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Mark Dempsey collection on Bessie Hall Dempsey, 1914-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Dempsey, Mark, 1936-1994
Title
Mark Dempsey collection on Bessie Hall Dempsey
Dates
1914-1985 (inclusive)
Quantity
.42 cubic feet, (1 box plus one oversize folder)
Collection Number
1982.172 (accession)
Summary
Sound recordings, musical scores, photographs and other materials collected by Mark Dempsey documenting the life and professional activities of his mother, Bessie Hall Dempsey
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.
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Biographical Note

Mark Dempsey, son of Bessie Hall Dempsey, attended Queen Anne High School in Seattle and majored in drama at the University of Washington. He pursued an acting career in Hollywood and had parts in various films and popular television programs. In the late 1960s he appeared in New York theatrical productions including “Oh, Calcutta” and “Mata Hari.” Mark Dempsey returned to Seattle in the 1970s and was active in local theater until his death in 1994.

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Content Description

The collection consists of photographs, musical scores, 78 rpm records, family papers and articles that document the professional and personal life of Bessie Hall Dempsey. A series of photographs depict her early years as a student, ballet dancer and vaudeville performer. Other photographs show her posing in theatrical costumes created by her mother, Jessie Hall. A collection of sheet music with handwritten notations includes a separate series of original compositions by Bessie Hall. Newspaper clippings, obituaries and a detailed family history written by Mark Dempsey provide extensive background on her professional life and activities. The collection includes a 1964 Boeing technical report written by Bessie Hall Dempsey.

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Historical Background

Bessie Hall Dempsey was born in Arkansas on October 5, 1914 to Leroy Leister and Jessie Des Champ. When her parents divorced in 1918, her mother Jessie moved to Montana with Bessie and her older sister Irma Beatrice. Jessie Leister remarried briefly and changed her name to Hall. She operated a successful seamstress studio in Missoula and designed costumes for the vaudeville circuit. After her second marriage failed in 1922, Jessie Hall moved again with her daughters, this time to Seattle where the girls attended Broadway High School and were later enrolled at the Cornish School of Fine Arts. The family lived for several years at the Moore Hotel in downtown Seattle, which had an adjacent vaudeville theater at the time. Bessie and Irma Hall studied classical ballet, folk dance, music theory, composition and choreography. Bessie was an excellent student and also studied physics, mathematics and foreign languages. In the late 1920s Bessie and Irma began performing as the Hall Sisters in Northwest vaudeville theaters.

During the Depression in 1932, the family moved to California seeking show business opportunities. After the collapse of vaudeville and a permanent separation from her sister, Bessie Hall pursued a solo career in San Francisco and Los Angeles performing in ballets, nightclubs and movies under the stage name Yvonne St. Clair. In 1935 she married Lee Dempsey, a former first baseman for the New York Giants. Their son Herbert Lee (Mark) Dempsey was born in 1936. They were divorced in 1939.

Bessie Hall Dempsey then entered the University of Southern California where she earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerodynamics. While attending the University, she supported her family by working full-time at the Bank of America. She graduated with honors and changed her name again, this time to B.M. Dempsey in an attempt to avoid the bias against women in engineering fields. She moved to Seattle in 1948 and was hired by Boeing Airplane Company as a Junior Engineer Class B, becoming the company’s first female engineer. She received several promotions at Boeing and in 1951 was the first woman elected to Tau Beta Pi, the honorary engineering society. Bessie Hall Dempsey worked at Boeing for nearly 24 years. During her Boeing career, she still enjoyed local amateur performing and lived on a Seattle houseboat with her son Mark. Bessie Hall Dempsey died in Seattle on September 16, 1971 after a long illness. She was 57 years old.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in MOHAI's online collections.

