Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Werner Lenggenhager Photographs, approximately 1950-1966
Overview of the Collection
- Photographer
- Lenggenhager, Werner
- Title
- Werner Lenggenhager Photographs
- Dates
- approximately
1950-1966 (inclusive)19501966
- Quantity
-
25 photographic prints (1 box, 1 folder)
1 photograph : hand-colored - Collection Number
- PH0660
- Summary
- Includes photographs of covered bridges in various counties throughout Washington State from the 1950s-1966.
- 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
-
Collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Werner Lenggenhager was known for his efforts to create a comprehensive photographic record of Seattle’s architecture and monuments during the 1950s-1970s. Originally from St. Gall, Switzerland, Lenggenhager moved to Queensland, Australia, where he bought his first camera. He came to San Francisco in 1924 and obtained American citizenship by 1931. Later, in 1939, he moved to Seattle. Lenggenhager worked at the Boeing Aircraft Company and continued to develop an interest in photography. During a trip home to Switzerland, he became aware of the value of the architecture he had taken for granted as a youth and began photographing historic buildings. Upon his return to Seattle, some of his photographs of Swiss scenes were exhibited at the Seattle Art Museum from June 8th to September 14th, 1949. The Seattle Public Library purchased forty of his prints to add to its Swiss collection.
With encouragement from the staff at the Seattle Public Library, Lenggenhager soon turned his attention to photographing local Seattle architecture and landmarks. In 1952, his photographs were featured in the “Retrospective Review of Seattle Architecture” exhibit at the Henry Art Gallery. This led to the inclusion of some of his photographs in Seattle architect Victor Steinbrueck’s Seattle Architecture, 1850-1953 , published in 1953. Lenggenhager then began documenting local monuments and public art for the Seattle Public Library’s reference department. He later photographed monuments and features all around the state, including covered bridges. By 1957, he had already donated over five thousand photographs of local historical subject matter to the Seattle Public Library and the Museum of History and Industry.
Lenggenhager authored Historical Markers and Monuments of the State of Washington , an index in ten volumes that was published between 1967 and 1970. In the 1960s and 1970s, he served as photographer in collaboration with author Lucille McDonald on The Look of Old Time Washington (1971) and Where the Washingtonians Lived: Interesting Early Homes and the People Who Built and Lived in Them (1969).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes 25 photographs depicting covered bridges in various counties throughout Washington State and 4 photographs of Seattle buildings. Most of the photos were taken during the 1950s and 1960s. The collection also includes the photographer's notes about these bridges.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The photographs are arranged by county within Washington State.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Werner Lenggenhager, 1967.
Processing Note
Processed by Linda Corets, 2004.
Bibliography
Some photographs in this collection are included in: Kramer Adams, Covered Bridges of the West: A History and Illustrated Guide: Washington, Oregon, California (Berkley: Howell-North, 1963).
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
King CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/1 | 1 | Allentown
bridge
This single-span bridge crossed four railroad tracks (as opposed
to water) and was owned jointly by King County and Union Pacific Railroad. The
bridge burned May 31, 1958.
|
circa 1950s |
box-folder:oversize | |||
OS4 | 1a | Bay Building,
(formerly the Arlington Hotel), Seattle Washington
Written on verso: Detail of Arlington Hotel (Bay Bldg. name
changed ca 1945).
|
circa 1950s |
Box/Folder | |||
1/1 | 2 | Train and
covered bridge, Federal Way
This miniature railroad was displayed at a shopping center in
Federal Way. The train, a reproduction from an 1860s Currier & Ives print,
was mostly used by children.
|
circa 1950-1963 |
1/1 | 3 |
Covered bridge
over Snoqualmie River, North Bend
The bridge was built in 1910 and was owned by the Chicago,
Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company, also known as the Milwaukee Road.
|
circa 1950-1963 |
1/1 | 4 |
Palmer Junction
bridge and Green River Gorge
Built by the Milwaukee Road in 1926, this bridge was rebuilt in
1950. It was covered with sheet metal in 1960 to protect the timber deck
trusses from the sparks of Northern Pacific trains that passed on the steel
bridge above.
|
circa 1960-1963 |
1/1 | 5 | Railroad tracks
on Palmer Junction bridge
Built by the Milwaukee Road in 1926, this bridge was rebuilt in
1950. It was covered with sheet metal in 1960 to protect the timber deck
trusses from the sparks of Northern Pacific trains that passed on the steel
bridge above.
|
circa 1960-1963 |
box-folder:oversize | |||
OS4 | 5a | Exterior
entrance to the Northwestern-Rainier Building, Seattle, Washington |
circa 1960-1963 |
OS4 | 5b | Entrance to the
Woodland Park Zoo Aviary, Seattle, Washington |
circa 1960-1963 |
OS4 | 5c | Entracne to the
Frye Art Museum, Seattle Washington |
circa 1960-1963 |
Lewis CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/2 | 6 | Boys cross
railroad tracks at covered bridge, Doty |
circa 1960-1963 |
1/2 | 7-8 |
Pe Ell
metal-covered wooden bridge
The bridge was built in 1934 and owned by the Pe Ell Water
Department.
|
circa 1960s |
1/2 | 9-10 |
Bridge at
Ruth
The open top of the bridge was intended to protect it from the
sparks of the locomotives. In 1965, the tracks and trestle were removed,
leaving only the covered span. A tiny railroad depot with a large "Ruth" sign
was also left standing.
|
circa 1960-1963 |
Pacific CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/2 | 11 | Covered bridge
across Wilson Creek, Willapa
This privately-owned bridge was built in 1909 by Charles and
Earl Gerow. It was demolished around 1965.
|
circa 1962 |
Pierce CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/2 | 12 | Park Junction
bridge across the Nisqually River
Built in 1938 by the Milwaukee Road, the covering structure was
added in the 1960s.
|
circa 1960s |
1/2 | 13 | Covered bridge
over river, Sumner |
circa 1960s |
Snohomish CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/2 | 14 |
Covered bridge,
Monroe
This three-span bridge was one of the longest covered wooden
railroad spans in the world.
|
circa 1960s |
Thurston CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/2 | 15 | Double span
railroad bridge, Helsing Junction
This bridge was built in 1910 and owned by the Milwaukee
Road.
|
undated |
Wahkiakum CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/3 | 16-17 | undated |
Whatcom CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/3 | 18 | Covered bridge
over Nooksack River, Welcome |
undated |
Whitman CountyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/3 | 19-20 | circa September 23, 1966 | |
1/3 | 21 | Palouse River
near covered bridge, Colfax |
circa September 23, 1966 |
MiscellaneousReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/3 | 22 | undated | |
1/3 | 23 | Photographer's
notes
Document includes locations, descriptions and historical details
on nearly all of the covered bridges featured in this collection.
|
October 12, 1967 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Covered bridges--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Railroad bridges--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)