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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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65 results for: European Immigrants

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Image of Tin of Genova brand olive oil, ca. 1930

Tin of Genova brand olive oil, ca. 1930

Italian immigrants working in the coal mines of the Black Diamond/Ravensdale area wrote home asking friends and relatives to send foods they missed from Italy. Angelo Merlino, one of those miners, opened his first store in 1900. Angelo Merlino & Sons has been shipping cheese, olive oil and Mediterranean delicacies throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska ever since. This Genova…
ID Number:1972.5373.5.2
Date:Circa 1930
Image of Black leather wallet, ca. 1890s

Black leather wallet, ca. 1890s

This men's wallet, a souvenir from the Hotel Arlington in Seattle, belonged to Leonard Reinig, a German immigrant who was a bakery and grocery store owner in Seattle in the 1870s-1880s.
ID Number:1973.5609.2
Date:Circa 1890
Image of Dietz brand police lantern flashlight, ca. 1900

Dietz brand police lantern flashlight, ca. 1900

This police flashlight belonged to Thor Ulstrop (1861-1941) who was born in Norway and came to Seattle in 1889. He worked as a deckhand on a steamer on Puget Sound, and also as a bricklayer, helping to build the White Henry Stuart building in 1913.
ID Number:1973.5679.2
Date:Circa 1900
Image of Kirsten cigar holder patented by Professor Frederick K. Kirsten, ca. 1930-1950s

Kirsten cigar holder patented by Professor Frederick K. Kirsten, ca. 1930-1950s

Frederick K. Kirsten was a German immigrant who became a professor of aeronautical engineering. In addition to the first Boeing wind tunnel, various machinery and ship parts, Professor Kirsten also invented and patented many pipes and cigarette holders, including this example, ca. 1930s-1950s.
ID Number:1974.5841.7
Date:1930-1950
Image of Photo album music box, ca. 1900

Photo album music box, ca. 1900

This photo album cover depicts Priscella and John Alden from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish," and contains a music box that plays two tunes: "Just a Gleam of Heaven in Her Eyes" and "Billy." The photographs in the album are of the donor's Finnish relatives and ancestors. The donor's father immigrated to Astoria, Oregon, in 1912,…
ID Number:1974.5854
Date:Circa 1900
Image of Fife owned by Denny family, ca. 1850

Fife owned by Denny family, ca. 1850

In 1851, Arthur Denny (1822-1899) led a contingent of his family west from Illinois to the Pacific Northwest. Like all immigrants, they brought their most precious belongings which included this Crosby brand fife.
ID Number:1974.5903.5
Date:Circa 1850
Image of Black and gold cocktail dress, 1950s

Black and gold cocktail dress, 1950s

This 1950s cocktail dress has three built-in petticoat layers to give it extra volume. It belonged to Seattleite Ann Dulien Diamond (1909-1984), who donated many high-fashion garments to MOHAI’s collection. She was born Ann Fabrikant in Russia (now Poland) in 1909 and came to the United States in 1911. She grew up in New York and moved to Seattle after…
ID Number:1975.6058.5C2137
Date:Circa 1950
Image of Blue cocktail or dancing dress, designed by Jean Dessès, ca. 1965

Blue cocktail or dancing dress, designed by Jean Dessès, ca. 1965

This strapless dress with layers of accordion pleated netting was designed in Paris by couture designer Jean Dessès. It belonged to Seattleite Ann Dulien Diamond (1909-1984), who donated many high-fashion garments to MOHAI’s collection. She was born Ann Fabrikant in Russia (now Poland) in 1909 and came to the United States in 1911. She grew up in New York and…
ID Number:1975.6058.11C2203
Date:1965
Image of Railroad lantern, ca. 1895

Railroad lantern, ca. 1895

This railroad lantern belonged to Herman Dehnhoff (1862-1935) who was born in Germany and arrived in Snohomish in 1890 to work on the Northern Pacific Railroad. The lantern is from the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, often abbreviated as C.M. & St.P. Ry.
ID Number:1975.6182
Date:Circa 1895
Image of Beige high-top leather boots, ca. 1900-1910

Beige high-top leather boots, ca. 1900-1910

These boots were sold at Seattle department store MacDougall & Southwick. In 1875 Polish immigrants Ferdinand Toklas (1845-1924) and Paul Singerman (1847-1915) opened a retail business which soon became the city's first department store. Originally located at Cherry and Front Street (later called 1st Avenue), the store moved and expanded multiple times and was an early adopter of new technologies…
ID Number:1976.6259
Date:Circa 1900-1910
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MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109
Phone: 206 324 1126
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