Mary Randlett Portraits

Known for both her landscapes and portraits, Mary Randlett began documenting Northwest figures in 1963 when Theodore Roethke asked her to photograph him in his Seattle home. Hers were the last pictures taken of the poet before his death, and the portraits garnered international attention. In addition to Roethke, Mary Randlett Portraits includes portraits of renowned artists Jacob Lawrence, Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, and George Tsutuakawa; writers Tom Robbins, Henry Miller, and Colleen McElroy; arts patrons Betty Bowen and Richard Fuller; and more.

Randlett's portraits are known for their effortless intimacy, illuminating her subjects as few ever saw them—something noted by many of those whom she photographed. The portraits are accompanied by biographical sketches written by Frances McCue, which blend life stories and reflections on the works with Randlett's own reminiscences. McCue also provides an essay on Randlett's life and professional career.

Randlett's photographs represent an artistic and literary history of the Pacific Northwest. No other book brings together these important historical figures from the rich past and present of this region. A curated collection of ninety photographs from the more than six hundred portraits she took of Northwest artists, writers, and cultural luminaries, Mary Randlett Portraits documents the region's artistic legacy through one woman's camera lens.