UNlVERSllY U BRARIJES w UNIVERSITY of WASHI NGTON Spe ial Colle tions 5162 Robert Bruce Inverarity papers Inventory Accession No: 4445-002 Special Collections Division University of Washington Libraries Box 352900 Seattle, Washington, 98195-2900 USA (206) 543-1929 This document forms part of the Preliminary Guide to the Robert Bruce Inverarity Papers. To find out more about the history, context, arrangement, availability and restrictions on this collection, click on the following link: http://digital.lib.washington.edu/findingaids/permalink/InverarityRobertBruce4445/ Special Collections home page: http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/ Search Collection Guides: http://digital.lib.washington.edu/findingaids/search Inverarity, Robert Bruce ROBERT BRUCE INVERARITY PAPERS ca. 1868 – 1991 17.49 cubic ft. Papers and photographs. Acc. No. 4445-2 BIOGRAPHY Robert Bruce Inverarity (1909 – 1999) wasa leading museum administrator and an authority on Northwest Native American art. Inverarity was a key figure in the Works Project Administration (WPA) programs inWashington during the Depression era, employed as State Director of the Federal Art Project dan the Art and Craft Project between 1939 and 1941. Following work thefor U.S. Navy and Boeing Aircraft Company in the 1940s, he became Director ofthe Museum of International Folk Art in Sante Fe (1949-54), and the Adirondack Museum and Adirondack Historical Association in Blue Mountain Lake, New York (1954-1965). He was appointed Director of the Philadelphia Maritime Museum in 1969, where he remained until retirement to California in 1976. Inverarity wasinvolved in a broadrange of art-related activity, as an administrator, academic, artist and photographer. His specialized interests included Northwest Native Americanart, and puppetry. He conducted research of museum practices in Europe, the Near East and the former Soviet Union. His father Duncan George Inverarity (1868-1949) was a prominent figure in the vaudeville theatrical circuit and in Seattle society. He wasthe son of Rosalind Wallace Dunlop Inverarity (1843-1916) and William vidDa Inverarity (1833-?). Inverarity completed legal training at the University of Michigan, and qualified as an attorney and accountant prior to his involvement in theatrical management. Following work as an agent for John Cort at the Grand Opera House and Seattle Theatre (1903-1907), he was employed in managerial positions for a number of theatrical companies. These included the Coliseum Theatre in Seattle (1907-08), the Sullivan and Considine Circuit (1908- 1910), the Pantages Theatre Company (1922-1926) and the theatres of John Danz (1925- 1926). Duncan Inverarity was a member of various civic organizations, including notably the Tilikums of Elltaes, a social and publicity organization in Seattle. As Secretary of the Tilikums, he was responsible for organizingthe “potlatch” held in 1913. He was also a photographer, working for Edward Curtis d antaking part in the Harriman Alaska expedition of 1899. SCOPE AND CONTENT The accession consists of 16.63 cubic feet of records, spanning the period ca. 1868-1992. The bulk of the records are the personald anwork-related papers of Robert Bruce Inverarity. There are separate subgroups, however, for the papers of his father, Duncan George, and his paternal grandmother, Rosalind Inverarity. These subgroups are arranged at the beginning of the whole accession. ROBERT BRUCE INVERARITY PAPERS Accession 4445-002 Guide Page 2 The Duncan George Inverarity subgroup ontainsc biographical papers, correspondence, writings, newsletters, legal documents, clippings, memorabilia and ephemera covering the period ca. 1883-1947. Incoming correspondence is arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent, and includes letters from family members including his mother, Rosalind, and son Robert Bruce. A significant component of the Duncan Inverarity correspondence is letters received from Alexander Pantages, president and manager of the Pantages Theatre Company, between 1916 and 1928. There are also two incoming letters from John Danz of the DanzTheatre Circuit, dated 1926. All outgoing correspondence is arranged ronologically.ch An uncompleted memoir by Duncan Inverarity describes his early experiences in the legal profession, and as a theatrical manager for John Cort and Alexander Pantages. The accession contains also newsletters and memorabilia relating to the Tilikum organization and the 1913 potlatch, including a variety of metal pin badges. The Rosalind Inverarity subgroup contains personal correspondence and papers from the period c. 1868-1916. This consists of incoming letters from her sister, Madeline Wallace- Dunlop, husband William David Inverarity, and Rosalind Inverarity’s outgoing letters and her will. Although