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David A. James film and audio collection, 1923-1981
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- James, David A., 1910-
- Title
- David A. James film and audio collection
- Dates
- 1923-1981 (inclusive)19231981
- Quantity
- 37 film reels (8 & 16mm), 3 audio reels (1/4 in.) (3 boxes plus 8 loose reels)
- Collection Number
- PH2018-014
- Summary
- Film and audio recordings related to logging in the Pacific Northwest
- 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 has been digitized and digital copies are available for viewing. Please contact Special Collections for access.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
David Augustus James was born March 9, 1910, in Grand Mound, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1932 with a journalism degree and began his career writing for The Tenino Independent . James later worked for The Shelton Independent , The Tacoma News Tribune , The Seattle Times , and The Associated Press . In 1947, James became the public relations director for the Simpson Logging Company, which became the Simpson Timber Company in 1956. James eventually rose to the position of vice-president at Simpson before retiring in 1975. James researched two books on his family's Oregon Trail roots, wrote two books on forest history, and edited several books on forestry for Northwest authors. His 1986 book, Grisdale: Last of the Logging Camps , chronicles the story of Simpson Timber's main logging camp in the South Olympic mountains. David James died November 3, 1995 at the age of 85.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Film and audio recordings related to logging, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Also includes commercial films on various topics, including golf, street magicians of India, archery, roofing, and business management.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Simpson Timber CompanyReturn to Top
The Simpson Logging Company was founded in 1890 by Canadian Solomon Grout Simpson (1843-1906) in Mason County, Washington. By the 1950s, the company had mills and operations in Washington State as well as Oregon and California. The company's headquarters were located in Shelton, Washington. In 1956, the company became Simpson Timber Company, and is now a subsidiary to Simpson Investment Company.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | item | ||
1 | 1 | Day trip to Grisdale for Shelton
employees 1 film
reel (9 min.; 324 feet) : silent, black and white
; 16mm
Shelton office train trip to Grisdale, Washington in August
1955. Includes a day trip to Grisdale via locomotive train, group tours to a
logging site, and a communal meal.
Original ID number: T7
|
August 1955 |
Reel | |||
T8 | 2 |
Last Steam
Trip to Grisdale 1 film
reel (8 min., 40 sec.; 312 feet) : silent, black and white
; 16mm
A group of women costumed as train conductors perform,
accompanied by accordionist. A series of locomotives with signage from the
cities of Shelton, Montesano, Elma, and McCleary passes by. A conductor
operates a steam locomotive. Also includes a ceremony with framed photographs
presented to attendees. Topping of a spar tree.
Original ID number: T8
|
1956 |
T21 | 3 | Simpson Railroad Scenes
1 film
reel (28 min., 25 sec.; 767.25
feet) : silent, color, black and white
; 16mm
Includes logging train, speakers standing in front of a
locomotive addressing a crowd, the "Simpson Express Last Steam Trip" locomotive
decorated with starred bunting, a conductor operating the train and performing
maintenance, a locomotive ride in the snow, a steam shovel in operation, the
dedication of The Tollie, a locomotive named after
Mary Garrard Simpson (1853-1940), widow of Simpson Logging Company founder
Solomon Simpson. Women staging a performance in train conductor costumes, and
color footage of train tracks being cleared of snow. Also contains footage of a
film crew, actors David Janssen and Joyce Taylor at work during the shooting of
the film Ring of Fire. Ring
of Fire footage contains shots of burning railroad cars falling from a
collapsed bridge.
Original ID number: T21
|
1959 |
T22 | 4 |
General
Management Meeting, Part One 1 film
reel (32 min. 15 sec.; 1143
feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
General management meeting at Alderbrook Inn in Union,
Washington. Simpson President Hank Bacon, Chairman Bill Reed, and a
representative from the American Management Association address managerial
employees.
