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Francis Koons Mount Baker photograph album, 1908-1960s
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Koons, Francis. 1902-1997
- Title
- Francis Koons Mount Baker photograph album
- Dates
- 1908-1960s (inclusive)19081969
- Quantity
- 1 album
- Collection Number
- PH1466
- Summary
- Photograph album compiled and arranged by Francis Koons, chronicling the 1920s-30s period of the Mount Baker Hiking Club and Ski Club including excursions and activities on and around Mount Baker, Washington.
- 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 restricted: For terms of access, contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Francis (“Fritz”) Jefferson Koons was born December 19, 1902 in Mattoon, Illinois and moved to Bellingham, Washington first in 1908, and again (permanently) in 1926. He was a Navy veteran and worked as a surveyor at Puget Sound Power and Light for 42 years, retiring in 1967. A keen outdoorsman, Koons was one of the early members, and Outing Chair, of the Mount Baker Hiking Club, which held excursions every other Saturday in the 1920s and 30s. Along with some other Mount Baker Hiking Club members, he co-founded the Mount Baker Ski Club in 1935 and was its first President. In 1935, Koons and other Hiking and Ski Club members built a ski cabin at Glacier near Mount Baker. In the mid-1950s Koons and other local citizens organized the Komo Kulshan Ski Club for young skiers in the Bellingham area. In addition to his Mount Baker Hiking and Ski Club memberships and activities with the Komo Kulshan Ski Club, Fritz Koons was also a member of the Mount Baker Ski Patrol and the Bellingham Junior Chamber of Commerce. Actively involved with local senior citizens groups including the Senior Trail Blazers, he skied well into his eighties. His first wife, Ruth Nell Clark, was also an early member of the Mount Baker Hiking Club and he regularly took his children Beverly and Jack on outdoor excursions. Francis "Fritz" Koons died in April 24, 1997.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photograph album compiled and arranged by Francis Koons, chronicling the 1920s-30s period of the Mount Baker Hiking Club and Ski Club including excursions and activities on and around Mount Baker, Washington. Also includes photographs of Koons' youth in Illinois and his family and first family home through the 1950s.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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View selections from the collection in digital format
Restrictions on Use
Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Ephemera in the front of the albumReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Memory Leaves autographs |
1932-1933 | |
Page | ||
1 | Newspaper clipping about Mount Baker lodge burning
down |
July 1967 |
Photograph albumReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Page | item | ||
1 | 1 | circa 1930s | |
2 | 2a-b, d | Scenes of Glacier, Washington in the snow |
1926 |
2 | 2c | 1926 | |
3 | 3a-b, d | Bend of North Nooksack River in snow |
circa 1930s |
3 | 3c | Nooksack Falls power plant |
circa 1930s |
4 | 4a-b, d |
Members of Mt. Baker Hiking Club, including Francis
Koons and Percy Berg, carrying skis through snowy field
Written on item B: 1st Mt Baker Skiers
|
1930 |
4 | 4c | 1930 | |
5 | 5a-e | Members of Mt Baker Hiking Club with skis and toboggan,
including Francis Koons, Francis Short, Harry Kline, Claire Boys, Loyd
Rasmussen, and Quenton Roachford [Rochefort] |
circa 1930s |
6 | 6a-b | circa 1930s | |
6 | 6c-d | circa 1930s | |
7 | 7a-e |
Views of Mt Baker Lodge in the snow
Written on item C photo: 1930 Mt Baker Inn (Now Employees)
Written on item E photo: Mt Baker Meadows 1930
|
circa 1930s |
8 | 8a | Francis Koons on skis in front of Mt Baker
Lodge |
circa 1930s |
8 | 8b-d | Bear near Mt Baker |
circa 1930s |
8 | 8e | Francis Koons’ mother near Austin Pass, Glacier,
WA |
circa 1930s |
9 | 9a | Loren Pratt and Harry Kline at Mt Baker |
circa 1930s |
9 | 9b | Rocky outcropping near Mt Baker |
circa 1930s |
9 | 9c | Loren Pratt and Francis Koons |
circa 1930s |
9 | 9d | Bear in a barrel
Loose photo, written on verso: Bear in barrel on Mt Baker
|
circa 1930s |
9 | 9e | 1935 | |
10 | 10a-c | circa 1930s | |
