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Henry C. Bertelsen Papers, 1906-1968

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Henry C. Bertelsen
Title
Henry C. Bertelsen Papers
Dates
1906-1968 (inclusive)
Quantity
5 linear ft., (6 boxes)
Collection Number
Ms 57
Summary
Henry Bertelsen studied at the Chicago Institute of Fine Art. After finishing his work there, Bertelsen came to Spokane in 1905. He went to work as a draftsman for the architectural firm of Cutter & Malmgren, continuing to work for Cutter after Karl Malmgren left in 1917. When Cutter departed for California in 1923, Bertelsen took over what remained of the business in payment for back wages. Bertelsen continued to practice until his death in 1963. The collection consists of office correspondence, 1940-1954; financial and tax records, 1938-1948; and building specifications, 1927-1939.The Eastern Washington State Historical Society also has 150 sets of architectural drawings by Bertelsen.
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a Department of Education Teaching American History grant administered by Educational Service District 101 and Eastern Washington University.
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Biographical Note

Born in Varde, Denmark in 1888, Henry C. Bertelsen arrived in Spokane, Washington in 1905. Before coming to this city he studied art at the Chicago Institute of Fine Art. In 1914, Bertelsen was chief draftsman for Kirkland Cutter in the design of the Davenport Hotel. Other Spokane buildings which he designed in whole or in part include the Spokane Coliseum, the Inland Automobile Association Buildings, the Shrine Hospital for Crippled Children, several buildings on the Gonzaga University campus and buildings for the Sisters of the Holy Names. All of these are noted in major sections of the inventory. Bertelsen was very prominent in charitable and civic projects, e.g., the Salvation Army, Booth Memorial Hospital and the Inland Automobile Association. He was a trustee of the Fairmont Cemetery Association, and a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Inland Empire Boy Scout Council, Rotary, Spokane Club, to mention but a few. He died on August 23, 1963 and was survived by his wife Alma G. Bertelsen, who lived to the age of 93 (1888-1981). She was secretary and receptionist at her husband’s firm.

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Content Description

The bulk of the folios in the collection contain specifications, change orders, drawings and invoices which give a picture of the of the work of Bertelsen as an architect during and after WWII. In addition to this file Eastern Washington Historical Society has 150 sets of architectural drawings by Bertelsen.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Publication Rights

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

Henry C. Bertelsen Papers (Ms 57), Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series: a small series of personal records relating to Bertelsen's civic projects and personal life and a projects series. Items in the second series are arranged alphabetically by the name of the project or client. There is also a separate set of drawings.

Custodial History

Unknown

Acquisition Information

Purchased from R. Linus Nelson, III, 1985. Accession number L98-44.

Separated Materials

Architectural drawings have been physically separated from the manuscript collection, but are listed in the inventory.

Related Materials

Cutter and Malmgren (Ms 49)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architecture--Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Bertelsen, Henry C.--Archives (creator)

Corporate Names

  • Booth Memorial Hospital
  • Boy Scouts of America
  • Fairmont Cemetery
  • Gonzaga University
  • Holy Names Academy
  • Holy Names College
  • Inland Automobile Association Buildings
  • Our Savior Lutheran Church
  • Salvation Army
  • Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children

Geographical Names

  • Spokane (Wash.)--Architecture
  • Spokane (Wash.)--Business, industries, and trades--Architects
  • Washington (State)--Architecture
  • Washington (State)--Business, industries, and trades--Architects

Form or Genre Terms

  • Specifications

Occupations

  • Architects--Washington (State)

Finding aid prepared by H.W. Johnston.
1998

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

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