View XML QR Code

Bon Marché Collection, 1889-1999

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Bon Marché (Department store)
Title
Bon Marché Collection
Dates
1889-1999 (inclusive)
1905-1970 (bulk)
Quantity
13 boxes including 10 oversize
Collection Number
2009.20
Summary
Scrapbooks, ledgers, photographs, ephemera, newspaper clippings, and papers from the Bon Marché (now Macy’s) department store located in Seattle, Washington
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.
Return to Top

Historical Note

In 1890 Edward and Josephine Nordhoff moved from Chicago to Seattle and opened their store the Bon Marché. The name means “good market” and was chosen as a reference to the Maison à Boucicault au Bon Marché, a store Nordhoff had greatly admired as a young man living in Paris. Originally located in the Belltown district of Seattle at First and Cedar streets it moved downtown in 1896. Starting with the Nordhoff’s savings of $1,200, thirty-three years later in 1923 annual sales were up to $8 million. The Nordhoffs worked together in striving for success keeping the store open from 7am to 9pm most days. Josephine worked in the store and learned the Chinook trade language to better help Native American customers. Edward brought pennies from the East Coast, introducing the one-cent coin to Seattle shoppers and thus was able to price products for less.

After moving downtown the Bon acquired an entire block and expanded upward with notable construction happening in 1911, 1929, 1950, and 1955. In 1911 an eight-story building designed by John Graham Sr. was erected connecting with two other buildings also belonging to the Bon. In 1929 an Art Deco building also designed by Graham Sr. was erected taking up an entire block and cementing the Bon’s place as an important downtown landmark. The Northgate branch opened in 1950 and it was an integral part of one of the first malls in the nation. In 1955 the downtown store expanded upward by three floors creating the seven-story building found there today.

After Edward Nordhoff’s death in 1899 Josephine remarried to Frank McDermott and they along with Edward’s brother Rudolf Nordhoff continued to run the Bon until 1928 when it was sold to Hahn Department Stores. Five years later Hahn Stores was bought by Allied Stores Corporation. The store continued to do well with branches opening all over Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. In 1992 Federated Department Stores, Inc., which also owned Macy’s, bought Allied Stores Corp.. It wasn’t until 2003 that a name change was introduced; the Bon-Macy’s name didn’t last long and in 2005 it was officially changed to Macy’s.

Return to Top

Content Description

The collection consists of textual materials, scrapbooks, photographs, and one 16mm film reel from the Bon Marché (now Macy’s) department store in downtown Seattle. The scrapbooks cover branch openings at Northgate, Southcenter, and Tacoma stores, as well as events, art exhibits, and window displays from the downtown store. Textual materials include ledgers, payrolls, annual reports, staff newsletters, newspaper clippings, papers, catalogs, and ephemera. Photographs are broken down into the following subseries’: branch stores, exteriors of the downtown Seattle store, interiors of the downtown Seattle store, construction, Santa Claus appearances, parades, the Bon Marche stables, Faraway staff picnic, portraits, and slides. Many prints have accompanying copy negatives. Much of the material present is also included in the centennial publication “1890-1990: A Century of Success” published in 1989 for the Washington Centennial. The film reel depicts Christmas scenes inside the downtown store circa the 1970s

Return to Top

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

Bon Marché Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

With no apparent original order, the collection was arranged into ten series:

  • Scrapbooks
  • Ledgers / payrolls / minutes
  • Annual reports
  • Newspaper clippings / advertisements
  • Counter Chat / catalogs / magazine articles
  • Ephemera
  • Miscellaneous
  • Histories / branch information
  • Exhibitions / events / community involvement
  • Photographs: The series Photographs consists of fourteen subseries
    • Branch stores
    • Exteriors of downtown store
    • Santa Claus
    • Construction
    • Horse drawn carriages / Bon Marché stables
    • Interiors of downtown store
    • Parades
    • Faraway - staff picnic
    • Portraits
    • September Affair
    • Bon Marché produced history
    • Seattle photographs
    • Postcards / Non-photograph images
    • Slides

Location of Collection

15a.2.5, 10

Location of Collection

15a.3.4-6

Preservation Note

Acquisition Information

Gift of Macy's, Inc. 2009

Processing Note

Scrapbooks dissassembled, photographs removed from frames

Separated Materials

These materials are part of a donation that also included an artifact, a commemorative scarf from the 1928 sale of the Bon Marché to Hahn Department Stores. This artifact is cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI's Collections Department.

Related Materials

Approximately 55 copies of Counter Chat from 1950-1961 and 1 copy of the employee newsletter "Happening" from 1987 are also available in the repository, in collection 2008.27, Bon Marché Newsletters.