Original ID number: T22
|
1965 |
T14 | 5 | Wood Veneer Mill 1 film
reel (9 min., 45 sec.; 351 feet) : silent, black and white
; 16mm
Operation of a wood veneer mill with close-ups of machinery.
Note on original film can: Confidential. Film to be Used Only by
Authority of G.L. Oswald or R.J. Seidl. Original ID number: T14
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
T34 | 6 | Asia Trade Show 1 film
reel (8 min., 20 sec.; 300 feet) : silent, black and
white ; 16mm
Lumber industry trade show from 1960s. Contains various lumber
show displays, Simpson Timber Company presentations, and crowd shots.
Original ID number: T34
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
Short Reels |
|||
Box | item | ||
1 | 7a | Short Reels, Part
1 |
Between 1960 and 1970? |
1 | 7b | Short Reels, Part 2
1 film
reel (13 min., 45 sec.; 495
feet) : sound, color ; 16mm
Scenes include logging, hauling timber, lumber mill activity,
City of Shelton, and film storyboards.
Original ID number: T9b
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
1 | 8 | Short Reels, Part 3
1 film
reel (15 min., 5 sec.; 407.25
feet) : sound, color ; 16mm
Scenes with author Stewart Holbrook, author of books about the
timber industry and railroads, talking about the Schafer Logging Company.
Images of the covers of books written by Holbrook. Some scenes with sound and
others silent.
Original ID number: T10
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
2 | 9a | Short Reels, Part 4
1 film
reel (16 min., 15 sec.; 438.75
feet) : sound, color ; 16mm
Views of mill activity, rigging, logging, a brief interview
with Mrs. Schafer of the Schafer Logging Company, film storyboards, hay
harvesting and baling, and office scenes. Includes scenes from an unidentified
film project.
Original ID number: T11a
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
2 | 9b | Short Reels, Part 5
1 film
reel (7 min., 45 sec.; 279
feet) : sound, color, black and
white ; 16mm
Opens with fragment of an unidentified documentary about rail
transport. Black and white footage includes helicopter landing and passenger
pickup. Scenes from Simpson Research Center presentations and a Simpson Timber
Asia Trade Show from the 1960s.
Original ID number: T11b
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
2 | 10a | Short Reels, Part 6
1 film
reel (20 min., 10 sec.; 544.5
feet) : silent, black and white,
color ; 16mm
Black and white footage of Simpson executives and wives at
banquet, aerial shots from Simpson plane. Color footage includes scenes with
employees from late 1960s or early 1970s.
Original ID number: T12a
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
2 | 10b | Short Reels, Part 7
1 film
reel (19 min., 45 sec.; 711
feet) : black and white, color
; 16mm
Condition Note: The film requires further preservation and has not been
viewed.
Original ID number: T12b
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
Arthur
Godfrey Broadcast of the Arthur Godfrey Time radio and
television show. This was a variety show that ran on CBS from 1952 to 1972. In
this broadcast from August 1957, Arthur Godfrey hosts the show from Simpson
Logging Company headquarters in Shelton, Washington. The show was filmed at
Mason Lake, a privately owned recreation area set up by the Simpson Logging
Company for employees and their families. The broadcast features musical
performances, logging demonstrations, and interviews with various Simpson
Logging Company employees.
|
|||
Reel | item | ||
T31 | 11 |
Arthur
Godfrey Time Broadcast Part 1 1 film
reel (32 min., 40 sec.; 1176
feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
Excerpts contain footage from interviews with Simpson
employees, including public relations director Dave James, as well as managers
Bud Pune?, Oscar Levine, and Max Schmidt Jr. Logging demonstrations and
interview with forester Hap Johnson. Musical performances by Ken Barry, Jimmy
Carroll, and Jan Davis.
Original ID number: T31
|
August 1957 |
Box | |||
3 | 12 |
Arthur
Godfrey Time Broadcast Part 2 1 film
reel (26 min., 5 sec.; 939
feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
Excerpts contain footage of interviews with Simpson employees
including manager Max Schmidt Jr., demonstrations of logging practices, musical
performances by Billy Strange and Stan Newman, and contemporary
advertisements.
