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Mary Randlett artist photographs, 1949-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Randlett, Mary, 1924-
Title
Mary Randlett artist photographs
Dates
1949-1990 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 cubic feet, (2 boxes, 1 oversize folder; 68 photographs )
Collection Number
PH0422
Summary
Photographs of various artists and their artwork, 1949-1990
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Mary Randlett has been photographing the people, places, and arts of the Northwest for over half a century. She was born Mary Willis on May 5, 1924, in Seattle, Washington. Her father, Cecil Willis, ran Superior Reprographics, a blueprint company. Mary's mother, Elizabeth Bayley Willis, was a curator and marketer of international folk arts and crafts and was intimately involved in the Northwest art scene. Mark Tobey and Morris Graves were among the artists she befriended, and Mary Randlett would photograph many of her mother's artist friends later in life.

After receiving her first camera at age 10, Randlett made her first set of prints, depicting Orcas Island, in 1937. Her next camera, which she used during high school, was a Kodak 620 folding camera. When her younger sister went to Whitman College, Randlett went along. At Whitman, she used a campus darkroom to process and develop her photographs of friends, professors, and the campus.

After graduating in 1947 with a degree in political science, Randlett returned to Seattle, where she apprenticed herself to fashion photographer Hans Jorgensen, who had been Louise Dahl-Wolfe's assistant. On Jorgensen's advice, Randlett purchased a twin lens Rolleiflex camera and began shooting portraits of families and children. Although Jorgensen gave her tips on processing and developing her photographs, he never influenced her photographic technique. Randlett's portraiture was, however, influenced by the informal approach of George Mantor. In 1950, she married Herbert Randlett, and they had four children: Bob, Mary Ann, Peter, and Suzy.

In 1963, Randlett photographed poet Theodore Roethke at his home in Seattle. He died just two weeks later. Before long, she was shooting portraits of Roethke's students, including future Pulitzer prizewinner Carolyn Kizer. Visual artists -- including Kenneth Callahan, William Cumming, Philip McCracken, Leo Kenney, and countless other well-known names in Northwest art -- soon followed. These photographs are not merely portraits; they also document artists at work, installations of pieces, and gallery shows. Randlett has photographed over five hundred artists and writers.

But she did not limit herself to portraiture: nature photography is of great importance to Randlett, and she has experimented with lighting and techniques throughout her career. She collaborated with the poet Denise Levertov on Lifting the Veil: The Northwest Landscapes of Mary Randlett, which features Levertov poems inspired by Randlett's nature photographs. Architectural photography is another important subset of her body of work: she has documented many homes, commercial buildings, and parks, as well as the architects and landscape architects who designed them.

After Randlett and her husband divorced in 1972, she moved to Virginia, where she assisted a friend with research on Northwest Coast Indians and worked on a commission for the National Register of Historic Places. She returned to the Northwest in 1975 and continued her nature and portrait photography. Randlett has also worked on commissions from various organizations, including the King County Arts Commission and the Northwest Living section of the Seattle Times, and has collaborated on many publications. Her photographs have illustrated books on Northwest artists, the Bloedel Reserve, Seattle's historic preservation movement, and public art in Seattle.

Mary Randlett's work has been included in more than 120 exhibitions, over twenty of which have been solo shows. Her photographs are found in the permanent collections of museums nationwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Northwest Art.

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Content Description

Mary Randlett's portraits of various artists and their art, 1949-1990. Included are Guy Anderson, William Cumming, Richard Gilkey, Morris Graves, Mark Tobey, Paul Horiuchi, William Ivey, Clayton James, Leo Kenney, Philip McCracken, Neil Meitzler, George Tsutakawa

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Preferred Citation

The required credit line for use of images from Special Collections is: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, plus the negative number.

The negative number is provided with the image and is a letter plus number combination such as UW13452; Hegg 1234; or NA1275. A typical credit line would be, University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, UW13452.