A 1910 Christmas catalog received in 2013 (accession number 2013.58.5) is housed in Box 1 of the collection.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

  • Scrapbooks, 1950-1981

    • Description: 2009.20.1: The Biggest Store West of Chicago

      Newspaper clippings; 21 photographs of 1954 groundbreaking on Bon Marchè roof

      Dates: 1954, 5 April 1954
      Container: Box/Folder 10
    • Description: 2009.20.2 : Tacoma Mall

      Newspaper clippings; covers building of and opening; 25 photographs with three negatives; also contains loose envelope with informational packet

      Dates: June 1961- August 1964
      Container: Box/Folder 13
    • Description: 2009.20.3: Southcenter

      Newspaper clippings; 23 photographs with captions of grand opening

      Dates: July 1968, 31 July 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 13
    • Description: 2009.20.4: Mark Tobey Exhibition to benefit Cornish School of Allied Arts

      Tobey Exhibit April 23 - May 3 introduction of “Idea House” in the Bon Marchè, newspaper clippings; 12 photographs

      Dates: March - May 1969
      Container: Box/Folder 11
    • Description: 2009.20.5: Dr. Seuss's Grinch Christmas

      Newspaper clippings; thank you notes; 79 photographs

      Dates: 1970 November - December
      Container: Box/Folder 11
    • Description: 2009.20.6 : Orient Expressed

      125 photographs, of events, performances, kite flying, interiors; newspaper clippings; press release

      Dates: 9-26 September 1979
      Container: Box/Folder 11
    • Description: 2009.20.7: September Affair II

      Invites; newspaper clippings; 30 photographs from event

      Dates: 19 September 1970
      Container: Box/Folder 12
    • Description: 2009.20.8: The Outpost

      Memos and press releases; newspaper clippings; 39 photographs

      Dates: March - April 1981
      Container: Box/Folder 12
    • Description: 2009.20.9: The Bon Marché presents Christmas in Foreign Lands

      Removed from scrapbook; store display Christmas 1959; press releases; 31 photographs; newspaper clippings

      Dates: Christmas 1959
      Container: Box/Folder 7
    • Description: 2009.20.10 : The Bon Marché Northgate

      Removed from scrapbook; newspaper clippings

      Dates: circa 1950
      Container: Box/Folder 8/2
  • Ledgers / payrolls / minutes, 1902-1936

  • Annual Reports, 1922-1985

    • Description: 2009.20.56: Annual report
      Dates: 1922
      Container: Box/Folder 4/4
    • Description: 2009.20.17: Annual reports
      Dates: 1945-1949
      Container: Box/Folder 1/1
    • Description: 2009.20.18: Annual reports
      Dates: 1950-1951, 1953-1954, 1955-1957
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2
    • Description: 2009.20.19: Annual reports
      Dates: 1959-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
    • Description: 2009.20.20: Annual reports, annual meeting of stockholders (1967)
      Dates: 1965-1968, 1970-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
    • Description: 2009.20.21: Annual reports
      Dates: 1972-1976, 1985
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
    • Description: 2009.20.22: First quarter report
      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
  • Newspaper clippings / advertisements, 1897-1992

  • Counter Chat / Catalogs / Magazine articles, 1914-1979

    Counter Chat was a company publication for employees

    Approximately 55 copies of Counter Chat from 1950-1961 and 1 copy of the employee newsletter "Happening" from 1987 are also available in the repository, in collection 2008.27, Bon Marché Newsletters.

  • Ephemera, 1903-1999

    • Description: 2009.20.26: Miscellaneous

      Letter from Santa in envelope (1903), packer’s slip (1917), contract and sales slips (1949), address label on part of a box (circa 1930s), billing for charga-plate 8 May 1951

      Dates: 1903-1951
      Container: Box 1/10
    • Description: 2009.20.35: Letterhead, envelope
      Dates: circa 1960s, 1970s
      Container: Box 1/19
    • Description: 2009.20.33: Employee pamphlets
      Dates: circa 1965
      Container: Box 1/17
    • Description: 2009.20.45: Benaroya Hall pamphlet
      Dates: 1998-1999 season
      Container: Box 1/29
  • Miscellaneous, 1918 - circa 1980s

    • Description: 2009.20.79: “Christmas in the Northwest” vinyl LP
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 6
    • Description: 2009.20.66: Sheet music

      “Ziegfeld Follies 1919”, “Carmelita”, “Turn back the universe and give me yesterday”, “We’ll never let our old flag fall”, “I hate to lose you I’m so used to you now”

      Dates: circa 1918
      Container: Box 5/1
    • Description: 2009.20.55: Sheet music

      “The navy took them over and the navy will bring them back”, “My Belgian rose”, “Any bonds today?”

      Dates: 1918
      Container: Box 4/3
    • Description: 2009.20.31: Bon charga-plate, credit cards
      Dates: circa 1950s - circa 1980s
      Container: Box 1/15
    • Description: 2009.20.34: Amy award; Varsity Shop
      Dates: 1967; 1957-1958
      Container: Box 1/18
  • Histories / branch information, 1932-1990

  • Exhibitions / events / community involvement, 1969-1988

  • Photographs, 1889-circa 1990s

    • Allied Western Group Binder

      • Description: 2009.20.93: Allied Western Group Binder

        1 of 4; C.C. Anderson, Boise, ID; Bon Marché, Eugene, OR; The Paris of Montana, Great Falls, MO; C.C. Anderson, Lewiston, ID; all photos three hole punched

        Dates: 1954
        Container: Box/Folder 2/1
      • Description: 2009.20.94: Allied Western Group Binder

