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Joanna Eckstein Photograph Collection, circa 1870-1952

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Eckstein, Joanna, 1903-1983
Title
Joanna Eckstein Photograph Collection
Dates
circa 1870-1952 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 box, (71 photographs and 1 scrapbook)
Collection Number
1980.7166
Summary
Photographs of members of the Eckstein, Schwabacher and Gatzert families, and a scrapbook on civic leader Nathan Eckstein.
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

Joanna Eckstein (1903-1983) was born and grew up in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Prominent patron of the arts, Eckstein was the daughter of Seattle civic leader and longtime school board member Nathan Eckstein, for whom Eckstein Middle School is named, and Mina Schwabacher Eckstein, whose family owned the Schwabacher Brothers & Company wholesale grocery store. Joanna Eckstein attended Seattle public schools T.T. Minor Elementary and Broadway High, and then studied at Goucher College. Eckstein worked briefly as a social worker for the Social Welfare League after graduating college, but the job "didn't last very long because I really wasn't interested in social work." Like her parents, Joanna was always active in civic organizations, serving as President of the Seattle Children's Home and the Seattle King County Visiting Nurse Association, and working with organizations such as United Good Neighbors, the World Affairs Council, and the Seattle Foundation.

Eckstein was best known, however, for her longtime involvement with the Seattle arts community. Eckstein succeeded her father, after his death in 1945, to serve as a board member of the Seattle Art Museum until her death in 1983; she was also on the board for Allied Arts and the Seattle Opera Association. She supported local artists and had close personal relationships with many, such as painters Mark Tobey, Kenneth Callahan and Helmi Juvonen.

Eckstein also traveled extensively, purportedly visiting all the continents, and taking a trip around the world in 1956. She often led art-related tours for Seattle Art Museum members, traveling to Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean and Mexico. During the 1950s and 1960s, Eckstein also wrote travel articles for the Seattle Times, reporting not only on art but on places and people, and such issues as the progress of post-war recovery in Europe, and German resentment over the territorial division of their country.

Joanna Eckstein died in Seattle in 1983.

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Content Description

The collection consists largely of photographs of Joanna Eckstein's parents, Seattle civic leader Nathan Eckstein and Mina Schwabacher Eckstein, and her Schwabacher relatives, including her grandfather Abraham and his brothers Louis and Sigmund, of the Schwabacher Brothers & Co. store, and their wives; and Babette Schwabacher Gatzert and Bailey Gatzert. The collection also includes a scrapbook containing photographs and clippings about Nathan Eckstein.

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Other Descriptive Information

The following describes the relationships among the individuals depicted in the collection photographs:

Joanna Eckstein was one of two daughters (with her sister Babette) of Nathan Eckstein and Mina Schwabacher Eckstein. Mina Schwabacher was a daughter of Abraham Schwabacher (circa 1838-1909) and Sarah Lehrberger (1847-?), who married in 1869. Abraham and his brothers Louis and Sigmund owned the Schwabacher Brothers wholesale grocery stores in Walla Walla, and later, Seattle. The Schwabacher brothers had a sister, Babette Schwabacher (1836-1908), who married Bailey Gatzert (1829-1893) in 1861. Gatzert became the first (and to date, only) Jewish mayor of Seattle in 1875. The Gatzerts had no children. Louis Schwabacher (1837-1900) married Belle Blum in 1877 and they had two daughters. Sigmund Schwabacher (1841-1917) married Rosa in 1971 and they had seven children, including a son, Leopold, who had a son Morton and daughter Bertha. The collection also depicts a woman who is probably Sarah Lehrberger's sister, Bella Dinkelspiel, and her daughter, Etta.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in MOHAI's online collections.

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

Joanna Eckstein Photograph Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

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Administrative Information

Location of Collection

2b.1.10

Location of Collection

1a.3.7 (oversize photograph)

Acquisition Information

Gift of Joanna Eckstein, December 23, 1980

Processing Note

One photograph in the collection was received in a different donation of materials from Joanna Eckstein, Accession No. 1980.7139. This photograph is housed with the collection and included in the inventory below.

Bibliography

Joanna Eckstein oral history interview. Smithsonian Archives of American Art, April 7, 1983. <http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/eckste83.htm>

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

  • Photographs

    • Description: 1.1: Schwabacher and Gatzert families

      This group portrait depicts the four Schwabacher siblings and their spouses.