Original ID number: T32
|
August 1957 |
3 | 13 |
Arthur
Godfrey Time Broadcast Part 3 1 film
reel (29 min., 25 sec.; 1059
feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
Excerpts contain footage of logging demonstrations including a
speed climbing contest and log rolling competition. Interview with Simpson
manager Oscar Levine about seedlings and forest management. Musical performance
by Billy Strange. Contemporary advertisements including Baker's Angel Flake
Coconut.
Original ID number: T33
|
August 1957 |
Hap Johnson |
|||
Box | item | ||
3 | 14 |
You Asked
for It 1 film
reel (6 min., 5 sec.; 219
feet) : silent, black and
white ; 16mm
Hap Johnson, world champion tree topper, demonstrates logging
skills by cutting, climbing, and topping spar tree for the television program,
You Asked for It. Filmed at Simpson Logging
Company's sustained yield tree farm at Shelton, Washington. Includes
advertisements for Skippy peanut butter.
You Asked for It was a television
program that aired from 1950 to 1959. Art Baker hosted the show from 1950
to1958 before being replaced by Jack Smith for the program's final year.
Viewers sent requests to the show for things they would like to see on
television, ranging from stunts and performances to views of famous places or
people. Original ID number: T29
|
1954 |
Reel | |||
T28 | 15 |
You Asked
for It, Second Version 1 film
reel (6 min., 50 sec.; 246
feet) : silent, black and white
; 16mm
Hap Johnson, world champion tree topper, demonstrates logging
skills for the television program, You Asked for
It. Filmed at Simpson Logging Company's sustained yield tree farm at
Shelton, Washington. This film contains scenes from Reel 14 (T29).
You Asked for It was a television
program that aired from 1950 to 1959. Art Baker hosted the show from 1950 to
1958 before being replaced by Jack Smith for the program's final year. Viewers
sent requests to the show for things they would like to see on television,
ranging from stunts and performances to views of famous places or people. Original ID number: T28Reel 15 (T28) and Reel 31 (T30) are in the same can.
|
1954 |
Box | |||
1 | 16 | Hap Johnson, 1966 1 film
reel (10 min., 15 sec.; 369
feet) : silent, black and white
; 16mm
Hap Johnson performs tree climbing demonstration. A group of
men and women exit a building, men operate mill machinery, a man interviews
mill workers. Three men read the book Green Power
by James Stevens. Forest Festival parade, two men planting seedlings.
Original ID number: T5
|
1966 |
Newsreels |
|||
Box | item | ||
3 | 17 | Simpson Newsreel, Spring 1965,
No 1 1 film
reel (7 min., 20 sec.; 264
feet) : sound, black and white, color
; 16mm
Simpson Timber Company newsreel filmed by Jim Hartley and
David James. The segments "New Log Lifter at Eureka Ply" and "Wrapping Stops
Yapping" include scenes of a log lifter and redwood plywood manufacture at the
Simpson Plywood Mill in Eureka, California. "Birthday for Annie & Mary" is
about a new railroad track opening at Arcata and Mad River in California.
"Happy Day at Idanha" shows Harry Spencer working at the Idanha veneer plant in
central Oregon. "Simpson at the Dealer Shows" is a color segment about Simpson
exhibits at a Dallas lumber dealer convention. This segment includes "Miss
Virgin Timber" christening a new 18-foot Simpson Shelton Products Cruiser with
Simpson Timber Company employees Orr Shelton and Bill Plunkett. "Birthday for
Annie & Mary," "Happy Day at Idanha," and "Simpson at the Dealer Shows" are
also on Reel 18 (T25).
