Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
William S. Lagen family home movie films, 1925-1962
Overview of the Collection
- Creators
- William S. Lagen family
- Title
- William S. Lagen family home movie films
- Dates
- 1925-1962 (inclusive)19251962
- Quantity
- 39 reels : color and black and white ; 16mm, 8mm, Super 8mm
- Collection Number
- PH1207
- Summary
- Home movie collection documenting the life of William Schupp Lagen, (1923-). Activities run from his second birthday to his second wedding. Significant portions take place in the Port Hobron whaling station in Alaska owned by his family.
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access to the original films is restricted. Viewing copies are available for patron use.
- Additional Reference Guides
These materials were separated from the William S. Lagen Papers collection, University of Washington accession number 2292-001.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Encoding for this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the UW Libraries 21st Century fund.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
William S. Lagen was the only child of Marc Lagen and Emily Schupp. Emily was a modern dancer who took the stage name " Lada " in 1914. The Schupp family fortune was made in the insurance business, and this was eventually complemented by success in the whaling industry. William was born in the Schupp family home at Pawling Manor, New York on July 29, 1923, and he subsequently moved to Seattle with his parents and grandfather in 1925. Marc Lagen managed the American Whaling Company, which was headquartered in Bellevue, Washington's Meydenbauer Bay. A family home was built in the area in 1941. William went to Port Hobron, Alaska during the summers with his parents, where he enjoyed fishing, sailing, rowing, and playing with his dog, Bolo. He also enjoyed skiing and other outdoor activities as a young man, and traveled to Europe for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. William attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and became an officer in the U.S. Navy. As an officer, he was stationed on the aircraft carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt in Greece in the late 1940s, and later in New Mexico. After his military service, William returned to Bellevue and expanded the Meydenbauer Bay Marina that had been built by his parents. The original whaling dock can be seen today as the center of the Marina. William also owned Trident Seafoods in Akutan, Alaska. He was married twice, and had two children named Marc and Deborah.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The films in the William Lagen home movie collection documents five decades of personal history in the Northwest. Various family events and vacations comprise the bulk of the collection, with Alaska featuring prominently as a leisure and business destination for the Lagens. The business of whaling and whale flensing is also depicted. William Lagen's (the son of Marc and Emily) military career is highlighted in the second part of this collection.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Film titles for the collection have been derived from canister and box labels present at the time of donation.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the Special Collections division of the University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
viewcopy | item | ||
VC5 | 1 | William Lagen's Second Birthday Title card reads, "William Schupp Lagen, July 19, 1925, celebrates
his second birthday at Bellevue, WA with Daddad - Taunte - Luella - Mamma - Ida
- etc." A young William with ducks on a lake shore, and riding in a boat with a
woman. An outdoor birthday party that includes other children, a cake with
candles, presents, and a sailor suit for the occasion. William "Daddad" Schupp
and Dorothy "Dodo" Schupp give a gift to William.
Original1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
July 29th, 1925 |
VC5 | 2 | William Lagen's Third Birthday, Part 1 Title card reads, "Bill Lagen takes his third birthday less
seriously - he sees Daddad and plays with his 'pals' in the park." William
getting into a car with his mother, Emily; with nanny and a new tricycle; going
to a house at Meydenbauer Bay; running through a sprinkler; playing on a lake
shore. William riding his new tricycle in Seattle's Volunteer Park, playing
with man's hat on the grass, and sailing a toy boat on the park's pond.
Original1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
July 29th, 1926 |
VC5 | 3 | William Lagen's Third Birthday, Part 2 William sailing a toy boat on a Volunteer Park pond with Emily
and his dog, Bolo.
Original1 reel (50 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
July 29th, 1926 |
VC5 | 4 | William Lagen's Fourth Birthday Title card reads, "William Schupp Lagen celebrates his fourth
birthday at Pawling Manor, his birth place, and Dodo throws a party." An
outside birthday party is being thrown at Pawling Manor in New York, with a
group of children around a small garden table. A recreational beach with a
pier, and a group of young men in bathing suits.
