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Weed Family Papers, 1896-1965

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Weed Family
Title
Weed Family Papers
Dates
1896-1965 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 boxes plus 1 oversize folder, (.84 cubic feet)
Collection Number
2000.3 (accession)
Summary
Photographs, papers and ephemera related to Melvin A. Weed, owner of Weed's Pharmacy in Seattle, and the Weed family
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

Melvin Albert (Bert) Weed was born on April 3, 1882 in Jackson, Iowa to Charles Albert and Gertrude Tyler Weed. The Weed family relocated to Seattle around 1890. After finishing high school in 1898, Melvin Weed worked as a clerk at the Bartell Drug Company before enrolling in the University of Washington’s School of Pharmacy. Weed completed the two-year program and graduated with a Ph.G. (Graduate in Pharmacy) degree in 1902. Weed first partnered with businessman Albert G. Keene at the Lake Washington Pharmacy, renamed Keene & Weed, and later as the sole proprietor of Weed's Pharmacy, which he ran at 2601 Jackson Street in Seattle until his retirement in 1958.

In 1906, Melvin Weed married Mamie Luella Keene (1881-1970), the daughter of his business partner. A daughter, Luell Weed, was born to the couple in 1911.

The Weed family was well known in the Seattle community thanks to Melvin Weed’s involvement and membership in many community associations, including the Freemasons, the Nile Temple, and the Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a member of the Washington Pharmaceutical Association. As the numerous documents and letters pertaining to these organizations show, Melvin was heavily involved in his local chapters. Besides these national organizations, Weed remained involved with his Seattle High School Cadet association, attending every reunion.

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Content Description

Collection of materials concerning the Weed family, particularly Melvin Weed. Newsletters, programs, and personal letters detail Weed's involvement with the local chapters of organizations including the Freemasons, the Nile Temple, and the Sons of the American Revolution, as well as with the Washington State Pharmaceutical Association. The collection also include clippings, papers and a scrapbook about Seattle High School Cadet reunions. Student notebooks belonging to Melvin Weed contain chemistry and toxicology notes from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. Photographs depict Melvin, Mamie and Luell Weed, and Mamie Keene Weed's father Albert G. Keene. The collection also includes a typescript account of the Seattle Fire, narrated by Mamie Luella Weed.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.

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

Weed Family Papers, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in seven series:

  • Ephemera and correspondence
  • Organizations
  • Photographs
  • Seattle High School
  • Scrapbooks
  • University of Washington
  • Miscellaneous

Location of Collection

14a.4.4, 8

Location of Collection

1a.4 (oversize certificates)

Acquisition Information

Gift of Margaret M. Weed; received in 2000.

Related Materials

Collection on Weed's Pharmacy, Accession No. 1971.5098.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

  • Ephemera and correspondence

    • Description: .1: Newspaper clippings

      Folder 1 includes articles about Edwin Keene, uncle of Luella Keene Weed, and about early Seattle history

      Folder 2 includes articles about the Seattle High School Cadet Company reunion. The Company was organized in 1891 at old Seattle High School. Bert Weed was a Corporal in the 1898-1899 Cadet Corps. The cadets from three Seattle high schools held a 50th anniversary reunion in December 1953.

      Dates: 1896-1965
      Container: Box/Folder 1/1-2
      Location: Ephemera and correspondence
    • Description: .3: Correspondence

      Letter to Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Weed from Stanley R. Bray, J. Russell Bates and Albert L. Curtis, stationed at the Pacific Coast Torpedo Station (P.C.T.S.) in Keyport, Washington. Includes two photographs of the three men.

      Dates: 1918 December 9
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
      Location: Ephemera and correspondence
    • Description: .4: Invitations

      Wedding invitation to marriage of Weed's daughter Luell to Frank Donald Guthrie, 1949; and acceptance letter from the Daughters of the American Revolution for membership to Mrs. Lura Ella Kelly Keene, Mrs. Weed's mother, 1904.

      Dates: 1904; 1949
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
      Location: Ephemera and correspondence
    • Description: .5: Beer mats
      2

      Names of "M.C. Weed" and "Luell" written on back. Also written on one mat: "the Lorelei," and on the other "Ivan Frank Hofbrau."

      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Ephemera and correspondence

  • Organizations

    Materials pertaining to various organizations of which Melvin Weed was a member.

    • Description: .6: Miscellaneous

      Notices about 2nd Washington - 161st Infantry reunions; letter and blank letterhead from The Washington Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America.