      Left to right: Babette Schwabacher Gatzert, Bailey Gatzert, Bella Blum Schwabacher (Louis's wife), Abraham Schwabacher, Sarah Lehrberger Schwabacher (Abraham's wife), Louis Schwabacher, Sigmund Schwabacher, Rosa Schwabacher (Sigmund's wife)

      Dates: circa 1880s
      Container: Box/Folder 1/1
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.2: Mrs. Bailey Gatzert (Babette Schwabacher)
      Habenicht , San Francisco (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1900
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.3: Bailey Gatzert summer home
      Dates: circa 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.4-.9: Bailey Gatzert summer home and grounds
      John Soule , Seattle (photographer)
      6 photographs
      Dates: circa 1890s
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.10: Babette Schwabacher Gatzert in front of Gatzert home
      John Soule , Seattle
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.11: Abraham Schwabacher seated on porch
      Dates: circa 1900
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.12: Abraham Schwabacher
      Imperial Studio , San Francisco (photographer)
      Dates: circa late 1800s
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.12a: Abraham Schwabacher and granddaughter Babette Eckstein
      oversize photo shelf 1a.4.6
      Dates: circa 1908s
      Container: Folder:oversize OS
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.13: Louis Schwabacher
      Taber , San Francisco (photographer)
      Dates: circa late 1800s
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.14: Sarah Lehrberger Schwabacher as a young woman
      Bradley & Rulofson , San Francisco (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1870
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1980.7139.6: Sarah Lehrberger Schwabacher as a young woman

      This photograph was received with Accession No. 1980.7139, gift of Joanna Eckstein, November 28, 1980

      Dates: circa 1870
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.15: Sarah Schwabacher
      Habenicht , San Francisco (photographer)
      Dates: circa late 1800s
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.16: Sarah Schwabacher with daughters Mina Eckstein and Jeanie Rosenbaum
      Dates: 1917
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.17: Sarah Schwabacher
      Dates: 1930
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.18: Sarah Schwabacher with her daughter, Mina Eckstein, granddaughter Babette Eckstein Joseph (Mina's daughter), and infant grandson Stephen Joseph (Babette's son)
      Dates: 1930
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.19: Group of schoolgirls at boarding school in Hanover, Germany, including sisters Mina and Jeanie Schwabacher
      Dates: circa 1882
      Container: Box/Folder 1/7
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.20: Mina Schwabacher in German outfit
      F. Grainer's Nachfl. , Bad Reichenhall (photographer)
      Dates: 1901
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.21: Mina Schwabacher in her wedding dress
      Taber , San Francisco (photographer)
      Dates: 1902
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.22: Mina Schwabacher Eckstein
      Dates: circa late 1800s
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.23: Mina Schwabacher Eckstein
      Dates: 1903
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.24: Mina Schwabacher Eckstein
      Dates: 1925
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.25: Nathan Eckstein
      Dates: circa 1910s
      Container: Box/Folder 1/10
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.26: Nathan Eckstein and secretary "Miss Lafferty" working at desks
      Dates: circa 1908
      Container: Box/Folder 1/11
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.27: Nathan Eckstein
      Rounds & Reef , Seattle (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1/10
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.28: Nathan Eckstein standing near display of flower baskets
      Frank Jacobs , Seattle (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1/10
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.29: Nathan Eckstein at desk
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 1/10
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.30-.31: Nathan Eckstein
      Dates: circa 1917
      Container: Box/Folder 1/10
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.32: Nathan Eckstein
      J. Arthur Young , Seattle (photographer)
      Dates: 1929
      Container: Box/Folder 1/11
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.33: Mina Schwabacher and her cousins Cora, Etta and Jenny Dinkelspiel

      Inscribed on back on mount: Sept 8th 1897 Seattle Wash. To Aunt Belle, from her niece Mina

      Dates: 1897
      Container: Box/Folder 1/12
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.34: Nathan, Mina, Joanna and Babette Eckstein
      Grady , Seattle (photographer)
      Dates: 1923
      Container: Box/Folder 1/13
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.35: Mina Eckstein with daughters Joanna and Babette and mother Sarah Schwabacher riding horses at Mount Rainier
      Dates: circa 1916
      Container: Box/Folder 1/13
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.36: Joanna and Babette Eckstein
      Dates: 1910
      Container: Box/Folder 1/13
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.37: Sarah Schwabacher with granddaughters Joanna and Babette Eckstein
      Dates: circa 1910
      Container: Box/Folder 1/14
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.38: Joanna and Nathan Eckstein on frozen Green Lake
      Dates: 1919
      Container: Box/Folder 1/12
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.39: Nathan, Joanna and Babette Eckstein and Helen Drever at Mount Rainier
      Jacobs (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1923
      Container: Box/Folder 1/12
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.40: Mina and Nathan Eckstein
      S.J. Walters , Seattle (photographer)
      Dates: 1920
      Container: Box/Folder 1/13
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.41: Group of Shriners in car, Nathan Eckstein in back seat
      Dates: 1915
      Container: Box/Folder 1/14
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.42: Shriners in three cars, Nathan Eckstein in back seat of front car
      Dates: 1915
      Container: Box/Folder 1/15
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.43: Portrait of Nathan Eckstein in Nile Shriner fez
      Dates: 1915
      Container: Box/Folder 1/15
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.44: Group of Shriners, including Nathan Eckstein and Leo Schwabacher
      Dates: 1915
      Container: Box/Folder 1/14
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.45: Group of Nile Shriners, including Nathan Eckstein
      James & Merrihew , Seattle (photographer)
      Dates: 1915
      Container: Box/Folder 1/15
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.46: Eckstein home at corner of 14th Avenue North and East Ward Street, Seattle
      Dates: 1915
      Container: Box/Folder 1/16
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.47: Nathan Eckstein and woman holding up "Seattle Courtesy Army" sign on car window
      Dates: 1930
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.48: Nathan Eckstein with others at a banquet
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.49: Mina, Nathan and Joanna Eckstein and two couples on boat