        2 of 4; Bon Marché, Longview, WA; C.C. Anderson, Ogden, UT; C.C. Anderson, Pendleton, OR; C.C. Anderson, Richland, WA (one large, one postcard); all photos three hole punched except postcard

        Dates: 1954
        Container: Box/Folder 2/2
      • Description: 2009.20.95: Allied Western Group Binder

        3 of 4; Bon Marché Palace, Spokane, WA (drawing); Bon Marché, downtown Tacoma; C.C. Anderson, Idaho Falls, ID; C.C. Anderson, Twin Falls, ID; Bon Marché; all photos three hole punched

        Dates: 1954
        Container: Box/Folder 2/3
      • Description: 2009.20.96: Allied Western Group Binder

        4 of 4; Walla Walla, WA; Bon Marché, Yakima, WA; Bon Marché, downtown Seattle, WA; all photos three hole punched

        Dates: 1954
        Container: Box/Folder 2/4
    • Branch stores, undated

      • Description: 2009.20.97: Bellevue

        Four 8"x10" photographs of drawings / presentation for the remodeled 1987 Bellevue Bon

        Dates: circa 1987
        Container: Box/Folder 2/5
      • Description: 2009.20.98: Bellevue

        Five 8"x10" photographs of presentation for the remodeled 1987 Bellevue Bon, one 8"x10" of exterior of remodeled Bon at Bellevue Square with negative

        Dates: circa 1987-1988
        Container: Box/Folder 2/6
      • Description: 2009.20.99: Bellingham

        One 8"x10" of 1957 building, downtown Bellingham with negative

        on verso - “old BOB until 1988”

        Dates: circa 1957- 1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/7
      • Description: 2009.20.100: Columbia Center

        Two 8"x10"copies of Columbia Center Bon with negative

        Dates: 1969
        Container: Box/Folder 2/8
      • Description: 200.20.101: Distribution Center at Tukwila

        One 8"x10" photograph of drawing of distribution center

        Dates: 1968
        Container: Box/Folder 2/9
      • Description: 2009.20.102: Eugene

        One 8"x10" with matting, “The Bon Marché Eugene” on matting former Russell’s department store

        Dates: circa late 1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/10
      • Description: 2009.20.103 - 2009.20.105: Everett

        Building used to house Rumbaugh-MacLaine. One 8"x10" photograph and one 8x5 photograph of same image (2009.20.104), 8"x10" on verso - “EOB before 1969 face lift”; 8"x10" of interior toy department with negative (2009.20.105); One 1977 8"x10" photograph of exterior with negative (2009.20.103)

        Dates: circa 1950s-1960s, 1977
        Container: Box/Folder 2/11
      • Description: 2009.20.106: Home Store

        One 8"x10" photograph of drawing of an independent Home Store with negative; negative of Home Furnishings Clearance store; negative of Home Store

        Dates: circa 1980s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/12
      • Description: 2009.20.107: Longview

        One 8"x10" photograph of Longview branch, building used to house Longview Merk. In 1987 was replaced by Bon in Three Rivers Mall

        Dates: circa 1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/13
      • Description: 2009.20.108 - 2009.20.111: Northgate

        8"x10" of exterior, with negative; 8"x10" of ribbon cutting, with negative; 8"x10" of ribbon cutting with negative; 8"x10" of group in office signing contracts, Rex Allison standing in pinstripes with negative

        2009.20.108 - written on verso - “1950 Northgate Grand opening prizes”; 2009.20.109 - written on verso - “Principals - left - Rex Allison, center - Frank Radford, right - Mrs. Radford (strike through), Mrs. Winifred Hines" ; 2009.20.110 - written on verso - “2-hour TV show day of opening Northgate store” “l to r - Frank Radford, Mrs. Radford [Winifred Hines], Rex Allison, Bill O’Mara (King TV)”

        Dates: 1950
        Container: Box/Folder 2/14
      • Description: 2009.20.112: Northgate

        8"x10" of night time exterior of 1950 building with 1950s cars in foreground; 8"x10" of night time exterior of 1950 building with fireworks, full parking lot in foreground with two negatives

        Written on verso of night time exterior without fireworks: “NOB original store 1950”, “First shopping center! in the country!!”

        Dates: 1950
        Container: Box/Folder 2/15
      • Description: 2009.20.113: Northgate

        Amoeba shaped cutout from photograph depicting shoe department; 8"x10" of lunchtime modeling; 8"x10" male in army(?) uniform and female eating cake; 8"x10" of female clerk assisting male patron

        Dates: circa 1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/16
      • Description: 2009.20.114: Northgate

        8"x10" of kitchen with crew; 8"x10" of stock boys; 8"x10" of women stocking shelves; 8"x10" of how-to demonstration with crowd

        written on verso of how-to demonstration photograph - “Monday nite Applesmae? Dept Deep Freeze Demonstration”

        Dates: circa 1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/17
      • Description: 2009.20.115: Northgate

        two 8"x10"s of first anniversary cake with crowd, with negative; 8"x10" of men and boys looking at TV displays; 8"x10" of fashion show in auditorium with band and various appliances - stoves, fridges, washing machines; 8"x10" of Davy Crocket display with customers (1952)

        written on verso of TV watching photograph - “Wed. nite Northgate Capehart display”