Original ID number: T24
|
1965 |
3 | 18 | Simpson Newsreel, Spring 1965,
No 2 1 film
reel (19 min., 10 sec.; 690
feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
Simpson Timber Company newsreel filmed by Jim Hartley and Dave
James. The segment "Disaster at Klamath" reports on a 1,000 year flood on the
Klamath River in California. Shows destructive logjams along the Klamath
including Crescent City harbor, resulting in flooding and the use of
alternative transport of lumber and supplies by air. "Redwood Grove Dedication"
shows American Forestry Association President Edward Stamm speaking at the
Simpson Reed Grove dedication in Redwood State Park, California, in honor of
Simpson Reed & Company owners Sol Simpson and Mark Reed. "Birthday for
Annie & Mary" shows the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a route change of the
Arcata and Mad River Railroad in response to California State Highway system
construction. "New Spars for Old Ironsides" shows a spar tree harvest to
replace the mast of the ship, Old Ironsides .
"Happy Day at Idanha" shows the Idanha veneer plant in central Oregon. "End of
the Old Mill" shows buildings of the first Simpson sawmill in Shelton,
Washington, pre-demolition. "Who Torpedoed the Whistle Punk?" shows the
Whistle Punk, a 3-ton lumber torpedo, hauling logs
up the mountainside. "Simpson at the Dealer Shows" is a color segment about
Simpson exhibits at a Dallas lumber dealer convention. The footage includes
"Miss Virgin Timber" christening a new 18-foot Simpson Shelton Products Cruiser
with Simpson Logging Company employees Orr Shelton and Bill Plunkett. "Birthday
for Annie & Mary," "Happy Day at Idanha," and "Simpson at the Dealer Shows"
are also on Reel 17 (T24).
Original ID number: T25
|
1965 |
3 | 19 | Simpson Newsreel, Spring 1966
1 film
reel (26 min. 50 sec.; 966
feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
Simpson Timber Company newsreel filmed by Jim Hartley and
Dave James. "Others See Us" shows teachers from Mason County Public Schools on
an educational day trip to Camp Grisdale, a Simpson logging village. Also in
this segment, wives of Klamath Veneer Plant employees take a tour of the plant.
"Northward to Hudson Bay" shows aerial views of Hudson Bay, Hudson Bay logging
road construction, and Northern Spruce inspection. Canadian First Nations' men
log for Simpson Timber Company to the north of Hudson Bay. Cabins made of
particle board serve as accommodations for First Nations loggers. Saskatchewan
Premier Ross Thatcher attends mill dedication. Mill dedication dinner in Hudson
Bay Legion Hall. "Year of the Tree Farms" shows Bill Looney explaining the tree
farm system to Forest Festival queens, who then plant saplings. "Switch to Dry
Lumber " shows dry lumber manufacturing, kiln operations drying Western Hemlock
and Douglas Fir wood, and operation of mill equipment. "How Redwoods Grow"
shows the Redwood Demonstration Forest in Humboldt County, California, with
various speakers and a tour. "Mad River Plywood" shows aerial views of the Mad
River plywood plant in Arcata, California, operation of mill lathes, and men
working on the line stacking plywood. "New Plants Rising" shows construction of
a new pulp mill in Fairhaven, California, including aerial views.
Credits: Appearances by Geri and John Stentz, Rudy Oltman, Len Flower,
and Max Schmidt.
Original ID number: T26
|
1966 |
Forest FestivalReturn to Top
The materials in this series contain Mason County, Washington, Forest Festival footage. The Forest Festival, instituted in 1945, promotes forest fire prevention and celebrates the area’s connection to the logging industry.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | item | ||
1 | 20 | Forest Festival 1946 and
1957 1 film
reel (15 min.; 405 feet) : silent, black and white, color
; 16mm
Footage of Simpson Logging Company locomotives and parade floats
from the 1946 Forest Festival. Also contains color footage from a 1957 Forest
Festival parade including Washington State Governor Albert Rosellini.
Original ID number: T1
|
Between 1946 and 1957 |
Reel | |||
T2 | 21 | Forest Festival 1949 1 film
reel (23 min., 25 sec.; 632
feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
Forest Festival parade, including performances in costume and
regalia, logging demonstrations, and acting sketches.
