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Steffins, May
| Last Name: | Steffins |
|---|---|
| First Name: | May |
| Dates: |
1886 - 1906 (Life/Active Dates)
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| Biography/History: | May Steffins was born in Ontario, Canada in 1866 and emigrated to the United States around 1883, probably with her mother and a couple of siblings. She appeared alone in Yakima, WA in 1885; two years later, three other Steffins family members were living there. The 1889 Spokane City Directory listed May as a dressmaker, working and living in the Frankfurt block, and through 1906 she appeared regularly in the directories, listed personally as a dressmaker and modiste, and also under business entries for Dressmakers and, briefly, Ladies’ Tailors. In 1890, May and a seamstress Carrie Unkenholz were both boarding at 600 ½ West 2nd and working at “Miss Steffins” shop in the Hazel block. Carrie soon left to marry, and in 1892 May’s dressmaker sister Annie, joined the business. The sisters lived and worked together, moving their residence and May’s business into a room at The Rookery, expanding to occupy several rooms there, and by 1896 moving again to 506 Traders block, where the shop remained until its 1906 closure. Annie was the shop’s “forewoman” by the time she left to marry chemist-druggist Louis Schultz in 1899. A year later, May was a single, 34-year-old dressmaker, living with Annie and Louis at 27 Augusta St., Spokane. Meanwhile, Walter L. Jones, a clerk/salesman at The Crescent dry goods store, caught May’s attention; they were married on March 31, 1902 in Billings, Montana and returned to 506 Traders block, their home and work address for the next four years. Walter joined his wife’s business; the directory business listings changed to “Mae” Steffins, and she took the name Mae Steffins-Jones. Between January 1905 and January 1906, Spokane client Grace Campbell paid over $1100 to M. Steffins-Jones for dressmaking services, but by March 1906 was working with another dressmaker. Mae Steffins likely died in early 1906; she did not appear in the 1907 City Directory and Walter had returned to work as floor manager and salesman at The Crescent. Both 1920 and 1930 federal censuses listed him as widowed, and after 1921 the directories list no occupation. No death records have been found for either May or Walter Jones. |
| Related Objects: |
784.21 (Dress, Grace Campbell’s Receiving or Dinner Dress, 1900 - 1906)
784.21A (Dress, Grace Campbell’s Receiving or Dinner Dress Bodice, 1900 - 1906)
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