Joanna Eckstein (1903-1983) was born and grew up in the First Hill
neighborhood of Seattle. Prominent patron of the arts, Eckstein was the
daughter of Seattle civic leader and longtime school board member Nathan
Eckstein, for whom Eckstein Middle School is named, and Mina Schwabacher
Eckstein, whose family owned the Schwabacher Brothers & Company wholesale
grocery store. Joanna Eckstein attended Seattle public schools T.T. Minor
Elementary and Broadway High, and then studied at Goucher College. Eckstein
worked briefly as a social worker for the Social Welfare League after
graduating college, but the job "didn't last very long because I really wasn't
interested in social work." Like her parents, Joanna was always active in civic
organizations, serving as President of the Seattle Children's Home and the
Seattle King County Visiting Nurse Association, and working with organizations
such as United Good Neighbors, the World Affairs Council, and the Seattle
Foundation.
Eckstein was best known, however, for her longtime involvement with
the Seattle arts community. Eckstein succeeded her father, after his death in
1945, to serve as a board member of the Seattle Art Museum until her death in
1983; she was also on the board for Allied Arts and the Seattle Opera
Association. She supported local artists and had close personal relationships
with many, such as painters Mark Tobey, Kenneth Callahan and Helmi Juvonen.
Eckstein also traveled extensively, purportedly visiting all the
continents, and taking a trip around the world in 1956. She often led
art-related tours for Seattle Art Museum members, traveling to Europe, Asia,
South America, the Caribbean and Mexico. During the 1950s and 1960s, Eckstein
also wrote travel articles for the
Seattle Times, reporting not only on art
but on places and people, and such issues as the progress of post-war recovery
in Europe, and German resentment over the territorial division of their
country.
Joanna Eckstein died in Seattle in 1983.
Content Description
The collection consists largely of photographs of Joanna Eckstein's
parents, Seattle civic leader Nathan Eckstein and Mina Schwabacher Eckstein,
and her Schwabacher relatives, including her grandfather Abraham and his
brothers Louis and Sigmund, of the Schwabacher Brothers & Co. store, and
their wives; and Babette Schwabacher Gatzert and Bailey Gatzert. The collection
also includes a scrapbook containing photographs and clippings about Nathan
Eckstein.
Other Descriptive Information
The following describes the relationships among the individuals
depicted in the collection photographs:
Joanna Eckstein was one of two daughters (with her sister Babette) of
Nathan Eckstein and Mina Schwabacher Eckstein. Mina Schwabacher was a daughter
of Abraham Schwabacher (circa 1838-1909) and Sarah Lehrberger (1847-?), who
married in 1869. Abraham and his brothers Louis and Sigmund owned the
Schwabacher Brothers wholesale grocery stores in Walla Walla, and later,
Seattle. The Schwabacher brothers had a sister, Babette Schwabacher
(1836-1908), who married Bailey Gatzert (1829-1893) in 1861. Gatzert became the
first (and to date, only) Jewish mayor of Seattle in 1875. The Gatzerts had no
children. Louis Schwabacher (1837-1900) married Belle Blum in 1877 and they had
two daughters. Sigmund Schwabacher (1841-1917) married Rosa in 1971 and they
had seven children, including a son, Leopold, who had a son Morton and daughter
Bertha. The collection also depicts a woman who is probably Sarah Lehrberger's
sister, Bella Dinkelspiel, and her daughter, Etta.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available :
A selection of the photographs is available in digital format at
King County Snapshots
or by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.