      Dates: 1953-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Organizations
    • Description: .7: Freemasons -- Lafayette Lodge No. 241 of the Scottish Rite Temple

      Correspondence and ephemera. Also includes a death notice for John Henry Cowles of the Inspectors General Knights Commanders of the House of the Temple of Solomon

      Dates: 1937-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 1/7
      Location: Organizations
    • Description: .7b-c: Freemason membership certificates
      2 certificates

      Certificates for Melvin Weed and Mamie Luell Weed.

      Dates: 1918
      Container: Box:oversize 1
      Location: Organizations
    • Description: .8: Freemasons - Rainier Lodge No. 189

      Correspondence and programs. Also includes 3 photographs: 2 photographs of the Rainier Masonic Temple and 1 photograph of members wearing lodge aprons.

      Dates: 1935-1963
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Organizations
    • Description: .9: Nile Temple (Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine)

      Correspondence and ephemera. Also includes a photograph of members seated at a table.

      Dates: 1936-1961
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Organizations
    • Description: .10: Nile Temple monthly publication "Smile with Nile"
      7 issues
      Dates: 1935-1936
      Container: Box/Folder 1/10
      Location: Organizations
    • Description: .11: Sons of the American Revolution

      Correspondence and ephemera.

      Dates: 1958-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 1/11
      Location: Organizations
    • Description: .12: Washington State Pharmaceutical Association

      Correspondence; 40th Annual Convention program (1929)

      Dates: 1929; 1958-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1/12
      Location: Organizations

  • Photographs

  • Seattle High School

    • Description: .17: School bulletins
      2 items

      "Seattle School Bulletin," June 1919; The Leschi Kolah publication of the Kolah Society of Leschi School, June 1919.

      Dates: 1919 June
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Seattle High School
    • Description: .18: Seattle High School Cadets Reunions

      Correspondence and notices

      Dates: 1946-1955
      Container: Box/Folder 1/18
      Location: Seattle High School
    • Description: .19: Seattle High School Cadet reunion publication

      Book published by the Seattle High School Cadet Association. Includes photographs; historical information; chapters on organization of the cadet corps, corps officers, uniforms, equipments and manuals and other topics; and roster of Seattle High School Cadets.

      Dates: 1953
      Container: Box/Folder 1/19
      Location: Seattle High School

  • Scrapbooks

    • Description: .20: Mamie Keene Weed's scrapbook on her Seattle High School class of 1898 reunion
      Dates: 1948
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: .21: Scrapbook on Nile Shriners

      Scrapbook of clippings and ephemera from Nile Shrine events in 1936, including the 62nd council session of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, held in Seattle in July 1936.

      Dates: 1936
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: .22: Scrapbook on Seattle High School Cadet reunion
      Dates: 1955
      Container: Box/Folder 2/12
      Location: Scrapbooks

  • University of Washington

    • Description: .24: University of Washington publications

      These materials are probably dated from Luell Weed's time at the University of Washington.

      One copy of The Washington Alumnus (November 1927); two copies of the University of Washington Daily (April 1930), one copy of University of Washington Columns (November 1930) and one copy of a catalog of fraternity jewelry "the Book for Modern Greeks" (1931) belonging to Luell Weed.

      Dates: 1927-1931
      Container: Box/Folder 2/3
      Location: University of Washington
    • Description: .25: Melvin A. Weed's University of Washington Chemistry exam booklet
      Dates: 1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2/4
      Location: University of Washington
    • Description: .26: Melvin A. Weed's University of Washington Chemistry class notebook
      Dates: 1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2/5
      Location: University of Washington
    • Description: .27: Melvin A. Weed's University of Washington Toxicology class notes

      Removed from notebook

      Dates: 1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2/6
      Location: University of Washington
    • Description: .28: Melvin A. Weed's University of Washington Toxicology class notebook
      Dates: 1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2/7
      Location: University of Washington

  • Miscellaneous

    • Description: .23: Typescript account of Seattle Fire narrated by Mamie Luella Weed
      2 pages
      Dates: circa 1930-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 2/2
      Location: Miscellaneous

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Fraternal organizations--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Reunions--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Weed, M.A. (Melvin Albert), 1882-1964
  • Weed, Mamie Luella Keene, 1881-1970

Corporate Names

  • Sons of the American Revolution
  • Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America
  • Freemasons
  • Seattle High School (Seattle, Wash.)
  • University of Washington. School of Pharmacy

Geographical Names

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

Form or Genre Terms

  • Ephemera
  • Photographs
  • Scrapbooks

Finding aid prepared by Virginia Butler
2011

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

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