Guide to the Orcas Island YMCA Camp photograph collection

Guide to the Orcas Island YMCA Camp photograph collection, circa 1910

Overview of the Collection

Title: Guide to the Orcas Island YMCA Camp photograph collection
Dates: circa 1910 (inclusive)
19101910
Quantity: 45 photographic prints (1 box) ; 4" x 5"
Collection Number: PH1195
Summary: Photographs of activities at YMCA boys' Camp on Orcas Island.
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 originals restricted. Most of the collection is available on digital site. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Additional Reference Guides
Languages: English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Seattle YMCA established the boys' camp on Orcas Island in 1906. The "Y" began sponsoring boys' camps in 1891, open to all members of the YMCA for $5 a week. The camp was located on Hood Canal from 1899 to 1905 and moved to Orcas Island in 1906, as guests on waterfront property owned by Laurence J. Coleman. Apparently the Colman family stopped using the property after 1906, and the YMCA campers were invited as guests year after year until 1938, when Laurence's son Kenneth deeded the property to the YMcirca The young men, most over the age of fourteen, participated in boating, swimming, fishing, timed hikes, camp improvement and Bible study, among other activities. This camp was the precursor to Camp Orkila, one of the oldest organized boys' camps in the Pacific Northwest.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of several activities at YMCA boys' camp on Orcas Island in 1910. Includes swimming, boating, costumed performances, Sunday morning service, and sports, among other activities.

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

Processing Note

Processed by Susan Fitch, 2014

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Camp activitiesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Swimming and water activities
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1-4	Groups of campers on shore throwing young man into the water	1910
1/1	5	Two swimmers trying to balance on floating logs while group on shore watches	1910
1/1	6	Three swimmers trying to balance on floating logs	1910
1/1	7	Young men lining up to dive from log mounted on small raft	1910
1/1	8	Swimmers diving from pier	1910
1/1	9	Boy swimming next to pier with wooded shoreline in background	1910
1/1	10	Three fully clothed boys on small raft pushing a boy into the water	1910
1/1	11	Young man in dinghy rowing toward three young men on small raft	1910
1/1	12	Boy swimming and boys rowing dinghies near wooded shoreline	1910
1/1	13	Boys rowing dinghies near wooded shoreline	1910
		Performances and costume events
Box/Folder	item
1/2	14	Large circle of costumed boys and young men standing in front of tent	1910
1/2	15	Group of costumed young men and boys kneeling around two costumed young men in front of tent	1910
1/2	16	Costumed young men in four dinghies with wooded shoreline in background	1910
1/2	17	Close-up of costumed young men being rowed in a dinghy	1910
1/2	18-19	Group of young men performing in black face	1910
		Sports
Box/Folder	item
1/3	20	Young men in knickers lined up at a sporting activity	1910
1/3	21-24	Boys playing baseball on grassy field	1910
1/3	25	Boys posing with their baseball bats	1910
		Other camp activities
Box/Folder	item
1/4	26	Three boys in gunny-sack race on grassy field	1910
1/4	27-29	Sunday morning service in a forest clearing	19810
1/4	30	Young man with pig in pen	1910
1/4	31	Boys hoisting a pig from a tree	1910
1/4	32	Boy climbing greased pole	1910
1/4	33	Boy climbing greased pole on beach with group of onlookers below	1910
1/4	34-35	Two young men doing handstands on parallel bars with spotter and onlookers in front of platform tent	1910
1/4	36	Young men in a group activity near platform tents	1910
1/4	37	Young men cooking on small campfire in woods with sleeping bag nearby	1910
1/4	38	Boys gathered around bonfire	1910
1/4	39	Young man with lantern beneath large rocks on beach	1910
1/4	40	Two young men with lantern beneath large rock on beach	1910

Camp sheltersReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/5	41	Boys lined up at tables in canvas dining shelter	1910
1/5	42	Platform tent #3 decorated with branches and draped American flag and sign saying "The Kennel"	1910
1/5	43	Adult man and woman seated in platform tent	1910

Group photosReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/6	44	Young men in sports field	1910
1/6	45	Young men in front of their tents	1910
1/6	46	Young men on concrete steps	1910

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