      This photograph was taken aboard the Aleutian on a Chamber of Commerce trip to Alaska. Along with the Ecksteins are the Northern Life Insurance Company president and his wife, and Charles Clark, who had something to do with "wholesale grain."

      Dates: 1930
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.50: Nathan and Joanna Eckstein shaking hands with military officers ("Colonel Parker") at Fort Lawton event
      Dates: circa 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.51: Nathan Eckstein and others on the S.S. President Cleveland
      Walter P. Miller , Seattle (photographer)

      Inscription on back of photograph: "Maiden voyage of the Pres Cleveland from here to Orient."

      Inscription also identifies the seven men as: Chester Roberts (President of Imperial Candy Company), Will Rhodes, Ancil Haines, Nathan Eckstein, University of Washington President M. Lyle Spencer, Douglas Ball, F. Louis Nageltooth (?)

      Dates: circa 1920s
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.52: Members of Washington State Planning Council, including Nathan Eckstein
      Dates: 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.53: Copy of stereograph of Bailey Gatzert's Seattle home
      Dates: pre-1900
      Container: Box/Folder 1/18
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.54: Antler's Hotel at Lake Cushman
      Dates: 1917
      Container: Box/Folder 1/18
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.55: View from Volunteer Park water tower showing Parker-Fersen house on 14th Avenue East, and Mount Rainier
      Asahel Curtis (photographer)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/18
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.56-.58: Group at Thanksgiving dinner
      3 photographs

      Identification on backs of photographs.

      Individuals depicted: Joanna Eckstein, Ruth, Bill and Cleo Chambliss, Victor and Virginia Denny, Babe and Les Comyn

      Dates: 1952
      Container: Box/Folder 1/19
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.59: James Goldsmith

      Goldsmith was President of Schwabacher Brothers before Nathan Eckstein.

      Dates: 1910
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.60: Bella (Lehrberger) Dinkelspiel
      Rieman & Co. , San Francisco (photographer)

      Probably the sister of Mina Eckstein's mother, Sarah (Lehrberger) Schwabacher

      Dates: 1883
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.61: Dr. Caspar Sharpless
      Asahel Curtis (photographer)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.62: Dr. Caspar Sharpless
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.63: Mina Schwabacher as a young child
      Rieman , San Francisco (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1880
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.54: Joanna and Babette Eckstein
      Dates: 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.65: Etta Dinkelspiel Schirmer

      Bella Dinkelspiel's daughter. Bella was probably Sarah Schwabacher's sister.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.66: Joanna Eckstein and Morton Schwabacher as young children

      Morton Schwabacher was the son of Leopold Schwabacher and grandson of Sigmund Schwabacher.

      Dates: circa 1907
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.67: Milk delivery on sled in snowstorm
      Dates: 1916
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.68: Dwight Eisenhower in motorcade
      Dates: 1952 October
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.69: Joanna Eckstein on horseback at Volunteer Park
      Nowell & Rognan , Seattle (photographer)
      hand-colored
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/22
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: 1.70: Joanna and Babette Eckstein and others hiking at Nisqually Glacier
      Dates: circa 1918
      Container: Box/Folder 1/22
      Location: Photographs
  • Description: Nathan Eckstein scrapbook
    11.25" x15.5"

    Bound scrapbook with blue cover printed with "Nathan Eckstein 1873-1945." Contains 3 photographs of Eckstein dated 1902, 1906 and 1917, and 12 pages of clippings about Eckstein from about 1926 through his death in 1945.

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Families--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Eckstein, Joanna--Photographs
  • Eckstein, Mina--Photographs
  • Eckstein, Nathan, 1873-1945--Photographs
  • Gatzert, Bailey--Photographs
  • Schwabacher, Abraham--Photographs
  • Schwabacher, Louis--Photographs
  • Schwabacher, Ludwig--Photographs

Geographical Names

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

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints

Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson
2008

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

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