10 | 10d | Aerial view of Chain Lakes near Mt Baker |
circa 1930s |
11 | 11a, c | Cabin near Mt Baker
possibly ‘Glacier Cabin’ built by Mt Baker Hiking Club in
1935
|
circa 1935 |
11 | 11b |
Snowy campsite at Austin Pass
Handwritten caption: Our Camping at Austin Pass 1928
|
1928 |
11 | 11d | circa 1930s | |
12 | 12a-e | circa 1920s | |
13 | 13a-c | Views of Mt Baker |
circa 1930s |
13 | 13d | Quenton Rochfort [Rochefort] standing in snow drift
between rocks at outcropping |
circa 1930s |
14 | 14a-b, d | Mountain goat on Mt Baker |
circa 1930s |
14 | 14c | circa 1930s | |
15 | 15a |
Mt Baker Hiking Club group in front of automobiles
holding walking sticks
Written on photo: Me [Francis Koons], Mary Lawson, Hap Fisher,
Rosamund Barret, Archie Lawson, J.J. Dolan
|
circa 1930s |
15 | 15b | Mt Baker hiking club climbing Mt Shuksan |
circa 1930s |
15 | 15c | Mary Lawson sitting on ladder leaning against snow
bank |
circa 1930s |
16 | 16 a-b | circa 1930s | |
17 | 17a-c | Fool Hens Grouse on tree branch |
circa 1930s |
17 | 17d | Distant view of Mt Baker with tree line in
foreground |
circa 1930s |
17 | 17e |
Mt Baker Hiking Club group photo leaning on walking
sticks
Written on photo: Erwin Lusby, Me [Francis Koons], Carl Moen,
Young Teg., Claws Tegenfeldt, Glen Goddard
|
circa 1930s |
18 | 18a-b | circa 1930s | |
18 | 18c-d | Ice field near Mt Baker |
circa 1930s |
19 | 19a-c | circa 1930s | |
19 | 19d | View of peak of Mt Baker from over a snowy ice
field |
circa 1930s |
20 | 20a-c | circa 1920s | |
20 | 20d | View of Twin Lakes at foot of Mt Baker |
circa 1920s |
20 | 20e | Snowy field and trees in front of Mt Baker
peaks |
circa 1920s |
21 | 21a | Lake Tomyhoi at foot of Mt Baker
Written on photo: Tomyhoi
|
circa 1920s |
21 | 21b | circa 1920s | |
21 | 21c | circa 1920s | |
21 | 21d | circa 1920s | |
22 | 22a | circa 1930s | |
22 | 22b-d | Mt Baker Hiking Club members
Written on item 22b: on frozen Twin Lakes, Erwin Lusby, Francis
Koons.
Written on item 22c: Rosamund Barett, [Quenton] Rochford
[Rochefort]
|
circa 1930s |
23 | 23a, d | circa 1930s | |
23 | 23b |
Mary Lawson standing next to mountain goat at Heisler's
[sic Hisler's] Ranch
Written on photo: Hisler’s Ranch, Mary Lawson Gilfilen
|
circa 1930s |
23 | 23c | Claire Boys, Francis Koons, and Loyd Rasmussen playing
leap frog at Twin Lakes |
circa 1930s |
24 | 24a | Mt Baker Hiking club members from a distance hiking into
snow-covered forest |
circa 1930s |
24 | 24b |
Buildings along road
Written on photo: Marietta drive
|
1930 |
24 | 24c | 1908 | |
24 | 24d | circa 1930s | |
25 | 25a | Snow covered landscape around lake |
circa 1930s |
25 | 25b | circa 1930s | |
25 | 25c | [Photo missing when album was obtained] |
|
26 | 26a-d |
Mount Baker Hiking Club expedition (members identified
in caption) to Chuckanut, WA
Written on album: Harry Vaughn, Erwin, Ruth, Rosanna, Estella,
Loren Pratt, Harry Klein
|
circa 1930s |
27 | 27a-c |
Views of Pacific Ocean at Deception Pass
Park
Probably Clyde Banks
(photographer)
Written on album: Old Deception Pass Park
|
circa 1930s |
28 | 28a | circa 1930s | |
28 | 28b |
View of Deception Pass waterway with no
bridge
Written on album: Dec. Pass before bridge, Dec. Pass - No
Bridge
|
circa 1930s |
28 | 28c | Alice Barber Edson and two other women putting on hiking
boots |
circa 1930s |
28 | 28d | Alice Barber Edson standing in front of tree |
circa 1930s |
29 | 29a | Deception Pass waterway with motorboat |
circa 1930s |
29 | 29b-c | Archie Lawson, Mary Lawson, and Francis Koons possibly
building Glacier Cabin |
circa 1935 |
29 | 29d | View of Pacific Ocean at Deception Pass Park
Photographer: possibly Clyde Banks
|
circa 1930s |
30 | 30a-e |
Francis Koons’ mother, sister, niece, and nephew on a
visit
Written on album: Berg kids 1930, Virginia + Donald Berg [Koons’
niece and nephew], Sister Mary [Berg née Koons, Koons’ sister]
|
1930 |
31 | 31a | 1930 | |
31 | 31b-d |
Francis Koons’ living room circa 1929-34 in Burlington,
WA (double exposure)
Written on photo: “Double exposure [combining two photos - one
of Koons, another of a woman- so it appears Francis Koons is wearing a
dress]
|
circa 1929-34 |
32 | 32a | Bear |
circa 1930s |
32 | 32b | circa 1930s | |
32 | 32c, e |
Members of Mt Baker Hiking Club
Written on photo: Mary, Alice.
