Résumé

Lineman/Serviceman, Pacific Bell Telephone Company, Seattle, WA, c. 1942.

Service, US Army, Signal Corps, c. 1942-1943. He enlisted at Tacoma, WA, on 09/24/1942. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 03143; Reel: 36, accessed 11/28/2022.)

House builder, King County, WA, 1950. This was his profession listed in the 1950 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: King, Washington; Roll: 1340; Sheet Number: 72; Enumeration District: 17-239, accessed 11/28/2022.)

Draftsman, Boeing Company, Plant Facilities Department, Seattle, WA, 1951.

Partner, Molver and Stertzer, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1953.

Partner, Molver, Marquette and Stertzer, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1954-1957 . In 1953, this firm had an office under Snooky's Tavern, a bar that was well-known for serving hot dogs. The architects Jane Hastings and Anne Detwyler Warren rented space from them to open their own office in 1953.

Partner, Molver, Marquette and Soldano, Architects, Seattle, WA, c. 1958. In 1958, Molver and Marquette continued to share a workspace at 1314 East 43rd Street in Seattle. Stertzer was not listed as working here, although this may have been an oversight. In addition, Michael Soldano also worked in Room #11. Other architect working at 1314 East 43rd Street in 1958 included: Ibsen Nelson (Room #2); Russell B. Sabin (Room #2); Robert Sproule (Room #7); and Victor Steinbrueck (Room #7). (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1958, p. 214.) Molver did not work with Marquette or Stertzer in 1959. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1959, p. 235.)

Partner, Molver, Soldano and McGrath, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1959- . In 1959-1960, Molver had an office at 1314 East 43rd Street, Room #11. He shared this space with architects Michael Soldano and James A. McGrath. The three were not listed as working in a firm, but may have assisted one another with commissions. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1959, p. 235 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1960, p. 221.) Others that rented space at 1314 East 43rd in 1960 included: Theodore D. Bower (Room #7), Ibsen A. Nelsen (Room #2), Russell B. Sabin (Room #2), John R. Sproule (Room #7), and Gordon B. Varey (Room #2).

Molver had retired from practice by 1985. (See DOCOMOMO WeWA.org, "Anker I. Molver," accessed 11/18/2024.)

Professional Service

Seattle architect Victor 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.)

College

B.Arch., University of Washington (UW), Seattle, Seattle, WA, 1951.

Relocation

Anker Molver was born in Borgund, Norway, on 01/01/1922. It is unclear whether Anker and his parents Anton and Louise resided in Prince Rupert, BC, before 1927 or whether his father alone lived there and in Ketchikan, AK, by 10/06/1927. Anton Molver arrived in Ketchikan on the Grand Trunk Steamship Prince George, where he worked on fishing boats.

A ship's manifest indicated that Anker and his mother left Bergen, Norway, on 03/28/1930, aboard the S.S. Bergensfjord, bound for New York, NY. They arrived on 04/07/1930. This document indicated that Louise held a passport obtained on 12/17/1929 in Langevaag, Norway. It is possible that Anton lived apart from his wife and son for a period during the 1920s. Or, it may have been possible that Louise and Anker lived with him in Canada and Alaska, but went home to Norway in the late 1920s.

The Molvers moved to Seattle, WA, by 11/25/1930, according to Anton's naturalization paperwork of 1936. On 04/10/1936, his family lived at 6709 Dayton Avenue in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (Nara); Washington, D.c.; Naturalization Records of the U.s. District Court For the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957; Microfilm Roll: 104; Microfilm Serial: M1542, accessed 11/28/2022.) In 1940, they dwelled at 421 North 70th Street in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04374; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 40-33A, accessed 11/28/2022.)

On 06/30/1942 into 1943 he and his parents dwelled at 621 West 84th Street in Seattle. He worked for the telephone company at age 20. In 1943, Molver had enlisted in the US Army. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1943, p. 811.)

The 1950 US Census found Molver and his wife, Arlean living at 1116 North 198th Street. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: King, Washington; Roll: 1340; Sheet Number: 72; Enumeration District: 17-239, accessed 11/28/2022.) In 1982, Molver continued to reside at 1116 North 198th Street in Shoreline, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 11/28/2022.)

Molver was not listed in the Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1956, (p. 1019). He may

Parents

His father was Anton Elias Molver (born 04/21/1891 in Borgund, Norway-d. 10/15/1971 in Seattle, WA), who worked as a fisherman in Norway, Alaska and British Columbia. He married Louise Larsdotter Vedde (born 11/14/1897 in Borgund, Norway-d. 10/15/1975 in Seattle, WA) on 11/13/1921 in Borgund, Norway. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives of Norway-Arkivverket; Norway; Church Books 1815-1960; Reference Number: SAT/A-1454/528/L0434, accessed 11/28/2022.)

They lived in Norway until at least 1922, before relocating to Prince Rupert, BC, by the mid-1920s. They left Prince Rupert for Ketchikan, AK, on 10/06/1927, before moving to King County, WA, on 11/25/1930. Anton Molver was a fisherman in Norway and in Canada, and continued working in that job for a private company in Seattle, as per the 1940 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04374; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 40-33A, accessed 11/28/2022.) He continued as a commercial fisherman in 1956, as well. They lived at 829 West 57th Street in Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1956, p. 1019.)

He applied for US citizenship on 04/09/1931. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (Nara); Washington, D.c.; Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court For the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957; Microfilm Roll: 104; Microfilm Serial: M1542, accessed 09/13/2022.)

Spouse

He married Arlean Grove (born c. 1925 in Fargo, ND) on 07/21/1948 in a civil ceremony at Coeur d'Alene, ID. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Boise, Idaho; Marriage Index For Years 1947-1964, accessed 11/28/2022.)

Arlean worked as a manuscript clerk for the Pacific Bell company in 1950.

Biographical Notes

At age 20, Molver's World War II draft registration card listed him as being Caucasian with a light brown complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stood 6-feet, 1-inch tall, and weighed 170 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: 123, accessed 11/28/2022.)

SSN: 536-18-3892.