Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
R.R. Van de Water photograph album, circa 1943-1956
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Van de Water, R. R. (Richard R.)
- Title
- R.R. Van de Water photograph album
- Dates
- circa 1943-1956 (inclusive)19401959
1943-1945 (bulk)19431945 - Quantity
-
.42 cubic feet (1 box)
444 photographs - Collection Number
- PH2009-038
- Summary
- Photographs of construction in Naknek and Galena, Alaska during World War II, and of other construction projects of a Seattle contractor
- 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
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Richard R. Van de Water was a general contractor working in Alaska and Washington, and living in Seattle in the late 1950s at least. In 1957 and 1958 city directories, Van de Water is listed as head of ACC General Contracting and living on N. 64th Street in Seattle.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of one photograph album and loose photographs removed from the album. The album depicts construction in Naknek and Galena, Alaska, probably at military bases, performed by R.R. Van de Water's contracting company. Naknek photographs depict servicemen, military officers and construction workers, many of them identified; construction equipment, fuel barrels and various unspecified projects. The Galena photographs depict Van de Water and his crew, probably at the military air base, after the area was flooded in 1945. Other album photos depict scenic views of places in Alaska, and unidentified construction projects, some of them probably in Washington State.
The collection also includes clippings, correspondence and an inventory related to the Galena flood and to Van de Water's contracting business.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Source: Fairlook Antiques; received in January 2007.
Processing Note
The album was disassembled due to deterioration and the pages were numbered and foldered in their original order. Loose photographs found between album pages had no apparent order and were preliminarily sorted by format, appearance, content or markings on verso. Folders of photographs that are related to album photographs were marked with the relevant album page number.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Folder | ||
| 1-24 | Photograph album 294 photographs on 48 pages
Album pages foldered in their original order.
Album consists mostly of photographs of construction work in Naknek and Galena, Alaska, both probably sites of military bases. The first part of the album depicts construction work in Naknek, 1943-1944, probably performed by R.R. Van de Waters' contracting company. Many individual workers are identified by name, as are servicemen and military officers. Includes views of a construction camp, construction equipment, fuel barrels, and construction operations. Includes images of a runway; of asphalt being lightered up the Naknek River; and two images showing airplanes.The next part of the album depicts the military air base at Galena after flooding in 1945. Photographs document buildings and equipment under water, barrels floating, aerial views of damage, tents being erected, and destruction to an office from flooding. Two images depict Native Alaskans working for Van de Water, and one shows Van de Water being attended to by a medic.Also includes images of Mendenhall Glacier, Valdez, Juneau, Ketchikan and Mt. McKinley. Other photographs depict unidentified construction projects, some probably in Washington State.
|
1943-1945 |
| 25 | Loose photographs 150 photographs
The album contained a large number of loose photographs within its pages. The photographs had no order, and so were organized into groups based on appearance or subject. Some of the photographs relate to the album photographs and depict Galena and probably Naknek. The loose photographs contain many more images of projects outside of Alaska, probably in Seattle or other Washington State locations.
|
circa 1943-1956 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Van De Water, R.R. (Richard R.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