|
circa 1930s |
32 | 32d | circa 1930s | |
32 | 32f | circa 1930s | |
33 | 33a | Small black dog in front of dish in field |
circa 1930s |
33 | 33b |
Near Totem Pole surrounded by scaffolding in Vancouver,
WA with couple standing by
Possible honeymoon trip for Francis Koons and first wife Nell
Clark.
|
circa 1934 |
33 | 33c | circa 1934 | |
34 | 34a-c |
Mt Baker Ski Club members skiing
Written on photo: Fern Wilson, Marie Wilson, and Ruth [Nell
Clark]
|
circa 1930s |
35 | 35a | circa 1930s | |
35 | 35b-d | circa 1930s | |
36 | 36a | circa 1930s | |
36 | 36b | Woman in front of rocky outcrop |
circa 1930s |
36 | 36c | circa 1930s | |
36 | 36d | circa 1930s | |
36 | 36e | Aerial view of Twin Lakes |
circa 1930s |
37 | 37a | Forest scene with Fool Hen Grouse |
circa 1930s |
37 | 37b, d | circa 1930s | |
37 | 37c | circa 1930s | |
38 | 38a-b | circa 1930s | |
38 | 38c | Francis Koons, Hap Fisher, and woman balancing on board
over river |
circa 1930s |
39 | 39a | circa 1930s | |
39 | 39b | Francis Koons, Vaughn Brown, and others at
campsite |
circa 1930s |
40 | 40a-d | circa 1930s | |
41 | 41a-c | North Fork of Nooksack at Mt Shuksan
3 photos cut and arranged into a panorama
Written on photo: Start of North Fork Nooksack
|
circa 1930s |
41 | 41d | circa 1930s | |
41 | 41e | View of North Fork Nooksack
Written on photo: Start of N. Fork of Nooksack
|
circa 1930s |
42 | 42a, c | Ice caves at North Fork Nooksack, Mt Shuksan
area |
circa 1930s |
42 | 42b | North Fork and rock field at base of
mountain |
circa 1930s |
42 | 42d | View of Mt Shuksan from the north |
circa 1930s |
43 | 43a | circa 1930s | |
43 | 43b | circa 1930s | |
43 | 43c | Small black dog in front of highway overpass |
circa 1930s |
44 | 44a | circa 1930s | |
44 | 44b | circa 1930s | |
44 | 44c | circa 1930s | |
45 | 45a-c | circa late 1930s | |
46 | 46a-b | circa late 1930s | |
46 | 46c | circa late 1930s | |
47 | 47a | circa late 1930s | |
47 | 47b | View of airfield |
circa 1930s |
47 | 47c | circa late 1930s | |
48 | 48a | [blank page] |
|
49 | 49a, d-e | circa 1930s | |
49 | 49b | circa late 1930s | |
49 | 49c | circa late 1930s | |
50 | 50a | Probably Slide Lake |
circa 1930s |
50 | 50b | circa 1930s | |
50 | 50c | Wooden building and two children with dog |
circa 1930s |
50 | 50d | River or creek |
circa 1930s |
51 | 51a-b |
Hikers on Excelsior L.O. Trail posing by trail
signpost
Written on photo: Rod O’Connor, Ilea, Clem Breaky, Francis
Koons
|
circa late 1930s |
51 | 51c |
View of Heather Meadows and Picture Lake with
tents
Handwritten caption: to Fritz Koons Heather Meadows Picture
Lake Prior to 1924 Mt Baker Lodge was built on the ridge where the tents
are
|
before 1924 |
52 | 52a | Hap Fisher, Francis Koons and woman balancing on board
across river |
circa 1930s |
52 | 52b | circa 1930s | |
52 | 52c | Francis Koons, Vaughn Brown, and three others at
campsite |
circa 1930s |
53 | 53a | Francis Koons in bathing suit on lake beach
Handwritten caption: Wow!
