Donald Schmechel Oral History Collection
Watch oral histories with prominent figures in the Pacific Northwest including artists Jacob Lawrence and Kenneth Callahan; Governors Albert Rosellini and Dixy Lee Ray and Reverends David Colwell and Samuel McKinney.
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Seattle waterfront from the foot of S. Main St., ca. 1899
The Pacific Coast Steamship Co. Pier B, located at foot of S. Main St. appears on the right. The Washington Hotel, also known as Hotel Denny appears in the distance in the center of the photograph at the top of the hill. The King County Courthouse appears at the top of the hill at the right of the photograph.
Identifier: spl_ap_00061
Date: 1899
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Fred Haley Interview, May 2, 1986
Fred T. Haley (1912-2005) was the president of Brown & Haley, the confectionary company founded by his father in 1912 that became well known for manufacturing Almond Roca. Haley was heavily involved in civil rights and education issues in Tacoma and nationwide. He served on the Tacoma School Board from 1954 to 1965 and worked for school desegregation and increasing diversity among the faculty. He was also heavily involved in establishing a Tacoma campus for the University of Washington. Haley’s deep interest in social causes was further demonstrated by his participation in the 1963 March on Washington. The American Civil Liberties Union honored Haley with their William O. Douglas award in 1985 for his work to promote civil rights and racial equality and protecting targets of McCarthyism in the 1950s.
Identifier: spl_ds_fhaley_01
Date: 1986-05-02
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Arthur Erickson Interview, July 28, 1986
Arthur Erickson (1924-2009) was a noted Canadian architect, responsible for the designs of projects such as the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. and Simon Fraser University. Erickson received the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1986 in recognition for his body of work.
Identifier: spl_ds_aerickson_01
Date: 1986-07-28
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Yukon River valley, ca. 1899
Identifier: spl_ap_00019
Date: 1899
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Beaver family totem pole and buildings in Wrangell, Alaska, ca. 1899
The photo caption reads "Bear family totem pole" but actually shows the Beaver family totem pole. A second totem pole, possibly the Raven totem pole appears to the right.
Identifier: spl_ap_00076
Date: 1899
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Muir Glacier, Alaska, June 25, 1899
A steamboat can be seen at the far left of the photograph and the Muir Glacier can be seen at the right.
Identifier: spl_ap_00053
Date: 1899
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Gourmet's Notebook, v.6, no.6, Jun. 1978
Broadway, pg. 45; Chez Paul, pg. 47; Conquistador, pg. 46; Mangia Bevi, pg. 41; Monarch Butterfly, pg. 43; Petit Cafe, pg. 42
Identifier: spl_gn_928180_1978_06_06
Date: 1978-06
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Eve Roberts Interview, 1988
Eve Roberts is an actress who performed with several Seattle theater companies. Roberts studied at the Goodman Theater in Chicago and at George Washington University. She joined the Seattle Repertory Theater in 1967 and stayed through the 1990s. She also acted in productions with the Intiman and the ACT Theatre. In addition to her acting work, Roberts taught at the University of Washington’s Drama School and at the University of Southern California.
Identifier: spl_ds_eroberts_01
Date: 1988
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Ibsen Nelson Interview, 1988
Ibsen Andreas Nelson (1919-2001) was a Seattle architect known for his historical preservation efforts and his designs for buildings such as the Museum of Flight and the Inn at the Market. He also designed many residential homes, including one for his friend and prominent Pacific Northwest artist Morris Graves. Originally from Ruskin, Nebraska, Nelson served in the army during World War II and received two bronze stars. Following the war, he attended the University of Oregon which he graduated from in 1951 with his degree in architecture. He worked briefly at Naramore, Bain, Brady and Johanson in Seattle as a draftsman before opening his own architectural firm in 1953. Nelson was a member of the Seattle Design Commission, and served as president of both the Allied Arts of Seattle and the Seattle Municipal Arts Commission.
Identifier: spl_ds_inelson_01
Date: 1988-04-06; 1988-04-12
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Jacob Lawrence Interview, July 27, 1987
Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) was an artist well known for his vivid and colorful paintings depicting African-American life. Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and moved with his family to Harlem at the age of 13. In 1935, in the midst of the Great Depression, Lawrence joined the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Artists’ Project which was his first paying job as an artist. He married Gwendolyn Knight, a painter and sculptor, in 1941. In 1943 Lawrence joined the United States Coast Guard where he helped transport troops to and from the European battlefields. Following his return from the war, he began teaching art as well as creating it. He first came to the West Coast in 1969 for a temporary teaching position at the California State University in Hayward. The following spring, he received an invitation to teach at the University of Washington where he was offered a permanent position. Lawrence and his wife moved from New York to Seattle in 1971. Both became instrumental in the Seattle arts scene, working with local organizations like the King County Arts Commission and the Washington State Arts Commission. Lawrence received many honors throughout his lifetime including the U.S. National Medal of Arts and the Washington Medal of Merit.
Identifier: spl_ds_jlawrence_01
Date: 1987-07-27