Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.mohai.org
1981.7328
Brand family
Brand family papers
circa 1880-1965
circa 1880-1910
8 boxes
3.5 cubic feet
Photographs, hotel registers, books, sheet music and other materials related to
the Brand family, Swedish immigrants that came to Seattle in 1883
13B.1.5, 9-10
1a.3.16 (oversize photos)
1a.4 (oversize certificate) Collection materials are in
English.
Biographical Note
August (circa 1862-1950) and Anna Brand (1869-1952), natives of Sweden, came to the United States in 1883.
August (born August Niklasson) cam from Kvill, on Sweden's West Coast, and Anna's family, the Erlandssens, came from
Kalmar and nearby Backebo, in the region of Smaland on Sweden's east side. They were married 1893, and in 1903 they
bought a hotel at the corner of Sixth Avenue and James Street The hotel, built around 1880, had previously been known
as The Western and The Michigan; Mr. Brand renamed it the Hotel Kalmar, after his wife's home in Sweden. The Kalmar
served mostly working men, offering rooms by the day, week, and month. After August and Anna passed away in the early
1950s, the hotel was administered by their children, Viola and Leonard. It was under their watch that the Kalmar was
demolished in 1962, to clear space for Interstate 5.
The Brands had three children: Garfield (circa 1894-1903), Viola (circa 1895-1981), and Leonard (circa
1902-1969). In 1900, the children's cousin Frida (Gottfrida) Gabrielson (b. 1896) came to live with them in Seattle;
she was roughly the same age as Viola.
This collection consists largely of loose photographs (approximately 140), some identified and dated but
others unidentified. The photos come in different formats—mounted, photo booth, tintype, glass-encased, and postcard.
Half of the photos are stamped; half of these are from Seattle, and half are from Sweden (mostly Kalmar and Stockholm).
Most are family portraits, but there are also images of rural Sweden and Seattle. In 1900, August and Anna Brand made a
visit to Sweden, and many of the photos were taken at that time. August's younger brother Anders (Andrew) Brand and
their sister Beata and her son Carl accompanied them on their return to the United States. The collection also includes
family documents (such as baptismal certificates), hotel registers, books, and sheet music. Also included are newspaper
articles from the 1960s regarding the Kalmar's imminent demolition. The collection conveys a sense of the Brand
family's business affairs as well as their recreational activities; they appear pious, close-knit, and well-connected
to their Swedish roots.
A wealth of additional information about the family was provided by a relative, Gunilla Rydberg of Habo,
Sweden, after initial publication of the finding aid. The finding aid was edited to reflect this new material.
View selections from the collection in
MOHAI's online collections.
Arranged in series:
- Photographs
- Family papers
- Ephemera
- Hotel Kalmar registers
- Books
- Sheet music
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.
Brand Family Papers, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Gift of Marion Pommer; received in 1981.
Duplicate and damaged materials were removed from the collection during processing.
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.
Brand, Anna, ca.1870-1952
Brand, August, ca. 1863-1950
Brand, Garfield, ca. 1894-1903
Brand, Leonard, ca. 1902-1969
Brand, Viola, ca. 1895-1981
Hotel Kalmar
Sweden
United States--Washington
(State)--Seattle
Hotels--Washington (State)--Seattle
Immigrants--Swedish--Washington (State)--Seattle
Seattle
Home and Family
City and Town Life
Scandinavian Americans
Photographs
Photographs
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Photographs
circa 1893-1957
Anna and August Brand
circa 1893-1930
.1
1/1
Wedding photograph
circa 1893
3 copies
Glass-encased duplicate in Box 2
Oversize duplicate in oversize box L1.
