Lulu Fairbanks Mountaineers trips album

Lulu Fairbanks Mountaineers trips album, 1912-1917

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Fairbanks, Lulu M., 1888-1968
Title: Lulu Fairbanks Mountaineers trips album
Dates: 1912-1917 (inclusive)
19121917
Quantity: 1 box, (.21 cubic feet)
Collection Number: 2011.3.3 (accession)
Summary: Album describing Mountaineers trips into the Cascade Mountains and around Puget Sound, illustrated with photographs, clippings and postcards
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.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Lulu M. Fairbanks was born in Ohio in 1888 and moved to Seattle in 1913. She taught school for five years, then worked for the Port of Seattle until 1922. After leaving for a brief time, she returned in 1923 and became the assistant editor of the Alaska Weekly, a position she retained until 1956. Ms. Fairbanks promoted knowledge and participation in Alaskan activities and was named Miss Alaska for life by the International Sourdough Convention, an organization she had belonged to since 1931. She helped found the Washington Press Women and was the president of the Seattle branch of the National League of Pen Women.

The Mountaineers was founded in 1906 with 110 charter members, half of them women. In the early years, many of their activities were local walks and excursions. Full scale mountain climbs were also accomplished, such as Mount Baker and Mount Rainier. Some of the original members of the Mountaineers were Edmond S. Meany and Henry Landes of the University of Washington, and photographers Asahel Curtis and Lawrence D. Lindsley.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Album with 168 2-sided pages (most used on the front side only) recounting trips made by the Mountaineers between 1913 and 1916.

Lulu Fairbanks kept this scrapbook on various trips she took with the Mountaineers into the Cascade Mountains and around Puget Sound. As a journalist, she describes in colorful detail the landscapes they encountered, along with the personalities and activities of the group. She describes the dedication and construction of the Mountaineers lodge at Snoqualmie in June 1914. The scrapbook has typewritten commentary and is illustrated with original photographs, pictures from books and magazines, and post cards. Relevant news articles are also included. Some of the excursions began with a railroad journey, and the scrapbook contains several images of trains. Names of some members are provided, and many geographic features are identified. Both summer and winter excursions are described and illustrated. The first trip that Lulu Fairbanks describes, a visit to the Tulalip Indian Reservation, takes place in June 1912, when she says she is not yet a member of the Mountaineers. The latest dated entry is en route to Snow Lake in May 1916.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

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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

Lulu Fairbanks Mountaineers trips album, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Location of Collection

15a.3.8

Acquisition Information

Found in collection.

Processing Note

The album pages were originally in a 3-ring binder. For preservation purposes, the pages were removed from the binder and placed in archival folders, and retained their original order.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Mountaineers tripsReturn to Top

The first half of the album describes longer trips made by Fairbanks with the Mountaineers, largely to the Mountaineers Lodge near Snoqualmie, as well as other locations.