Restrictions on Access :
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
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 :
Joanna Eckstein Photograph Collection, Museum of History &
Industry, Seattle
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information :
Gift of Joanna Eckstein, December 23, 1980
Processing Note :
One photograph in the collection was received in a different donation
of materials from Joanna Eckstein, Accession No. 1980.7139. This photograph is
housed with the collection and included in the inventory below.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Photographs
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
1.1: Schwabacher and Gatzert
families
This group portrait depicts the four Schwabacher siblings and
their spouses. Left to right: Babette Schwabacher Gatzert, Bailey Gatzert,
Bella Blum Schwabacher (Louis's wife), Abraham Schwabacher, Sarah Lehrberger
Schwabacher (Abraham's wife), Louis Schwabacher, Sigmund Schwabacher, Rosa
Schwabacher (Sigmund's wife)
circa
1880s
1/2
1.2: Mrs. Bailey Gatzert (Babette
Schwabacher)
Habenicht, San
Francisco (photographer)
circa 1900
1/3
1.3: Bailey Gatzert summer
home
circa 1890
1/3
1.4-.9: Bailey Gatzert summer home and
grounds
John Soule,
Seattle (photographer)
6 photographs
circa 1890s
1/3
1.10: Babette Schwabacher Gatzert in
front of Gatzert home
John Soule, Seattle
undated
1/4
1.11: Abraham Schwabacher seated on
porch
circa 1900
1/4
1.12: Abraham Schwabacher
Imperial Studio, San
Francisco (photographer)
circa late 1800s
folder:oversize
OS
1.12a: Abraham Schwabacher and
granddaughter Babette Eckstein
oversize photo shelf 1a.4.6
circa 1908s
1/4
1.13: Louis Schwabacher
Taber, San
Francisco (photographer)
circa late 1800s
1/5
1.14: Sarah Lehrberger Schwabacher as a
young woman
Bradley & Rulofson,
San Francisco (photographer)
circa 1870
1/5
1980.7139.6: Sarah Lehrberger Schwabacher as a
young woman
This photograph was received with Accession No. 1980.7139, gift
of Joanna Eckstein, November 28, 1980
circa 1870
1/5
1.15: Sarah Schwabacher
Habenicht, San
Francisco (photographer)
circa late 1800s
1/6
1.16: Sarah Schwabacher with daughters
Mina Eckstein and Jeanie Rosenbaum
1917
1/6
1.17: Sarah Schwabacher
1930
1/6
1.18: Sarah Schwabacher with her
daughter, Mina Eckstein, granddaughter Babette Eckstein Joseph (Mina's
daughter), and infant grandson Stephen Joseph (Babette's son)
1930
1/7
1.19: Group of schoolgirls at boarding
school in Hanover, Germany, including sisters Mina and Jeanie
Schwabacher
circa 1882
1/8
1.20: Mina Schwabacher in German
outfit
F. Grainer's Nachfl.,
Bad Reichenhall (photographer)
1901
1/9
1.21: Mina Schwabacher in her wedding
dress
Taber, San
Francisco (photographer)
1902
1/8
1.22: Mina Schwabacher
Eckstein
circa late 1800s
1/8
1.23: Mina Schwabacher
Eckstein
1903
1/8
1.24: Mina Schwabacher
Eckstein
1925
1/10
1.25: Nathan Eckstein
circa 1910s
1/11
1.26: Nathan Eckstein and secretary
"Miss Lafferty" working at desks
circa 1908
1/10
1.27: Nathan Eckstein
Rounds & Reef,
Seattle (photographer)
circa 1940
1/10
1.28: Nathan Eckstein standing near
display of flower baskets
Frank Jacobs,
Seattle (photographer)
circa 1940
1/10
1.29: Nathan Eckstein at
desk
1934
1/10
1.30-.31: Nathan Eckstein
circa 1917
1/11
1.32: Nathan Eckstein
J. Arthur Young,
Seattle (photographer)
1929
1/12
1.33: Mina Schwabacher and her cousins
Cora, Etta and Jenny Dinkelspiel
Inscribed on back on mount: Sept 8th 1897 Seattle Wash. To Aunt
Belle, from her niece Mina
1897
1/13
1.34: Nathan, Mina, Joanna and Babette
Eckstein
Grady,
Seattle (photographer)
1923
1/13
1.35: Mina Eckstein with daughters
Joanna and Babette and mother Sarah Schwabacher riding horses at Mount
Rainier
circa 1916
1/13
1.36: Joanna and Babette
Eckstein
1910
1/14
1.37: Sarah Schwabacher with
granddaughters Joanna and Babette Eckstein
circa 1910
1/12
1.38: Joanna and Nathan Eckstein on
frozen Green Lake
1919
1/12
1.39: Nathan, Joanna and Babette
Eckstein and Helen Drever at Mount Rainier
Jacobs (photographer)
circa 1923
1/13
1.40: Mina and Nathan
Eckstein
S.J. Walters,
Seattle (photographer)
1920
1/14
1.41: Group of Shriners in car, Nathan
Eckstein in back seat
1915
1/15
1.42: Shriners in three cars, Nathan
Eckstein in back seat of front car
1915
1/15
1.43: Portrait of Nathan Eckstein in
Nile Shriner fez
1915
1/14
1.44: Group of Shriners, including
Nathan Eckstein and Leo Schwabacher
1915
1/15
1.45: Group of Nile Shriners, including
Nathan Eckstein
James & Merrihew,
Seattle (photographer)
1915
1/16
1.46: Eckstein home at corner of 14th
Avenue North and East Ward Street, Seattle
1915
1/17
1.47: Nathan Eckstein and woman holding
up "Seattle Courtesy Army" sign on car window
1930
1/17
1.48: Nathan Eckstein with others at a
banquet
undated
1/17
1.49: Mina, Nathan and Joanna Eckstein
and two couples on boat
This photograph was taken aboard the Aleutian on a Chamber of Commerce trip to Alaska. Along
with the Ecksteins are the Northern Life Insurance Company president and his
wife, and Charles Clark, who had something to do with "wholesale grain."