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Administrative Information

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series 1, Miscellaneous still lives

    • Description: Misc. 1: Artist's work table with various small human figure sculptures with window in background

      5 1/2" x 9 1/4"

      Dates: April, 1968
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 1
      Location: Series 1, Miscellaneous still lives
    • Description: Misc. 2: Wooden table against brick wall with blooming daisies & other flowers in pot

      9 1/4" x 4 1/2"

      Dates: October, 1957
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 1
      Location: Series 1, Miscellaneous still lives
    • Description: Misc. 3: Nine clear vases on counter, each with long-stemmed blooming, white flower

      7 1/2" x 9"

      Dates: October, 1949
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 1
      Location: Series 1, Miscellaneous still lives

  • Series 2, Guy Anderson

    • Description: Anderson 1 : Anderson 3/4 figure in front of outdoor painting

      6 1/2" x 6 1/4"

      Dates: April, 1990
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 2
      Location: Series 2, Guy Anderson
    • Description: Anderson 2: Anderson, head & torso, side view, with hand on chin, in studio

      7 1/4" x 7 1/4"

      Dates: February, 1970
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 22
      Location: Series 2, Guy Anderson
    • Description: Anderson 3: Anderson, standing, full figure, in doorway of greenhouse(?)

      9 1/2" x 7 1/2"

      Dates: June, 1964
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 2
      Location: Series 2, Guy Anderson
    • Description: Anderson 4: Anderson, standing, full figure, outdoors, one hand on on hip, one on tree limb, with painting on fence

      8" x 12"

      Dates: April, 1987
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 2
      Location: Series 2, Guy Anderson
    • Description: Anderson 5: Anderson, seated on chair, hand on cheek, in front of floor-to-ceiling painting

      11 1/2" x 10"

      Dates: May, 1972
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 2
      Location: Series 2, Guy Anderson

  • Series 3, William Cumming (?)

    • Description: Cumming(?) 1: Cumming(?) standing, 3/4 figure, right hand on hip next to painting on easel

      6 1/2" x 6 1/2"

      Dates: April, 1990
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 3
      Location: Series 3, William Cumming (?)
    • Description: Cumming(?) 2: Cumming(?) seated, side view, laughing, with painting in background

      8 3/4" x 8 3/4"

      Dates: April, 1964
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 3
      Location: Series 3, William Cumming (?)
    • Description: Cumming(?) 3: Cumming(?) standing, 3/4 figure profile with paintbrush in hand & two paintings on wall

      12 3/4" x 10"

      Dates: June, 1965
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 3
      Location: Series 3, William Cumming (?)

  • Series 4, Richard Gilkey

    • Description: Gilkey 1: Gilkey, full figure, standing to far right next to painting with black oval in center

      9 1/4" x 13"

      Dates: February, 1970
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 4
      Location: Series 4, Richard Gilkey
    • Description: Gilkey 2: Gilkey, full figure, standing in shadow between paintings

      7" x 9"

      Dates: September, 1966
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 4
      Location: Series 4, Richard Gilkey
    • Description: Gilkey 3: Gilkey, full figure, seated on table with large sunflower in pot & sunflower painting

      13" x 10 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1966
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 4
      Location: Series 4, Richard Gilkey
    • Description: Gilkey 4: Gilkey, full figure, standing in corner with paintings on either side against walls

      7" x 9"

      Dates: March 1989
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 4
      Location: Series 4, Richard Gilkey

  • Series 5, Morris Graves & Mark Tobey

    • Description: Graves/Tobey 1: Tobey seated at table, outdoors, head & torso, side view, left hand covering face

      6" x 6"

      Dates: August, 1949
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: Series 5, Morris Graves & Mark Tobey
    • Description: Graves/Tobey 2: Tobey seated at table, outdoors, side view, 3/4 figure, arms crossed with trees in background

      7" x 7"

      Dates: August, 1949
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: Series 5, Morris Graves & Mark Tobey
    • Description: Graves/Tobey 3: Marion Willard, Morris Graves & Mark Tobey seated at table outdoors, Tobey petting dog, at Graves' home, Edmonds, WA

      7 1/2" x 9 1/4"

      Dates: August, 1949
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: Series 5, Morris Graves & Mark Tobey
    • Description: Graves/Tobey 4: Tobey, 3/4 figure, standing between tree trunks, hand on staff(?)