|
1933 |
53 | 53b | View of Mt Baker with hills in foreground |
circa 1930s |
54 | 54a | Children’s slumber party with Francis Koon’s daughter
Bev |
circa 1950s |
54 | 54b-c | circa 1940s | |
55 | 55a | Jack Clark sitting on beach |
circa 1940s-50s |
55 | 55b | John Koons (Francis Koons’ son?) playing with a black
bear cub |
circa 1940s-50s |
55 | 55c | Melvin and John “Jack” Koons in front of
cabin |
circa 1940s-50s |
55 | 55d | circa 1930s | |
56 | 56a, c | May 1959 | |
56 | 56b | circa 1940s | |
57 | 57a |
Francis Koons’ first WA family home
Written on photo: Our first on Plymouth Dr.
|
circa 1930s |
57 | 57b | Bev Koons, Joan, and Ruby Shafer |
circa 1930s |
57 | 57c | Bev Koons as infant with boy in yard
Written on photo: Bev before Plymouth Dr.
|
circa 1930s |
58 | 58a |
Vinton Groot, Francis Koons, and JJ Dolan behind hill in
front of Mt Baker
Written on verso: Trip-to- Kulshan cabin Oct. 15, 1950 Vint
Groot, “Count” Dolan, Francis Koons, Loretta Groot, Eric Bengland, Madline
Bean, Mt-Baker- In-The- Background
|
October 15, 1950 |
58 | 58b | Francis Koons’ niece (Virginia Berg), nephew (Donald
Berg), and two other children |
circa 1930 |
58 | 58c | 1950 | |
59 | 59a | Francis Koons holding up large steelhead
trout |
circa 1960s |
59 | 59b | Photo missing when album was obtained |
circa 1916 |
60 | 60a-b | 1935 | |
61 | 61a | 1935 | |
61 | 61b | circa 1950s | |
61 | 61c | circa 1950s | |
62 | 62a |
View of front yard and edifice of one story clapboard
house
Written on photo: First home on Humboldt 1928
|
1928 |
62 | 62b | Rowboat pulled up onto beach at Bellingham Bay with Mary
sitting inside |
circa 1920s |
62 | 62c | View of steamer ship on the water at Vancouver, British
Columbia |
Sept 1928 |
62 | 62d | Three people standing in snowdrift at Mt
Baker |
circa 1920s |
63 | 63a-e |
Mt Baker Hiking Club visit to a park
Written on photo: Grace Goddard, Loren Pratt, Harry Kline,
Vaughn Brown, Grace Stoddard, and Alice
|
Febuary 10, 1930 |
64 | 64a |
Canvas tent and campsite in forest with three women on
Whidbey Island
Handwritten caption: Girls Camp on Whidbey
|
circa 1920s |
64 | 64b | circa 1920s | |
64 | 64c |
Newspaper clipping: cartoon titled Flapper Fanny Says
Ethel Hays
(cartoonist)
Cartoon caption: It doesn’t matter how well or how badly you
dance, as long as you hold your own
|
circa 1924-28 |
64 | 64d | circa 1920s | |
65 | 65a | Football player “Red” Grange at stadium in Champagne,
Illinois |
1924 |
65 | 65b | Newspaper clipping: Report of Red Grange’s death in
1991
The newspaper clipping is taped over photo of Red Grange
|
1991 |
65 | 65c | Couple at picnic table (man possibly Francis
Koons) |
circa 1920s |
65 | 65d | Possibly repurposed aircraft hangar building |
circa 1920s |
65 | 65e | Desert mountain/rock formation |
circa 1920s |
66 | 66a | 1924 | |
66 | 66b | 1920 | |
66 | 66c | circa early 1920s | |
67 | 67a | Teenaged Francis Koons swimming in river (probably in
Illinois) |
1920 |
67 | 67b | Mary as a child (possible relation of Francis Koons) on
rocky beach |
1927 |
68 | 68a | circa 1920s | |
68 | 68b | Aerial view of unidentified highway pass |
circa 1920s |
68 | 68c | Ram skeleton with skull and horns |
circa 1920s |
69 | 69a | Rock formation in desert |
circa 1920s |
69 | 69b | Francis Koons standing on large rock with carved
inscription Repent ye
Handwritten caption: On way to B’ham [Bellingham, WA]
|
circa 1920s |
69 | 69c | Francis Koons standing on rock formation |
