Abraham Horace Albertson papers and photographs, 1908-1962

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Albertson, Abraham Horace, 1872-1964
Title
Abraham Horace Albertson papers and photographs
Dates
1908-1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
.21 cubic feet, (1 box, 1 vertical file, and 1 oversize vertical file)
Collection Number
0516
Summary
Papers and photographs related to the career of an architect and public official of Seattle, 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

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

Languages

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Abraham H. Albertson (1872-1964) was a Seattle area architect. He was born in Hope, New Jersey in 1872, and attended Columbia University, where he earned a Ph.B. in Architecture in 1895. He married Clare D. Fox in 1915. Albertson moved to Seattle in 1907, as an associate of the New York firm Howells and Stokes. During World War I, Albertson established an independent practice, A.H. Albertson and associates, which later became Albertson, Wilson and Richardson in 1924. After the end of World War I, Albertson also formed the partnership Howells and Albertson. Between 1939 and 1949, Albertson was also the architect for the Washington State office of the Federal Housing Authority. He was also a member of the Federal Fair Rentals Commission between 1917 and 1919, and the chairman of Seattle's Building Code Commission in the early 1920s. He was a member of the American Institute for Architects, and was made a fellow in 1934. He designed, among other buildings, Everett's City Hall, and the Medical Dental Building, the Montlake Bridge, the Northern Life building, St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Metropolitan Tract, and several buildings for the University of Washington in Seattle.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Abraham Horace Albertson papers are comprised of correspondence, a notebook, and writings related to Albertson's professional activities as an architect, a member of various boards and commissions, and the architect for U.S. Federal Housing Administration in Washington State. Topics include architecture, design, urban planning, the Northern Life building, the Metropolitan Tract, Everett's City Hall, the Federal Housing Administration, the Home Owners' Loan Corporation, the regulation of building heights and skyscrapers, living and housing conditions in Seattle, and a camping trip. Correspondents include Edmond S. Meany, S. Edward Paschall, Margaret Bundy Callahan, B. Marcus Priteca. F.C. Staunton, John Mead Howell of Howell and Stokes, M.W. Bean, Ellis F. Lawrence and the American Institute of Architects. The collection also includes a small collection of photographs related to Albertson's architectural work.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

See also related architectural drawings (HA0095 and HA0050) , and Abraham H. Albertson scrapbook ( NA737.A432 A4 1908) in the Special Collections Division, University of Washington Libraries.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 4 accessions.

  • Accession No. 0516-001, Abraham Horace Albertson papers, 1908-1948
  • Accession No. 0516-002, Abraham Horace Albertson papers, 1911-1962
  • Accession No. 0516-003, Abraham Horace Albertson papers, approximately 1929
  • Accession No. 0516-004, Photographs of Architecture by Abraham H. Albertson, approximately 1930s-1960

Preservation Note

The collection is stored offsite. Advance notice is required for use.

Acquisition Information

Received in various installments, 1965-1992.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Accession No. 0516-001, Abraham Horace Albertson papers, 1908-1948Return to Top

.21 cubic feet, (1 box)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, notebook, writings.

Access Restrictions: No restrictions on access.

Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Use Restrictions: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Information: Gift of Mrs. Albertson, 1/4/1965.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
0516-001 Box 1
Abraham Horace Albertson papers

Accession No. 0516-002, Abraham Horace Albertson papers, 1911-1962Return to Top

1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Correspondence, and biographies.

Access Restrictions: No restrictions on access.

Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Use Restrictions: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Information: Received 1/1/1982.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
0516-001 Box 1
Abraham Horace Albertson papers

Accession No. 0516-003, Abraham Horace Albertson papers, approximately 1929Return to Top

1 vertical file, (48 pages)

Scope and Content: Specifications for the Everett Municipal Building, undated.

Access Restrictions: Open to all users.

Use Restrictions: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Information: Received 2/1/1992.

Container(s) Description Dates
vf
0516-003 Vertical File
Abraham Horace Albertson papers

Accession No. 0516-004, Photographs of Architecture by Abraham H. Albertson, approximately 1930s-1960Return to Top

1 vertical file, (oversize, containing 33 photographs and 4 pieces of ephemera)

Scope and Content: Photographs and images, including ephemera, of buildings designed by Abraham H. Albertson. Includes the UW Law School building, Cornish School, Northern Life Building (now Seattle Tower), St. Joseph Church, Everett City Hall, Methodist Episcopal Church in Ballard (later Trinity United Methodist then Trinity Church Seattle), and Central YMCA. Ephemera includes building advertisements and a magazine illustration.

Access Restrictions: No restrictions on access.

Use Restrictions: Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

Acquisition Information: Donated by Kristin Phillips via Museum of History and Industry, 2019

Container(s) Description Dates
vf
0516-004 Oversize Vertical File
Photographs of Architecture by Abraham H. Albertson

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top