Archives West Finding Aid

Dorothy Fay Gould (1890-1976), born Dorothy Wheaton Fay, was a writer and historian with a passion for Northwest history. Dorothy’s parents, John Purinton Fay (1861-1930) and Alice Ober Fay (1863-1948), relocated to Seattle from Massachusetts in 1889.

Dorothy attended Broadway High School in Seattle before moving to Bryn Mawr, PA to attend The Baldwin School, followed by Vassar College in New York for her undergraduate degree. In 1912, Dorothy returned to Seattle and began teaching English at the University of Washington. She soon met her husband, professor and architect Carl Frelinghuysen Gould, and married in 1915. Dorothy continued her education, earning her Master’s degree in English from the University of Washington in 1937.

Dorothy was fascinated by Northwest history. She lectured and wrote extensively on the topic. In 1932, Dorothy published The Indian Attack on Seattle, a work of historical editing that compiled information from Thomas Phelps’s written account of the Battle of Seattle. Her most famous publication, Beyond the Shining Mountains, published in 1938, was a history of the Northwest. In addition, Dorothy utilized lantern slides and kinescopes to lecture on Northwest History, and frequently presented on television and radio programs.

Dorothy was active in many civic and social organizations related to history, art, architecture, and gardening. She acted as a founding member of the Seattle Historical Society and served as historian for the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, Washington Branch. She was also active in the Sunset and University Women’s clubs, as well as numerous social circles.

Carl and Dorothy Fay Gould had three children, Carl Jr., Anne, and John, all of whom remained in the Seattle area. The family spent much of their time in the Bainbridge Island and Lynn Street homes, designed by Carl Gould. Dorothy died in 1976.