Résumé

Artist, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) c. 1933. (It was thought that Steinbrueck also worked as an artist for the Works Progress Administration [WPA], c. 1935.)

Draftsman, William J. Bain, Sr., Architect, Seattle, WA, 1935.

Draftsman, J. Gordon Kaufmann, Architect, Seattle, 1936.

Draftsman, James Taylor, Architect, Seattle, 1936.

Designer, Bjarne Moe, Architect, Seattle, 1937-1938.

Employee, Siems-Drake Puget Sound Company, Harbor Island, Seattle, WA, 1940. He worked for the Siems-Drake Puget Sound Company, a construction firm that did work for the US military at this time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 170, accessed 03/25/2024.)

Principal, Victor Steinbrueck, Architect, Seattle, 1938-1942.

World War II Service, U.S. Army, 10th Mountain Division, 1943-1946. Victor Steinbrueck enlisted as a private in the US Army on 09/17/1943. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005, accessed 03/11/2019.) His enlistement paperwork indicated that he worked as a civil engineer prior to US Army service. He had bursitis due to firing a weapon during 08/1944 and 09/1944, as per US Army records. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration; Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 - ca. 1970; NAI: 570973; Record Group Number: Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994; Record Group Title: 112, accessed 03/25/2024.) Government records indicated that he was admitted to the Fort Belvoir Station Hospital in 01/1945 for an unspecified injury or illness. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration; Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 - ca. 1970; NAI: 570973; Record Group Number: Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994; Record Group Title: 112, accessed 03/25/2024.) Another government record indicated that he enlisted on 10/08/1943 and was released from service on 94/16/1946. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 03/11/2019.)

On his return from the war, Steinbrueck began teaching in the Department of Architecture at the University of Washington. According to the M.A. Thesis written by UW student Anne L. Lindsay in 1987: "Steinbrueck would work during the summers [while not teaching at UW] in several architectural firms in the Seattle area. During this time, he and [Paul Hayden] Kirk became very close friends." (See Anne L. Lindsay, The Evolution of the Faculty Club on the University of Washington Campus 1909 through Present, M.A. Thesis, University of Washington, Department of Architecture, [Seattle: University of Washington, 1987], p. 97.)

Architect, Minoru Yamasaki, Architect, Detroit, MI, 1956-1957. Steinbrueck did not stay long in Yamasaki's corporate office in Detroit before returning to Seattle and his teaching position at the University of Washington.

Architect, Paul Hayden Kirk, AIA, Architect, c. 1955 and c. 1958. According to Lindsay, "In 1956, Steinbrueck packed his family up and moved to Detroit to work in Yamasaki's office. He decided to return to Seattle and when he did return he worked briefly in Paul Kirk's office." (See Anne L. Lindsay, The Evolution of the Faculty Club on the University of Washington Campus 1909 through Present, M.A. Thesis, University of Washington, Department of Architecture, [Seattle: University of Washington, 1987], p. 97.) He worked with Kirk and David McKinley on the University Unitarian Church #2 at 6556 35th Avenue NE in Seattle.

In 1958, Steinbrueck had an office at 1314 East 43rd Street, Room #7. He shared this office space with John R. Sproule. Additionally, Michael Soldano had office space in Room #11 of 1314 East 43rd Street in 1958. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1958, p. 214.)

Teaching

Assistant / Associate / Professor of Architecture, University of Washington, Seattle (UW), Department of Architecture, Seattle, WA, 1946-1957 and 1958-1976. He retired from teaching in 1976.

Chair, University of Washington, Seattle (UW), Department of Architecture, Seattle, WA, 1961-1964.

Professional Service

Victor Steinbrueck produced a guidebook, Seattle Architecture 1850-1953, (New York: Reinhold Publishing Company, 1953), one of a series produced by architects for each city in which the annual convention of AIA was held.