Rosalind Inverarity spent a considerable period of her life in the United States (including Yakima, Washington and California), later letters indicate that she spent the end of her life in Sussex, England. The records of Robert Bruce Inverarity himself are only partially arranged and described. All work-related papers and photographic material remain unprocessed, although container level description is available for this part of the accession. Inverarity’s personal correspondence, genealogical research, some memorabilia and biographical material have been processed, however, and are arranged together under the subgroup heading ‘Personal Papers’. Biographical features comprises a copy of a research paper regarding Inverarity and his work, written by Katholeen Whitlock in 1993. Personal correspondence includes: Incoming Letters, Outgoing Letters and Correspondence regarding genealogical research. Incoming letters are arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent. Major correspondents include Julius Griffiths Jr, Jane Inverarity, V.A Katchovsky, Peggy Marshall, Arthur Porterand Marion Sineed. Outgoing letters are arranged chronologically. General correspondence relating to genealogy is also arranged alphabetically according to correspondent. The bulk of the incoming and outgoing letters are dated ca.1930-1954, and correspondence relating to genealogy spans the period 1954- 1991. The subgroup containsalso further material relatingto Inverarity’s genealogical research, including family trees and various notes and clippings. The unprocessed part of the accession contains a substantial photographic component. This includes photos of family members, and images that document his Northwest Coast artifact collection, his dissertation and book on Northwest Coast Indian art, and his book on puppetry. A small number of photos depict WPA art project travel in Washington, and also show California friends including famous artists such as Man Ray. ROBERT BRUCE INVERARITY PAPERS Accession 4445-002 Guide Page 3 The accession is likely to contain only limited documentation of Inverarity’s involvement in the WPA during the 1930s and 1940s. This aspect of his career is not documented in the processed sections of the papers. Records relating to his activities in the WPA are held at the Archives of American Art. A further accession held at the University of Washington Libraries Manuscripts, Special Collections, University Archives contains tape-recorded interviews with Robert Bruce Inverarity and an interview transcript (ca. 1980-1990). These relate to his career as an artist and an administrator of the Adirondack Museum. This accession (Accession number 4445-1) also contains correspondence and writings dated 1978-1993. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Robert Bruce Inverarity donated parts of this accession tothe University of Washington Libraries in 1978, 1991 and 1993. The remainder of the accession was donated by the Inverarity estate in January 2000. Only part of the Robert Bruce InverarityPapers have been processed, including his personal correspondence, records relating to nealogicalge research, and the papers of Duncan and Rosalind Inverarity. Initial processing began in June 2000. The records are open to all users. With the exception of the photographic component of the accession, creator’s literary rights havebeen transferred to the University of Washington. ROBERT BRUCE INVERARITY PAPERS Accession No. 4445-002 INVENTORY Box Dates Subgroups INVERARITY, DUNCAN 1 Biographical Features Vitae 1927-1932, n.d. Incoming Letters Danz, John 1926 Gates, Howard (Howard Gates and Ridge Solicitors) 1927 Inverarity, Madeline 1916 Inverarity, Robert Bruce 1929, n.d. Inverarity, Rosalind 1915-1916, n.d. Pantages, Alexander 1916-1928 Miscellaneous A-Z 1911-1932 Outgoing Letters 1891, 1930-33,1947 Diary 1883 Writings Memoir n.d. Notebook n.d. Vaudeville Scripts 1828, n.d. Newsletters Potlatch Publications 1913, 1915 Legal Documents 1896-1926 Clippings 1925-1949, n.d. 2 Genealogical Clippings and Notes 1858,1890,1928, n.d. Memorabilia Certificates 1917 & 1922 3 Certificates (OVERSIZED) 1891-93, 1913, 1917 2 Autograph Book n.d. Wax Seal n.d. Christmas Card Lists 1928-1939 7 Box containing potlatch badges and other artifacts n.d. ROBERT BRUCE INVERARITY PAPERS Accession 4445-002 Inventory Page 2 Box Dates Subgroups INVERARITY, DUNCAN (cont.) 2 Ephemera Programs 1922 Publicity Flyer n.d. Miscellaneous 1935-1938, n.d. INVERARITY, ROSALIND Incoming Letters Inverarity, William David 1879, n.d. Wallace- Dunlop, Madeline n.d. Outgoing Letters Miscellaneous 1882-1916, n.d. Will 1916 Ephemera 1868, n.d. INVERARITY, ROBERT BRUCE: PERSONAL PAPERS 4 Biographical Features Katholeen Whitlock Research Paper 1993 Incoming Letters Griffiths Jr, Julius 1934-1942,