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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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80 results for: European Immigrants

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Image of Swedish-Americans having a picnic, circa 1925
Photograph

Swedish-Americans having a picnic, circa 1925

By 1910, nearly 150,000 Scandinavians had immigrated to the Pacific Northwest. Those coming from Sweden settled in cities like Seattle, as well as smaller towns throughout Washington state. This photo shows a group of Swedish-Americans, probably an extended family, having a picnic on a warm spring day. It is part of an album titled "The Swedes' Life and Work in…
ID Number:2016.59.78
Date:Circa 1925
Audio recording

Oral history interview with Fred Danz, June 10, 2005

Interview with Fred Danz of Sterling Reality Organization conducted by Lorraine McConaughy for the Speaking of Seattle Oral History Project on June 10, 2005. Topics discussed include his paternal and maternal familes, living in Seattle, his family's relationship with Judaism, and the history of the family businesses in radio and movie theaters, including drive-ins. Copyright agreement: YesDigitized: Yes, CD with…
ID Number:2019.35.1.15
Date:2005
Audio recording

Oral history interview with William Danz, March 22, 2005

Interview with William Danz about his life in Seattle, conducted by Lorraine McConaghy for the Speaking of Seattle Oral History Project on March 22, 2005. Topics discussed include his family background, his childhood, his education at Garfield High School and the University of Washington and the family business, Sterling Realty Organization (SRO), and the theaters they owned. Copyright agreement: Yes;…
ID Number:2019.35.1.16
Date:2005
Audio recording

Oral history interview with Lydia Offman, September 20, 1987

This interview with Lydia Pearl Offman (1912-2012) was conducted by Lorraine McConaghy for the Winter Holidays Oral History Project on September 20, 1987. Offman discusses her childhood in Seattle, including Jewish traditions, her family's immigration to Seattle, and living in an "international" neighborhood near Providence Hospital.
ID Number:2019.35.2.7
Date:1987
Image of Bailey Gatzert School PTA officers, Seattle, 1946
Photograph

Bailey Gatzert School PTA officers, Seattle, 1946

The leaders of the Parent Teacher Association at Bailey Gatzert School reflected the diverse backgrounds of the student body. In the late 1940s, the school children were 10 percent Chinese American, 20 percent African American, 5 percent Filipino American, 27 percent Japanese American, and 35 percent European American, with 3 percent Native American. Caption slip identified officers as Minnie Beach,…
ID Number:PI25782
Date:1946
Image of Collier Brothers Saloon, Seattle, circa 1900
Photograph

Collier Brothers Saloon, Seattle, circa 1900

The Collier family immigrated from Belgium in about 1885, and moved to Seattle about 1890, living at 3103 First Street, above what would become the Collier Brothers Saloon. The family included father Francis and mother Rosalie (Wyberg) Collier, sons Louis and Constance (Con), and daughters Romanie (Collier) Van der Mark and Stephania. Brothers Louis and Con ran the saloon (pictured…
ID Number:SHS44
Date:Circa 1900
Image of August Wenzel in front of his blacksmith shop at 7th and Pike, Seattle, 1889
Photograph

August Wenzel in front of his blacksmith shop at 7th and Pike, Seattle, 1889

August Joseph Wenzel (1856-1945) was born in Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, and moved to Seattle in 1888 with his wife Maria and their 8 children. He opened a blacksmith and cooper shop on Pike Street between Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue. Next door to the blacksmith shop he owned a wagon works shop and next to that a meat market.…
ID Number:SHS2303
Date:1889
Image of Vincent and Josephine Amato and their daughters, 1910
Photograph

Vincent and Josephine Amato and their daughters, 1910

A wave of immigrants from southern Europe came to the United States between the 1880s and 1914. Vincent Amato was part of this group. He was born in Sicily in 1875, came to the United States in 1890, and ran a barbershop in Seattle from 1900 to 1949. Mr. Amato died in 1952.In this 1910 family portrait, Vincent Amato, his…
ID Number:SHS8017
Date:1910
Image of Residence of Jacob Furth, Seattle, circa 1890
Photograph

Residence of Jacob Furth, Seattle, circa 1890

Jacob Furth was born in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) in 1840. He started out in the clothing and dry goods business in San Francisco before coming to Seattle in 1882. Furth founded one of Seattle's early banks, owned real estate, and was active in the development of the city's street railway system.This photo, taken around 1890, shows…
ID Number:SHS8966
Date:Circa 1890
Image of Richard Desimone in his family’s produce truck, Seattle, circa 1946
Photograph

Richard Desimone in his family’s produce truck, Seattle, circa 1946

Desimone has been a big name in the history of Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Giuseppe “Joe” Desimone, a Neapolitan immigrant, farmed successfully in the South Park area, and sold his produce at the Market. He invested his earnings in real estate and business, and by 1941, had become the majority owner of the Pike Place Market. Richard Desimone, Joe’s son,…
ID Number:SHS10720
Date:Circa 1946
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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.
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Phone: 206 324 1126
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