Thomas H. Rutter photograph collection, 1888-1900

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Rutter, Thomas H., 1837-1925
Title
Thomas H. Rutter photograph collection
Dates
1888-1900 (inclusive)
Quantity
20 photographic prints (1 box)
Collection Number
PH0287
Summary
Photographs of Tacoma, Washington, surrounding Puget Sound areas and portraits of Yakima Indians
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.

Request at UW

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

Thomas H. Rutter was born on January 1, 1837 in Truro, Cornwall, England and worked as a veterinarian before immigrating to the United States. During the Civil war, in July, 1861, he enlisted in Company M of the 1st New York Cavalry as a farrier. He was honorably discharged by February 1862 because of a disability. Enticed by reports of a gold rush, he moved to the Montana Territory in 1864 and established mining claims in and around Bannack, Butte, Highland and Last Chance Gulch, Montana.

By 1867, Rutter became fascinated with the art of photography and started a photography studio with R. J. Nesbitt in Glendale, Montana. In 1870, Rutter opened his own studio in Butte, Montana as "Thomas H. Rutter, Portrait and Landscape Photographer." He married Lydia Lymburner of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 26, 1882 in Butte.

Rutter and his wife moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1888, where he opened a photography studio on 1346 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. He operated the Tacoma studio until 1900, when he moved to North Yakima where he worked as a photographer until at least 1906 and possibly longer. During his time in Tacoma and Yakima, Rutter photographed the city, as well as the surrounding area and most notably the members of Yakima Indian tribe. He apparently sold off most or all of his negatives before his death. Some of his photographs were incorporated with other photographers' work and are not attributed to Rutter.

In 1915 Rutter and his wife moved to the Veteran’s Home in Orting, Washington where they remained until their deaths. Rutter died on August 21, 1925 at the age of eighty-eight.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of images of Tacoma, Washington including ships at dock in the harbor and buildings, as well as logging in the surrounding Puget Sound area and portraits of Yakima Indians.

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

Gifts from: C. Bagley, 1959; Doug McDonnell, no date; E. B. Meany; no date; and Dorothy Wills, no date.

Processing Note

Processed by Liam McDonnell, 2005, Megan Peacock, 2006; processing completed in 2006.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Tacoma, WashingtonReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1
Episcopal Church
Caption says "oldest church tower in United States."
August 18, 1888
1/1 2 undated
1/1 3 1888
1/1 4 1891
1/1 5
The Tacoma Hotel on a hill above the harbor and docks.
The front of the photograph says "Rutter, Photographer" and the back of the mat board is stamped "French, Crayon Artist and Photographer, 501 California Block, Tacoma."
1892
1/2 6 May 6th, 1891
1/2 7
Arch constructed from bags of flour and grain erected over Pacific Avenue for visit by President Harrison
Above the arch is a banner reading "The State of Washington Can Feed All Mankind."
May 6th, 1891
1/2 8
Docks with ships loading wheat for Great Britain
"Rutter" is written on the image but the mat board gives "French, California Building, Tacoma" as the photographer.
1890
1/2 9 undated
1/2 10 undated

Puget Sound, WashingtonReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/3 11 undated
1/3 12
Three lumberjacks chopping down tree
Wood choppers of Puget Sound, cutting saw logs
undated
1/3 13 undated
box:oversize
VC1 13a
Fox Island Clay Works viewed from the water
Printed on front: W.S. Bowen Gen Manager-William Lyons Suprin.
undated

Yakima Indian portraitsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/4 14
Chief Dal-Tim-Shah in full-length feather headdress
Caption on back: "This head-dress was made of eagle feathers and is very expensive. The bonnet was made by Cheyenne Sioux for this Indian. His dress is velvet and beads.”
1900
1/4 15
Chief Sheta-Mo-On-e in front of buffalo skin tepee
Caption on back: "Shut-A-Mo-Ne, Sheep Cross Horns. This Indian is half Yakima and half Umatilla..." The caption explains that the clothing he is wearing in the photograph belonged to his uncle who was a Umatilla chief involved in the Bannock War of 1878 who served with the U.S. forces.
1900
1/4 16 1900
1/4 17 1900
1/4 18
Large group of Yakima men and women in front of a train
: hand colored
Caption on back: “Most noted Indians of Yakima Reservation." Standing starting from the left, second person in, Chief White Swan, Chief Spencer, and Chief Sheta-Mo-On-e.
1900

PortraitsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/5 19
Studio portrait of two women seated on swing
1888-1900

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Anglican church buildings--Photographs--19th century
  • Fox Island (Pierce County, Wash. : Island)
  • Hotels--Washington (State)--Tacoma--Photographs--19th century
  • Yakama Indians--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Rutter, Thomas H., 1837-1925--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Tacoma (Wash.)--Photographs--19th century

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)