.2
1/1
Formal portrait
circa 1895
.3
1/1
Anna holding child
circa 1896
Tintype
.4
1/1
Anna with two children, possibly Viola and a cousin
circa 1897
.5
1/1
August and Anna, likely with Garfield and Viola
circa 1899
.6
1/1
August and Anna, likely with Garfield and Viola
circa 1899
Glass-encased duplicated in Box 2
.7
1/1
August and Anna, likely with Leonard
circa 1909
.8
1/1
August and Anna outdoors with Leonard
circa 1920
.9
1/1
August and Anna outside
circa 1930
Brand children
circa 1877-1930
.10
1/2
Probably Garfield and a female cousin
circa 1897
.11
1/2
Probably Garfield and Viola
circa 1899
.12
1/2
Probably Frida, Garfield and Viola (left to right)
circa 1901
.13
1/2
Probably Garfield and Viola
circa 1901
.14
1/2
Probably Garfield and Viola
circa 1901
Glass-encased duplicate in Box 2
Oversize, hand-colored duplicate in box oversize box L1
.15
1/2
Probably cousin Frida
circa 1901
.16
1/2
Cousin Frida
1907
On verso: 'Frida Gabrielson 1907'
.17
1/2
Leonard and Viola
circa 1908
.18
1/2
Leonard and other children reading a lesson
circa 1910
.19-.20
1/2
Anna with Leonard and possibly his schoolmates
circa 1910
.21
1/2
Probably Leonard and Viola
circa 1910
.22
1/2
Leonard seated
circa 1910
.23
1/2
Leonard at a desk
circa 1910
.24
1/2
Leonard seated
circa 1910
.25
1/2
Leonard standing
circa 1910
.26
1/2
Leonard
circa 1910
.27
1/2
Leonard
circa 1910
.28-.32
1/2
Probably Viola
1912
Identified family
circa 1900-1905
.33
1/3
Family portrait
1900
On verso: 'Anna Brand's- Mother- 3 Brothers- 2 sisters and their families- taken in Kalmar, Sweden
1900'
.34
1/3
August's brother Anders (Andrew)
circa 1905
Anders Brand came to the U.S. in 1900, when August and Anna Brand visited Sweden.
.35
1/3
Anders standing
circa 1905
.36
1/3
Tilda, August's cousin, in Soli
circa 1900
.37
1/3
Konrad, Anna's brother
circa 1900
.38-.39
1/3
Cajsa Maria Jonsson Erlandsson (1825-1908), Anna's mother
circa 1900
Oversize copy of .38 in oversize box L1.
.214
L1
Drawing of Gabriel Petter Erlandson (1819-1888), Anna’s
father
circa 1880
.40-.41
1/3
August's sister, Justina
circa 1900
.42
1/3
Anna's sister, Amanda
circa 1900
.43
1/3
August's aunt, Beata Matilda Chriansdottir
circa 1900
On verso: 'Anders and Dad's aunt she was married to their father's brother'
August's uncle mentioned here was Gustav Jacobsson.
.44
1/3
Anna's sister Amanda, their mother, and two other women
outdoors
circa 1900
.45
1/3
August and Anders's nephew, Karl.
circa 1900
On envelope: 'Till Tabror Anders, fran Karl° ("To Uncle Anders, from Karl")'
Unidentified portraits
undated
.46-.57
1/4
American portraits
undated
12 photographs
12 unidentified photographs, most of them from studios in Seattle; also photographs from Indiana and
Minnesota. Includes six photos of women, three photos of men, three photos of children and a photo of a married couple.
Among these, there are three tintypes; the others are mostly mounted photographs.
.58-.65
1/5
Foreign or unlabeled portraits
undated
12 photographs
This folder contains 8 unidentified photos, most of them from Sweden. Among the photographers
represented are M. Jacobson (Lysekil), E. Aug. Eckstrom (Kalmar), Karl A. Johansson (Fjallbacka), and Carl Engelholm
(Sturegatan); two of the photos are not labeled with regard to a particular studio. With the exception of three small
photo-booth photos mounted together, each photo is individually mounted.
Landscapes and domestic scenes
Seattle scenes
.66
1/6
Anna and Viola, outside with a dog
1901
On verso: 'Backyard 406-23rd Ave. 1901'
.67
1/6
A small room filled with chairs
1902
On verso: '406-23rd Ave. Sitting room taken June 1902'
.68
1/6
Leonard standing in a barbershop
circa 1932
On verso: 'do you know him-this is my place-L.B.'
.69
1/6
The Brand family (and dog) outside their home
circa 1900
On verso: 'Our home on 23rd Ave.'
Foreign or unlabeled scenes
.70
1/7a
Exterior of church in Backebo
circa 1900
Anna Brand's home church.