      10 1/2" x 10"

      Dates: August, 1949
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: Series 5, Morris Graves & Mark Tobey
    • Description: Graves/Tobey 5: Graves, full figure, standing with hand on tree trunk looking at his dog, "Edith"

      12 1/2" x 6 1/4"

      Dates: August, 1949
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: Series 5, Morris Graves & Mark Tobey
    • Description: Graves/Tobey 6: Graves seated at table outdoors, with leaves covering ground, brick building in background

      10 1/2" x 10 1/2"

      Dates: October, 1949
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: Series 5, Morris Graves & Mark Tobey

  • Series 6, Paul Horiuchi

    • Description: Horiuchi 1: Horiuchi, 3/4 figure, hand on arm, seated in front of painting

      5" x 6"

      Dates: April, 1966
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 6
      Location: Series 6, Paul Horiuchi
    • Description: Horiuchi 2: Horiuchi, head & torso, standing, viewed from side, working on collage painting

      6" x 6"

      Dates: September, 1967
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 6
      Location: Series 6, Paul Horiuchi
    • Description: Horiuchi 3: Horiuchi, seated on large rocks

      7 1/2" x 7 1/2"

      Dates: March, 1990
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 6
      Location: Series 6, Paul Horiuchi
    • Description: Horiuchi 4: Horiuchi, 3/4 figure, standing in middle of studio with paintings in background

      9 1/2" x 9"

      Dates: September, 1967
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 1, Folder 6
      Location: Series 6, Paul Horiuchi

  • Series 7, William Ivey

    • Description: Ivey 1: Ivey seated in chair with cigarette, viewed from the side

      6" x 6"

      Dates: September, 1966
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 1
      Location: Series 7, William Ivey
    • Description: Ivey 2: Ivey kneeling in doorway, looking at painting

      7 1/2" x 7 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1966
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 1
      Location: Series 7, William Ivey
    • Description: Ivey 3: Ivey, full figure, standing in studio next to painting

      7 1/2" x 7 1/2"

      Dates: March, 1990
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 1
      Location: Series 7, William Ivey
    • Description: Ivey 4: Ivey seated on chaise with painting in background

      11 1/4" x 10 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1966
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 1
      Location: Series 7, William Ivey

  • Series 8, Clayton James

    • Description: James 1: James standing with one foot on bench, outside of house, with 3 rocks on bench

      6 1/2" x 6 1/4"

      Dates: April, 1990
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 2
      Location: Series 8, Clayton James
    • Description: James 2: James, 3/4 figure, standing, working on piece of wooden sculpture

      9" x 8"

      Dates: August, 1970
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 2
      Location: Series 8, Clayton James
    • Description: James (?) 3: Black metal urn/pot on floor with 3 large almost blob-like sculptures, possibly works of James

      6 1/2" x 6 1/2"

      Dates: March, 1978
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 2
      Location: Series 8, Clayton James
    • Description: James (?) 4: Six pots/sculptures of varying sizes & shapes on wooden floor, possibly works of James

      6 1/4" x 9 1/2"

      Dates: March, 1978
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 2
      Location: Series 8, Clayton James
    • Description: James 5: James, full figure, standing, left hand on hip, surrounded by sculptures

      10 1/2" x 10 1/2"

      Dates: August, 1970
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 2
      Location: Series 8, Clayton James

  • Series 9, Leo Kenney

    • Description: Kenney 1: Kenney, full figure, seated on bench, outdoors

      6 1/2" x 6"

      Dates: April, 1990
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 3
      Location: Series 9, Leo Kenney
    • Description: Kenney 2: Kenney, full figure, seated with arm over chair back with painting on easel in background

      10 1/4" x 6 1/2"

      Dates: June, 1965
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 3
      Location: Series 9, Leo Kenney
    • Description: Kenney 3: Studio/work area of Leo Kenney: painting, paints & brushes on work table with view of lake out of window

      6 1/2" 7 1/4"

      Dates: April, 1968
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 3
      Location: Series 9, Leo Kenney
    • Description: Kenney 4: Kenney, head & torso, profile, working on painting with paint brush, painting lying flat on table

      7" x 7"

      Dates: November, 1968
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 3
      Location: Series 9, Leo Kenney
    • Description: Kenney 5: Kenney, full figure, smoking a cigarette, standing next to barrel-like sculpture on pedestal

      9 1/4" x 6"

      Dates: September, 1969
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 3
      Location: Series 9, Leo Kenney

