John S. Detlie papers, 1945-1992
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Detlie, John S. (John Stewart), 1908-2005
- Title
- John S. Detlie papers
- Dates
- 1945-1992 (inclusive)19451992
- Quantity
- 5.98 cubic feet (3 boxes, 2 oversize folders, 2 oversize packages and 1 vertical file)
- Collection Number
- 5479
- Summary
- Papers of John Detlie, architect, painter, and movie set designer
- Repository
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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
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Open to all users.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
John Stewart Detlie was an architect, painter, movie set designer, and arts leader in Seattle in the 1950s. He was born December 23, 1908 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and died November 30, 2005, in La Quinta, California, of lung cancer.
Detlie earned a BA in Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in 1932 and a Masters in 1933. After graduation he moved to Hollywood to work in the movie industry. In 1940 he was nominated for an Academy Award for his work as production designer on the film Bitter Sweet, starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. He left Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios in 1942 to manage the Boeing camouflage project in Seattle as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Corps of Engineers. He subsequently worked with several Seattle based architectural firms, including Detlie & Peck, in Seattle.
Mr. Detlie was a pioneer in the Seattle arts movement in the 1950s. He was a member of the Beer and Culture Society, a small group of academics, architects, and artists who later formed Allied Arts of Seattle, serving as its first president. The group pressured the Seattle City Council to create a Municipal Arts Commission, which laid the groundwork for building the Seattle Center and hosting the 1962 World's Fair.
Mr. Detlie designed a number of Seattle buildings, including Children's Orthopedic Hospital, several University of Washington buildings, and Temple De Hirsch. Detlie also wrote and lectured on religious architecture and was a painter.
Mr. Detlie and his second wife, Virginia Crowell, whom he married in 1946, left Seattle in 1960 after the death of their 3-year-old son, Christopher. Detlie went on to become a noted architect in Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Honolulu, before retiring near Palm Springs in 1974. His first marriage (1940-1943), to the film actress Veronica Lake, ended in divorce.
Content Description
Includes clippings, correspondence, ephemera, and two scrapbooks documenting Detlie's architectural career and involvement in Allied Arts and related organizations. Accompanied by one large original drawing of the Fairytale mural at Seattle Children's Orthopedic Hospital; a large rendering of the interior of Temple De Hirsch; mounted drawings of features of Temple De Hirsch; and presentation boards for various Detlie architectural commissions. Second accession consists of Allied Arts of Seattle membership rosters, minutes, and proposals.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries
Preferred Citation
John Detlie papers, 5479, Special Collections Division, University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Arranged in two accessions:
- Accession No. 5479-001, John S. Detlie papers, 1945-1992
- Accession No. 5479-002, John S. Detlie papers, 1954-1956
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Accession No. 5479-001: John S. Detlie papers, 1945-1992
5.95 cubic feet (3 boxes, 2 oversize folders and 2 oversize packages)Scope and Content: Clippings, correspondence, ephemera, scrapbooks documenting Detlie's architectural career and involvement in Allied Arts of Seattle. Proposals, drawings and presentation boards for Temple De Hirsch, Children's Orthopedic Hospital and other Detlie designs, 1945-1992.
Physical/Technical Access: Special Media: Photograph (prints) Painting
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users
Special Media: Photograph (prints) Painting
Restrictions on Use: Undetermined
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Description: Biographical clippingsDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Photograph of DetlieDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Allied Arts
Scope and Content: Includes clippings, correspondence, and meeting minutes.
Dates: 1954-1960; 1980-1981Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001 -
Description: Municipal Arts Commission, Seattle
Scope and Content: Includes clippings, annual reports, and proposal.
Dates: 1959; 1983; undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001 -
Description: Washington State Arts Council
Scope and Content: Includes meeting minutes and rosters.