Section titles written by Fairbanks are indicated by italics.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	Page
1	3-7	Image of female mountaineer in front of Denny Mountain, 1914 Image of Mountaineers lodge construction, 1914 Image of fireplace at Mountaineers lodge, 1914 Image of fireplace at Mountaineers lodge, 1914 Image of newly built Mountaineers lodge, 1914 Image of Charles Hazlehurst near Mountaineers lodge, 1914 Image of two female mountaineers in front of Denny Mountain, 1914 On June 21, 1914, the hikers board the Milwaukee to Rockdale (near Snoqualmie Pass). Section contains color postcards of the Olympian (train) and Mount Si, done by Asahel Curtis; magazine clippings; and photographs of Granite Mt., Chair Peak, the Matterhorn, Mt. Defiance, McClellan's Butte, Mt. Denny, and the South Fork of the Snoqualmie R.	1914 June 21
1	8-17	Dedication of Mountaineer Lodge - June 21, 1914 Hikers leave the train and carry boards and bricks to the Mountaineer Lodge. Prof. Edmond Meany gives a dedication Section contains an Asahel Curtis postcard of a train as well as photographs of the unfinished lodge and a panorama of the surrounding peaks (Granite Mt., the Matterhorn, Chair Peak, Dennyhorn, Denny Mt., Snoqualmie Mt., Guye Peak, Red Mt., Mt. Thomson, and Mt. Stewart).	1914 June 21
1	18-31	Surrounded by Mountain Peaks— Spending the Fourth at the Mountaineer Lodge Description of a hike from the Mountaineer Lodge to the Laconia railroad yard via Snoqualmie Pass. Mentions devil's club and the nascent Sunset Highway (I-90) among other subjects. Section contains an Asahel Curtis postcard of a train track; magazine clippings; pictures of waterfalls, the Lodge, and the surrounding peaks; and the poem “In August” by Katharine Lee Bates.	1914 July
1	32-53	A Week-end at the Lodge—August 14-15, 1914 The author and friends canoe to the Ragnar train station, where they board a train to Rockdale. They find the Lodge much improved. On a hike to the Snoqualmie River, they encounter men building the new Sunset Highway. The next day they visit a mountain lake before returning to Seattle. Section contains many color postcards of river scenes; large magazine clippings of forested railroad lines; and photographs of the group and the waterfalls they encountered around the lake. Also featured are images of Sidney V. Bryant (namesake of Bryant Peak) and his wife.	1914 August 14-15
2	54-69	Labor Day at the Mountaineer Lodge—September 5-7, 1914 The author follows a Mr. Playter on a hike to Snow Lake, while other Mountaineers climb Snoqualmie Peak. They follow a trail made by 'United States Rangers' to large waterfalls and fields of heather. At night they listen to President Meany's stories about a trip to Glacier Park. The next day, they help with lodge- and trail-building before returning to the train. Section contains photos of the Lodge (with identifications of specific members and parts of the Lodge); a panoramic photo of Chair Peak and Snow Lake; views of Matterhorn and Mt. Rainier from Chair Peak; a copy of Edmond Meany's poem “The Eagle and the Peak”; and other miscellaneous photos from past trips.	1914 September 5-7
2	70-74	Helping Hand Day at Lodge—October 24-5, 1914 A large group gathers at the Lodge to ready it for winter. They celebrate Mr. Bryant's wedding anniversary over dinner; the Lodge's architect, Carl F. Gould, makes an appearance as well. Section contains pictures of the Lodge, ready for winter; views on Denny Mt. and Snoqualmie Pass; and a picture of some women en route to the train at Rockdale.	1915 October 24-25
2	75-76	On the Big Lake—February 20-22, 1915 Section contains photos of snowshoeing and sledding on a lake.	1915 February 20-22
2	77-79	At the Lodge—February 12-13, 1916 Section contains photos of the snowbound Lodge and its visitors, identifications of the surroundings peaks, and a feature from The Town Crier entitled “Through the Drifts of the Cascades.”	1916 February 12-13
2	80	Mr. Playter and Little Lake, together with his views taken April 2, 1916 Section contains photos of the Cascades in spring, complete with peak identifications.	1916 April 2
2	81-82	En Route to Snow Lake—May 28, 1916 Section contains photos of very deep snow around Guye's Peak and Guye's cabin.	1916 May 28
2	83	“Mountaineers Hold Wedding in Hills; Name of Bride is Kept Deep Secret” Section contains full text of an article from the Seattle Sunday Times.	1917 January 14
2	84-86	Mountaineers First Visit to Their Rhododendron Lodge—December 19, 1915 Section contains story from the Mountaineer Bulletin regarding the group's purchase of 74 acres in Kitsap County.	1915 December 19
2	87-98	A Visit to "One of the Largest Dams in the World" in the Rain—Cedar River Dam in the Cascades, October 19, 1914 The author takes a tour of the Seattle Municipal Power Plant at Cedar Falls. City Councilman Cooley answers questions about the artificial lake that will be created. Section contains fold-out map of Cedar River watershed; a newspaper article about the dam; photos of the dam and of Cedar Lake itself; and a group photo of the Mountaineers after their tour. There is also a compilation of Prof. Edmond Meany's poetry.	1914 October 19

Short Hikes with the Mountaineers of Seattle, Washington , 1912-1914Return to Top

The back half of the album begins with a title page Short Hikes with the Mountaineers of Seattle, Washington and describes shorter hikes taken by Fairbanks with the group.