Steinbrueck moderated a panel discussion of "concepts of design in architecture" held at a 09/08/1960 meeting of the American Institute of Architects. Panel participants included Alan Liddle, Anker Molver, William J. Bain and Stephen Richardson. (See "Architects Will Meet Thursday," Seattle Times, 09/04/1960, p. 22.)

The architect took an active and central role in Seattle public policy during the 1960s, forming coalitions to protect historic buildings in the city's downtown, including Pioneer Sqaure and Pike Place Market. He took an oath of office as a State of WA Planning/Community Affairs officer in 1968, according to state records.

Steinbrueck served on the jury of the 1963-1964 Home Awards Jury put together by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Sunset magazine. Halprin served with a distinguished cast of designers including Harris Armstrong (1899-9173, an architect from the Saint Louis, MO, area), Edward Larrabee Barnes (1915-2004), Architect of New York, Dorothy W. Liebes (1897-1972), a distinguished Bay Area weaver, Lawrence Halprin (1916-2009), the noted Bay Area landscape architect, and Calvin Straub (1920-1988), an architect from Southern California and teacher at USC's Architecture School, who moved to become an Architecture Professor at Arizona State University between 1961 and 1988. Proctor P. Mellquist (born 08/14/1915), Editor of Sunset, presided on the committee.

Member, Washington State, Planning and Community Affairs Committee, Olympia, WA, 1968. (See (See State Government Oaths of Office, 1854-2023 - Victor - Steinbrueck, State Government Oaths of Office, 1854-2022, Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://digitalarchives.wa.gov, accessed 09/20/2023.)

Professional Awards

Steinbreuck won a Northwest Artist Awards for a watercolor of Yesler Terrace, 1934.

The Washington Chapter, American Institute of Architects (AIA), gave the Steinbrueck's own house (1949-1953), Seattle, WA, and the Alden Mason House #2 (1951), Richmond Beach, Seattle, WA, Honor Awards in 1952 and 1953, respectively.

Steinbrueck was named "First Citizen of Seattle in 1977."

Seattle's Mayor, Charles Royer (b. 08/22/1939), proclaimed 11/02/1982 as "Victor Steinbrueck Day."

Pike Place Park, which Steinbrueck helped design with Richard Haag (b. 1923), was renamed "Victor Steinbrueck Park" after his death.

Recipient, University of Washington, Seattle (UW), College of Built Environments, Distinguished Faculty Award for Lifetime Achievement, Seattle, WA, 2018. The College of Built Environments said of his achievement in teaching at the UW in 2018: "Victor Steinbrueck (1911-1985) graduated from UW in 1935. He joined the UW architecture faculty in 1946, served as Architecture Department Chair from 1961 to 1964, and taught until 1976. Steinbrueck is most recognized for his civic involvement, his role in the creation of the Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market historic districts, and his focus on the buildings and open spaces of Seattle as an embodiment of local culture. Steinbrueck Park is named in his honor." (See University of Washington, Seattle (UW), College of Built Environments.edu, "Ten honored with new CBE Distinguished Faculty Award for Lifetime Achievement," published 2018, accessed 08/02/2022.)

Archives

"An Architect's Studio and Residence," a second-year student project, dated 12/10/1932, is preserved in the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) Drawings Collection at the University of Washington (UW) Libraries' Department of Special Collections. (In 2009, all student drawings formerly stored by the Department of Architecture were transferred to the UW Libraries, Department of Special Collections.)

In addition, a "Protestant Church in Suburb, an analytique drawing done by the architect in 1933, has also been preserved in the UW Libraries' Special Collections Division (Item #ARC0891).

Steinbrueck's personal papers were also stored in the UW Libraries University Archives.

Many of Victor Steinbrueck's own photographs are preserved in the (UW) College of Built Environments' Visual Resources Collection, a gift of Peter Steinbrueck.

High School/College

He attended primary and secondary (Franklin High School) schools in Seattle.

He entered the University of Washington in 1928; he began studying at the School of Fisheries but came to the School of Architecture in 1930.