.71
1/7a
Rows of pews
circa 1900
.72
1/7a
Backebo church from different angle
circa 1900
.73
1/7a
Pews and the church altar
circa 1900
.74
1/7a
Pipe organ
circa 1900
.75
1/7a
Church with cornfields in foreground
circa 1900
.76
1/7a
Church surrounded by trees
circa 1900
.77
1/7a
Two large houses and a picket fence, Anna's home in
Kalmar
circa 1900
.78
1/7a
House with stone wall and dirt road, Anna's farm in
Kalmar
circa 1900
.79
1/7a
Boat in mountain lake
circa 1900
.80
1/7a
House in trees and family posing
circa 1900
.81
1/7a
Family in front of Anna's home in Kalmar
circa 1900
.82
1/7a
Three houses, a shed, a ladder, stone wall and large lawn
circa 1900
.83
1/7a
Cabins in a forest
circa 1900
.84
1/7a
Grave marker for Gabriel Peter Erlandsson and Cajsa Maria Erlandsson,
probably Anna's parents
circa 1900
.85
1/7a
Close-up of Erlandsson grave marker
circa 1900
.86
1/7a
Grave marker for Johan Johansson and Stina-Kajsa Johansson, probably
Anna's relatives
circa 1900
.87
1/7b
Houses and trees
circa 1900
.88
1/7b
Three silhouettes and a picket fence
circa 1900
.89
1/7b
Town square with a fountain
circa 1900
.90
1/7b
Family posing with horse and wagon by barn
circa 1900
.91
1/7b
House and barn with horse grazing
circa 1900
.92
1/7b
Houses and barn from a distance
circa 1900
.93
1/7b
Farmhouses and fields
circa 1900
.94
1/7b
Farmhouses and grass
circa 1900
.95
1/7b
Family posing with farmhouses and stone walls
circa 1900
.96
1/7b
Family posing in the trees
circa 1900
.97
1/7b
Grassy fields and a farmhouse
circa 1900
.98
1/7b
Three children outside
circa 1900
.99
1/7b
Cristensen family and horse in front of house
circa 1900
On verso: 'Nestor Cristensen'
Nestor Cristensen's was married to August Brand's sister Anna; the family lived in Kleva,
Kvilleparish.
.100
1/7b
Men posing at bar
circa 1900
.101
1/7b
Sunrise campground at Mount Rainier
circa 1900
.102
1/7b
Two women outside a cottage
circa 1900
On verso: 'Anders Brand'
This is probably August's mother Abela and her sister Justina at Hogen.
.103
1/7b
Teacher and student in a parlor
undated
On verso: 'Ecklund'
Glass-encased photographs
.1
2/1
August and Anna's wedding photograph
circa 1893
Duplicate in Box 1, Folder 1.
.6
2/1
August and Anna, likely with Garfield and Viola
circa 1899
Duplicate in Box 1, Folder 1.
.14
2/1
Probably Garfield and Viola
circa 1901
Duplicate in Box 1, Folder 2.
.105
2/1
Gabriel Petter Erlandson (1819-1888) and Cajsa Maria Jonsson Erlandsson
(1825-1908), Anna's parents.
circa 1880
.106
2/1
August Brand at 19
circa 1882
.107
2/1
Anna Brand at 16
circa 1885
.108
2/1
Probably Anna Brand
circa 1895
.109
2/1
August Brand
circa 1895
.110
2/1
Anders Brand at 19
circa 1900
.111
2/1
Probably Anders Brand
circa 1910
.112
2/1
August, Anna, Viola and Leonard
circa 1912
Photo booth photographs
1/8
Album
.104
undated
This folder contains a leather-bound photo album filled with photo booth photos. August, Anna, Viola
and Leonard are all present, but there are many subjects that remain unidentified. In contrast to most of the
collection, these photos showcase a more playful side.
3/1
Loose photographs
.113-133
This folder contains photo booth photos (some still in strips) similar to the ones found in the album
above. August, Anna, Viola, Leonard, Garfield and Anders are represented. However, like the leather-bound album, there
are unidentified individuals as well. Many of the images feature just August and Anna together.
Hotel Kalmar
circa 1905
This folder contains images of the Kalmar's exterior, none of which differ greatly from another. Two of
the prints are mounted. The smallest image is roughly 3" x 5", but most are closer to 8.5" x 11". In the most
interesting photo, a streetcar is passing the front of the hotel.
Hotel Kalmar
.134-.140
3/2
circa 1905
Miscellaneous
3/6
.174
Looking east towards First Hill neighborhood
1957
On verso: 'Robt. I. Stanley, 1513 Dorothy Place, Seattle, Washington.'
