Guide to the Harriet Klein Allen Papers
1887-1989

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Overview of the Collection

Creator: Allen, Harriet Klein
Title: Harriet Klein Allen Papers
Dates: 1887-1989 ( inclusive )
1925-1946 ( bulk )
Quantity: 1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes)  :  Generally in good condition; oldest scrapbook is fragile.
Collection Number: Ms 137
Summary: Harriet Klein Allen recieved a degree in Home Economics from Washington State College in 1926. She worked as a dietitian and was active in civic affairs. Much of the collection deals with the St. John's Cathedral Soldiers and Sailors Club; a smaller portion pertains to her career, and the remainder is materal pertaining to other organizations and family papers.
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: The collection is in 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.

Biographical Note

Harriet Klein Allen attended Lewis and Clark High School and Washington State College, from which she graduated in 1926 with a degree in Home Economics. On April 19, 1928 she married Clyde D. Allen. She was employed as the Oasis Dessert restaurant's dietitian and was the known as the only profession dietitian for a hotel restaurant in the West (excluding San Francisco). She spoke from the Spokane Chronicle's electric cooking school and was later employed as an assistant home economist in the Spokesman-Review's Homemakers Department. Harriet was active in civic affairs in Spokane for many years, serving on the board of the YWCA and volunteering for various philanthropic causes. She was honored in 1958 for her work with service men. She organized and managed the USO service center at St. John's Cathedral in 1940.

Content Description

A substantial portion of the collection deals with the St. John's Cathedral Soldiers and Sailors Club. A lesser portion pertains to Harriet's career as a dietitian and in home economics. The remainder of the collection contains materials pertaining to her work with other organizations, and family papers.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

The collection is not restricted.

Restrictions on Use :  

The collection is open for use.

Preferred Citation :  

Harriet Klein Allen Papers (Ms 137), Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, WA.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

The collection is arranged into five series: materials related to the Oasis Dessert Hotel, materials related to St. John's Cathedral Soldiers & Sailors Club, family papers, an addendum of miscellaneous material, and oversize materials.

Acquisition Information :  

Gift of Ted Allen, 1994 (L94-70).

Separated Materials :  

Items relocated to Periodicals, OS, WWII Posters, and Collections: see folders 1/32, 1/33, and 1/36 for details.

Related Materials :  

See also:

Klein Family Papers (Ms 127)

St. John's Cathedral Records (Ms 70)

Young Women's Christian Association, Spokane Records (Ms 207)


Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Introduction and Inventory
Container(s)
box-folder
1/1

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Oasis Dessert Hotel
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
1/2 Correspondence: to Harriet Klein, Oasis Dessert Hotel 1927
1/3 Brochures: food and food preparation
1/4 Menus & Recipes

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St. John's Cathedral Soldiers & Sailors Club
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
1/5 Correspondence: to Harriet Klein 1942 - 1943
1/6 Correspondence: to Harriet Klein 1944
1/7 Correspondence: to Harriet Klein 1945
1/8 Guest book 1942
1/9 Guest book 1943
1/10 Guest book 1944 - 1945
1/11 Guest book 1945
1/12 Hostess book
1/13 Scrapbook 1942 - 1943

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Family Papers
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
1/14 Correspondence: miscellaneous personal 1921 - 1951
1/15 Correspondence: postcards: announcement of Richard Eugene Klein's birth
1/16 Correspondence: postcards: Spokane & Inland Empire related
1/17 Correspondence: postcards: miscellaneous
1/18 Correspondence: to Fred "Ted" Allen, son of Harriet
1/19 Correspondence: to Bertha Rosenburg Allen (Mrs. D.D. Allen), Harriet's mother-in-law
1/20 Miscellaneous items relating to Bertha Allen
1/21 Photograph, Eugene Klein (see Ms 127 Klein Family)
1/22 Brochure: Washington State College football schedule 1931
1/23 Brochure: Women's Work of the First Presbyterian Church
1/24 Brochures: miscellaneous
1/25 Flyer: War Recreation & Welfare Coordinating Council, "Spokane Activities for Service Men & Women"
1/26 Calendar: Lullaby 1910
1/27 Diary: David E. Allen
1/28 Ephemera: Third Presbyterian Church, Wheeling, West Virgina
1/29 Programs & Constituion of the Manito Study Club
1/30 Miscellaneous unidentified items
1/31 Scrapbook: courtship of Lydia Partington & Hector Arlington 1896
1/32 Magazines: The Spokesman-Review Quarterly, July 1899; Fashion of the Hour, Autumn 1925, Christmas 1925, January 1926
Removed, relocated in Periodicals.
1899 - 1926
1/33 Maps: M.S. McCrea, Spokane; Metsker's Spokane County; Metsker's Stevens County
Removed, relocated in Maps.
1/34 Posters: Beardmore's Auto Stage to Priest Lake
Removed, relocated in OS Ephemera.
The Cathedral's Soldiers & Sailors Club
Removed, relocated in WWII Posters.
1/35 Program: Mayor's Inaugural Ball, James E. Chase Jan. 22, 1982
1/36 World War II Pillow Cover
Removed to Collections Curator.

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Addendum
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
1a/1 Autograph album, family 1891 - 1893
1a/2 Correspondence, miscellaneous, personal
1a/3 Ephemera
1a/4 Newspaper Clippings re: football, Priest Lake 1984 - 1987
1a/5 Army aviation engineers airpstrip: newspaper clippings Nov. 13, 1984
1a/6 Correspondence re: land trade 1983 - 1984
1a/7 Community Church 1983
1a/8 Newspaper clippings, general 1983 - 1987
1a/9 Newspaper clippings re: land trade 1983 - 1984
1a/10 Newspaper clippings re: museum 1983 - 1989
1a/11 Scrapbooks
1a/12 Snapshots and snapshot albums
1a/13 Snapshot album 1900 - c.1938
1a/14 Vacation home snapshots 1981 - 1986 and undated
1a/15 Spokane history: newspaper clippings 1972

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Oversize
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
2 Scrapbook compiled by Edith Susanna Slee & Edith Slee Klein 1890 - 1962
2 Scrapbook compiled by Harriet Klein Allen Contains materials dated 1887 - 1919

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Subjects

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 :
  • Allen, Harriet Klein, Mrs.--Family
  • Family Names :
  • Allen family
  • Klein family
  • Corporate Names :
  • Manito Study Club (Spokane, Wash.)
  • Oasis Desert Hotel (Spokane, Wash.)
  • Geographical Names :
  • Priest Lake (Idaho)
  • Spokane (Wash.)--History
  • Subject Terms :
  • Diaries--Washington (State)
  • Genealogy
  • Scrapbooks
  • United Service Organizations (U.S.)--Washington (State)--Spokane
    • Form or Genre Terms :
    • Photograph albums
    • Photographic prints
    • Small manuscript collections

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