View XML QR Code

John D. Whiteaker Collection on the Denny and Graham Families, circa 1853-1945

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Whiteaker, John D., b. 1926
Title
John D. Whiteaker Collection on the Denny and Graham Families
Dates
circa 1853-1945 (inclusive)
Quantity
.64 cubic feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
2014.81
Summary
Photographs, scrapbook, diary and ephemera related to the Denny and Graham families of Seattle
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

Biographical Note

David Thomas Denny (1832-1903) arrived at the future site of Seattle in 1851, shortly before the party led by his brother Arthur landed at Alki Point. On January 23, 1853, David Thomas Denny married Louisa Boren at Arthur Denny’s Alki cabin, in a civil ceremony performed by David “Doc” Maynard. After the ceremony, the couple embarked by canoe to their new home at the foot of Denny Way. They received a married land claim of 640 acres in what is now central Seattle.

Louisa Boren and David Thomas Denny had eight children, including David Thomas Denny II. By the early 1880s, they were among Seattle’s wealthiest citizens, with a fortune estimated at $3 million dollars. In the Panic of 1893, however, the Dennys lost everything, including their newly built Queen Anne mansion. They retreated to a cottage at Licton Springs near Green Lake owned by their daughter, the artist Emily Inez Denny. In 1899, at the age of 67, Denny prospected for gold and worked overseeing improvements on the Snoqualmie Pass road. He died several years later at the Licton Springs house.

David Thomas Denny II (1867-1939) married Nellie Elizabeth Graham (1871-1956), the daughter of Seattle pioneers Elizabeth Crammond and Walter Graham. Nellie Elizabeth Graham attended the University of Washington and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Washington State Pioneers Association, and Daughters of Pioneers of Washington. Her daughter, Inez Louisa Denny (1893-1968) attended the University of Washington. She married John Charles Whiteaker (1894-1958.) and their son, John D. Whiteaker, was born in 1926. Inez Louise Whiteaker was a member of the Guild of Children’s Orthopedic Hospital and the Washington State Historical Society.

Return to Top

Content Description

The collection contains studio portraits and informal snapshots of Denny and Graham family members, including David Thomas Denny II, Elizabeth Crammond Graham, Nellie Graham Denny, and Inez Louisa Denny Whiteaker. A scrapbook contains Seattle newspaper clippings related to Denny family activities, and obituaries. Loose diary pages handwritten by David Thomas Denny II while living at Licton Springs relate primarily to his declining state of health. Certificates, awards, wedding invitations, church booklets and correspondence document family business interests and other Seattle activities. A collection of telegrams, bills, and receipts relate to the illness and death of Walter Claude Denny, Inez Louisa Denny’s brother. A small Bible and poetry book belonged to Nellie Graham Denny.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in MOHAI's online collections.

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

John D. Whiteaker Collection on the Denny and Graham Families, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Location of Collection

4a.1.4

Acquisition Information

Gift of John D. Whiteaker, 2014.

Separated Materials

Two items received with the donation were housed separately. A placemat from the Coon-Chicken Inn (2014.81.55) is housed with the Ephemera Collection, and a brown paper book cover from the University Book Store (2014.81.56) is housed with miscellaneous accessions.

Related Materials

David Thomas Denny II Family Papers, 2011.26.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Photographs, circa 1853-1940

    • Description: 2014.81.1: Photograph of marriage certificate for David Denny and Louisa Boren

      Photograph of handwritten letter certifying marriage

      Dates: 1853
      Container: Box/Folder 1/1
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.2-3: David T. Denny, Sr.

      Two copies of same photo, one is hand-colored.

      Dates: circa 1900
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.4-5: Two photographs in envelope: man posing in military uniform, and two young women

      Two calling card size photographs in small envelope addressed to Wm. P. Hart, Petroleum Center, Pennsylvania, with notation "Politeness of Mr. Walter Graham."

      Dates: circa 1850
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.6: Tintype of Elizabeth Crammond Graham as a young woman

      Removed from bible. Handwritten on back: 2444 Harvard St., Seattle

      Dates: circa 1860
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.7: Elizabeth Crammond Graham with a young child
      Braas (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1925
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.8: Elizabeth Crammond Graham
      La Roche, Seattle (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1925
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.9: David Thomas Denny II as a young man
      Bellevue Studio, Seattle (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.10: David Thomas Denny II in middle age

      Copy of photograph.