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

Mark Dempsey Collection on Bessie Hall Dempsey, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in five series:

  • Biographical materials
  • Photographs
  • Sound recordings
  • Sheet music
  • Miscellaneous

Location of Collection

13b.4.4

Location of Collection

1a.3.7 (oversize photo)

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mark Dempsey, December 21, 1982

Separated Materials

These materials are part of a donation that also included a number of artifacts. These artifacts are cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI's Collections Department.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

  • Description: Biographical materials

    Includes two biographical essays written by Mark Dempsey (1980, 1985); published newspaper obituaries for Bessie Dempsey; photocopies of clippings and photographs; and a photocopied contract between the Pantages Theater and the Hall sisters for performances in January 1930.

    Dates: 1930-1980

  • Photographs, circa 1920-1971

    • Description: 1982.172.43: Jessie Hall lying down, with cat
      Color ; 3.5 x 3.5 inches
      Dates: 1971
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.44: Jessie Hall standing indoors
      Color ; 3.5 x 3.5 inches
      Dates: 1961
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.45: Jessie Hall standing outdoors
      Black and white ; 3.5 x 5 inches
      Dates: circa 1961
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.46: Bessie Hall Dempsey standing outdoors
      Black and white ; 3.5 x 6 inches

      Handwritten on back: Suit and hat and bag designed and made by Jessie Hall - modeled by her daughter Bessie Dempsey. L.A. Ca. 1942

      Dates: 1942
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.47: Bessie Hall Dempsey posing indoors
      Black and white ; 3 x 5 inches

      Handwritten on back: Costumes by Jessie Hall, L.A. Ca. c. 1940

      Dates: circa 1940
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.48: Bessie Hall Dempsey in dance costume
      Black and white ; 3 x 5 inches

      Handwritten on back: Costumes by Jessie Hall, L.A. Ca. c. 1940

      Handwritten on back of duplicate: Yvonne St. Claire. Marimbaphone act. Exotic character dances.

      Dates: circa 1940
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.49: Irma Beatrice Hall in harem dance costume
      Midland Studio, Chicago (photographer)
      Black and white ; 8 x 10 inch

      Handwritten on back: Beatrice Hall, Harem Dance, costume by Jessie Hall, Seattle, 1932

      Dates: 1932
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.50: Bessie and Irma Beatrice Hall with unidentified girl in costume at Cornish School
      Black and white ; 7 x 10 inch

      Handwritten on back: "Russian" costumes designed by Jessie Hall and worn by 2 daughters Bessie-Beatrice (middle girl not known). Costumes were white with bright red-green flowers - black piping - red leather boots. Cornish School - Seattle. c. 1926

      Dates: circa 1926
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.51: Irma Beatrice Hall in costume by Jessie Hall
      Ed. Sweeney Studio, Hollywood (photographer)
      Black and white ; 8 x 10 inch

      Handwritten on back: Costume by Jessie Hall, 1935

      Eleven ethnic dances listed on back.

      Dates: 1935
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.52: Irma Beatrice Hall in costume designed by Jessie Hall
      Luc Denet , Chicago (photographer)
      Black and white ; 8 x 10 inch

      Handwritten on back: Costume designed and executed by Jessie Hall (very similar to yellow satin flowered scarf.)

      Dates: circa 1932
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.57: Bessie Hall Dempsey in fur-trimmed coat designed by Jessie Hall
      Black and white ; 11 x 14 inches
      Dates: circa 1920
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.58: Bessie Hall Dempsey in costume holding two cats
      Hand-colored ; 7 x 11.5 inch
      Dates: circa 1920
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.59: Bessie Hall Dempsey close up
      Black and white ; 11 x 14 inches

      Handwritten on front: Mark was 5 years old, L.A. 1941

      Dates: 1941
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.60: Bessie Hall Dempsey professional head shot
      Black and white ; 8 x 10 inch
      Dates: circa 1930
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.61: Bessie Hall Dempsey in pink dress
      Hand-colored ; 7 x 11.5 inch

      Handwritten on front: In High School

      Dates: circa 1920
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.62: Bessie Hall Dempsey in harem costume
      Hand-colored ; 7 x 11.5 inch

      Handwritten on front: In High School

      Dates: circa 1920
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.64: Bessie Hall Dempsey in costume
      Walters Studio , Seattle (photographer)
      Black and white ; 8 x 10 inches

