Museum of History & Industry
Sophie Frye Bass Library
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org

Guide to the Joanna Eckstein Photograph Collection, circa 1870-1952


1980.7166





Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson

Finding aid encoded by Jody Hendrickson, 2008


Overview of the Collection
 
Repository Name:
 

Museum of History & Industry
Sophie Frye Bass Library

2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org
 
Collection Number:
 

1980.7166
 
Creator:
 

Eckstein, Joanna, 1903-1983

 
Title:
 

Joanna Eckstein Photograph Collection
 
Dates:
 

circa 1870-1952 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

1 box
71 photographs and 1 scrapbook
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Photographs of members of the Eckstein, Schwabacher and Gatzert families, and a scrapbook on civic leader Nathan Eckstein.
 
Location of Collection:
 

2b.4.1
1a.4.6 (oversize photograph)
 

Biographical Note

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.

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.

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available 

A selection of the photographs is available in digital format at King County Snapshots (text/html)  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

Related Information

Bibliography 

  • Joanna Eckstein oral history interview. Smithsonian Archives of American Art, April 7, 1983. <http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/eckste83.htm> (text/html) 

    • Subjects

    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.

     
    Eckstein, Joanna--Photographs
    Eckstein, Mina--Photographs
    Eckstein, Nathan, 1873-1945--Photographs
    Gatzert, Bailey--Photographs
    Schwabacher, Abraham--Photographs
    Schwabacher, Louis--Photographs
    Schwabacher, Ludwig--Photographs
    United States--Washington (State)--Seattle
    Families--Washington (State)--Seattle
    Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle
    Photographic prints

    Detailed Description of the Collection

    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
     (image/jpeg) 
    		   circa 1880s
     
    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)
     
    1/2

    1.2:  Mrs. Bailey Gatzert (Babette Schwabacher)
    		   circa 1900
     
    Habenicht, San Francisco  ( photographer)
     
    1/3

    1.3:  Bailey Gatzert summer home
    		   circa 1890
     


    1.4-.9:  Bailey Gatzert summer home and grounds
     (image/jpeg) 
    		   circa 1890s
     
    John Soule, Seattle  ( photographer)
    6 photographs
     


    1.10:  Babette Schwabacher Gatzert in front of Gatzert home
    		   undated
     
    John Soule, Seattle
     
    1/4

    1.11:  Abraham Schwabacher seated on porch
    		   circa 1900
     


    1.12:  Abraham Schwabacher
    		   circa late 1800s
     
    Imperial Studio, San Francisco  ( photographer)
     
    folder:oversize
    OS

    1.12a:  Abraham Schwabacher and granddaughter Babette Eckstein
    		   circa 1908s
     
    oversize photo shelf 1a.4.6
     
    box/folder
    1/4

    1.13:  Louis Schwabacher
    		   circa late 1800s
     
    Taber, San Francisco  ( photographer)
     
    1/5

    1.14:  Sarah Lehrberger Schwabacher as a young woman
    		   circa 1870
     
    Bradley & Rulofson, San Francisco  ( photographer)
     


    1980.7139.6:  Sarah Lehrberger Schwabacher as a young woman
    		   circa 1870
     
    This photograph was received with Accession No. 1980.7139, gift of Joanna Eckstein, November 28, 1980
     


    1.15:  Sarah Schwabacher
    		   circa late 1800s
     
    Habenicht, San Francisco  ( photographer)
     
    1/6

    1.16:  Sarah Schwabacher with daughters Mina Eckstein and Jeanie Rosenbaum
     (image/jpeg) 
    		   1917
     


    1.17:  Sarah Schwabacher
    		   1930
     


    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
    		   1901
     
    F. Grainer's Nachfl., Bad Reichenhall  ( photographer)
     
    1/9

    1.21:  Mina Schwabacher in her wedding dress
     (image/jpeg) 
    		   1902
     
    Taber, San Francisco  ( photographer)
     
    1/8

    1.22:  Mina Schwabacher Eckstein
    		   circa late 1800s
     


    1.23:  Mina Schwabacher Eckstein
    		   1903
     


    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
    		  circa 1940
     
    Rounds & Reef, Seattle  ( photographer)
     