  • Series 10, Philip McCracken

    • Description: McCracken 1: McCracken, head & torso, profile, in studio with sculpture of owls

      6 1/2" x 8 1/4"

      Dates: July, 1979
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 4
      Location: Series 10, Philip McCracken
    • Description: McCracken 2: McCracken's studio with various owl sculptures

      6" x 7"

      Dates: January, 1978
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 4
      Location: Series 10, Philip McCracken
    • Description: McCracken 3: McCracken, 3/4 figure, seated on tree branch

      6 1/2" x 6 1/2"

      Dates: August, 1989
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 4
      Location: Series 10, Philip McCracken
    • Description: McCracken 4: Sculpture by McCracken: Two large, curled leaves with stems, made of metal, displayed outdoors on grass

      7 1/2" x 10"

      Dates: November, 1979
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 4
      Location: Series 10, Philip McCracken
    • Description: McCracken 5: McCracken, head & shoulders, next to eagle sculpture on tall pedestal

      10 1/2" x 7"

      Dates: May, 1967
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 4
      Location: Series 10, Philip McCracken

  • Series 11, Neil Meitzler

    • Description: Meitzler 1: Meitzler, full figure, standing, surrounded by large rocks

      6 1/2" x 6 1/4"

      Dates: April, 1990
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 5
      Location: Series 11, Neil Meitzler
    • Description: Meitzler 2: Meitzler, head & torso, holding cat with cat painting on wall

      7" x 7"

      Dates: August, 1966
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 5
      Location: Series 11, Neil Meitzler
    • Description: Meitzler 3: Meitzler, full figure, seated on stool with cigarette, elbow on knee, in studio

      9" x 7 1/4"

      Dates: September, 1965
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 5
      Location: Series 11, Neil Meitzler
    • Description: Meitzler 4: Meitzler, 3/4 figure, profile, seated on rocks next to stream

      10 1/2" x 13"

      Dates: August, 1996
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 5
      Location: Series 11, Neil Meitzler

  • Series 12, George Tsutakawa

    Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 5

    • Description: Tsutakawa 1: Fountain sculpture by Tsutakawa

      8 3/4" x 6"

      Dates: Undated
      Location: Series 12, George Tsutakawa
    • Description: Tsutakawa 2: Tsutakawa, 3/4 figure, on bended knee, in studio

      10 1/2" x 10 1/4"

      Dates: May, 1967
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 6
      Location: Series 12, George Tsutakawa
    • Description: Tsutakawa 3: Tsutakawa's desk with 3-D model of "Song of the Forest" fountain sculpture & drawings of same

      5" x 6"

      Dates: October, 1980
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 6
      Location: Series 12, George Tsutakawa
    • Description: Tsutakawa 4: Tsutakawa, full figure, standing with hand on "Song of the Forest" fountain sculpture outdoors

      9 1/2" x 5"

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 6
      Location: Series 12, George Tsutakawa
    • Description: Tsutakawa 5: Tsutakawa, 3/4 figure, seated with cane with fountain sculpture in background

      7" x 6"

      Dates: October, 1989
      Container: Box PH0422 Box 2, Folder 6
      Location: Series 12, George Tsutakawa

  • Series 13, Robert Monroe and Richard Engeman

  • Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize

    Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237

    • Description: Misc. 1:Theodore Roethke reading

      10" x 13 1/2"

      Dates: July 18, 1963
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc. 2: John Wharton with art

      16 1/2" x 15"

      Dates: September, 1971
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc. 3:Charles Smith in studio

      16" x 15 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1971
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc. 4: Robert Maki

      15 1/2" x 15 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1971
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc. 5: Everett du Pen in studio

      16" x 15 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1971
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc 6: Paul Jenkins

      16 3/4" x 15 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1971
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc. 7: Christopher English

      16" x 15 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1971
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc. 8: Norman Taylor in studio

      16" x 15 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1971
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc. 9: Duane Pasco

      16" x 15 1/2"

      Dates: September, 1971
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize
    • Description: Misc. 10: Noguchi sculpture. Weatern Washington State College, Bellingham

      13" x 19"

      Dates: November, 1970
      Container: Oversize Folder PH0422 Oversize M237
      Location: Series 14, Miscellaneous Oversize


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