circa 1920s |
69 | 69d | circa 1920s | |
70 | 70a | Francis Koons posing with caught fish by water at South
Fork Nooksack |
circa 1920s |
70 | 70b-d | Aug 17, 1929 | |
71 | 71a | circa 1920s | |
71 | 71b | Triple exposure of two women and a car |
circa 1920s |
71 | 71c | Young Mary sitting on log |
1927 |
71 | 71d | circa 1920s | |
71 | 71e | Possible view of water from Deception Pass |
circa 1920s |
71 | 71f | circa early 1920s | |
72 | 72a, d | circa early 1920s | |
72 | 72b |
Francis Koons standing on head on ice at Silver Lake
with dog
Written on verso: Francis and Beans
|
circa 1920s |
72 | 72c | circa 1920s | |
72 | 72e | circa 1930s | |
72 | 72f | View of water and islands off Pacific Coast |
1930s |
73 | 73a | 1930 | |
73 | 73b-c | 1925 | |
73 | 73d | Machinery inside factory in Mattoon,
Illinois |
circa early 1920s |
74 | 74a | Dolly Oliver Martin possibly at girls’camp on Whidbey
Island |
circa 1920s |
74 | 74b | Girls’ campsite with tent on Whidbey Island |
circa 1920s |
74 | 74c | Dolly Olive Martin and two women on Whidbey
Island |
circa 1920s |
74 | 74d-f | circa 1920s |
Ephemera in the back of the albumReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Page | item | ||
75 | x | Letter by Francis “Fritz” Koons on the founding of the
Mt Baker Hiking Club
Handwritten letter by creator of photo album: “From Ill.
[Illinois] in 1926 - heard about Mt. Baker Hiking Club - Re-organized and
reacher over 150, Seattle + Vancouver. Will Pratt was President - We had trips
every other Sunday and I was outing chair - we scouted trips in-between - Very
few of the old Club are left - Bill Cockran (39 times) Hap Fisher, Erwin Lusby,
Judge Brown, Dolly Oliver, Dr. E. P. Sperin, J. J. Dolan, Gene Hobart, Art
Edson, Ken Huen, Jerry Smith. Many marriages came out of the Club - Helen +
Erwin Lusby, Fern + Marie Wilson, Alice + Art Edson, Ruth + Dr. Sperin, Dolly +
Ivan Mastin, Paul + Ester Hugdall, Art + Ema Moen - We had 2 very popular
photographers - Clyde Banks Sr. + Jacobson - (Vaugh Brown, att., Floy Strong)
Ruth Waythman + James Van Wickle, Judge Brown, Vinton Groot + Loretta Waylet -
Built Glacier Cabin 1935 (Page 1 of letter) Many over nite trips - To the
islands - Skagit R.R. Rockfort to Diablo - About 1935 some of us formed the Mt.
B. Ski Club - Dr. E.P. Sperin + I were the 1st president - Frid, Sat, Sund -
Archie Lawson care-taker }A must! When ever in Glacier area, Blue Berry pie at
Geo. McLaughlin - HM Theil - Fred Wiefer -Invited to club by Van”
|
circa 1930s |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Glaciers--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount--Photographs
- Hikers--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount--Photographs
- Log cabins--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount--Photographs
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Koons, Francis, 1902-1997--Archives
- Koons, Francis, 1902-1997--Friends and associates--Photographs
- Koons, Francis, 1902-1997--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Mount Baker Lodge--Photographs
- Mt. Baker Hiking Club
- Mt. Baker Hiking Club--Membership--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Baker, Mount (Wash.)--Photographs
- Deception Pass State Park (Wash.)--Photographs
- Shuksan, Mount (Wash.)--Photographs
- Twin Lakes (Snohomish County, Wash.)--Photographs
- Whatcom Falls Park (Bellingham, Wash.)--Photographs