John F. Doellard, his wife Dorothea, and their son Frank immigrated from Riga, then part of Russia, to Roslyn, a mining town in Washington Territory, in 1886. Frank worked in construction of mines for the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1888 Johanna Mertins and her mother immigrated to Roslyn from East Prussia. Shortly after arrival she married Frank in Ellensburg in 1888. They had two children, Henry and Cora, and the family attended the Baptist and Presbyterian churches in town. John and Dorothea both died in Roslyn in 1891. Frank anglicized the family name to “Dollart” and received naturalization papers in 1896. The family moved to Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood in 1907, where Henry and Cora attended school at the local public schools. Cora participated in the Alaska-Yukon-Exposition in 1909 and worked as a stenographer upon graduation from high school. She married Einar G. Gustafson in 1925, though the couple split by 1935. Henry was enlisted in the army during World War I as part of the Army of Occupation in Germany, and saw action at the Battle of Soissons, part of the Second Battle of the Marne, in France. When he returned to Seattle he worked for Seattle Municipal Railyard, Puget Sound Power & Light, and Seattle Transit. He married Louise I. in 1928, though the couple was no longer together after 1942. Henry fluctuated in the spelling of his surname, sometimes appearing in records as “Dollert” rather than “Dollart”. Frank died in 1932, and Johanna died in 1943. Henry registered for the fourth draft of World War II, though he never enlisted. He died in 1963 and Cora died in 1974. The family is buried together in Seattle at the Mt. Pleasant cemetery in Upper Queen Anne, near Seattle Pacific University.
The collection is comprised of photo albums, documents, and large/oversized photographs and portraits. The captions for each photograph in the albums were handwritten by the donor, Cora Dollart. There are both photographs and documents in which a person is identified, but the relation to the Dollart family could not be determined, whether they were relatives or family friends.
The first album has a red velvet cover and contains mainly cabinet cards. This album contains photographs of Johanna Dollart’s mother and brother, as well as photographs of Frank Dollart. The album documents Frank and Johanna’s growing family in Roslyn and includes photographs of Henry F. Dollart in uniform for World War I, and friends from both Roslyn and Riga.
The second album was a Christmas gift from 1906, with a padded cover depicting children playing. It was created to hold cabinet cards, with space in the back few pages for carte-de-visites. The photographs in this album are often duplicates of the photos found in the first album. The carte-de-visites are not duplicates, however, but are actually tintypes depicting Johanna Dollart (Mertins at the time of the photo) before she moved to Roslyn, and photos of Frank Dollart in St. Paul, Minnesota prior to moving to Roslyn.
In addition to the two photo albums, there is a sleeve containing six “gem-sized” tintypes, measuring ¾”x1” of Johanna Dollart, Mertins at the time, taken in Riga in 1887. There is also a tintype of Frank Dollart measuring 1”x2” taken in Riga in 1886.
The document collection is expansive, spanning several generations from the 19th century through the 20th century. Many of the older documents are in German and/or Russian, some coming from the German Consulate in Riga. The collection includes government documents such as birth certificates, certificates of baptism, and naturalization papers, as well as household documents such as bills, ads, and small books. Materials also include greeting cards and letters to Frank and Johanna Dollart, as well as Sunday school records, Henry and Cora Dollart’s school report cards from both Roslyn and Seattle, and Cora’s artwork from school. Memorabilia from Henry Dollart’s service in World War I, including discharge papers and a veteran’s card, are also part of the collection.
Germans have lived in the Baltic countries for centuries. In medieval times the first Germans arrived in what is now Latvia as Crusaders and missionaries. Merchants predictably followed, and settled in Riga. At the time, Germany was quickly becoming overpopulated. Families with more than two sons lacked enough land to leave an inheritance to all of their sons, so these “third sons” sought lands in Eastern Europe. German became the official language, though the Germans were a minority. They enjoyed privileged positions in government and made up the nobility, eventually making up over 40% of Riga’s population. The Baltic Germans enjoyed this status until the 1880’s, when “Russification” reforms began in earnest. Russian replaced German as the official language, and Germans lost their favored positions and privileges. They faced enmity on both sides, from Russians because they were not Russian enough, and also from local nationalist groups that were formed.
Surveyors for the Northern Pacific Railroad found coal deposits in what is now the town of Roslyn in 1886. Coal was a necessity to fuel the locomotives as the railroad pushed to complete the line through the Cascades to Seattle. Miners were brought in and the first coal was shipped out in 1886. In 1884 a spur line linked Seattle to the Northern Pacific, accelerating the growth of the city.
View selections from the collection in
Arranged in three series:
View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
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.
Dollart Family papers, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Gift of Cora Dollart, 1972.
The family papers in the collection were brought together from different boxes in the Manuscript Collection and arranged chronologically by family member.
A number of cookbooks received with the donation are housed separately in the Sophie Frye Bass Library's Ephemera Collection.
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.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
The photo collection is made up of two photo albums, a sleeve of tintypes, an oversized loose photograph, and framed portraits and paintings.
Justine was the mother of Johanna Dollart. Born September 10, 1829 in Permauern, East Prussia, Germany. Died in Roslavl, Russia on June 4, 1904.
Friedrich (1862-1930) was the brother of Johanna Dollart. Roslyn, Washington.
Frank was born on December 21, 1857 in Tauroggen, Russia and died on June 6, 1932 in Seattle, Washington. Supported outside construction for the Northern Pacific from 1886-1907. Father of Cora and Henry.
Roslyn, Washington, territorial days.
Henry was born in Roslyn, Washington
veteran of World War I-116th Signal Battalion #308 Army of Occupation-Germany 1919
Two photographs together
To "Herr and Frau Luhs", postcard message written in German
Six "gem-sized" (3/4"x1") tintypes of Johanna Dollart taken in 1887 and one of Frank Dollart taken in 1886 (1"x2")
Resident of Washington Territory since 1886.
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.4
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.6
Henry was born in Roslyn, Washington and died in 1963
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.8
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.9
Cora is age 4 in this photograph.
The white leg o'mutton dress worn by Cora J. Dollart in this photo was part of the donation and is held by the Collections department.
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.10.
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.11
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.12
Two photographs in one
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.13
One is in the upper left corner.
Justine Mertins (1829-1904) was the mother of Johanna (Mrs. Frank Dollart) and grandmother of Henry F. and Cora J. Dollart.
Perhaps friends of Frank Dollart, probably taken in St. Paul, Minnesota
Perhaps friends of Frank Dollart, probably taken in St. Paul, Minnesota
Duplicate of 1972.5567.125.13 and 1972.5567.126.14
The portraits are housed in the Collections Department
Housed in the Collections Department
Housed in the Collections Department
Housed in the Collections Department
Housed in the Collections Department
Housed in the Collections Department
Housed in the Collections Department
Housed in the Collections Department
Housed in the Collections Department
Family documents spanning the 19th and 20th century. Documents include both government documents and household documents. Though most are in English, some are also in German, Russian, and French.
Includes receipts, bills, an engagement book, and a miniature calendar.
A children's book belonging to Cora Dollart.
Report cards from schools in Roslyn and Seattle.
Schoolwork includes both art and reports.
A free book given to brides. It is comprised of advertisements, recipes, and tips on housekeeping, cooking, and etiquette.
A free book of advertisements and a section dedicated to all aspects of building a house, including plumbing, roofing, architecture, gardens, and interior design. The second section focuses on the home keeper and provides recipes and tips on cooking, cleaning, and first aid.
Duplicate copy at 1972.5567.144
German devotional book filled with prayers, psalms, devotional readings, and hymns.