Walter H. Tiedeman collection of photographs and other material

Walter H. Tiedeman collection of photographs and other material, 1896-1927

Overview of the Collection

Collector: Tiedeman, Walter H.
Title: Walter H. Tiedeman collection of photographs and other material
Dates: 1896-1927 (inclusive)
18961927

1914-1924 (bulk)
19141924
Quantity: .42 cubic feet, (1 box, including 221 photographs)
Collection Number: 2009.55 (accession)
Summary: Photographs of public works projects in Seattle, mostly street paving, and personal photographs of Tiedeman, plus some papers and ephemera
Repository: Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library

P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org
Access Restrictions: The collection is open to the public by appointment.
Languages: English.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Walter Tiedeman was the son of German immigrants Theodore and Hannah Tiedeman, who came to the United States in 1855 and eventually settled on North Street and Second Avenue in Ballard around 1891. Tiedeman graduated from the School of Mines at the University of Washington in 1901 with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering; that same year he ran on the Democratic ticket for City Treasurer in Ballard. Tiedeman was hired in 1902 as computer for the City of Seattle City Engineer's Department, and promoted in 1904 to 2nd grade draughtsman. In 1905, he was appointed to the position of District Engineer, with a transfer to the position of Principal Assistant City Engineer in 1912.

Tiedeman was married in June 1906 to Anna Gertrude Madison in St. Johns, Oregon. She is listed as Tiedeman's widow beginning with the 1928 city directory.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists largely of photographs of public works projects taking place in Seattle during the period that Tiedeman worked for the City Engineer's office, largely depicting street paving and regrade activities. Many of the photographs depict paving in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. Also includes an album of photographs from Tiedeman's days as a University of Washington undergraduate, circa 1898-1901, and a few other photographs of Tiedeman. The collection also includes correspondence related to Tiedeman's hiring for various positions in the City Engineer's office, ephemera from his UW days, an invitation to his wedding, and photocopies of newspaper articles in which he is mentioned.

Most of the photographers were taken by James P. Lee, photographer for the City of Seattle's Engineering Department.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.

Restrictions on Use

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Walter H. Tiedeman Collection of Photographs and Other Material, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in 3 series:

Photographs
Photograph albums
Papers

Location of Collection

3a.4.6

Acquisition Information

Source: Ravenna Rare Books, July 2009

Processing Note

One album was disassembled for preservation purposes; the pages have been foldered individually in their original order.

For the photographs taken by City of Seattle photographer James P. Lee, the photographer's number (written on the front of each photograph) is given in the inventory.

