Margery Phillips papers, 1939-1966

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Phillips, Margery, 1916-2014
Title
Margery Phillips papers
Dates
1939-1966 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.15 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number
6149 (Accession No. 6149-001)
Summary
Writings, correspondence, drawings, photographs, and other professional files of architecture and interior design journalist Margery Phillips of Seattle, Washington
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

No restrictions on access.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Margery Phillips was a prominent writer and editor of interior design, architecture, and fashion columns in the Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and several national and regional magazines throughout the 1960s. Phillips was born on July 31, 1916 in Seattle and, in early childhood, survived a near-fatal case of typhoid fever. She attended the University of Washington and was active in the Alpha Phi sorority, later being dubbed the "Mother of Alpha Phi Expansion." In 1938, Phillips married her architect husband, John Otis Phillips. During World War II, she drove a Motor Corps transporting blood to hospitals.

During her 35 year career she was Home Fashion Editor for the Seattle Times and Northwest Editor for many national magazines. Writing several weekly articles, she was highly influential in popularizing quality Pacific Northwest residential design. During her 25 year career with the Seattle Times, she was consistently recognized as the most popular feature writer among women readers.

In addition to her journalistic achievements, Phillips was involved in many local organizations. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, she was Director and Organizer of The Fashion Group, Seattle Chapter. She served as Press Associate for the American Institute of Interior Designers and for the National Society of Interior Designers from 1956 to 1976. She also served on many Boards including the Children's Orthopedic Junior Board, the University of Washington Alumnae Board, and the Northwest Ornamental Horticultural Board. She served as Chair of the Special Events Committee of the Washington Athletic Club Advisory Board and was elected as its Chairman in 1971. She achieved all this and more as a mother to three children.

Margery Phillips died on May 4, 2014.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Professional files of Margery Elise Robinson Phillips including correspondence, writings, biographical features, drawings, photographs, ephemera, and subject files on professional organizations, architects, and architecture and design. The collection also includes records relating to Phillips's involvement with The Fashion Group.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Sarah Phillips and Larry Phillips, 2016-07-18

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Series 1:  Subject Series - Architect/Designer (Home)Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Gene Zema (William Holm Residence)
1959
1/2
A.O Bumgardner (Bruce Burton Residence)
1959-1960
1/3
Bystrom and Greco (Robert Zech Residence)
1959-1962
1/4
Bystrom and Greco (Frank Verginia Residence)
undated
1/5
Robert McCallie (Bob Johnston Residence)
1960
1/6
Robert George Reichert (Mario Torre Residence)
1961
1/7
Glen Brewer (Robert R. Blancher Residence)
1962
1/8
Ibsen Nelsen and Russell Sabin (John K. Albright Residence)
1962
1/9
Pagerson (Oseran Residence)
1962
1/10
Jane Hastings (Jane Hastings Residence)
1963
1/11
Herbert Haguewood (Herbert Haguewood Residence)
1963
1/12
Barden Erickson (Wilbur Lowes Residence)
1963
1/13
Anton Mueller (Russell Ross Residence)
1963
1/14
Anton Mueller (Anton Mueller Residence)
1963
1/15
Hawley Dudley (Newton Paul Moats Residence)
1964
1/16
Armorel Kamins (Laverne Fortin Residence)
1966
1/17
Roger Richert (Robert Richert Residence)
undated
1/18
Marshall Perrow (Lorne McKendry Residence)
undated
1/19
James Halverson (Will Chausse Residence)
undated
1/20
Ralph Anderson (Frank Granat Residence)
undated
1/21
Charles Schiff (Anna Berg Residence)
undated
1/22
Bob Ross And Harry Nordquist (Clyde MacDonald Residence)
undated
1/23
John Bryant (Ed Watson Residence)
undated
1/24
Lawrence and Hagen (Hugh Doney Residence)
undated
1/25
John Ridley (Fred Stockfleth Residence)
undated
1/26
John Ridley (Howard Kroehl Residence)
undated
1/27
Blaine McCool (Robert Blancher Residence)
undated
1/28
Kenneth Keeler (Robert B. Hildegrand Residence)
undated
1/29
David Cahill (Frederick H. Maguire Residence)
undated
1/30
Ridenour and Cochran (Floyd Olson Residence)
undated
1/31
John Morse and Associates (W. W. Sutherland Residence)
undated
1/32
Ed Cushman (Bergman Residence)
undated
1/33
Milton Stricker (A.H. Phillips Residence)
undated
1/34
Kinsey Vacation Home
undated
1/35
Robert Hugh Ross (General Architectural Work)
1959
1/36
Paul Siegel (General Architectural Work)
undated

Series 2:  Subject SeriesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/1
American Institute of Architects, Inc. (AIA)
1953-1963
2/2
American Institute of Interior Designers (AID)
1963
2/3
American Institute of Interior Designers (AID)
1963
2/4
Decoration Design Show
1963
2/5
Home of the Month
1960-1964
2/6
European and Far East Tours
1963
2/7
John Clements Press Releases
1940
2/8
Real Estate
undated

Series 3:  WritingsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/9
Drafts
1963
2/10
Art Museum Speech
undated

Series 4:  CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/11
Larry Anderson
1962-1963
2/12
Katarina Backgren (Svensk-Form Design Centre)
1963
2/13
Leed Carmean
undated
2/14
Ladies Home Journal
1962-1963
2/15
Magna Design Inc.
1968
2/16
Harry Martin (New Homes Guide)
1962-1963
2/17
Yoshiko Mishima (The Japan Architect)
1961
2/18
Seattle Times
1960-1962
2/19
John Lewis Stage (Holiday)
1963
2/20
R.W. Young
1941-1948
2/21
Miscellaneous
1942-1963

Series 5:  Biographical FeaturesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/1
Biographic Features
2014, undated
3/2
Publicizing Modern Homes by David A. Rash
undated
3/3
Drawings and designs by Margery Phillips
1939

Series 6:  The Fashion GroupReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/4
By-Laws
1959
3/5
Manual
undated
3/6
Membership Roster
1960-1962
3/7
Correspondence
1959-1962
3/8
Meeting Minutes
1959-1961
3/9
"Fashions in Silk" (Japanese Show)
1959
3/10
"Fashions Brittanica" (British Show)
1960
3/11
"Career Course"
1960
3/12
"Fashions in Design" (Annual Show)
1959-1960
3/13
Newsletters and bulletins
1960-1962
3/14
Ephemera
1960-1961
3/15
Photographs and images
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architects--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Architecture--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Dwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Fashion--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Phillips, Margery, 1916-2014--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Fashion Group (Seattle, Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Ephemera
  • Personal correspondence
  • Photographs
  • Records (Documents)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)