University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0791Photographs of
Theodore Roethke and familyapproximately 1908-199760 photographic prints (1 box, 2 oversize folders) ; various sizes20 negatives (1 folder) ; 35 mmCollection materials are in
English.Photographs of
Theodore Roethke and his familyAmerican poet and author Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) was born in
Saginaw, Michigan to Helen Huebner Roethke and Otto Roethke. He attended the
University of Michigan from 1929 to 1936 and received BA and MA degrees. He
married Beatrice Heath O'Connell in 1953. Roethke began his career as a teacher
in 1931. Roethke taught English at a number of universities, culminating in an
appointment to the University of Washington in 1947 that lasted until his
death.
In 1941 Roethke wrote his first volume of verse,
Open House. Roethke went on to write many other books of
collected poetry. In 1954 Roethke received a Pulitzer Prize for his book
The Waking: Poems 1933-1953. He inspired several other
poets as an advisor to graduate students at the University of Washington
including Carolyn Kizer, Richard Hugo, David Wagoner, and many others.Sources:
"Roethke, Theodore (1908-1963) - HistoryLink.org." Accessed September
26, 2017. http://www.historylink.org/File/5410.
Theodore Roethke, his parents Otto and Helen Roethke, his sister June,
their home and greenhouse in Michigan, as well as photographs of Roethke's wife
Beatrice Roethke Lushington and his lifelong friend Katherine Stokes.
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Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. The
Cunningham Trust holds the copyright and licenses reproduction rights for all
Imogen Cunningham photographs. Contact Special Collections, University of
Washington Libraries for details.
Donor: Beatrice Roethke Lushington, November 1999; June Roethke
estate, September 1997 ; Karyl Winn, 1997; Hoyt Public Library, November 1999.
James McCloud, April 7, 1978 - 6 photographs item #s 28-33. 21 photographs (20
prints and 1 contact sheet) and 20 negatives transferred from the Dave Duncomb
collection PH1499, April 2019.
Processed by Marion Brown, 2008; Michael Lowry Lamble, June, 2019;
Susan Fitch, 2020
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Roethke, Theodore, 1908-1963--Family--PhotographsRoethke, Theodore, 1908-1963--PhotographsStokes, Katharine Martin, 1906---PhotographsRoethke, Otto, 1872-1928--PhotographsRoethke, Helen H., 1881-1955--PhotographsRoethke, June, 1913-1997--PhotographsGreenhouses--Michigan--Saginaw--PhotographsPoets, American--20th century--Homes and hauntsPhotographic printsPortrait photographsPhotographsGerman AmericansHome and FamilyLiterature
Otto Roethke and Helen HuebnerOtto T. Roethke was born on December 31, 1872 in Saginaw, Michgan.
He and Helen Huebner were married in 1906. Otto's father, Wilhelm, a German
immigrant, ran a large set of greenhouses. Otto became a market-gardener who
owned a large local 25-acre greenhouse, along with his brother. Otto Roethke
died from cancer on August 29, 1923 when his son Theodore was a teenager.
1/11Otto Roethke in a suitLyon, Saginaw,
Michiganbetween 1892 and 1902? 1/12Otto Roethke facing to the leftBeckmann, Saginaw, Michiganbetween 1890 and 1897?1/13Otto Roethke facing to the rightBeckmann Bros Saginaw,
Michiganbetween 1898 and 1917?1/14Portrait of Otto Roethke in a hat, suit and
bowtiebetween 1910 and 1915?1/15Otto Roethke and man, possibly Charles
Roethkebetween 1900 and 1909? At some point, Karl changed his name to Charles--possibly to
Anglicize his name.
1/16Portrait of Helen Huebnerbetween 1900 and 1906? 1/17Portrait of Helen Huebner and OteliaDragobeween 1900 and 1906? Otelia was Theodore Roethke's Aunt Tillie.
1/18aGrandmother Huebner, Great Grandmother Wuest, Norman
Kromau, Laraine and Aunt Gustie in a bedroomBeckmann Bros., Saginaw, Michiganbetween 1898 and 1917XC28bPortrait of Mr. and Mrs. Huebner, Theodore and June
Roethke's grandparents1870s?Theodore and June RoethkeTheodore was born in 1908, June in 1913.
