/1 | 2 |
Portrait of James A. MacKenzie and two men Floyd's Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1870 and 1890 |
| 1/1 | 3 |
Portrait of James A. MacKenzie E. F. Everitt studio, Mankato, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1870 and 1890 |
| 1/1 | 4 |
Portrait of James A. MacKenzie W. H. Jacoby studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1870 and 1890 |
| 1/1 | 5 | between 1870 and 1890 | |
| 1/1 | 6 |
Portrait of James A. MacKenzie D.B. Nye Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1870 and 1890 |
| OS1 | 7 |
James A. MacKenzie with several musical instruments,
including dulcimers and a violin W. S. Zinn, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1870 and 1905 |
| OS1 | 8 |
James A. MacKenzie playing dulcimer instrument, probably
invented by him In 1875, James MacKenzie was granted the first of his three
patents for dulcimer improvements. With this patent. No. 171,031, he claimed
the invention of a dulcimer with strings "mounted above and below the
soundboard."
|
between 1870 and 1905 |
| OS1 | 9 |
Piano Harp, invented by James A. MacKenzie, with top
open W. S. Zinn, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
Patented October 27, 1891, MacKenzie's third invention was the
Piano Harp. MacKenzie is quoted in the Smithsonian Studies in History and
Technology Hammered Dulcimer in America, by Nancy Groc: "My instrument may be
called an 'improved dulcimer'; but I have given it a new name of 'piano-harp.'
This name is more appropriate than dulcimer as defining the invention, because
first, it may be played with hammers, and when so played it yields the full,
deep tones of the piano-forte, and not the thin wiry tones of the old dulcimer;
secondly, having placed each group of strings (giving the different tones)
one-third closer to each other than they are on the ordinary dulcimer, the
player is able to reach an octave of strings with the fingers, as upon the
piano-forte, so that when playing with the hammers (one in each hand) the
fingers may also be brought into play in the same strain of music either
alternately or without breaking the time, thus giving the results of both piano
and harp."
|
between 1880 and 1905 |
| OS1 | 10 |
Piano Harp, invented by James A. MacKenzie, with top
closed W. S. Zinn, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1880 and 1905 |
James A. MacKenzie and wife Eva Louise MacKenzieReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| item | |||
| 1/2 | 11 |
Portrait of Eva Louise MacKenzie An obituary of Eva MacKenzie is on the verso.
|
between 1885 and 1891 |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/2 | 12 |
Portrait of Eva Louise MacKenzie Written on verso: "One Singer less on Earth, One more in
Heaven. Eva L. MacKenzie, Aged Twenty-Six Years, Nine Months and Four Days, Was
in the fatal railroad disaster at Toledo, O., November 28th, 1891. Survived the
wreck 24 days. She sacrificed her life to save her two only children. Her
husband, J.A. MacKenzie, after breaking a jam forming at the closed door and
wrenching it open, was carried by the current of human burning flesh in to the
gutter below. In a car filled with boiling steam she battled in obscurity while
her babes (Maudie ten and Pearlie four years) were repeatedly dashed from her
grasp by stalwart men, who also trampled her down while making their individual
escape. The last to leave the car she brought with her Pearlie in one arm,
while dragging Maudie by her clothing with the other hand to the door."