      Handwritten on back: Ivonne (Bessie Hall), 627 Taylor St. San Francisco 1931

      Dates: 1931
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.65: Bessie Hall Dempsey in costume designed by Jessie Hall
      Black and white ; 3.5 x 5.5 inches

      Handwritten on back: Bessie Hall modeling waltz costume designed by Jessie Hall, Seattle 1926

      Dates: 1926
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.66: Bessie Hall Dempsey in costume designed by Jessie Hall
      Black and white ; 3.5 x 5.5 inches

      Handwritten on back: Bessie Hall modeling waltz costume designed by Jessie Hall, Seattle 1926"

      Dates: 1926
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.67: Lee Dempsey holding sports poster
      Black and white ; 11 x 13.5 inches

      Handwritten on back: Lee Dempsey L.A. 1961 photo by Peter Caine

      Dates: 1961
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971
    • Description: 1982.172.68: Bessie Hall Dempsey with group
      Black and white ; 7 x 16.5 inches

      Handwritten on back: USC Los Angeles 1948

      Oversize

      Dates: 1948
      Location: Photographs, circa 1920-1971

  • Sound recordings, 1939-1957

    • Description: 1982.172.21: Maybe You'll Be There (Side A), Dark Eyes (Side B)
      1 sound disc : 78 rpm ; 10 inches

      Performed by Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra, Decca Records, Inc.

      Dates: 1947
      Location: Sound recordings, 1939-1957
    • Description: 1982.172.23: When Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop (Side A), King Kamehameha The Conqueror of the Islands (Side B)
      1 sound disc : 78 rpm ; 10 inches

      Performed by Clara Inter with Al Kealoha Perry and His Singing Surfriders, Decca Records, Inc.

      Dates: 1939
      Location: Sound recordings, 1939-1957
    • Description: 1982.172.24: Hawaiian Hospitality (Side A), Lovely Hula Hands (Side B)
      1 sound disc : 78 rpm ; 10 inches

      Performed by Dorothy Lamour with Dick McIntire and His Harmony Hawaiians, Decca Records, Inc.

      Dates: 1944
      Location: Sound recordings, 1939-1957
    • Description: 1982.172.25: The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakaki (Side A), Beneath a Banyan Tree (Side B)
      1 sound disc : 78 rpm ; 10 inches

      Performed by Ray Kinney with Dick McIntire's Harmony Hawaiians, Decca Records.

      Dates: 1940
      Location: Sound recordings, 1939-1957
    • Description: 1982.172.35: Unlabelled Oriole Records recording disc
      1 sound disc : 78 rpm ; 10 inches
      Dates: circa 1940
      Location: Sound recordings, 1939-1957
    • Description: 1982.172.26: Dempsey Girls with Dotti Provine, University of Washington Drama Department, Women's Century Club Theater, Seattle
      1 reel : Magnetic tape
      Dates: 1957 May 26
      Location: Sound recordings, 1939-1957

  • Sheet music

  • Miscellaneous

    • Description: 1982.172.29: Technical Report, Boeing Company Airplane Division, Summary of Longitudinal Stability and Control Data, prepared by B.M. Dempsey
      87 pages
      Dates: 1964 October 8
      Location: Miscellaneous
    • Description: 1982.172.33: Binder with report on costume design, probably a school project by Bessie Hall
      30 pages

      Binder includes a four-page typewritten essay by Jessie Hall titled "Costume Design as Vocation," plus pages with fabric swatches, photographs, pencil drawings, designs and magazine clippings. Probably part of a Queen Anne High School school project about vocational interests of girls.

      Dates: 1931 April
      Location: Miscellaneous

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Costume design
  • Performing arts
  • Vaudeville shows

Personal Names

  • Hall, Jessie

Geographical Names

  • United States--Washington (State)--Seattle

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs
  • Sound recordings

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Dempsey, Bessie Hall, 1914-1971 (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Sue Terrible
2013

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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