        Dates: circa early 1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/18
      • Description: 2009.20.116 - 2009.20.119: Northgate

        8"x10" “Everett Consumer Council meets at Northgate 1950s” with negative; 8"x10" crowd watching TV in store with negative; 8"x10" of interior, Christmas crowd with negative; 8"x10" of ceramics section with staff (5 women, 2 men)

        Dates: circa 1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/19
      • Description: 2009.20.120: Northgate

        8"x10" view of Northgate walkway; 8"x10" of “Pickard 200 Deluxe Sedan” giveaway with car and four women for “C-Day Jubilee”, note with it about using it for advertising; two 8"x10"s of interiors of housewares center sans people with one negative; two 8"x10"s of men and women stocking, or packing products

        Dates: circa 1950s- 1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/20
      • Description: 2009.20.121: Northgate

        8"x10" exterior with empty parking lot, on verso - “NOB after 1963 remodel”; color 8"x10" of exterior from full parking lot; 6x10 photograph of color drawing of exterior of remodeled Northgate Bon Marché; 8"x10" photograph with cardboard backing, exterior

        Dates: 1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/21
      • Description: 2009.20.122: Northgate

        8"x10" interior Christmas display decorative gifts section; two 2"x4" photographs of “Go’in Quackers” display with realistic male mannequin at Northgate Duck Shop

        Dates: circa 1970s- 1980s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/22
      • Description: 2009.20.123: Sea-Tac

        3"x10" photo of color drawing of exterior of a Bon Marché with parking lot

        written on verso - “Sea-Tac Mall” “FMB”

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 2/23
      • Description: 2009.20.124: Spokane

        8"x10" exterior; night time street level exterior shot; 8"x10" night time exterior Christmas display, Virgin and child image under “BM”; two 8"x10"s with backing, of exterior with one negative

        The old Palace took the Bon Marché name in 1948 but didn’t become a Bon branch until 1963

        written on verso of exterior - “The Bon Marché Palace - Spokane, Wash. June 19, 1948”

        Dates: circa 1948-1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/24
      • Description: 2009.20.125 - 2009.20.128: Tacoma

        8"x10" exterior of downtown Tacoma building with negative; One 4"x6" interior photograph of opening at mall with negative; 8"x10" photograph of exterior on opening day with full parking lot and crowds with negative; One 8"x10" with backing of exterior and parking lot with two negatives

        Dates: circa 1950s - 1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/25
      • Description: 2009.20.129: Tacoma

        Five 3"x4" night time photographs of exterior of Bon at Tacoma Mall with Christmas decorations from parking lot; 4"x10" photograph of drawing of exterior from parking lot taped to paper; 4"x6" photograph of same drawing in color; 8"x10" color exterior photograph from parking lot; two 8"x10"s color photographs of exterior, one night time; 8"x10" B/W of the daytime exterior

        Dates: circa 1960s - 1970s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/26
      • Description: 2009.20.76: Transparency

        10"x12" transparency of Tacoma mall Bon Marché

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 5
      • Description: 2009.20.130: Walla Walla

        Three 2"x4"s of exterior; One 8"x10" with backing exterior circa 1960s

        Dates: circa 1960s - 1989
        Container: Box/Folder 2/27
      • Description: 2009.20.131: Yakima

        One 8"x10" of exterior with negative

        Dates: circa 1970s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/28
    • Exteriors of downtown store

    • Santa Claus, undated

    • Construction

      • Description: 2009.20.69: Construction

        Photograph with matting in poor condition showing business open during expansion construction

        Dates: 1901
        Container: Box 5
      • Description: 2009.20.157; 2009.20.158: Construction

        two 8"x10"s, one of night time excavation for 1929 Bon Marché, on front - “Teufel & Carlson night crew - on new Bon Marché", on verso - “1:30 A.M.”, one of daytime excavation, on front - “Teufel & Carlson, bldg. contractors - Rushing work on the New Bon Marché” with negative

        Dates: 1927
        Container: Box/Folder 2/55
      • Description: 2009.20.159: Construction

        1955 expansion, 8"x10" of rooftop groundbreaking. Shows 18 men including Rex Allison to the left of center and Mayor Allan Pomery to the right of center breaking ground with negative.

        Dates: 1954
        Container: Box/Folder 2/56
      • Description: 2009.20.160: Construction

        1955 expansion, 8"x10" of rooftop groundbreaking. Shows four men - left to right - Larry Lean, Allan Pomery, Rex Allison, John Graham Jr., on front signed “To Rex Allison with best wishes Mayor Allan Pomery 1954” with negative.

