Thaddeus Bruno family papers, circa 1933-1997
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Bruno, Thaddeus B., 1907-1997
- Title
- Thaddeus Bruno family papers
- Dates
- circa 1933-1997 (inclusive)19331997
- Quantity
- 0.5 cubic feet, (1 flat box (11x14); 1 oversize folder (30x42))
- Collection Number
- Coll 704
- Summary
- Photographs and other materials relating to Thaddeus B. Bruno (1907-1997) of Portland, Oregon, and his family. Bruno worked in real estate and Republican politics and was civically active. The collection also includes materials relating to the Bruno family's residence in Lake Oswego, Oregon, designed by architect Van Evera Bailey, including blueprints of Bailey's architectural drawings.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Thaddeus B. Bruno was born in 1907 in Portland, Oregon. His family owned Bruno Photography Studios, which he sold to Charles Winningham, Jr. in 1960. He served in the Army Air Forces in World War II. He worked as a real estate developer, serving as senior vice president of Cushman & Wakefield and owning Thaddeus B. Bruno Property Investments. He was also active in the Republican Party, serving as the Oregon Republican chair and the finance chair for the campaigns of U.S. presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan; U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield; and Oregon Governor Tom McCall. His other positions included head of the Oregon Racing Commission, president of the Portland Civic Theatre, president of the Multnomah Athletic Club, president of the Waverley Country Club, director and president of Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center, and director of the television station KATU.
In 1934, he married Wanda Nadine Starr (later Wanda Alles, 1914-1984). The couple had two children: Thaddeus "Todd" Bruno, Jr., and Lynnda Bruno (later Hart). Thaddeus Bruno and Wanda Starr Bruno divorced in 1944. In 1947, Thaddeus Bruno married his second wife, Dean Harding (1907-2007); the couple had a son, Scott. Thaddeus Bruno died in October 1997.
Sources: Obituary for Thaddeus Bruno in the Oregonian, October 24, 1997, page D13; "Bruno Photo Studios Sold," Oregonian, May 28, 1960, page 5; vital records via Ancestry.com; information provided by Lynnda Hart in 2018.
Content Description
The collection consists of papers of Thaddeus B. Bruno, a real estate broker from Portland, Oregon, and his family. The bulk of the collection consists of photographs of Bruno; his first wife, Wanda Starr Bruno; and his children, Thaddeus B. "Todd" Bruno and Lynnda Bruno (later Lynnda Hart). Many of these photographs were taken by Bruno Studios, a photography studio that the family owned, and some of them are hand-colored. There is also a photograph of Thaddeus B. Bruno's father, Bruno A. Buczkowski. The collection also includes several items relating to the family's house in Lake Oswego, Oregon, which was designed by architect Van Evera Bailey. These consist of two blueprint sheets of the architectural drawings for the house, a photograph of the house, and the June 1939 issue of Design Trends that featured the house. Other materials in the collection consist of newspaper clippings from 1943 about Thaddeus Bruno, Jr. and Lynnda Bruno; a photocopy of Thaddeus B. Bruno's obituary; and his memorial service program.
Use of the Collection
Preferred Citation
Thaddeus Bruno family papers, Coll 704, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Gift of Lynnda Hart, March 2018 (Lib. Acc. 29234).
Processing Note
The collection was processed in 2018 by Jeffrey A. Hayes, and description was revised in 2025 to conform to current standard.
Related Materials
Other materials relating to the Bruno family at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library are in Coll 328, the Bruno family scrapbooks and souvenir book.
Related Materials
The bulk of architectural drawings by Van Evera Bailey at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library are designated Mss 3128.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Architecture, Domestic--Oregon--Lake Oswego--Designs and plans
- Families--Oregon
Personal Names
- Alles, Wanda J., 1914-1984--Photographs
- Bruno, Thaddeus B., 1907-1997--Photographs
- Bruno, Thaddeus B., Jr., 1935---Photographs
- Hart, Lynnda, 1939---Photographs
Family Names
- Bruno family--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- architectural drawings (visual works)
- photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Bailey, Van Evera, 1903-1980 (architect)
Corporate Names
- Bruno Studios (Portland, Or.) (photographer)
