Dutoff (Vera) Collection, ca. 1920-1980

Summary

Title:

Vera Dutoff Collection

Dates:

ca. 1920-1980

Creators:

Dutoff, Vera (Kuchinskaya)

Abstract:

Vera Dutoff (maiden name Kuchinskaia) fled Russia, lived in China, and settled in San Francisco, California with her husband Alexander Dutoff. She was born on November 19, 1900 and died on February 25, 1994. The collection consists of materials related to her daily life and is largely composed of correspondence as well as keepsake objects including Russian Icons (devotional images) and lace textiles. A small amount of records were created by her husband Alexandar Dutoff; her son, Dimitri Dutoff; and her sister, Nadejda Alexandrovna Kutchinskaia.

Extent:

10.58 linear feet

Language:

English , Russian , Chinese .

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.

Background

Scope and content:

The Vera Dutoff Collection consists of materials related to Vera's personal life in San Francisco, California. The majority of the records are correspondence that date from the early 1940's to the late 1970's. Vera corresponded frequently with her son, Dimitri Dutoff, and a woman in Australia named Helena Palitcin (or Patitcin?). Other materials include identification papers, immigration records, financial records, burial arrangements for her husband, calendars, photographs, and a diary. In addition to the paper records in the collection, there are family heirlooms and keepsakes such as lace shawls, doilies, a decorative box, a tablecloth, and beads and charms, many of which were likely brought with the family from Russia or China. There is also a heavy focus on Vera's religious life with many Russian Icons (devotional images) and religious texts included in the collection. A small amount of records were created by her husband Alexandar Dutoff; her son, Dimitri Dutoff; and her sister, Nadejda Alexandrovna Kutchinskaia.

Biographical / historical:

Vera Dutoff (maiden name Kuchinskaia) was born on November 19, 1900 to Alexander Grigorievich Kutchinsky and Maria Panteleimonovna Mihina. Vera fled Russia and lived in China for a while. Her sister, Nadejda Alexandrovna Kutchinskaia, was born on May 30, 1902 in Lyaoyang, China. Vera's maiden name is spelled three different ways in the records: Kuchinskaia, Kutchinsky, and Kuchinskaya.

Vera married Alexander Yakovlevich Dutoff (formerly Dutov) on November 25, 1921 in Harbin, China. Alexander was born in Poltava, Russia on September 3, 1891 to Yakov Petrovich Dutoff and Maria Theodorovna Getenko. He lived in Harbin, China and immigrated to the U.S. in 1926. Alexander died in 1963. Vera immigrated to San Francisco in 1928. Vera's sister Nadejda, remained in Harbin until 1959, then emigrated to Sydney, Australia. Vera worked as an Intermediate Clerk for the Railroad Commission and the Public Utilities Commission. Vera and Alexander's son, Dimitri (also spelled Dimitry), was born June 14, 1929 in San Francisco. Dimitri enlisted in the Navy in the early 1950s. Vera Dutoff died on February 25, 1994 in California.

Acquisition information:

Breck Parkman, 2020.

Processing information:

Carri Frola, 2024.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Textiles
Photographs
Documents
Ephemera

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-03 10:59:24 -0700 .

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.

Location of this collection:

California State University, Northridge, Old China Hands Archives

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330, US

Contact:

(818) 677-4594

Website