B.Arch., University of Washington, Seattle, WA (UW), 1935; (Peter Steinbrueck mentioned that his father graduated in 1934.) While at the UW, Victor was an editorial staff member of Columns, the campus humor magazine. In 1932, he served on this board with another architect, Jack Sproule (1908-1993).

Relocation

Born in Mandan, in central ND nearby to Bismarck, Steinbrueck's family settled in Seattle, WA, in 1913, when Victor was two; he spent his childhood and university years in the city. In 1918, the Steinbruecks lived at 707 Homer Street in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King; Roll: 1992013; Draft Board: 12, accessed 03/11/2019.) Two years later, the US Census located the family at 6353 Maynard Avenue in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1930; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 320, accessed 03/11/2019.)

In 1930-1931, he lived with his family at 2707 33rd Avenue South in Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1930, p. 1618 andSeattle, Washington, City Directory, 1931, p. 1594.)As a senior in college, Victor continued to live at home in 1935, when the family resided at 2633 Ferdinand Street in Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1935, p. 1426.) By 1940, Rose and her two sons had a residence at 3714 40th Avenue SW in Seattle's West Seattle neighborhood.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04381; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 40-245, accessed 03/11/2019.)

Steinbrueck continued to live with his mother at 3714 40th Avenue Southwest on 10/16/1940. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 170, accessed 03/25/2024.)

Early jobs were also obtained in Seattle. He served in the military for about four years during World War II, and then returned to teach at the University of Washington and practice in Seattle.

Steinbrueck accepted a job with the architect Minoru Yamasaki in Detroit, MI, in 1957, but did not live here a full year before returning to Seattle.

Following his divorce from Elaine Worden, he moved into the house of Marjorie Nelson Da Silva at 2622 Franklin Avenue East in the Eastlake neighborhod. Marjorie had lived here prior to 1964 with her mother. Marjorie and Victor lived in this residence until his death in 1985. Marjorie resided there until her death in 2010. She bequeathed the house to her two daughter, Judith and Rachel.

Steinbruck also spent a sabbatical in London, UK, in 1967-1968.

In 1981, he resided at 2622 Franklin Avenue East in the city's Eastlake neighborhood. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 03/25/2024.)

The architect and educator died on 02/14/1985 at University Hospital of cardiac failure. He was cremated. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Death Index, 1940-2017, accessed 07/14/2023.)

Parents

His father, John Cashmere Steinbrueck (born 08/24/1881 in Cleveland, OH-d. 01/15/1935 in Seattle, WA), worked as a railroad worker, machinist, and, later, an auto mechanic. (His middle name was written "Casmir" on Victor's WA death certificate, while the name "Cashmere" appeared on that of John.) The US Census of 1910, listed John as being a machinist in the Northern Pacific Railroad's shops in Mandan, ND. In 1918, John Steinbrueck worked for Patterson MacDonald on East Marginal Way in Seattle as a machinist. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King; Roll: 1992013; Draft Board: 12, accessed 03/11/2019.) He worked as a mechanic at the Mount Baker Center Garage. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1931, p. 1594.) By 1935, John had employment as an automobile mechanic at the James Street Garage in Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1935, p. 1426.)Steinbrueck's paternal line came from Germany, one strand of it having lived in Berlin.

John C. Steinbrueck died of acute appendicitis on 01/10/1935 at King County Hospital #1 in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Death Index, 1940-2017, accessed 07/14/2023.)

The family of Victor's mother, Rose Dolores Rittle (born 02/21/1885 in Saint Paul, MN-d. 09/07/1960 in Seattle, WA), also came from Germany. His paternal grandparents were Ernst Reinhold Steinbrueck (born 10/23/1836 in Dusseldorf, Germany-d. 01/25/1918 in Mandan, ND) and Waleska Veronica Meilbitz (born 01/21/1844-d. 06/04/1921 in Mandan, ND). Waleska was of Polish and German descent. At age 75 in 1920 and recently widowed, she lived with John, Rose, and their family at 6353 Maynard Avenue in Seattle.