Separated Materials

These materials are part of a donation that also included an artifact, a badge marked "City Engineer Ballard." The artifact is cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI’s Collections Department.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Photographs, 1896-1927Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Public works projects	1921-1927
	Photographs by James Lee James Patrick Lee worked as a photographer for the Seattle Engineering Department, recording the developments that shaped the city's landscape in the first half of the 20th century. The photographer's number is given for each photograph.
	Beacon Hill regrade at Dearborn Street 9 photographs Lee, James (photographer)	1923-1924
Box/Folder
1/1	1: Ninth Avenue S. and Dearborn regrade area in snow 2 photographs in panorama Lee 4708	1922 November 15
1/1	2: Ninth Avenue S. regrade area, showing bridge at Dearborn Street and 12th Avenue 2 photographs in panorama Lee 4804	1923 May 9
1/1	3: View down Dearborn Street towards bridge 2 photographs in panorama Lee 4806	1923 May 9
1/1	4: Dearborn Street and bridge at 12th Avenue Lee 4810	1923 June 18
1/1	5: Bridge across Dearborn Street at 12th Avenue Lee 4811	1923 June 18
1/1	6: Man using power house at regrade site Lee 4848	1923 October 22
1/1	7: Dearborn Street showing Richard's Brush Co. and bridge in distance Lee 4851	1923 October 22
1/1	8: Man standing near Koehring Company shovel Lee 4852	1923 October 22
1/1	9: View of houses and businesses along Dearborn Street Lee 4909	1924 March 6
1/1	10: Dearborn Street showing bridge Lee 4913	1924 March 21
	Seattle streets and neighborhoods	1921-1927
Box/Folder
1/2	11-12: Rainier Avenue paving, McClellan Street east of Rainier Avenue, showing sprinklers 2 photographs Lee 4560, 4561	1921 September 25
1/3	13: Construction work at Elliott Avenue, south of bay, looking southeast Lee 4606	1922 June 6
1/3	14: Construction work at Elliott Avenue, Western Avenue south of junction with Elliott Avenue, looking north Lee 4607	1922 June 6
1/3	15: Elliott Avenue, south of Junction with Western Avenue, looking south Lee 4608	1922 June 6
1/4	16: Brick paved street near East Olive Place with regrade activity visible Lee 4845	1923 September 14
1/5	17: Elliott Avenue Lee 4862 Bay View Laundry Co. on right	1923 October 22
1/5	18: View of junction of Western and Elliott Avenues showing new paving on Elliott and streetcar tracks on Western Avenue Lee 4863	1923 October 22
1/5	19: View of paving on Elliott Avenue Lee 4864	1923 October 22
1/5	20 : Cobblestone street with streetcar tracks, probably Western Avenue Lee 4865	1923 October 22
1/6	21: Street with streetcar tracks, probably East Madison Street Lee 4914	1924 March 21
1/6	22-23: View of East Madison Street showing laying of bridge decking Lee 4915-4916	1924 March 21
1/7	24-27: Unidentified Seattle streets 4 photographs Lee 4917-4920 These photographs appear to document paved streets and paving operations. Streetcar tracks are visible on some of the streets. Possibly same area depicted in following photograph, NE 40th Street near Ninth Avenue.	1924 March 21
1/7	28: NE 40th Street near Ninth Avenue NE, showing train tracks Lee 4921	1924 March 21
1/8	29-31: West Spokane Street bridge Lee 5402, 5403, 5405	1924
1/9	32: Eastlake Avenue at Harrison Street looking north, showing streetcar tracks and streetcar in distance Lee 5909	1927 September 15
1/9	33: Eastlake Avenue at Lynn Street looking north Lee 5910	1927 September 15
	Photographs by Asahel Curtis The photographer's number is given for each photograph.	undated
Box/Folder
1/10	34: Newly paved street with sprinklers running Curtis 42305	undated
1/11	35: Man smoothing wet concrete on newly paved street Curtis 42359	undated
1/12-13	36-37: Image of men smoothing wet concrete, ca. 1930s Image of men smoothing wet concrete, ca. 1930s 2 photographs Curtis 42360, 42362	undated
	Other photographs
Box/Folder
1/14	38: Four men in suits watching man jack hammering on East Marginal Way Written on verso: Removing land - cement cushion on E. Marg Way - St Dept	1921
1/14	39-40: Views of raised road and road supports 2 photographs Negatives on file	undated
	Walter Tiedeman and family	1896-1919
Box/Folder
1/15	41: Group portrait of Elks members, including Walter Tiedeman Caption on photo: Officers of the Washington State Elks Association. Annual Midwinter Meeting. Seattle, Jan. 30, 1919.	1919 January 30
1/16	42: Tiedeman family home in Ballard H.(?) W. Stedman , Ballard, Washington (photographer) Writing on verso: Teidemann's [sic] at home (Ballard) View North Side - Nov-1-96	1896 November 1
1/17	43: Portrait of Walter Tiedeman Bushnell , Seattle (photographer)	circa 1900
1/18	44-45: Unidentified family groups 2 photographs Possibly Tiedeman's family (parents and siblings). One photo shows a group outdoors, the other grouped around a Christmas tree	1900-1902

