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.
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.
Arranged in seven series:
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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.
Weed Family Papers, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Gift of Margaret M. Weed; received in 2000.
Collection on Weed's Pharmacy, Accession No. 1971.5098.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Names of "M.C. Weed" and "Luell" written on back. Also written on one mat: "the Lorelei," and on the other "Ivan Frank Hofbrau."
Materials pertaining to various organizations of which Melvin Weed was a member.
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.
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
Certificates for Melvin Weed and Mamie Luell Weed.
Correspondence and programs. Also includes 3 photographs: 2 photographs of the Rainier Masonic Temple and 1 photograph of members wearing lodge aprons.
Correspondence and ephemera. Also includes a photograph of members seated at a table.
Correspondence and ephemera.
Correspondence; 40th Annual Convention program (1929)
A.G. Keene was Mrs. M.A. Weed's father.
Neighbors of the Weed family
Seattle, family friends, family members. Identified people in individual portraits: Nellie McFarland
(child); Mrs. Stewart Reid; pastor's wife Mrs. Reed; Lu Fuller; Fred Fuller; William Guy Riley (1909); Fred Fisher.
Also includes 2 photographs of people aboard the steamer
Framed in glass with black and gold ribbon.
Mamie Luella Keene (Mrs. M. A. Weed) in group.
"Seattle School Bulletin," June 1919; The Leschi Kolah publication of the Kolah Society of Leschi School, June 1919.
Correspondence and notices
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.
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.
These materials are probably dated from Luell Weed's time at the University of Washington.
One copy of
Removed from notebook