Original1 reel (200 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
July 29th, 1927 |
VC5 | 5 | Port Hobron, Alaska William woodworking in a yard in Kodiak Island County, Alaska, and
being given two birthday gifts from a young boy and a girl. William boating in
a dinghy named Little Skate, with Bolo, the family
dog. Emily, Marc, and Bolo posing for the camera on a rural porch. William
raising the U.S. flag on a flagpole, spearfishing salmon in a creek, and giving
his catch to Bolo.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1931 |
VC5 | 6 | Fishing and Whaling in Alaska A whale spouting water from its blowhole, and a group of people
exiting a lighthouse. William playing with bear cubs gathered inside a box. A
blue whale being pulled onto the shore. Children on a boat, pulling up starfish
and fishing from the boat's side. William playing with a pistol on a boat with
his father, Marc. Flensing, or the act of removing blubber from a whale, is
being performed by maritime workers.
Original1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1931 |
VC5 | 7 |
Whale Flensing, Part 1 A blue whale being pulled up a ramp to a boning yard, where
workers begin the flensing process.
Original 1 reel (50 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1934 |
VC5 | 8 | Whale Flensing, Part 2 Workers at a whale rendering facility, including the buildings,
ramps, and boats of the plant.
Original 1 reel (50 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1934 |
VC5 | 9 | Lagen Family in Alaska Emily standing by a whale on shore, and then climbing on it.
William on a sailboat with Emily, Marc, and Bolo. William spearfishing for
salmon, and holding up dead ducks.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1934 |
VC5 | 10 | Catching Salmon William spearing salmon in a stream with the family dog,
Bolo.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1934 |
VC5 | 11 | Whaling A whale spouting water from its blowhole, and a whale being
captured.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1934 |
VC5 | 12 | Port Hobron: Family Activities and Whales, Part
1 William and Emily in a dinghy. Dead whales floating in the water.
The Lagens fishing and feeding ducks. Emily coming up a hill among tall grass,
taking off her dressing gown, posing in bathing suit, and gathering
flowers.
Original1 reel (400 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1935 |
VC5 | 13 | Port Hobron: Family Activities and Whales, Part
2 Whale flensing; the inside of a rendering house; a dead whale on
the shore; a boat named Moran; a whale hauling
ramp; large piles of whale innards. William taking off his boots on a porch;
rowing with Bolo and Emily; in a boat with Marc.
Original 1 reel (400 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1935 |
VC5 | 14 | Great Yarmouth Sailboat on Campbell River Mountains and evergreens in the snow. A group of adolescents
dressed in swimsuits and light summer clothing, playing in a yard and eating
watermelon. A sailboat named Great Yarmouth. Emily
reading on a sailboat, with William climbing the mast, tying flag knots, and
polishing brass.
Original 1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white and color ; 16mm
|
circa 1936 |
VC6 | 15 | Friday Harbor Canning Company, and a Birthday in the
Redwoods William and Emily on a sailboat, with the Friday Harbor Canning
Company and various other port businesses on the nearby docks. William, Emily
and Marc at a mission in California, with William wearing a pith helmet.
William climing around the "Coolidge Tree" in the California Redwoods.
Original1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa July, 1936 |
VC6 | 16 | Naden Harbor and Vancouver, British Columbia, Part 1
Marc Lagen and others riding in a boat. Whale rendering houses in
Canada.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white and color ; 16mm
|
circa 1936 |
VC6 | 17 | Naden Harbor and Vancouver, British Columbia, Part
2 William feeding vegetation to a fawn, and petting the deer as it
drinks from a bottle. Various coastal buildings in Canada from the deck of a
moving ship.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1937 |
VC6 | 18 | Skiing at Mount Baker The Lagen family skiing at Mount Baker in Washington.
Original1 reel (200 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1931 |
VC6 | 19 | Emily and Marc Lagen at Home William, Emily, Marc, and Bolo posing in the garden of a house. A
strong windstorm blowing through the trees of a coastal residence.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1936 |
VC6 | 20 | The Voyageur on Meydenbauer Bay, Bellevue William Schupp's house and yard. A dock, with WIlliam and others
waving from a boat.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1938 |
VC6 | 21 | Whaling Boats Leaving Bellevue, Part 1 Whaling boats leaving from a dock. Emily, William, and Bolo on the
dock, with Bolo fetching sticks from the water. William raising a flag up a
pole on the edge of the water. William rowing a small boat, with Bolo riding
along.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1937 |
VC6 | 22 | Whaling Boats Leaving Bellevue, Part 2 More whaling boats leaving from port.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1937 |
VC6 | 23 | Going to Europe on the Bremen William walking on the deck of a ship, wearing a beret.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
undated |
VC6 | 24 | Automobile Trip to the East Coast William, Emily, and Marc, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the
background. Emily in a traveling car. William shooting a gun in the desert
among saguaro cacti, and exploring a cave. Emily standing next to a "Louisiana"
sign. William and Marc walking among skyscrapers in New York City, both wearing
a suit and tie.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1936 |
VC6 | 25 |
House of Uncle Harry William, Henry (Uncle Harry) Schupp, and two unknown women posing
on the grounds of a large white home. William feeding pigeons in a park.