      Dates: circa 1920
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.11-13: David Thomas Denny II in the Philippines

      Three photographic postcards showing David Denny II and 2 other men

      Dates: circa 1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1/7
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.14: Nellie Elizabeth Graham
      Dates: circa 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.15: Nellie Elizabeth Graham
      Walters (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.16: David Thomas and Nellie Graham Denny standing outdoors holding flowers
      Lawrence Denny Lindsley (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.17: Family portrait of Denny and Graham family, three generations
      P. Croule U'Renn (photographer)

      Left to right: Elizabeth Crammond Graham, David Thomas Denny, Nellie Graham Denny, Inez Denny Whiteaker, John C. Whiteaker.

      Dates: 1924
      Container: Box/Folder 1/10
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.18: John Charles Whiteaker as a young man
      Musket (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1910
      Container: Box/Folder 1/11
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.19-20: Inez Louisa Denny as a child
      Brass (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1896
      Container: Box/Folder 1/12
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.21-22: Studio portraits of Inez Louisa Denny as a young woman
      P. Croule U'Renn (photographer)
      Dates: 1914
      Container: Box/Folder 1/13
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.23: Framed, hand-colored portrait of Inez Louisa Denny

      Same image as 2014.81.22

      Dates: 1914
      Container: Box/Folder 1/14
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.24: Hand-colored portrait of Inez Louise Denny Whiteaker
      Dates: circa 1930
      Container: Box/Folder 1/13
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.25: Studio portrait of Inez Louisa Denny Whiteaker
      Leonid Fink (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1/13
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.26: Inez Louisa and John C. Whiteaker

      Snapshot taken outdoors.

      Dates: circa 1945
      Container: Box/Folder 1/15
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.27: Inez Louisa Whiteaker and another woman dressed in 1890s clothes, probably for Founders' Day celebration
      Dates: circa 1945
      Container: Box/Folder 1/15
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.28: Whiteaker family at dining table

      Left to right: Inez Denny Whiteaker, John D. Whiteaker, John C. Whiteaker

      Dates: circa 1945
      Container: Box/Folder 1/16
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.29: Whiteaker family and others at dining table

      Inez, John D. and John C. Whiteaker with five women, including Nellie Graham Denny and Sonia Lindsley. Same setting as 2014.81.28.

      Dates: circa 1945
      Container: Box/Folder 1/16
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.30-31: Studio portraits of a young man, possibly Harold Denny or Harold U'Renn
      P. Croule U'Renn (photographer)

      These photographs were identified by the donor as "cousin Harold."

      Dates: circa 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.32: Home Consumer League Group at entrance to the Denny Renton Mine
      Webster & Stevens (photographer)
      Dates: 1914
      Container: Box/Folder 1/18
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.33: Group of women in historical costume for Founders' Day celebration
      Dates: circa 1915
      Container: Box/Folder 1/19
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.34: Nine people seated around a dining table
      Dates: circa 1920
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.35: Woman in a hat standing outdoors
      Dates: circa 1920
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.36: Safeway store exterior with automobiles
      Dates: circa 1930
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940
    • Description: 2014.81.37: Studio portrait of unidentified young woman
      Bushnell (photographer)
      Dates: circa 1930
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Photographs, circa 1853-1940

  • Scrapbook, diary, and autograph book

    • Description: 2014.81.38: Scrapbook of clippings relating to the Denny and Graham families
      Dates: circa 1920
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Scrapbook, diary, and autograph book
    • Description: 2014.81.38b: Folder of loose clippings removed from scrapbook
      Dates: circa 1920
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Scrapbook, diary, and autograph book
    • Description: 2014.81.39: Loose diary pages written by David T. Denny

      Loose pages handwritten in pencil, appear to be written by D.T. Denny Sr. and mostly comment on his poor state of health.

      Dates: 1901
      Container: Box/Folder 2/1
      Location: Scrapbook, diary, and autograph book
    • Description: 2014.81.40: Nellie Graham autograph book

      The autograph book was given to 8-year-old Nellie Graham by Mrs. L. Bagley, Sunday school teacher.

      Dates: 1880
      Container: Box/Folder 2/2
      Location: Scrapbook, diary, and autograph book

  • Certificates, correspondence, and ephemera

  • Realia

    • Description: 2014.81.52: Leather wallet and contents

      Contents include calling cards of Mrs. D. Thos. Denny and D.T. Denny.

      Dates: circa 1920
      Container: Box/Folder 2/10
      Location: Realia

  • Books

    • Description: 2014.81.53: Bible belonging to Nellie Graham
      Dates: circa 1900
      Container: Box 2
      Location: Books
    • Description: 2014.81.54: Charles Kingsley poetry book belonging to Nellie Graham

      Nellie Graham's signature in front of book, dated January 1, 1885

      Dates: 1885
      Container: Box 2
      Location: Books

Finding aid prepared by Sue Terrible
2016

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

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West