Arthur B. Pracna photograph collection

Arthur B. Pracna photograph collection, 1908-1914

Overview of the Collection

Creator

Pracna, Arthur B

Title

Arthur B. Pracna photograph collection

Dates

1908-1914 (inclusive)

Quantity

64 photographic prints, 64 photographic negatives (2 boxes)

Collection Number

PH1373

Summary

Photographs of mills designed by Arthur B. Pracna in various stages of completion and spanning Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia

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

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Languages

English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Arthur B. Pracna was an architect who specialized in lumber and shingle mills in the Pacific Northwest during the early twentieth century. He was born in Minnesota in 1878 and began his business in Everett, Washington in 1902. He continued to work and live in the Seattle area until his death in 1948. He also designed and patented a swivel band-saw guide for use in these mills.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Lumber milling began in the Pacific Northwest in 1828, but was at its peak from 1883 to 1940 due to the expansion of the national railroad system and advances in logging, milling, and other industry-specific technologies. Following the depletion of available timber in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, the previous center of the lumber trade, the Pacific Northwest quickly became the focus of the industry, leading to boom times in the region. During and after World War II, the regional economy began to diversify and timber was no longer king. However, it remains an important component of the Pacific Northwest economy.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of lumber mills designed by Arthur B. Pracna in various stages of completion and spanning Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Includes some images of Sikh workers.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

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. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Gift of Frank Pracna, February 3, 1959.

Processing Note

Processed by: Lauren Weidlich, 2016.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Arthur B. Pracna Papers (Manuscript Collection 0024)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Washington State MillsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1	Construction of Mutual Shingle Company structure in Marysville, WA	circa 1911
1/1	2	Construction of Mutual Shingle Company mill in Marysville, WA Image is identitical to 1 without the company name, building location and designer written on it.	circa 1911
1/1	3	Two men, one holding a dog, standing in front of the partially complete Mutual Shingle Company mill in Marysville, WA	circa 1911
1/1	4	Arthur B. Pracna standing on the lower level of the partially complete Mutual Shingle Company mill in Marysville, WA	circa 1911
1/1	5	Construction of Mutual Shingle Company mill in Marysville, WA Scan from negative.	circa 1911
1/1	6-8	Construction of the Wagner & Wilson Inc. mill in Monroe, WA	circa 1900

OregonReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/2	9	Horse-drawn stage from Drain, OR at the wreck of the Novelty near Coos Bay, OR	circa 1910
1/2	10	Downtown Drain, OR	circa 1910
1/2	11	Overhead view of Marshfield, OR	circa 1910
1/2	12	Central Avenue in Marshfield, OR	circa 1910
1/2	13	Birdseye view of Marshfield, OR	circa 1910
1/2	14	Sorting shed at the C. A. Smith mill in Marshfield, OR	circa 1910
1/2	15	C. A. Smith Mill in Marshfield, OR	circa 1910
1/2	16	C. A. Smith pulp saw mill in Marshfield, OR	circa 1910
1/2	17	228' tall smoke stack at the C. A. Smith mill in Marshfield, OR	circa 1910
1/2	18	Interior of the C. A. Smith in Marshfield, OR	circa 1910
1/2	19	Birdseye view of Coos Bay, OR	circa 1910
1/2	20	Birdseye view of Bunker Hill, OR	circa 1910

British ColumbiaReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/3	21	Interior of building (possibly a mill) with many large pipes in Golden, B.C.	April 12, 1911
1/3	22	Men standing next to a series of large boilers (possibly inside a mill) in Golden, B.C.	April 12, 1911
1/3	23	Sawmill under construction at Chekamus Camp Evans (photographer)	Jan 1914
1/3	24-26	A group of Sikh men standing near a funeral pyre at a lumber camp in British Columbia	circa 1914
1/3	27	A Sikh man standing near sawmill equipment and lumber Scan from negative.	circa 1914
1/3	28	A group of Sikh men standing in front of a house at a lumber camp in British Columbia Scan from negative.	circa 1914

Arthur B. Pracna and his Swivel Band Saw GuideReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/4	29-33	Pracna Swivel Band Saw Guide in a sawmill Item 33 - scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/4	34	Arthur B. Pracna and another man standing in front of a sawmill	circa 1910
1/4	35	Arthur B. Pracna standing in a lumber yard smoking a pipe	circa 1910

MillsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/5	36	Mill building under construction	circa 1910
1/5	37	Mostly completed mill and outbuildings	circa 1910
1/5	38	Interior of mill under construction Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	39	Mill foundation under construction Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	40	Two story mill under construction Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	41-42	Rough frame of mill under construction Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	43-44	Mill construction showing 2 boilers Item 44 scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	45-49	Construction of a mill Item 49 scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	50	Brick mill building with wood frame construction behind it	June 30, 1908
1/5	51-52	Interior of a mill building	June 30, 1908
1/5	53	Several large boilers that have yet to be installed in the mill under construction Scan from negative.	circa 1908
1/5	54	Interior of mill building Scan from negative. Image shows similar machinery as in item 51.	circa 1908
1/5	55-57	Mill under construction	circa 1908
1/5	58	Chinese workers at mill construction site	circa 1908
1/5	59-65	Mill under construction Scan from negative.	circa 1908
1/5	66-71	Lumber carrier in use	circa 1910
1/5	72	Steam crane moving lumber along a track	circa 1910
1/5	73	Stationary steam crane with sign reading "Built by West Coast Steel Co. Tacoma, Wash" moving lumber	circa 1910
1/5	74	P & H overhead industrial crane in lumber yard	circa 1910
1/5	75	Lumber yard	circa 1910
1/5	76	Partially constructed log ramp Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	77	Mill with large log ramp Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	78-80	Flooded section of a town	June 10, 1908
1/5	81	Small house or office with water on all sides	June 10, 1908
1/5	82	Small town with a wood stick fence running the length of the road	circa 1910
1/5	83-85	Chinese cooks (possibly at a mill) Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	86	Man in a three piece suit and bowler hat Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	87	Man standing on porch of small house or office Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	88	Interior of an office (possibly at a mill) Scan from negative.	circa 1910
1/5	89	Women in the yard of a small house Scan from negative.	circa 1910

SawmillReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/6	90-91	Refuse burner construction at sawmill	June 12, 1908
1/6	92	Construction of base of refuse burner at sawmill	circa 1908
1/6	93	Construction around refuse burner at sawmill	circa 1908
1/6	94	Mostly complete sawmill building Scan from negative.	circa 1908
1/6	95	Mostly complete refuse burner at sawmill Scan from negative.	circa 1908
1/6	96	Construction of a log ramp at a sawmill Scan from negative.	circa 1908
1/6	97	Partially complete sawmill Scan from negative.	circa 1908

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Buildings--British Columbia--Photographs
Buildings--Oregon--Photographs
Buildings--Washington (State)--Marysville--Photographs
Cities and towns--Oregon--Photographs
Sawmills--Photographs
Sikhs--British Columbia--Photographs

Personal Names

Pracna, Arthur B.--Archives
Pracna, Arthur B.--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

Negative (photographs)
Photographs

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Archives West Finding Aid

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