In 1931, at the depths of the Depression, Rose worked as a telephone operator at the Cornelius Apartment Hotel. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1931, p. 1594.)

Victor had a older brother, John Ernst Steinbrueck (born 07/05/1910 in ND- d. 06/23/1988 in Redmond, WA). He worked for the La Salle Oil Burner Company in 10/1940. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 170, accessed 07/14/2023.)

Spouses

Victor wed twice. He married Elaine Pearl Worden (born 11/10/1931 in Raymond, WA-d. 01/13/2019) on 09/25/1950 in Seattle, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc168660, accessed 03/11/2019.) As noted in her obituary: "She was an accomplished portrait artist and poet. In life, she was free-spirited with a flair for the dramatic. Elaine lived in, and for the moment and engaged gregariously with people of all creeds and colors." (See Seattle Times.com, "Elaine P. Steinbrueck 1931 - 2019," published 02/10/2019, accessed 09/22/2023.)

He divorced Elaine and wed his second, Marjorie Nelson Da Silva (born 11/02/1923 in Seattle, WA-d. 02/12/2010 in Seattle, WA), who acted professionally, on 09/08/1964 in Seattle. She was 40, he was 52 at the time of the marriage. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc279036, accessed 03/25/2024.) His children lived with Elaine in a Denny Blaine house.

Marjorie was previously married to the actor and director Howard Da Silva (1909-1986) between 1950 and 1961. She had two daughters with him.

Children

Victor and Elaine Steinbrueck had four children; Matthew Steinbrueck, Lisa Steinbrueck, David Steinbrueck, and Peter. Steinbrueck.

Peter Steinbrueck, (b. 1957), also an architect, became a long-time City Councilman in Seattle, WA, retiring in 2007. He also served on the Port of Seattle Commission.

Personal Notes

On 10/16/1940, Steinbrueck's World War II draft registration card listed him as Caucasian, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He stood 5-feet, 9-and-1/2-inches tall, and weighed 190 pounds. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 170, accessed 03/25/2024.)

The architect had a significant heart attack in 1953 that forced him to reduce strenuous activity. He suffered this coronary while one of his children was being born. This setback encouraged him to find new pastimes, most significantly sketching. By 1959, his sketches of Seattle street scenes were featured in the Argus newspaper, a liberal weekly that operated from 1894-1983; his first sketch focused on the corner of 1st Avenue and Cherry Street.

He was admitted to the Port of Seattle aboard the fishing boat, Winston, on 04/22/1956. Another passenger on the Winston was Donald DeForest Fleming (1920-2013) a long-time Seattle lawyer, who during his career provided legal services to at-risk young people. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving At Seattle, Washington; NAI Number: 4449160; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 03/25/2024.)

Steinbrueck traveled to Japan in 07/1962 for a six-month study tour of Japan financed by a $4,887 grant from the Asian Arts Foundation. According to Seattle Times article of 07/01/1962: "Steinbrueck will sketch Japanese architecture and visual city forms in Kyoto." (See "Steinbrueck Going to Japan," Seattle Times, 07/01/1962, p. 56.) On 12/12/1962, Steinbrueck returned to the US through Anchorage, AK, aboard Northwest Airlines Flight #10/12 originating from Tokyo, Japan. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger and Crew Manifests of Airplanes and Vessels Arriving at Anchorage, Alaska.; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 09/20/2023.)

Because of his work to save the Pike Place Market from demolition, a Seattle City Park was named in his honor. Victor Steinbrueck Park is located at the corner of Western Avenue and Virginia Street, just to the north of the Pike Place Market.

In 1967-1968, Steinbrueck lived in London, UK and wrote two letters to the editor of the Times of London that were published.

SSN: 536-01-4925.

• Mandan, ND (Architect's Birth)
  Mandan, ND

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• Seattle, WA (Architect's Death)
  Seattle, WA

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