1/29Portrait of infant Theodore RoethkeBeckmann Bros1909? 1/210June and Theodore Roethke outside a house1917? 1/211Theodore Roethke in front of a post1917?1/212June and Helen Reothkebetween 1923 and 1925? Written on verso: My favorite, June and Mother
1/213Helen Roethke standing among flowers.between 1919-1921? Written on verso: Mother--flowers she raised in backyard.
1/214Theodore Roethke in between rows of dahlias in the
greenhouse 1920? 1/215aTheodore Roethke in the greenhousebetween 1920 and 1923 XC215bThe Roethke Greenhousebetween 1890 and 19231/216Portrait of June RoethkeLe Clare1932 Beatrice Roethke LushingtonBeatrice was a former student of Theodore's who married him in
1953. Although his junior, she quickly took on a caretaker role in his life,
watching over him through his mental health crises and periods of
hospitalization. Despite a sometimes difficult marriage, Beatrice remained a
strong supporter of Theodore and had some of his works unpublished works
released following his death. She remarried in 1972, and lived in England for
the rest of her life.
1/317Studio portrait of Beatrice Roethke, Winchester
VirginiaSpring 1943Turgeon, Washington DC 1/318Beatrice Roethke on cobblestone street, New
York1952 1/319Portrait of Bea Roethke Lushington 1972?Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco Copyright belongs to Imogen Cunningham Trust. Restrictions may
exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections,
University of Washington Libraries for details.
Unsigned. Imogen Cunningham label on verso, stamped negative No.
6.
Portraits1/420a-20cJune Roethkebefore 1945?1/421Theodore Roethke with Penn State tennis
playersbetween 1936 and 1947? 1/422a-22bTheodore Roethke looking away from the
cameraApril 30, 1952James O. Sneddon XC222cTheodore Roethke looking away from the
cameraApril 30, 1952James O. Sneddon 1/423a-23bTheodore Roethke looking to the side of the
cameraApril 30, 1952James O. Sneddon 1/424-25Theodore Roethke sitting in an armchair and holding a
drinkbetween 1955 and 1963 1/426-27Theodore Roethke in a pinstripe suit looking at the
cameraJanuary 14, 1959 Photographs of Theodore Roethke by Imogen
Cunningham1959?Copyright belongs to Imogen Cunningham Trust. Restrictions may
exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections,
University of Washington Libraries for details.
Unsigned. Stamped on back with credit to Imogen Cunningham, 1331
Green St., San Francisco 9. Undated.
1/528Theodore Roethke looking into the camera with arms
folded1959?Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco 1/529Theodore Roethke looking into the camera1959?Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco 1/530Theodore Roethke looking at the camera 1959?Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco 1/531Theodore Roethke looking at the camera with mouth
open1959?Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco 1/532Theodore Roethke looking into the camera1959?Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco 1/533Theodore Roethke seen at slight angle with eyes
closed1959?Imogen Cunningham, San Francisco Photographs of Roethke by DuncombeMarch 7, 1962Duncombe was a student photographer at the University of
Washington, working as part of the Tyee yearbook staff.
A series of photos originally taken for the University of
Washington Tyee yearbook and later published in
the poetry publication Madrona, Volume I, Number
3, 1972.
1/634-42Theodore Roethke lecturing a classroom of students from
his desk (Duncombe #s 1- 9)March 7, 1962 1/643-45Theodore Roethke standing at his desk (Duncombe #10, 11,
12)March 7, 1962 1/646-53Theodore Roethke lecturing a classroom of students from
his desk (Duncombe #s 13- 20March 7, 1962 Roethke home and graves in Michigan1/754Headstones of Helen, Otto and June Roethke1997? 1/755Headstone of Theodore Roethke in Oakwood Cemetery,
Saginaw, Michigan1997? 1/756-59Roethke family home in Michigan1997? Katherine M. Stokes1/760Portrait of Katherine M. StokesJohn Wanamaker, New
York, NY1935? Kathy Stokes was a close friend of Theodore's and a lifelong
correspondent.