Dates: 1959Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001 -
Description: United States Engineers, Seattle District1 photographDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Boeing camouflage; later clippingsDates: 1987-1990Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Children's Orthopedic HospitalDates: 1985Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Detlie and Peck, Seattle Aquarium proposalDates: 1959Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Temple De Hirsch clippings, correspondence, and photographsIncludes 12 8x10 black and white photographic printsDates: 1961; 1976; undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Religious commissionsDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Design for baptismal font (unidentified)Dates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Structural design specs/lateral forceDates: 1959; undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Architectural recordDates: 1954Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: "The creative art of architecture", speech to AASA conventionDates: 1959Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: University of Pennsylvania alumniDates: 1979Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: MembershipsDates: 1954-1955Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: University of California Los Angeles Arts Special Collection; list of works donated toDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Art exhibition-religious artDates: 1991-1992Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Correspondence: Ewen Dingwall to Maxine Cushing GrayDates: 1970Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Correspondence: Mrs. J. Glen ListonDates: 1945Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: ClippingsDates: 1949-1960Container: Box 1, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Scrapbooks of Detlie's architectural work2 scrapbooks of photographs and clippings
Physical/Technical Access: One scrapbook is coming apart and has several loose pages
Dates: 1948-1954; undatedContainer: Box:oversize 2, Accession 5479-001 -
Description: Children's Orthopedic Hospital: clipping1 large matted photocopy
Scope and Content: Clipping from Seattle Post-Intelligencerregarding the children's mural.
Dates: 1953Container: Box:oversize 3, Accession 5479-001 -
Description: Children's Orthopedic Hospital: photographs1 large matte board with mounted photographsIncludes 3 black and white 6x10 inch photographs of the exterior, 1 color 8x10 inch photograph of the interior mural, and 3 color 3x5 inch photographs of the interior chapelDates: undatedContainer: Folder:oversize 4, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Original painting of the Children's Orthopedic Hospital fairytale mural1 3x5 foot framed painting
Physical/Technical Access: Special transport needed due to large size.
Dates: 1953Container: Package:oversize 5, Accession 5479-001 -
Description: Gaffney's Lake Wilderness Lodge presentation board2 8x10 inch black and white photographs1 4x10 inch photograph1 4x16 inch color drawingDates: 1950Container: Folder:oversize 4, Accession 5479-001
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Description: St. Augustine-By-The-Sea Church: drawing of exterior of the church.1 10x14 inch mounted color photocopyDates: undatedContainer: Box:oversize 3, Accession 5479-001
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Description: St. Augustine-By-The-Sea Church: interior and exterior photographs1 large matte board with mounted photographs11 3x5 inch color photographic prints1 11x14 inch color photograph of a drawingDates: undatedContainer: Folder:oversize 4, Accession 5479-001
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Description: St. Augustine-By-The-Sea Church: drawing of the altar1 35x40 inch drawingDates: undatedContainer: Folder:oversize 7, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Temple De Hirsch: drawings and photograph3 drawings1 10x14 inch color photograph
Scope and Content: Drawing subjects include an altar piece, menorrah, and lighting fixture; photograph shows the interior of the temple.
Dates: 1960; undatedContainer: Box:oversize 3, Accession 5479-001 -
Description: Temple De Hirsch: interior and exterior photographs2 large matte boards with mounted photographs3 7x11 inch black and white2 6x10 inch black and white4 4x5 inch color1 9x12 inch colorDates: undatedContainer: Folder:oversize 4, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Temple De Hirsch: drawings of lighting fixtures and other architectural details2 drawingsDates: 1960Container: Folder:oversize 7, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Temple De Hirsch: painting of interior1 29x41 inch framed watercolor painting
Physical/Technical Access: Special transport needed due to large size.
Dates: 1958Container: Package:oversize 6, Accession 5479-001
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Description: Accession No. 5479-002: John S. Detlie papers, 1954-19561 folder
Scope and Content: Membership rosters, agendas, proposals and meeting minutes for Allied Arts Seattle.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Processing Info: Minimally processed.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Architects--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Artists--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Children--Hospitals--Washington (State)--Seattle--Designs and plans
- Temples--Washington (State)--Seattle--Designs and plans
Personal Names
- Detlie, John S. (John Stewart), 1908-2005--Archives
Corporate Names
- Allied Arts of Seattle, Inc
- Children's Orthopedic Hospital (Seattle, Wash.)
- Seattle (Wash.). Municipal Art Commission
- Seattle Aquarium
- Temple de Hirsch (Seattle, Wash.)
- United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Seattle District
Geographical Names
- Lake Wilderness (Wash.)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