        Dates: 1954
        Container: Box/Folder 2/56
      • Description: 2009.20.161: Construction

        1955 expansion. two 8"x10"s, one with building just about finished; one with construction just started; one 2 ½" x 2 ½" of rooftop workers; Six 3"x5"s of interior during construction; negative showing new three floors during construction

        Dates: 1954 - 1955
        Container: Box/Folder 2/57
      • Description: 2009.20.162: Construction

        1955 expansion. Six 8"x10"s street views of workers, lumber, one of sign listing the companies working on the expansion

        Dates: 1954
        Container: Box/Folder 2/58
      • Description: 2009.20.163: Construction

        Downtown mall project. Four 8"x10" photographs of drawings pertaining to the “downtown mall project”. Two of blueprints, two of drawings, note along with the photographs from Wells B. McCurdy to Rex Allison saying these are for Allisons personal files

        Dates: 27 November 1959
        Container: Box/Folder 2/59
      • Description: 2009.20.164: Construction

        Four 8"x10"s showing the skybridge being lifted into place

        Dates: 1962
        Container: Box/Folder 2/60
    • Horse drawn carriages / Bon Marché Stables, undated

    • Interiors

      • Description: 2009.20.170: Interiors

        Four 8"x10" copies of interiors of various departments without people with one negative, Café on the sixth floor of the Union Street Store; Ladies’ Rest and Writing Room; the Daylight Bakery

        Dates: circa 1902- 1911
        Container: Box/Folder 2/66
      • Description: 2009.20.171: Interiors

        Five 8"x10" copies of interiors of various departments without people; the first three depict - “Men’s and Boy’s clothing” = the main floor of the Union Street block; canned goods; the millinery salon

        Dates: circa 1902- 1911
        Container: Box/Folder 2/67
      • Description: 2009.20.172: Interiors

        Seven 8"x10" copies of interiors, two showing staff, five showing female and child mannequins, “Where little folks are clothed” with two negatives; One 8"x10" copy showing window display of bridal dresses

        Dates: circa 1902- 1911
        Container: Box/Folder 2/68
      • Description: 2009.20.173: Interiors

        One 6"x8" photograph with matting and two copies of interiors with negative

        Dates: circa 1902- 1907
        Container: Box/Folder 2/69
      • Description: 2009.20.174: Skylight interior

        One 6"x8" with matting, copy of skylight in rotunda area with negative

        written on verso - “light well looking out from 2nd floor Bon Marché Seattle, Wa.”

        Dates: December 1902
        Container: Box/Folder 2/70
      • Description: 2009.20.175: Interior

        One 6"x8" with matting, interior

        Dates: circa 1902
        Container: Box/Folder 2/71
      • Description: 2009.20.176: Interior

        One 6"x8" with matting, interior, “The New Bon Marché” is written on the wall with a light fixture for the “o”

        Dates: circa 1902
        Container: Box/Folder 2/72
      • Description: 2009.20.177: Interior

        One 8"x10" interior with triangular Christmas trees

        Dates: circa 1912-1917
        Container: Box/Folder 2/73
      • Description: 2009.20.178: 24th anniversary cake display

        One 8"x10". Flower decorations and five putti dolls with outstretched arms surround 24 birthday cakes each with an increasing number of candles. Behind the cakes is a sign advertising 24th anniversary sales.

        Dates: 1914
        Container: Box/Folder 2/74
      • Description: 2009.20.179:

        Five 8"x10" photographs of drawings of 1929 interiors with captions with three negatives;

        Dates: 1929
        Container: Box/Folder 2/75
      • Description: 2009.20.180: Interior of escalator

        One 8"x10" of escalator with crowd, on verso - “1929 first escalators in Seattle, The Bon Marché” with negative

        Dates: 1929
        Container: Box/Folder 2/76
      • Description: 2009.20.81: “The Story of the Bon Marché”

        Four enlarged copies of illustrations for the publication "The Story of the Bon Marché"

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 6/1
      • Description: 2009.20.181: Christmas scene - interior

        One 8"x10" group of children sitting in a circle, Christmas decorations on ceiling, to the right group of on lookers

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 2/77
      • Description: 2009.20.182: Dinner

        One 8"x10" of very large group eating dinner at long tables in the downtown Bon Marché with negative

        Dates: 1933
        Container: Box/Folder 2/78
      • Description: 2009.20.183: Tube room

        One 8"x10" of “Tube room”, cash office in basement backhall where tubes connected to each register location, with negative

        Dates: 1940
        Container: Box/Folder 2/79
      • Description: 2009.20.184: Interiors

        Three 8"x10"s, two state “Ivy[?] bon sale dec 17” on verso one with the year 1943, the other 1944 with one negative; One of three men and one woman standing in front of the “Boyo Corral”, man on left dressed as cowboy pointing a gun at man in middle who is getting a rubber lasso put over his head by the woman, all are laughing, on verso - “Hopalong Cassidy 1953 (struck through) 1949” with negative

        Dates: circa 1940s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/80
      • Description: 2009.20.185: In-store events

        Six 8"x10"s, one with crowd around Bendix store demonstration (1949); one with crowd and sign for “King County Sheriff Posse”; one of display for “A Cavalcade of Progess - 1929”; one group shot of kids and young adults for the “Bon Marché Alvino Rey Show with negative; one 4"x6" interior with mannequins “The Northwest Rooms”; of big crowd inside store

        Dates: circa 1949-1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/81
      • Description: 2009.20.186: Interior

        One 8"x10" of boy selling newspapers in a crowd; One 2"x3" of girl and grandma in childrens shoe department

        Dates: circa 1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/82
      • Description: 2009.20.187: Christmas