3/6
.175
Students of the Edgren School of Music
1908
Family papers
.167
3/5
Garfield's baptismal certificate
1893
.168
3/5
Viola's baptismal certificate
1896
.213
1
Leonard's baptismal certificate
1902
.169
3/5
Abstract of title to lots 1 and 4 in Block 45 of Terry's First Addition
to Seattle (location of the Kalmar)
1903
.170
3/5
Death notice for Gabriel Peter Erlandsson (Anna's father, born
1819)
1888
.171
3/5
Death notice for Cajsa Maria Jonsson (Anna's mother, born
1825)
1908
.172
3/5
$150 scholarship to Moler Barber College, awarded to Leonard
Brand
1929
.173
3/5
Pamphlet: “The Law of Naturalization Made Easy to Understand”
1908
Ephemera
.141-.151
3/3
Newspaper articles about the Hotel Kalmar
circa 1955-1963
This folder contains newspaper articles directly or indirectly concerning the Kalmar. Almost all the
subject matter comes from the
Seattle Times. The articles are clustered around the hotel's demolition date
in the early 1960s. Some pieces feature the hotel exclusively, while others discuss its place among historic buildings
facing demolition. Viola and Leonard Brand are interviewed in some pieces. With the exception of one photocopy, the
pieces are all original newsprint.
.152
3/4
Invitation to the wedding of Ethel Jean Evans and Rolla L.
Thorsdale
circa 1912
.153
3/4
Miniature booklet from A. Itkin (fur retailer); used to track
expenses
circa 1930
.154
3/4
Swedish Christmas card with image of child, lock and key
circa 1889
.155
3/4
Blank Christmas postcard, embossed
undated
.156
3/4
Christmas card addressed to Mrs. Brand
undated
.157
3/4
Folding triptych card with flowers and lattice
undated
.163
3/4
Seattle streetcar ticket
undated
.164
3/4
Bill of sale for August Brand's purchases at Lake Union Furniture
Manufacturing Co.
1893
.165
3/4
Bill of sale from M. Seller & Co. (cutlery, crockery, glassware,
lamps, etc.)
1893
.166
3/4
Bill of sale for August Brand's purchases at Z.C. Miles & Co.
(stoves, ranges, ironware)
1893
Hotel Kalmar registers
1903-1960
2 registers
This folder contains two registers from the hotel, Room Register No. 1 (1903-1914) and Room Register No. 2
(1914-1960). Each page features five columns: date, room, name, residence, and time of arrival. Newspaper articles
about the Kalmar (duplicated in Box 3, Folder 3) are taped inside the front cover of both registers. The back of Room
Register No. 1 contains notes regarding forwarding addresses and missed calls for the hotel's tenants.
The folder also contains a small business card listing the hotel's location and its numerous amenities
('double beds, dresser, wash stand, wardrobe, rockers, etc.'). The hotel is described as being 'strictly modern' with
'[a]ll the modern improvements.' It bills itself as 'the scenic hotel of Seattle.'
.176-.178
4
Hotel Kalmar registers
1903-1960
Books
Cookbooks
.158
3/4
Puddings and Dainty Desserts
circa 1886
.159
3/4
Cake Secrets, by Igleheart's
circa 1925
.160
3/4
Delicious Recipes Waffle-ized
circa 1922
.161
3/4
Dainty Desserts for Dainty People
circa 1896
.162
3/4
Cake Secrets, by Igleheart's
circa 1928
Family books in Swedish
.179
5
Doktor Mårten Luther's Lilla Katekes
1878
Inside cover: 'Anna Rugutta Erlandsson''
.180
5
Biblisk Historia För Hemmet Och Skolan
1887
.181
5
Undervisning i Christendomsfunsfaven
1887
.182
5
Biblisk Historia
1877
.183
5
C.T. Odhners Lärobok i Fäderneslandets Historia
1881
.184
5
Dokt. Mårt. Luthers Lilla Katekes
1881
Inside cover: 'August Brand'
.185
5
Barnens Andra Bok För Skolan Och Hemmet
1890
.186
5
Bedergwekande Ciåla-ro
1855
.187
5
Doktor Mårten Luther's Lilla Katekes
1881
Inside cover: 'Carl Niklasson' (probably August's brother)
.188
5
Läsebok för Småskolan
1880
.189
5
ABC eller Barnens Första Bok För Skolan Och Hemmet
undated
.190
5
ABC eller Barnens Första Bok För Skolan Och Hemmet
1910
Inside cover: "Leonardt Brand, Hotel Kalmar, Seattle, Wa 1910'
.191
5
Svensk-Amerikansk Kokbok
1890
Inside cover: 'Mrs. Annie Erlandsson, Seattle, Wash.'