Cameron Film Productions.
Original ID number: T2
|
1949 |
Box | |||
1 | 22 | Forest Festival 1952 1 film
reel (19 min., 45 sec.; 711
feet) : sound, color ; 16mm
Narrated footage of Forest Festival parade, floats, logging
skills demonstrations and contests. Includes City of Shelton architecture,
streets, and vehicular traffic.
Original ID number: T3
|
1952 |
1 | 23 | Forest Festival 1954
1 film
reel (21 min., 15 sec.; 765
feet) : silent, black and white, color
; 16mm
Forest Festival parade including footage of festival princesses,
dance performances, logging skill contests, and fire suppression
demonstration.
Original ID number: T4
|
1954 |
3 | 24 | Forest Festival 1 film
reel (9 min. 45 sec.; 351 feet) : silent ; 8mm
Home movies, including scenes of the 26th Annual Forest
Festival.
Condition Note: The film requires further preservation and has not been viewed.
Original ID number: T35
|
1971 |
RyderwoodReturn to Top
The materials in this series contain footage from Ryderwood, Washington, which was established in 1923 by the Long-Bell Lumber Company. Ryderwood, a self-contained model logging town, housed 2,000 residents at its height. After 1953, it was developed into a 55+ community by Senior Estates, Incorporated.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | item | ||
2 | 25 |
Lumbering
in the Pacific Northwest 1 film
reel (10 min.; 270 feet) : silent, black and white
; 16mm
Review of the manufacturing process for Douglas Fir lumber at
Ryderwood, Washington. Includes fire wardens surveying timber, a construction
camp, railroad clearing and construction, horse-drawn road grading, operation
of a logging locomotive, installation of electric power in the forest, timber
harvest, preparation of a spar tree, and reforestation. Contains scenes of the
Ryderwood logging town, the Ryderwood men's dormitory, community buildings,
school house, theater, houses, and a group of boys playing at being lumber
workers.
Credits: Produced by Andlauer Film Company, Kansas City, Missouri;
cinematography by Howard Curtiss.
Original ID number: T16
|
1923? |
Forestry HistoryReturn to Top
The materials in this series contain film and audio relating to the history of forestry in the Pacific Northwest and Minnesota.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | item | ||
1 | 26 |
Logging in
Minnesota 1 film reel (11 min., 25 sec.; 308.25
feet) : silent, black and white
; 16mm
Documents the history of Minnesota forestry. Includes
horse-drawn timber sleighs, men wearing snowshoes while taking inventory of
pines, logging camp bunkhouse, blacksmith, mess hall, locomotive transport of
timber, Minnesota's last major logging drive, and Virginia Rainy Lake Mill.
Credits: Cinematography : Al E. Lenz; Horticulturalist: M. I. Smith;
State Forest Service representative: O. R. Levin.
Original ID number: T15
|
1926 |
2 | 27 |
The Age of
Steam Logging 1 film
reel (18 min., 10 sec.; 654
feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
Produced by the Junior League of Tacoma for Point Defiance Park
Camp 6 Logging Museum. Narrated film relates the experiences of loggers, the
fire risk of steam engines, various logging activities, cabins, oxen teams,
tree climbing, rigging, steam donkey engines, and steam locomotives.
Script and production by Rarig Film Productions, Seattle,
Washington.
Original ID number: T13
|
1961? |
2 | 28 | Logging Song 1 film
reel : sound ; 16mm
Opens with a fragment from "Sick of Setting Chokers," a logging
song by Oregonian Buzz Martin, and closes with psychedelic rock music.
Original ID number: T41
|
1971? |
1 | 29 |
Spartree 1 film
reel (15 min., 15 sec.; 549
feet) : sound, color ; 16mm
Highlights champion logger Hap Johnson and blacksmith Rudy
Ratzinger. Includes scenes of lumber yard, logging, rigging, smithing, old
machinery, and felling the top of a spar tree.
