Businesswoman, state legislator, and
civic leader, of Hillyard, Wash. Correspondence (1937-1959) and records of
community organizations in which Kehoe was involved, including Hillyard
Commercial Club (1953-1959), Hillyard Community Club (1937-1941), and Spokane
Visiting Nurses Association (1942-1958), which she helped organize in 1942.
Includes material relating to Kehoe Hardware Company, Spokane, Wash., owned by
Kehoe and her husband, Thomas E. Kehoe.
Repository:
Eastern Washington State Historical
Society/Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
Joel E. Ferris Research Library and Archives
2316 W. First Avenue Spokane, WA 99201 Phone: (509) 363-5313 Fax: (509) 363-5303 Email: archives@northwestmuseum.org
Languages:
Materials are
in English.
Sponsor:
Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Agnes M. Kehoe
The wife of Thomas E. Kehoe, Agnes M. Kehoe was born on a farm near
Mason City, Iowa, March 26, c. 1875. As a resident of Hillyard and Spokane, for
57 years Mrs. Kehoe was noted for her activities in social welfare. She earned
the nickname “Mrs. Hillyard.”
In 1938 she filed for the legislature of Washington State on the
Democratic ticket. She was elected three times by her district, each time
without conducting a political campaign.
Mrs. Kehoe was a member of the Board of Regents of Holy Names College.
In 1951 she was awarded its Marian award for “significant contributions” to her
community. She was a former president and life member of the Spokane Visiting
Nurses Association, which she helped organize in 1942. She also was a life
member of the Washington State Tuberculosis League and a regent of the Catholic
Daughters of America. She gained recognition for her efforts on behalf of the
business community of Hillyard as a member of the Hillyard Commercial Club,
and, for a time, the Hillyard Community Club. The annual Hillyard Hi-Jinks
Festival attracted the “movers and shakers” of Spokane.
The Kehoes had two children, one of which, Eileen Mary, died in
infancy. The surviving daughter Ethyl was married to Earl Peasley. Agnes Kehoe
passed away on November 17, 1959.
Thomas E. Kehoe
In the spring of 1902 Thomas E. Kehoe, born November 19, 1865, arrived
in Spokane, Washington, to begin a new life. His prior business was located in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. His stable and carriage painting business failed
because of an epidemic of glanders among his horses.
In 1907 Kehoe constructed a brick building in Hillyard, Washington,
and opened a hardware store in it in January of 1915. He passed away in June of
1946. The business was carried on by his wife Agnes, daughter Ethyl, Earl
Peasley and long-time employee Francis Mihm.
The Kehoe family also owned and operated the Kehoe Apartments and
Hotel on the premises, a place where many employees of the Great Northern
Railroad stayed between road trips.
Content Description
The collection includes correspondence, 1937-1959; fragmentary records
of the Hillyard Commercial Club, 1953-1959; the Hillyard Community Club,
1937-1941; and the Spokane Visiting Nurses Association, 1942-1958. There is
some fragmentary material relating to the Kehoe Hardware Company. Additionally,
there are many photographs which illustrate family life and the times in which
the Kehoes lived.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is not restricted.
Restrictions on Use :
Collection is open for use.
Preferred Citation :
Agnes M. Kehoe Papers (Ms 13), Eastern Washington State Historical
Society/Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, WA.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information :
Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Stussi, 1986 (L86-1459).
Processing Note :
Processed to the file folder level.
Additional Reference Guides :
Nolan, Edward W.
A Guide to the Manuscript Collections in the
Eastern Washington State Historical Society (Spokane, WA: Eastern
Washington State Historical Society, 1987).
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Online
Computer Library Center (OCLC) WorldCat database. Researchers desiring
materials about related topics, persons, or places should search WorldCat using
these headings.
Personal Names :
Kehoe, Agnes M., 1875-1959--Archives
Kehoe, Thomas E.
Corporate Names :
Kehoe Hardware Company (Spokane, Wash.)
Geographical Names :
Hillyard (Spokane, Wash.)--Societies, etc.
Spokane (Wash.)--Business, industries, and
trades--Hardware
Spokane (Wash.)--Medical affairs--Nurses and nursing
Spokane (Wash.)--Societies, etc.
Washington (State)--Business, industries, and trades
Washington (State)--Business, industries, and
trades--Hardware
Washington (State)--Medical affairs--Nurses and
nursing
Washington (State)--Societies, etc.
Subject Terms :
Boards of
trade--Washington (State)
Businesswomen--Washington (State)
Hardware
stores--Washington (State)
Home
nursing--Washington (State)
Trade and
professional associations--Washington (State)