.192
5
Gustafva Björklunds Kokbok För Husmödrar
1893
.193
5
Nya Testamentet
1893
.194
5
Una Testamentet
1870
.195
6
Una Testamentet: Normalupplaga
1883
.196
6
Den Swenska Psalm-Boken af Konungen
1905
.197
6
Biblia eller Den Heliga Skrift
1879
.198
6
Doktor Martin Luthers Huspostilla
1899
.199
6
Predikningar, Skriftermål och Confirmationstal
1883
Family books in English
.200
7
Browning, Robert.
Poems of Robert Browning, Selected by the Author. New York: A.L. Burt
Co., no date given.
undated
Inside cover: 'To Violet Brand, with best wishes from Ruth Madsen.'
.201
7
Eliot, George.
Silas Marner. Philadelphia: Henry Altemus Co., no date given.
circa 1910
Inside cover: 'Viola Brand, from Ruth Madsen, Xmas-1910'
.202
7
Gregg, John Robert.
Gregg Shorthand: A Light Line Phonography for the Million. New York: The
Gregg Publishing Co., 1902
1902
.203
7
Hamilton, Mona.
Allspice. San Francisco: Alex Nicoll Printing Co., 1925.
1925
Inside cover: 'Mrs. Mona Hamilton worked as a welder in the shipyard during World War I. She stayed
at our Hotel (Kalmar) while working in Seattle. A very interesting person. -Viola Brand';
'Yours Sincerely, Mona Hamilton (signature), 1927.';
Two newspaper articles about Mona Hamilton's cross-country hitchhiking tours.
.204
7
Hurst and Company, eds.
Daily Food for Christians. New York: Hurst and Co., no date given.
circa 1909
Inside cover: 'With love from Mrs. Madow, for Mrs. Aug. Brand, Dec. 25-1909.'
.205
7
McGranahan, James, Ira D. Sankey, and George C. Stebbins.
Sacred Songs Nos. 1 & 2. New York: The Biglow & Main Co.,
1896
1896
.206
7
Sankey, I. Allan, ed.
Hallowed Hymns, New and Old. New York: The Biglow & Main Co.,
1909
1909
.207
7
Tennyson, Alfred.
The Complete Poetical Works of Alfred Tennyson. New York: Hurst and Co.,
no date given.
circa 1911
Inside cover: 'Viola Brand, From Ruth Madsen, Xmas 1911.'
.208
7
West & Wheeler, Inc., eds.
Seattle, U.S.A. Seattle: West & Wheeler, Inc., 1906
1906
.209
7
Wise, William H. and Company, eds.
Battle Stations! Your Navy in Action. New York: Wm. H. Wise and Co.,
1946‘
1946
.210
7
Wright, F.E., ed.
Songs That Never Grow Old. New York: Syndicate Publishing Co.,
1913
1913
Sheet music
.211
8/1
Pedagogical sheet music
undated
24 items
This folder contains the Brand family's pedagogical sheet music. Many of the items are from the
Schirmer's Library collection; titles in this series include
Mozart: Nineteen Sonatas for the Piano,
Clementi Sonatinas and
Haydn Sonatas. There are also many technical books by the Austrian pianist
Carl Czerny, with titles like
Practical Finger Exercises and
The School of Velocity. Most of the sheet music is for piano, but there are
some booklets dedicated to mandolin, banjo, and guitar, as well. Some of the booklets are thin, but many are around 100
pages long.
.212
8/2
Other sheet music
undated
87 items
This folder is comprised almost entirely of popular sheet music; there are, however, some compilations
of duets, sacred songs, and other more traditional melodies. Titles include
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (Kenbrovin & Kellette),
That Wonderful Mother of Mine (Clyde Hager and Walter Goodwin),
She Sang “Aloha” to Me (Joseph B. Carey), and many more. The 'Century
Edition' collection is well represented with titles like
Drawing Room Favorites, Choice Duets for the Piano, and
Favorite Compositions for the Piano. Most of the cover art is fairly
remarkable, especially when juxtaposed with the formal and drab covers in the pedagogical folder. Most of the booklets
are very thin (3-5 pages).