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Agnes M. Kehoe Papers, 1918-1959

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Agnes M. Kehoe Papers
Title
Agnes M. Kehoe Papers
Dates
1918-1959 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 linear ft., (2 boxes)
Collection Number
Ms 13
Summary
Businesswoman, state legislator, and civic leader, of Hillyard, Wash. Correspondence (1937-1959) and records of community organizations in which Kehoe was involved, including Hillyard Commercial Club (1953-1959), Hillyard Community Club (1937-1941), and Spokane Visiting Nurses Association (1942-1958), which she helped organize in 1942. Includes material relating to Kehoe Hardware Company, Spokane, Wash., owned by Kehoe and her husband, Thomas E. Kehoe.
Repository
Eastern Washington State Historical Society (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture)
2316 W. First Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201
archives@northwestmuseum.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is not restricted.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Agnes M. Kehoe

The wife of Thomas E. Kehoe, Agnes M. Kehoe was born on a farm near Mason City, Iowa, March 26, c. 1875. As a resident of Hillyard and Spokane, for 57 years Mrs. Kehoe was noted for her activities in social welfare. She earned the nickname “Mrs. Hillyard.”

In 1938 she filed for the legislature of Washington State on the Democratic ticket. She was elected three times by her district, each time without conducting a political campaign.

Mrs. Kehoe was a member of the Board of Regents of Holy Names College. In 1951 she was awarded its Marian award for “significant contributions” to her community. She was a former president and life member of the Spokane Visiting Nurses Association, which she helped organize in 1942. She also was a life member of the Washington State Tuberculosis League and a regent of the Catholic Daughters of America. She gained recognition for her efforts on behalf of the business community of Hillyard as a member of the Hillyard Commercial Club, and, for a time, the Hillyard Community Club. The annual Hillyard Hi-Jinks Festival attracted the “movers and shakers” of Spokane.

The Kehoes had two children, one of which, Eileen Mary, died in infancy. The surviving daughter Ethyl was married to Earl Peasley. Agnes Kehoe passed away on November 17, 1959.

Thomas E. Kehoe

In the spring of 1902 Thomas E. Kehoe, born November 19, 1865, arrived in Spokane, Washington, to begin a new life. His prior business was located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His stable and carriage painting business failed because of an epidemic of glanders among his horses.

In 1907 Kehoe constructed a brick building in Hillyard, Washington, and opened a hardware store in it in January of 1915. He passed away in June of 1946. The business was carried on by his wife Agnes, daughter Ethyl, Earl Peasley and long-time employee Francis Mihm.

The Kehoe family also owned and operated the Kehoe Apartments and Hotel on the premises, a place where many employees of the Great Northern Railroad stayed between road trips.

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Content Description

The collection includes correspondence, 1937-1959; fragmentary records of the Hillyard Commercial Club, 1953-1959; the Hillyard Community Club, 1937-1941; and the Spokane Visiting Nurses Association, 1942-1958. There is some fragmentary material relating to the Kehoe Hardware Company. Additionally, there are many photographs which illustrate family life and the times in which the Kehoes lived.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright has not been assigned to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Museum Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher

Preferred Citation

Agnes M. Kehoe Papers, Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture/Eastern Washington State Historical Society, Spokane, WA.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Stussi, 1986 (L86-1459).

Processing Note

This collection contains sensitive materials with content that researchers may find harmful, including materials related to racism, sexual abuse, violent acts, white supremacy, and colonial erasure. The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is dedicated to addressing the harmful language and sensitive content within its collections through thoughtful curation, collection safeguards, and reparative cataloguing. To learn more about the MAC's practices, contact archives@northwestmuseum.org

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Boards of trade--Washington (State)
  • Businesswomen--Washington (State)
  • Hardware stores--Washington (State)
  • Home nursing--Washington (State)
  • Trade and professional associations--Washington (State)
  • Visiting nurses--Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Kehoe, Agnes M., 1875-1959--Archives
  • Kehoe, Thomas E.

Corporate Names

  • Kehoe Hardware Company (Spokane, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Hillyard (Spokane, Wash.)--Societies, etc.
  • Spokane (Wash.)--Societies, etc.
  • Washington (State)--Business, industries, and trades--Hardware
  • Washington (State)--Business, industries, and trades
  • Washington (State)--Societies, etc.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Hillyard Commercial Club (Spokane, Wash.) (creator)
    • Hillyard Community Club (Spokane, Wash.) (creator)
    • Spokane Visiting Nurses Association (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Edward W. Nolan
2023

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

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