1930
1/17
1.50: Nathan and Joanna Eckstein
shaking hands with military officers ("Colonel Parker") at Fort Lawton
event
circa 1940
1/17
1.51: Nathan Eckstein and others on the
S.S. President Cleveland
Walter P. Miller,
Seattle (photographer)
Inscription on back of photograph: "Maiden voyage of the Pres
Cleveland from here to Orient." Inscription also identifies the seven men as: Chester Roberts
(President of Imperial Candy Company), Will Rhodes, Ancil Haines, Nathan
Eckstein, University of Washington President M. Lyle Spencer, Douglas Ball, F.
Louis Nageltooth (?)
circa 1920s
1/17
1.52: Members of Washington State
Planning Council, including Nathan Eckstein
1940
1/18
1.53: Copy of stereograph of Bailey
Gatzert's Seattle home
pre-1900
1/18
1.54: Antler's Hotel at Lake
Cushman
1917
1/18
1.55: View from Volunteer Park water
tower showing Parker-Fersen house on 14th Avenue East, and Mount
Rainier
Asahel
Curtis (photographer)
undated
1/19
1.56-.58: Group at Thanksgiving
dinner
3 photographs
Identification on backs of photographs. Individuals depicted: Joanna Eckstein, Ruth, Bill and Cleo
Chambliss, Victor and Virginia Denny, Babe and Les Comyn
1952
1/20
1.59: James Goldsmith
Goldsmith was President of Schwabacher Brothers before Nathan
Eckstein.
1910
1/20
1.60: Bella (Lehrberger)
Dinkelspiel
Rieman & Co., San
Francisco (photographer)
Probably the sister of Mina Eckstein's mother, Sarah
(Lehrberger) Schwabacher
1883
1/20
1.61: Dr. Caspar Sharpless
Asahel
Curtis (photographer)
undated
1/20
1.62: Dr. Caspar Sharpless
undated
1/21
1.63: Mina Schwabacher as a young
child
Rieman, San
Francisco (photographer)
circa 1880
1/21
1.54: Joanna and Babette
Eckstein
1940
1/21
1.65: Etta Dinkelspiel
Schirmer
Bella Dinkelspiel's daughter. Bella was probably Sarah
Schwabacher's sister.
undated
1/21
1.66: Joanna Eckstein and Morton
Schwabacher as young children
Morton Schwabacher was the son of Leopold Schwabacher and
grandson of Sigmund Schwabacher.
circa 1907
1/21
1.67: Milk delivery on sled in
snowstorm
1916
1/21
1.68: Dwight Eisenhower in
motorcade
1952
October
1/22
1.69: Joanna Eckstein on horseback at
Volunteer Park
Nowell & Rognan,
Seattle (photographer)
hand-colored
undated
1/22
1.70: Joanna and Babette Eckstein and
others hiking at Nisqually Glacier
Bound scrapbook with blue cover printed with "Nathan Eckstein
1873-1945." Contains 3 photographs of Eckstein dated 1902, 1906 and 1917, and
12 pages of clippings about Eckstein from about 1926 through his death in
1945.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