    1.28:  Nathan Eckstein standing near display of flower baskets
    		   circa 1940
     
    Frank Jacobs, Seattle  ( photographer)
     


    1.29:  Nathan Eckstein at desk
    		   1934
     


    1.30-.31:  Nathan Eckstein
    		   circa 1917
     
    1/11

    1.32:  Nathan Eckstein
    		   1929
     
    J. Arthur Young, Seattle  ( photographer)
     
    1/12

    1.33:   Mina Schwabacher and her cousins Cora, Etta and Jenny Dinkelspiel
    		   1897
     
    1/13

    1.34:  Nathan, Mina, Joanna and Babette Eckstein
    		   1923
     
    Grady, Seattle  ( photographer)
     


    1.35:  Mina Eckstein with daughters Joanna and Babette and mother Sarah Schwabacher riding horses at Mount Rainier
    		   circa 1916
     


    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
     


    1.39:  Nathan, Joanna and Babette Eckstein and Helen Drever at Mount Rainier
    		   circa 1923
     
    Jacobs  ( photographer)
     
    1/13

    1.40:  Mina and Nathan Eckstein
     (image/jpeg) 
    		   1920
     
    S.J. Walters, Seattle  ( photographer)
     
    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
     


    1.43:  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
    		   1915
     
    James & Merrihew, Seattle  ( photographer)
     
    1/16

    1.46:  Eckstein home at corner of 14th Avenue North and East Ward Street, Seattle
     (image/jpeg) 
    		   1915
     
    1/17

    1.47:  Nathan Eckstein and woman holding up "Seattle Courtesy Army" sign on car window
    		   1930
     


    1.48:  Nathan Eckstein with others at a banquet
    		   undated
     


    1.49:  Mina, Nathan and Joanna Eckstein and two couples on boat
    		   1930
     
    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."
     


    1.50:  Nathan and Joanna Eckstein shaking hands with military officers ("Colonel Parker") at Fort Lawton event
    		   circa 1940
     


    1.51:  Nathan Eckstein and others on the S.S. President Cleveland
    		  circa 1920s
     
    Walter P. Miller, Seattle  ( photographer)
     


    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
     


    1.54:  Antler's Hotel at Lake Cushman
    		   1917
     


    1.55:  View from Volunteer Park water tower showing Parker-Fersen house on 14th Avenue East, and Mount Rainier
    		   undated
     
    Asahel Curtis  ( photographer)
     
    1/19

    1.56-.58:  Group at Thanksgiving dinner
    		   1952
     
    3 photographs
    Identification on backs of photographs.


    Individuals depicted: Joanna Eckstein, Ruth, Bill and Cleo Chambliss, Victor and Virginia Denny, Babe and Les Comyn
     
    1/20

    1.59:  James Goldsmith
    		   1910
     


    1.60:  Bella (Lehrberger) Dinkelspiel
    		   1883
     
    Rieman & Co., San Francisco  ( photographer)
     


    1.61:  Dr. Caspar Sharpless
    		   undated
     
    Asahel Curtis  ( photographer)
     


    1.62:  Dr. Caspar Sharpless
    		   undated
     
    1/21

    1.63:  Mina Schwabacher as a young child
    		   circa 1880
     
    Rieman, San Francisco  ( photographer)
     


    1.54:  Joanna and Babette Eckstein
    		   1940
     


    1.65:  Etta Dinkelspiel Schirmer
    		   undated
     


    1.66:  Joanna Eckstein and Morton Schwabacher as young children
    		   circa 1907
     


    1.67:  Milk delivery on sled in snowstorm
    		   1916
     


    1.68:  Dwight Eisenhower in motorcade
    		   1952 October
     
    1/22

    1.69:  Joanna Eckstein on horseback at Volunteer Park
    		   undated
     
    Nowell & Rognan, Seattle  ( photographer)
    hand-colored
     


    1.70:  Joanna and Babette Eckstein and others hiking at Nisqually Glacier
    		   circa 1918
     
    box
    1


    Nathan Eckstein scrapbook, undated

    11.25" x15.5"
    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.