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.
-
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
View this item -
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
View this item -
K. Alvin Merendino Interview, 1988
Alvin Merendino (1914-2011) was a noted thoracic surgeon, known for his innovative contributions to surgical techniques. Merendino was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia and attended Ohio University, Yale and the University of Minnesota to receive his undergraduate, M.D. and Ph.D. During his time in Minnesota, he worked as a research Assistant to Dr. Owen H. Wangensteen in the Experimental Surgery Laboratory. He came to Seattle in 1949 and joined the University of Washington as a professor of surgery. In 1950 he became directory of UW’s Experimental Surgical Laboratory where he remained until 1972. During his time he also became professor of surgery and chair of the Department of Surgery. 1956 Merendino became the first person on the West Coast to perform open heart surgery. His wife, Shirley, was a nurse to whom he attributed much of his career success. Together the couple had five children. In 1976, Merendino took a leave of absence from UW to take on responsibilities at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh where he soon became director of medical affairs and during a later stay, directory of the Cancer Therapy Institute and the King Faisal Medical City. He was also active in the medical community, serving as a member of the National Board of Medical Examiners and as chair of the American Board of Surgery. In 2002 Merendino and his wife, Shirley, established the Merendino Endowed Fellowship at the University of Washington to support talented and impactful surgeons.
Identifier: spl_ds_amerendino_01
Date: 1988-04-14; 1988-05-12
View this item -
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?
View this item -
Solie Ringold Interview, 1988
Solie Ringold (1914-2004) was a Seattle native who became Washington’s first Jewish judge in 1961. Ringold attended the University of Washington and graduated with a degree in law in 1936. After earning his degree Ringold began working for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. In 1939 Ringold married his wife, Marion Margolis. Shortly after their first daughter’s birth, World War II began and Ringold left Seattle to serve as part of the Army’s counterintelligence corps in the South Pacific. Following the war, the couple had two more children. Throughout his career, Ringold held several prominent positions including serving as a chairman of the Civil Rights Committee of the Seattle Bar Association from 1960-1961, as a King County Superior Court Judge between 1961 and 1977 and a Washington State Court of Appeals judge between 1978 and 1988. Ringold was active in many community organizations including the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Jewish Family and Child Service of Seattle, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, and the American Veterans Club. He was a founding member of the Washington State Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The organization named Ringold their “Person of the Year” in 1992.
Identifier: spl_ds_sringold_01_01
Date: 1988
View this item -
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
View this item -
Anne Gerber Interview, November 8, 1987
Anne Gerber (1910-2005) was a local art collector known for her patronage of unique artists. Gerber attended Garfield High School, Roosevelt High School and Edison Technical School. She studied painting and sculpture at the University of Washington and began collecting artwork after marrying her husband, Sidney Gerber (-1965). Together, the two acquired artwork by artists such as Marc Chagall, Paul Klee, Mark Tobey and Guy Anderson. They also built a large collection of Native American artwork which now resides at the Burke Museum. In 1965, Sidney was flying a plane carrying Seattle City Councilmember Wing Luke and his secretary Kay LaDue over the Cascade Mountains. They ran into bad weather conditions and the plane crashed, killing all those aboard. After his death, Anne continued her work the arts community. She was a member of the Contemporary Art Council of the Seattle Art Museum and of the Seattle Art Commission. In 1984 she received the Governor’s Art award. Anne was also active in civic causes, fighting against housing segregation in Seattle, working with the American Civil Liberties Union and serving as president of the Neighborhood House which provides assistance for low-income families.
Identifier: spl_ds_agerber_01
Date: 1987-11-09
View this item -
Ralph Anderson Interview, May 25, 1987
Ralph Anderson (1924-2010) was a Seattle architect known for his work with historic preservation efforts in Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. Anderson attended Queen Anne High School and graduated with his architecture degree from the University of Washington in 1951. He worked as a draftsman for Paul Hayden Kirk from 1951 to 1954 before forming his own firm. During the 1960s and 1970s, he led helped restore several buildings in Pioneer Square including the Union Trust Building, the Pioneer Building and the Grand Central Hotel. His restoration efforts extended to Pike Place Market in the 1970s, focusing on the Smith Block, Butterworth Building and Alaska Trade Building.
Identifier: spl_ds_randerson_01_01
Date: 1987-05-25
View this item -
View north on 1st Ave. from Pioneer Square, March 18, 1899
The New York Mutual Life Building and the Starr Boyd Building appear on the left and the Hotel Seattle appears on the far right followed by the Pioneer Building, the Howard Building, the Lowman and Hanford Building and the Lowman Building. The 110 Cherry Building appears in the center of the photograph. There are several signs catering to prospective prospectors venturing to Alaska and the Klondike including "Klondike Outfitters," "Alaskan Maps and Guides," and "Alaska Tickets."
Identifier: spl_ap_00054
Date: 1899-03-18
View this item -
John Steiner Interview, February 12, 1988
John Steiner (1917-2003) was vice president and corporate director of product development at Boeing. Steiner was born in Seattle. He earned his Aeronautical Engineering degree from the University of Washington in 1940 and his masters from MIT in 1941 and began working at Boeing shortly afterwards, Steiner married his wife, Dorothy, in 1942 and the couple had three children together. During his career at 43 year career at Boeing, he helped develop many airplanes including the 707, 727 and 737. After leaving Boeing, Steiner served on the White House Aeronautical Policy Review Committee.
Identifier: spl_ds_jsteiner_01
Date: 1988-02-12
View this item