Directed and produced by Phillip Borsos. Filmed in British
Columbia by Mercury Pictures.
Original ID number: T6
|
1977 |
3 | 30 | Uncle Ben Interview 1 magnetic
audio reel : sound ; 16mm
Interview with "Uncle Ben," who gives an oral history,
discussing his memories of Schafer Brothers Logging Company, the period
following the Modoc War, a First Nations man called "Cutter," the "Big
Skookum", and logging with oxen.
The Modoc War was fought on the California-Oregon border region
between 1872 and 1873, and came about as a result of efforts by the United
States government to remove Modoc peoples from their ancestral lands.Original ID number: T38
|
Between 1961 and 1981? |
Commercial FilmsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Reel | item | ||
T30 | 31 |
Smooth
Approach 1 film
reel (9 min., 5 sec.; 327 feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
Includes golfers Dick Metz, Jimmy Thompson, Horton Smith, and Ed
Dudley (who was a golf instructor to Bing Crosby) demonstrating various golfing
shots at Pebble Beach, California, with slow-motion breakdowns. Also includes a
brief appearance of Bobby Jones at Augusta, Georgia course.
Produced by Frederic Ullman, Jr.
Original ID number: T30Reel 15 (T28) and Reel 31 (T30) are in the same can.
|
1939 |
T27 | 32 |
Magicians
of India 1 film
reel (8 min.; 288 feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
Street magicians perform in Egypt and India.
Original ID number: T27
|
1940 |
Box | |||
1 | 33 |
It's Done
with Arrows 1 film
reel (9 min., 10 sec.; 330 feet) : sound, black and white
; 16mm
A group of "Hollywood starlets" practicing archery in
California. Archery expert Howard Hill demonstrates proper form and performs
trick shots. Contains slow-motion shots and reactions from "starlets."
Credits: Starring Howard Hill; narrated by Art Gilmore; directed by
Taylor Byars; edited by Chester Glassley. Presented by Courneya-Hyde
Productions.
Original ID number: T20
|
1947 |
2 | 34 |
This Above
All 1 film
reel (13 min., 40 sec.; 492
feet) : sound, color ; 16mm
A history of roofing and development of housing design. Contains
a mix of animation and live action.
Credits: Directed by George Carillon; narrated by Pat McGeehan;
animation by Royal Arts. Copyright 1956 by I.B.I.
Original ID number: T19
|
1956 |
Reel | |||
T23 | 35 |
Setting
Standards of Performance 1 film reel (30 min.; 1080 feet) : sound, black and white ; 16mm
James L. Hayes gives a management training lecture.
Presented by the American Management Association.
Original ID number: T23
|
1962 |
Audio MaterialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | item | ||
3 | 36 | KOL FM Broadcast 1 audio reel : sound ; 1/4 inch
Radio station KOL FM broadcast with contemporary music and
commercial ads, including an ad for Seattle's historic Fresh Air Tavern.
Original ID number: T37
|
1971? |
3 | 37 | Audio Reel 1, Side 1 1 audio reel : sound ; 1/4 inch
Condition Note: The audio reel requires further preservation and has not been
heard.
Original ID number: T36
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
3 | 38 | 500ft Audio Reel 1 audio reel (500 feet) : sound ; 1/4 inch
Condition Note: The audio reel requires further preservation and has not been
heard.
Original ID number: T40
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
2 | 39 | Voice-over Audio Reel
1 audio reel : sound ; 16mm
Condition Note: The audio reel is damaged and requires restoration.
Original ID number: T39
|
Between 1960 and 1970? |
Home MoviesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | item | ||
2 | 40 | Neal's Birthday Party
1 reel (5 min., 15 sec.; 141.75 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
Condition Note: The film requires further preservation and has not been
viewed.
Original ID number: T18
|
1981 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Moving Image Collections (University of Washington)
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)