        Sixteen paper copies of 8"x10" images, one color, one 8"x10" (no people with columns decorated as trees (1954)), most of puppet displays, train models, some night time exteriors with 26 negatives

        Dates: circa 1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/83
      • Description: 2009.20.188: Varsity Shop

        One photo of empty interior, the other of eight young men who participated in a study for the Varsity Shop

        written on verso - “Sitting left to right - Gary Rauen, Seattle; Camden Hall, Ballard; Pete Werle, Queen Anne; Standing left to right - John Coast, Lincoln; Wayne Booth, West Seattle; Rich Eisen; Dennis Collins, Franklin; Jerry Akita, Cleveland”

        Dates: 1958-1959
        Container: Box/Folder 2/84
      • Description: 2009.20.189: In-store fashion modeling
        Link Link

        Four 8"x10", three of fashion modeling on first floor of downtown store, one shows an in-store demonstration with three negatives; three strips of fashion show original negatives (in box 4)

        Dates: circa 1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/85; 4
      • Description: 2009.20.190: Fashion shows

        Four 8"x10"s, one of bridal show, one of fashion show at Olympic Hotel (early 1960s), fashion show (1956), Lunch time fashion show at the Jet Room Restaurant

        Dates: circa 1950s- 1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/86
      • Description: 2009.20.191: Skybridge

        One 8"x10", one 4"x6", nine 2"x3", 8"x10" of Dick Keplinger radio host, one of the 2"x3" is of him in radio booth; 4"x6" features Rex Allison on left; the other eight 2"x3"s are of people walking on the skybridge

        Dates: 1962
        Container: Box/Folder 2/87
      • Description: 2009.20.192: Image of Crowd entering the Bon Marché from newly opened skybridge, 1960Image of Advertisement for Bon Marché skybridge, 1960

        Four 8"x10", one is of a boy looking at a newspaper ad with negative, one is of a woman looking at a newspaper ad, two show the first customers to enter the Bon via the skybridge

        Dates: 1962
        Container: Box/Folder 2/88
      • Description: 2009.20.193: TV personalities / Christmas

        Four 8"x10"s, two of in-store TV personality appearances by Brakeman Bill and Miss Elaine with negative, Bozo the Clown, Stan Boreson, Wunda Wunda with negative; one of crowd entering from Pine Street entrance with roses with negative; interior with crowd from Christmas 1967 with it is a business card from Seattle Times “pully power of the Seattle Times” James T. Dillon

        Dates: circa 1960s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/89
      • Description: 2009.20.194: Grinch

        Five 8"x10"s of crowd visiting Santa and the Grinch, one is contact sheet

        Dates: 1970
        Container: Box/Folder 2/90
      • Description: 2009.20.195: Dr. Seuss book display

        Five 8"x10" of Dr. Seuss book displays, one of elevator to Toytropolis, Christmas 1970

        Dates: 1970
        Container: Box/Folder 2/91
      • Description: 2009.20.196: Grinch and Santa Claus

        Three 8"x10"s of crowds with Grinch and Santa, one 3"x3" of Santa and Grinch, negative strips

        Dates: 1970
        Container: Box/Folder 2/92
      • Description: 2009.20.197: Grinch and Santa

        Eight 8"x10"s, three of crowds with Grinch and Santa; Five showing people waiting in line for Dr. Seuss Time Machine

        Dates: 1970
        Container: Box/Folder 2/93
      • Description: 2009.20.198: Grinch and Santa

        Three 8"x10"s of Toytropolis elevator, Grinch cave, crowd and Santa and Grinch

        Dates: 1971
        Container: Box/Folder 2/94
      • Description: 2009.20.199: Grinch and Santa

        Twelve 2"x2" wallet photos of kids with the Grinch and Santa

        Dates: 1970- 1971
        Container: Box/Folder 2/95
      • Description: 2009.20.200: Dr. Seuss characters

        Three 4"x6", two 2"x3" of Dr. Seuss characters

        Dates: 1970- 1971
        Container: Box/Folder 2/96
      • Description: 2009.20.201: Interiors

        Two 9"x11" contact sheets with four photos on each; remodeled interiors with four negatives

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 2/97
      • Description: 2009.20.202: Remodeled interiors

        Seven 8"x10", Six of newly remodeled interiors with four slips of paper describing the changes and materials used, one of shopping bags with Bon logo

        Dates: circa 1989
        Container: Box/Folder 2/98
      • Description: 2009.20.203: Metro tunnel opening

        Ten 2 1/2"x4" of metro level tunnel opening

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 2/99
      • Description: 2009.20.87: Christmas

        Four contact sheets of photographs of children at Christmas

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 8/3
      • Description: 2009.20.92: Interiors

        Three photographs

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 8/5
      • Description: 2009.20.232: Interior sketches

        Seven copy negatives of interior sketches with captions

        Dates: circa 1980s-1990s
        Container: Box 2
    • : Parades, undated

      Container: Box

      • Description: 2009.20.204: Potlatch Parade

        One 5"x7" with matting, women in car covered in flowers, in background “Golden Potlatch Seattle 97" seal

        Dates: circa 1911
        Container: Box/Folder 2/100
      • Description: 2009.20.205: Potlatch Parade

        One 5"x7" with matting, car covered in flowers, stuffed polar bear, “King of the North”

        Dates: circa 1911
        Container: Box/Folder 2/101
      • Description: 209.20.206: Parade

        One 8"x10" with matting, view of parade with Bon Marché in background. 1908 photograph of the Great White Fleet (Atlantic Fleet) parade. The Fleet was sent by President Teddy Roosevelt on a peacetime goodwill tour around the world beginning December 16, 1907 and ending February 22, 1909. The parade in Seattle had an attendance of over 300,000 people and included members of the Army, National Guard, and fraternal orders.