Section titles written by Fairbanks are indicated by italics.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	Page
3	99-101	Title page and poems Includes the poems “Bluets” by Martha Haskell Clark and “Wanderlust” by Stacey M. Snow.	undated
3	102-105	Two Visits to the Tulalip Indian Reservation: 230 Mountaineers receive a warm welcome after arriving via boat. They hike on the beach and pick daisies. The next trip, they have a clambake. Section contains many photos of Mountaineers (mostly women) having lunch, listening to lectures, or picking daisies.	1912 June
3	106-111	The Chico Huckleberry Walk: Part of the group goes to Wildcat Lake, and part goes to Hidden Ranch. Section contains views of Hidden Ranch, as well as the poems “Hidden Ranch” by Stacy M. Snow and “The Waiting Peace” by Amos R. Wells.	1912 October
3	112-119	A Christmas-Greens Walk to the Snowy Hidden Ranch via Elwood and Chico—December 20, 1914 The Mountaineers hike to snowbound Hidden Ranch and make Christmas wreaths from ferns, cedar, fir, hemlock and spruce. Section contains assorted cut-outs as well as the poem “Flower and Seed” by Harriet Prescott Spofford.	1914 December 20
3	120-123	Chicken Dinner via the Snow Route—Tracyton to Silverdale The Mountaineers battle snow and mud on their way to a chicken dinner at the Silverdale Hotel. Section contains pictures of the hiking party at a distance, the hikers in front of the Silverdale Hotel, and a view across Dyes Inlet towards the Olympics.	1913 January
3	124-127	Southworth to Olalla via Fragaria—February 14, 1915 A group of 187 enjoys a walk with views of Vashon Island and Mt. Rainier. Section features no original photography.	1915 February 14
3	128-130	Silverdale to Hood Canal The Mountaineers take a hike to the shores of Hood Canal, but high winds drive them off. Section contains maps of Hood Canal and a photo of the Mountaineers taking lunch on a hillside.	1913 October
3	131-135	Lake Burien via Crescent Beach and Fauntleroy The Mountaineers arrive via ferry and leave via rail; they pass through beaches, forests, and streams. Section contains three excellent group photos.	1913 September
3	136	Kirkland to Bellevue via Sturtevant Lake An uneventful hike to Bellevue. Section contains no original photography.	undated
3	137-138	Around Mercer Island via the Trail Route An uneventful trek around Mercer Island with Prof. Meany. Section contains a photo of the group eating lunch.	undated
3	139	Apple Cider Walk on Mercer Island—February 28, 1915 The group follows Mr. Carkeek on a slow walk around the island. Section contains no original photography.	1915 February
3	140-141	Colby to Port Orchard via Long Lake The group hikes to the Port Orchard Soldiers Home, adjacent to the Puget Sound Navy Yard. Section contains a photo of some Mountaineers late to board their boat at the end of the hike.	1913 October
3	142	Amidst the Apple Blossoms on Vashon Island—Cove to Burton Section contains a photo of some Mountaineers enjoying apple blossoms.	1914 April
3	143-145	Port Madison to Eagle Harbor The group passes the Yeomalt Country Club, Yeomalt Point and the YWCA on their way to the ferry at Eagle Harbor. Section contains three photos of the Mountaineers eating lunch.	1914 February
3	146-147	Port Madison to Crystal Springs in the Rain The group hikes to Manzanita and then to Crystal Springs, despite adverse weather; Section includes an excellent photo of the 'coffee line' at lunch.	undated
4	148-152	Across Bainbridge Island via Picturesque Trails—Gibson to Eagle Harbor Some of the Mountaineers bring their dogs along to enjoy the scenery. Section includes photos of the group gathered on a beach.	1914 September
4	153-155	A Beefsteak Dinner via the Log Route—Sandy Point to Point No Point, Along Beach at High Tide The group encounters many logs on their way to a beefsteak dinner with huckleberry pie. Section contains no original photography.	undated
4	156-157	Mystery Walk Thru Rain—Cowen to Ravenna Parks: October 24, 1915 Prof. Gavett leads the hikers through poor weather to the Ravenna Park Pavilion. Section includes a newspaper clipping about a valuable ginseng root that the Mountaineers found during this hike.	1915 October 24
4	158-160	To Maple Leaf via Cowen and Ravenna Parks The Mountaineers cross what was once farmland to get to Maple Leaf. Section contains no original photography.	1914 March
4	161-164	A Seven Mile Walk to Sand Point via the Woods, Beach, & Strawberry Patch The hikers skirt the edge of Lake Washington and encounter Japanese women working in strawberry fields. Section contains no original photography.	1914 June
4	165-168	Moonlight Walks Four walks: Alki to Lincoln Beach; Kenyon St. to Gabe (Renton Line); 19th & E. Galer to Madison St. via Lake Washington; Kirkland to Northrup	undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Hiking--Washington (State)
Mountaineering--Washington (State)

Personal Names

Meany, Edmond S. (Edmond Stephen), 1862-1935

Corporate Names

Mountaineers (Society)

Geographical Names

Seattle (Wash.)
Snoqualmie Pass (Wash.)

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941 (creator)

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