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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John Leffler Interview, January 28, 1986
John C. Leffler (1900-1987) was the dean of St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle from 1951 to 1971 and played a vital role in its transformation into a thriving institution. Leffler was born in Northridge, New York and attended Wesleyan University and the Divinity School of the Paciifc in Berkeley. In 1929 he was officially ordained as a priest and was posted in California. When World War II struck and Japanese Americans were interned, Leffler was a vocal opponent to the policy. When Leffler arrived in Seattle in 1951, St. Mark’s was in a state of disrepair after foreclosing and being used as an anti-aircraft training location in World War II. Leffler helped reestablish the church, overseeing the development of a robust musical program and growing the congregation significantly. During his time as pastor, Leffler supported a wide range of social causes including civil and women’s rights and advocated against a number of issues including McCarthyism and the Vietnam War.
Identifier: spl_ds_jleffler_01
Date: 1986-01-28
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Albert and Audrey Kerry Interview, March 16, 1988
Albert Sperry Kerry Jr. (1903-1999) and Audrey Legg Kerry (1907-2005) were from pioneering Seattle families and were active participants in the city’s civic and arts organizations. Albert’s father, Albert Sperry Kerry Sr. arrived in Seattle in 1886, working to grow the city’s lumber industry and acting as a prominent civic leader. He served as the vice-president of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909, president of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and helped raise funds to construct the Olympic Hotel in 1924. Kerry Sr. donated the land that is now Kerry Park to the City of Seattle in 1927. Audrey’s parents, Louis and Helen Legg, were also early Seattle pioneers who moved to Seattle in 1876. Albert Kerry Jr. attended the University of Washington and served on the Seattle Art Museum’s Board of Directors for decades. Audrey Kerry attended Lincoln High School and the University of Washington and served on several clubs and committees including the Sunset Club, the Music and Art Foundation,the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in Washington, and the Committee of 33. Albert and Audrey married in 1928. They were awarded the Corporate Council for the Arts Award in 1997 for their support of the arts.
Identifier: spl_ds_akerry
Date: 1988-03-16
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Letter from William Crowley to Arthur Goodwin inquiring about public markets, April 29, 1927
Letter from William Crowley to Arthur Goodwin asking after the progress of his book on public markets. Crowley also asks Goodwin about the average salary paid to vendors in public markets and inquires if he is aware of Japanese farmers who would be interested in selling their goods at markets in California.
Identifier: spl_sh_00043
Date: 1927-04-29
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Sea Serpent and Grizzly totem poles outside Chief Shake's house in Wrangell, Alaska, ca. 1899
The pole on the left is the ""Sea Serpent"" pole and the pole on the right is the ""Bear up Mountain"" pole.
Identifier: spl_ap_00075
Date: 1899?
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William McGuire and Jeannie Carson Interview, April 7, 1988
William “Biff” McGuire (1926-) and Jeannie Carson (1928-) were actors active with the Seattle Repertory Theater and married for over 50 years. During the interview they discuss their upbringing, their careers and their experiences working with each other. McGuire was born in New Haven, Connecticut and attended Hamden High School and the University of Massachusetts. He joined the Army during World War II where he was stationed in England and took his first acting role. McGuire acted in Broadway plays and films and often appeared in productions with his wife, Jeannie Carson, whom he married in 1960 after meeting her in a production of “Finian’s Rainbow” on Broadway. Carson (1928-) was born in Pudsey, England. She was discovered while performing in the musical “Love from Judy” in London and contracted to appear in the comedic television series “Hey Jeannie!” which aired in 1956. Jeannie and Biff joined the touring show of Camelot in 1961 where they played the roles of King Arthur and Guinevere. The couple spent 15 years with the Seattle Repertory Theater in Seattle.
Identifier: spl_ds_mcguirecarson_01
Date: 1988-04-07
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Paul Thiry Interview, 1987
Paul Thiry (1904-1993) was a Pacific Northwest architect known for his leadership in the architectural modernism movement. Thiry graduated from the University of Washington with his architecture degree in 1928 and opened his own firm in 1929. Thiry acted as the supervising architect for Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair and was responsible for the design of the Washington State Pavilion, now known as Key Arena. He also designed the Museum of History and Industry and Frye Art Museum in Seattle, the Washington State Library in Olympia, several buildings on the Lewis and Clark College campus in Portland and the Libby Dam in Montana. Thiry was awarded the AIA Seattle Chapter Medal in 1984.
Identifier: spl_ds_pthiry_01
Date: 1987-02-21; 1987-05-13
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Wilfred Woods Interview, August 9, 1986
Wilfred Woods (1919-2017) was the editor and publisher of the Wenatchee World, a newspaper started by his family in 1907. Woods was born in Wenatchee and worked in the offices of the Wenatchee World from an early age. His father, Rufus Woods, was an advocate of the Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia Basin Project. Woods attended college at the University of Washington for three years before the interruption of World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served from 1942 to 1946. After the war, Woods returned to the University of Washington where he earned a history degree in 1947. After graduating he began working as a reporter at the Wenatchee World. In 1950, Woods became editor and publisher of the paper following his father’s stroke. He remained in this role for 47 years. In 1951, Woods married his wife Kathy. The couple had three children together. Woods was a large supporter of arts in his community, helping to establish the Woods House Conservatory of Music, the Wenatchee Performing Arts Center and the Icicle Center for the Arts in Leavenworth.
Identifier: spl_ds_wwoods_01
Date: 1986-08-09
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Jack Docter Interview, March 10, 1988
Jack Docter (1915-2008) was the first medical director of Children’s Hospital in Seattle. Docter was born in Seattle and attended Montlake Elementary, Garfield High School and the University of Washington where he was part of the 1936 ski team. During his time at the University of Washington, he helped fund his education by working as an orderly at Harborview Hospital. He received his medical degree from the Columbia University School of Medicine in 1946. Docter began his medical practice in Seattle in 1947, specializing in cysticfibrosis. He married his wife, Marion Nute in 1948 and the couple had three children together. They also remained active skiers, eventually helping to establish the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. Docter became the director at Children’s Hospital in 1959 and was instrumental in establishing the cardiopulmonary hospital. He remained in the position until 1981. In 1987, the Dr. Docter Guild was formed in his honor, raising over $700,000 for the hospital. In addition to his medical career, Docter was an avid sailor and a member of the Corintian and Seattle Yacht Clubs.
Identifier: spl_ds_jdocter_01
Date: 1988-03-10
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Pasquale Minotti Interview, February 29, 1988
Pasquale Minotti was born in Sant’Angelo Limosano, Italy. His parents were Domenico and Ezelinda (DiPaolo) Minotti.
Identifier: spl_ds_pminotti_01
Date: 1988-02-29
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Greg Falls Interview, 1987
Gregory Falls (1922-1997) was heavily involved in the Seattle theater scene, serving as chair of the University of Washington School of Drama and founding artistic director of A Contemporary Theatre (ACT). Originally from Russellville Arkansas, Falls came to Seattle in 1961 to become head of the University’s Drama School. He created ACT Theatre in 1965 provide a space for unique and progressive theater. Falls acted as the director of the theater until his 1987 retirement. Falls also served as the president of the Washington Association of Theater Artists and National Theater Conference. In 1994, Falls was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre, an organization of distinguished professionals in the education and theater communities.
Identifier: spl_ds_gfalls_01
Date: 1987-07-09; 1987-11-04
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