        Dates: 26 May 1908
        Container: Box/Folder 2/102
      • Description: 2009.20.207: Parade

        One 8"x10" with matting, view of parade with Bon Marché in background. 1908 photograph of the Great White Fleet (Atlantic Fleet) parade. The Fleet was sent by President Teddy Roosevelt on a peacetime goodwill tour around the world beginning December 16, 1907 and ending February 22, 1909. The parade in Seattle had an attendance of over 300,000 people and included members of the Army, National Guard, and fraternal orders.

        Dates: 26 May 1908
        Container: Box/Folder 2/103
      • Description: 2009.20.208: Parade

        Duplicate of 2009.20.206

        Dates: 26 May 1908
        Container: Box/Folder 2/104
      • Description: 2009.20.209: Parade

        One 7"x9" street view of parade with Bon Marché in background

        Dates: 1912
        Container: Box/Folder 2/105
      • Description: 2009.20.210: Parade

        Two 7"x9" street views looking north above parade with Bon Marché on left, cars covered in flowers, large flags in center

        Dates: circa 1912-1917
        Container: Box/Folder 2/106
      • Description: 2009.20.84: Parade

        One 8"x10" with matting photograph of 29 piece band with American and British flags

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 6
    • : Faraway - Staff Picnic,

      Container: Box

      Photographs from scrapbook of staff picnic at the McDermotts summer property on the Olympic Peninsula near Longbranch

      • Description: 2009.20.211: Faraway – Staff Picnic

        Five 7"x9" photographs with cloth backing from scrapbook, two of dock with people arriving “Faraway”; One interior; one portrait of girl with flower hat with negative; one of view of Puget Sound

        Dates: circa 1910s - 1920s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/107
      • Description: 2009.20.212: Faraway – Staff Picnic

        Six 7"x9" photographs with cloth backing from scrapbook; four of games; one of group of seven girls eating with negative; one of landscaped grounds with Puget Sound in background

        Dates: circa 1910s - 1920s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/108
      • Description: 2009.20.213: Faraway – Staff Picnic

        Four 7"x9" photographs with cloth backing from scrapbook - two of tennis courts; one group shot; one of swimming with Bainbridge ferry (?) in background

        Dates: circa 1910s - 1920s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/109
      • Description: 2009.20.214: Faraway – Staff Picnic

        Five 7"x9" photographs with cloth backing from scrapbook - four of swimming beach area with crowd; one of treehouse

        Dates: circa 1910s - 1920s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/110
      • Description: 2009.20.215: Faraway – Staff Picnic

        Five 7"x9" photographs with cloth backing from scrapbook - two full length portraits of man in woman's dress with one negative; two group photos of eight men dressed as women with one negative; one photo of two men standing

        Dates: circa 1910s - 1920s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/111
    • Portraits, undated

      • Description: 2009.20.216: Portraits

        Two 8"x10"s copies of full length portrait of Josephine Nordhoff McDermott (1871-1920) with one negative; two 8"x10"s copies of bronze plaque dedicated by employees to Josephine Patricia McDermott; 8"x10" copy of portrait of Rudolf Nordhoff (original 1926 Seattle Times, this one made for the Bon Marché Centennial exhibit) with negative; One 8"x10" copy, one reproduction from undated publication, portrait of Edward Nordhoff with one negative

        Written on verso of photograph of bronze plaque - “founder of the Bon Marché Josephine Patricia Nordhoff McDermott bronze plaque from employees - was in previous store - is currently in center of elevator wall, under the clock in Seattle store.”

        Dates: circa 1890s - circa1950s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/112
      • Description: 2009.20.217: Frank McDermott portrait

        with negative

        Dates: circa 1902 - 1917
        Container: Box/Folder 2/113
      • Description: 2009.20.65: Framed Frank McDermott portrait

        Dates: circa 1920s
        Container: Box 4
      • Description: 2009.20.218: Photograph of painting of Frank Radford, Portrait of Mrs. Schmitz

        One 8"x10" copy of painted seated portrait of Frank Radford; 4"x6" of Mrs. Schmitz

        Written on verso of photograph of Frank Radford - “Pic #1 Mr. Radford 1870-1952, pres. Bon Marché 1929 to 1948, Started as a ‘wrapper’ in 1906

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 2/114
      • Description: 2009.20.77: Rex Allison with portrait of Radford

        Dates: circa 1950s
        Container: Box 5
      • Description: 2009.20.219: Group photographs during meeting for 1950s downtown construction