William sightseeing from an elevated vantage point, with the White House and
Washington Monument in Washington D.C. in the background.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1936 |
VC6 | 26 | Skiing William on skis near a cabin.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1937 |
VC6 | 27 | U.S. Naval Academy Sailors and civilians on the deck of a moving boat. Military
excercises on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. William in a naval
uniform, smiling and holding a tiny puppy.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1945 |
VC6 | 28 |
U.S. Naval Academy and Greece Exercises at the U.S. Naval Academy. Ancient ruins in Greece, with
views of the coast from the deck of a boat. Aerial views of unidentified
land.
Original1 reel (400 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1947 |
VC6 | 29 | Activities on the Aircraft Carrier Franklin Delano
Roosevelt Various naval actitivites, including the placement and detonation
of mines and depth charges.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1949 |
VC6 | 30 | Emily Lagen and Child Marc, the first child of William and his wife, Shannon, wearing a
red jacket and playing on the front walk of a home.
Original1 reel (50 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1952 |
VC6 | 31 | Albuquerque, New Mexico Infant Marc in a high chair with Shannon. Mother and son getting
into the passenger seat of a 1952 Plymouth. Infant Marc outside of a stucco
home, playing with a dog and a toy in the yard.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1952 |
VC6 | 32 | William Lagen with His Children William playing with his children, Marc and Debbie, on swings at a
Bellevue, Washington home.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1953 |
VC6 | 33 | Aircraft Carrier Franklin Delano Roosevelt Aircraft taking off from carrier Franklin
Delano Roosevelt, and aircraft with folded wings. Planes landing on the
runway of the carrier.
Original1 reel (100 feet): silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1952 |
VC6 | 34 | Seashore Panoramic views of a recreational shoreline. A man swimming with
young Marc in a large public pool.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1954 |
VC6 | 35 | Aircraft Carrier and Lagen Family Aircraft performing maneuvers from the deck of a carrier. Young
Marc playing with Emily and Shannon.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
|
circa 1954 |
VC6 | 36 |
A Wedding The reception for William's second wedding, with toasts and gifts.
The couple driving away in a car that is decorated for the occasion.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : black and white ; 16mm
|
circa 1962 |
VC7 | 37 | Fishing Trip in the Woods People on fishing trip, presumably in the Pacific Northwest. A
huge waterfall and river; the aftermath of a forest fire; various log cabins; a
large log house by a lake; a seaplane parked at a dock.
Original 1 reel (200 feet) : silent, color ; 8mm
|
undated |
VC7 | 38 | Parade at Oak Harbor, Washington A childrens' parade through Oak Harbor, Washington, including
drill team and a doll parade; men dressed in antiquated police uniforms,
carrying a "town drunk" to jail; people building a parade float on a farm;
another parade, with navy men marching; fishing boats, and powerboat
racing.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white and color ; 8mm
|
undated |
VC7 | 39 | Camping Trucks and camping trailers; men packing for a trip; driving into
mountains covered with snow; chaining up tires; a naked man washing up in a
river and unpacking the truck; men putting deer antlers on their heads.
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; Super 8mm
|
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Bays--Alaska
- Families--Northwest, Pacific
- Family vacations
- Rivers--Alaska
- Salmon fishing--Alaska
- Skis and skiing--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount
- Whales--Alaska
- Whaling ships--Alaska
- Whaling ships--Washington (State)--Bellevue
- Whaling--Alaska
Personal Names
- Lada stage name, active 1920
- Lagen, William S.--Anniversaries, etc
- Lagen, William S.--Archives
- Lagen, William S.--Family
Corporate Names
- American Pacific Whaling Co
- United States Naval Academy
Family Names
- Lagen family
- Schupp family
Form or Genre Terms
- Amateur films
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Moving Image Collections (University of Washington)
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)