Photograph albumsReturn to Top

2 albums

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		46: Album 1 114 photographs on 68 pages	circa 1914-1922
Box/Folder	Page
1/19-21	1-6	46.1-46.23: Los Angeles 23 photographs Images of paved streets and a paved (with brick??) bridge, pipe construction, and tunnels, many of which are labeled on verso as depicting areas of Los Angeles.	undated
1/22	7	46.24: Retaining wall along Eastlake Avenue, showing streetcar tracks	1913 October 24
1/22	7	46.25: Curbstones and retaining wall at Grand Avenue	1913 October 24
1/22	7	46.26: Dirt road and retaining wall along 3rd Avenue West	1913 October 24
1/22	7	46.27: Men working near lumber lined trench	undated
1/22	8	46.28-31: Repaving along Second Avenue 4 photographs Includes 2 photographs of construction along street and 2 detail views of rail tracks	1914 August-September
1/23	9	46.32-34: Close views of curb defect (?) 3 photographs	undated
1/23-25	10-13	46.35-57: Detail and microscopic (?) views of various metals A handwritten inventory to these photographs is included in the album.	1913 February 6; 1915 January 5; undated
1/25	14	46.58: Ship canal looking east James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2589	1914 October 7
1/26	15	46.59: Construction along the north shore of the Lake Washington ship canal James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2587	1914 October 7
1/26	16	46.60: Construction near Lake Washington ship canal James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2588	1914 October 7
1/27	17	46.61: Streets being prepared for paving, probably in Ballard James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2586	1914 October 7
1/27	18	46.62: Dirt road near rail tracks, south on Leary Way from 48th Street James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2582	1914 October 7
1/28	19	46.63: Rail tracks looking north on Leary Way from 11th NW James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2583 Magnolia Milling Co. and a lumberyard visible along tracks.	1914 October 7
1/28	20	46.64: Leary Way from 11th NW, showing men working on rail tracks James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2581	1914 October 7
1/29	21	46.65: Construction, looking east on Leary Way from 17th NW, lumberyard visible to right James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2584	1914 October 7
1/29	22	46.66: Street being prepared for paving, Ballard James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2585	1914 October 7
1/30	23	46.67: Street paving along 2nd Avenue, Smith Tower in distance	circa 1915
1/30-31	24-25	46.68-73: Small stones on ground and in mixer (possibly used as aggregate in concrete)	1916 March 15-16
1/31-32	26-28	46.74-76: Men working on crack in concrete base beneath brick paved road, 12the Avenue and Spring Street Frank H. Nowell (photographer) Nowell 16661-16663	1916 July 12
1/33-35	29-34	46.77-82: Various paved areas with ruler or other measurement markers	undated
1/36	35	46.83: Second Avenue NE showing paved street and curb James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4162	1919 January 13
1/36-37	36-37	46.84-85: Section of piling with teredo (worm) holes James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4037-4038	1918 April 1
1/37	38	46.86: Broken pieces of pipe on ground	undated
1/38	39	46.87: Construction, possibly on embankment of Montlake cut James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 2601	1914 October 14
1/38	40	46.88: Construction, probably paving, at South Lake Union, looking east on Valley from Boren James P. Lee (photographer) Showing rail tracks and Ford Motor Company building at Fairview and Valley Lee 2590	1914 October 7
1/39-40	41-43	46.89-91: Paving operation showing mixer and use of subgrade templates	undated
1/40	44	46.92: Elliott Avenue at West Mercer Place looking south, showing wood plank road near railroad tracks James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4544	1921 August 3
1/41	45	46.93: Elliott Avenue at West Mercer Place looking south, showing railroad tracks James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4545	1921 August 3
1/41	46	46.94: Near Elliott Avenue, looking north (?) James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4546	1921 August 3
1/42	47	46.95: Elliott Avenue and Fifteenth Avenue West James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4547	1921 August 3
1/42	48	46.96: Fifteenth Avenue NW at Leary Way James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4547	1921 August 3
1/43	49	46.97: Streetcar tracks and paving in progress, Fourteenth Avenue NW at Leary Way James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4549	1921 August 3
1/43-44	50-52	46.98-100: NE 40th Street near Pasadena Place James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4517-4519 Same street shown in 4918-4920	1921 May 12
1/45	53-54	46.101-102: Rainier Avenue paving, McClellan Street east of Rainier Avenue, showing sprinklers James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4560-4561	1921 September 26
1/46-48	55-60	46.103-108: Paving on 10th Avenue NE (Roosevelt Way) near NE 61st Street James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4562-4567	1921 September 28
1/49-51	61-66	46.110-114: Views of Elliott Avenue from Denny to Garfield James P. Lee (photographer) Lee 4590-4595	1922 January 4
Box
1		47: Album 2 62 photographs 3.25 x 3.25 inches Photographs from Tiedeman's student days and graduation at University of Washington, mostly photographs of friends, and also views of campus. Also includes photographs of the battleship Iowa, native hop pickers, the ship Stimson, and views of Seattle.	circa 1899-1901

: Papers, Return to Top

Container(s): Box

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/52-54	48-50: Employment papers 3 folders Includes correspondence regarding Tiedeman's eligibility for and appointments as computer (1902) and draughtsman (1904) for the City of Seattle; and District Engineer (October 1908); and Principal Assistant City Engineer (1912).	1902-1923
1/55	51: Real estate 1 folder Includes a deed and correspondence about sale of Seattle property.	1922-1924
1/56-58	52-54: Ephemera 4 folders Includes a 4 page flyer by petitioners to the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity at UW, of which Tiedeman was a member; invitation and dance cards for UW dances; dance cards for other dances; and an invitation to Tiedeman's marriage to Anna Gertrude (1906).	1899-1906
1/59	55: Photocopies of clippings from scrapbook 1 folder These clippings were photocopied from a scrapbook created by Tiedeman which is not part of the collection.	1898-1912

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Concrete--Washington (State)--Seattle
Construction--Washington (State)--Seattle
Grading (Earthwork)--Washington (State)--Seattle
Pavements--Washington (State)--Seattle
Road Construction--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

Tiedeman, Walter H..--Photographs

Geographical Names

Ballard (Seattle, Wash.)
United States--Washington (State)--Seattle

Form or Genre Terms

Photograph albums
Photographs

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941 (photographer)
- Lee, James Patrick (photographer)

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