        One 8"x10" of Laurence (Larry) Lean (managing director) sitting at desk about to write; 8"x10" of John Graham (architect) looking at photo of 1929 Bon Marché and drawing of Bon after upward expansion; 8"x10" of Lean and Rex Allison (VP Allied Store Corp., Western Group manager) looking at large drawing of the Bon after expansion, Allison has left hand up above the drawing; 8"x10" portrait of Lean standing with open binder with picture of 1929 building; 8"x10" of (left to right) seated Graham, standing Lean, seated Allison with negative; 8"x10" of Rex Allison smiling on the telephone; 8"x10" of (left to right) seated at desk Graham, Lean, Allison with blueprints on desk with negative

        Dates: 1955
        Container: Box/Folder 2/115
      • Description: 2009.20.220: Portraits

        Five 4"x6"s, Three of Robert Campeau with one negative; one of Wilbur J. Fix; one of Mr.Graves (buyer) and Miss Kafenbuger(?) (buyer) with negative, two original negatives of Mr. Walsh

        Dates: circa 1970s, 1980s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/116
      • Description: 2009.20.221: Robert Campeau

        Eleven 4"x7"s of event at Four Seasons Olympic, Robert Campeau in most photographs

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 2/117
    • : September Affair, undated

      Container: Box

      • Description: 2009.20.222: September Affair II

        Six 8"x10"s of September Affair II

        Dates: 1970
        Container: Box/Folder 2/118
      • Description: 2009.20.223: September Affair II

        Six 8"x10"s of September Affair II - two of dining tables in volunteer park Seattle Art Museum (SAM), four with attached captions – Portrait of Luis Estevez; group portrait: seated SAM hostess Mrs. Richard E. Lang and chairman Mrs. Robert S. Beaupre; half of the executive committee - Mrs. Robert W. Thomas, Mrs. Charles Kaplan, Mrs. Robert B. Dootson, Mrs. Robert S. Beaupre, Mrs. John J. Beaupre, Mrs. Robert E. Miller, Mrs. David Bingham; part of executive committee – Mrs. Robert M. Miller, Mrs. Robert B. Dootson, Mrs. Robert W. Thomas, Mrs. Charles Kaplan

        Dates: 1970
        Container: Box/Folder 2/116
    • : Bon Marché produced history of business and building changes, undated

      Container: Box

    • : Seattle photographs,

      Container: Box

      • Description: 2009.20.62: 1889 Fire

        Dates: circa 1889
        Container: Box/Folder 4/9
      • Description: 2009.20.225: 1889 fire

        One 4"x6" backed photo, “Ruins of Yesler Block, Seattle, Wash” on front, on back "Jenny Eelandsson, from H.C.W."

        Dates: 1889
        Container: Box/Folder 2/121
      • Description: 2009.20.83: A-Y-P-E

        Photograph with matting from the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition

        Dates: 1909
        Container: Box 6
      • Description: 2009.20.226: Seattle photographs

        Three 8"x10"s of various Seattle views, one depicts view from Sorrento Hotel, on verso - “Diners at the hotel Sorrento’s ‘Top O’ Town’ enjoy a view of the snow-bright, rugged Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound”, one of sailboats on Lake Washington, on verso - “Seen here are one of many sail boat races held during the spring, summer and fall.”, one Of a steamer on Puget Sound, on verso - “Alaska Steamship Company steamer ‘Iliamna’ is seen clearing Pier 42, Seattle, with a deck load of seventeen 40-foot trailer vans for Alaska.”

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 2/122
    • Postcards / Non Photograph Images, undated

      • Description: 2009.20.227: Postcards

        Six postcards: circa 1910 exterior from street; 1929 exterior on verso - “1949”; Bon Marché baseball team; Blakley Mill with Bon Marché advertisement on back; two postcards of Paris Bon Marché taped together with two negatives

        on verso of Paris postcard typed message from Bessie Campbell to Mr. Walsh - “Mr. Walsh: several years ago when I was in Paris, I stepped out of my left bank hotel and looked down the street, I was amazed to see in blazing lights BON Marché. Since I store was named for this Store I thought you might enjoy these two views of our Mother Store. Bessie Campbell

        Dates: circa 1910 - 1988
        Container: Box/Folder 2/123
      • Description: 2009.20.228: Various images

        Firehouse at 3rd and Pine with negative, bust of Chief Seattle, exterior of 1907 downtown building with negative, exterior of proposed 1955 expansion, interior of 1989 remodeling

        Dates: circa 1900 - circa 1989
        Container: Box/Folder 2/124
      • Description: 2009.20.229: Christmas film

        16mm film with sound

        Dates: circa 1970s
        Container: Drawer 5a.3.6
    • Slides, undated

      • Description: 2009.20.230: Slides

        Eleven slides for special events second floor with envelope

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 2/125
      • Description: 2009.20.231: Slides

        Seventy-Nine slides of exteriors, staff, credit cards, Christmas star, night time aerials with Christmas star

        Dates: circa 1990s
        Container: Box/Folder 2/126

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Department store Santas--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Department stores--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Employees--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Parades--Washington(State)--Seattle
  • Shopping--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Macy's, Inc.

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints
  • Scrapbooks
Loading...
Loading...