D.B. Nye Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
1891? |
| 1/2 | 13 |
Photograph of a framed arrangement of photographs of Eva
MacKenzie and daughters Maud and Pearl MacKenzie presented at their
funeral D.B. Nye Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
December 1891 |
| 1/2 | 14 |
James A. MacKenzie kneeling in front of framed
arrangement of photographs of Eva MacKenzie and daughters Maud and Pearl
MacKenzie at their funeral, Minneapolis, Minnesota D.B. Nye Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
December 1891 |
| XD1 | 15 | December 1891 | |
| 1/2 | 16 |
People at the coffins of Eva MacKenzie and daughters
Pearl and Maud MacKenzie as they were placed in the ground, Minneapolis,
Minnesota D.B. Nye Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
December 1891 |
James A. MacKenzie and wife Anna Louise MacKenzieReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/3 | 17 |
Portrait of James Alexander MacKenzie and wife Anna
Louise MacKenzie Lee Boos, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1898 and 1904 |
| 1/3 | 18 | between 1898 and 1904 | |
| 1/3 | 19 |
Portrait of Anna Louise MacKenzie A.H. Opsahl studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1898 and 1904 |
| 1/3 | 20 |
Portrait of Anna Louise MacKenzie and son Gail Hamilton
MacKenzie W. O. Crane studio, Carrington, North Dakota (photographer)
|
1900 |
Relatives Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/4 | 21 |
Jean Hamilton sitting on a rocking chair in a living
room Jean "Jennie" Hamilton MacKenzie was the mother of James. A.
MacKenzie. She was born on March 2, 1804, in Dumbarton, Scotland, to John
Hamilton and Elizabeth MacFarlane. In 1828 she married Duncan MacKenzie in
Glasgow, Scotland. She died at the age of 78 on May 14, 1882, in Holmes City,
Minnesota.
|
between 1870 and 1882 |
Josephine House MacKenzie Josephine House MacKenzie is the sister-in-law of James A.
MacKenzie. She was born about 1850 in Illinois. On March 15, 1867, at the age
of 17 she married Robert Loyd MacKenzie. She had four children: son Robert
MacKenzie (1868-1868), son Josie MacKenzie (1868-? ), son Adrian MacKenzie
(1869-1870), son Frederick Ewing MacKenzie (1870 - 1966). Josephine died
February 26, 1880 in Excelsior, Hennepin, Minnesota.
|
|||
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/4 | 22-23 |
Portrait of Josephine House MacKenzie Sunbeam Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1850 and 1870 |
| 1/4 | 24-26 | between 1850 and 1870 | |
| 2/1 | 27 | between 1850 and 1870 | |
PeopleReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/5 | 28-30 |
Portrait of a woman Photographs 28-30 are of the same woman
|
between 1900 and 1910? |
| 1/5 | 31 |
Portrait of a woman Rugg Photographs, Minneapolis, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1900 and 1910? |
| 1/5 | 32 | between 1900 and 1910? | |
| XD1 | 33 |
Crayon photograph portrait of a woman The crayon photograph process involved printing a photograph
lightly on paper and then the artist would draw over it to make it look like a
drawing.
|
between 1900 and 1910? |
| 1/6 | 34 |
Wedding portrait of a man and woman Louis Frohwein studio, Strasbourg, Germany (photographer)
|
1913 |
| 1/6 | 35 |
Portrait of a girl in a confirmation dress Louis Frohwein studio, Strasbourg, Germany (photographer)
|
1913 |
| 1/6 | 36 |
Portrait of 10-month-old girl Louis Frohwein studio, Strasbourg, Germany (photographer)
Writing on verso in German identifies the child and the
date.
|
1913 |
| 1/6 | 37 |
Portrait of a man in uniform Helios studio, Strasbourg, France (photographer)
|
between 1870 and 1880? |
| 1/6 | 38 |
Portrait of Reverend Alfred Andrews Smith & Edy, Brantford, Ontario (photographer)
|
between 1860 and 1880 |
| 1/6 | 39 |
Portrait of L.S. Dunham G. Thorn, Plainfield, N.J (photographer)
|
between 1860 and 1890 |
| 1/6 | 40 |
Portrait of a man and woman Wold & Forsberg, Willmar, Minnesota (photographer)
|
between 1880 and 1900 |
Minneapolis and San FranciscoReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/7 | 41 | between 1880 and 1910 | |
| 1/7 | 42 | between 1880 and 1910 | |
| 1/7 | 43 | between 1893 and 1900 | |
| 1/7 | 44 | between 1906 and 1910 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- MacKenzie, Anna Louise--Photographs
- MacKenzie, Eva Louise--Photographs
- MacKenzie, James Alexander, 1846-1905--Photographs
