Joseph Sonneman photographs and other materials

Joseph Sonneman photographs and other materials, 1960s-2006

Overview of the Collection

Photographer: Sonneman, Joseph
Title: Joseph Sonneman photographs and other materials
Dates: 1960s-2006 (inclusive)
19602006
Quantity: 35.40 cubic feet (50 boxes)
Collection Number: PH2008-029
Summary: Photographs by a lawyer and former Senate candidate of Juneau, Alaska
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: Access restricted: permission of curator required.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Joseph Sonneman was born in Chicago in 1944, and grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Sonneman served in the Army from 1963 to 1966, attended University of Illinois as a undergraduate, then Claremont Graduate School, earning masters and doctorate degrees in Government. In 1989, Sonneman earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Sonneman moved to Juneau in the early 1970s, where he was a candidate for mayor in 1973 and for the Alaska House in 1974. Sonneman also ran as the Democratic nominee for United States Senator from Alaska in 1998. In Juneau, Sonneman worked as a lawyer, legal researcher, management consultant, and legislative and law reporter. He also served as President of the World Affairs Council and was highly involved in local affairs.

Sonneman's father Eric had been an amateur photographer in Germany and gave Sonneman his first camera at age 5. Sonneman pursued his interest in photography from an early age, experimenting with different cameras and lenses, and different conceptual approaches. Sonneman was inspired by the work of Edward Weston, among others, and his still life studies reflect this interest. In Juneau, Sonneman documented local political events, such as those of the Alaska Democratic Party; Pioneers of Alaska events; as well as family, friends and the city of Juneau. Sonneman also extensively photographed Native American events, such as a re-enactment of Custer's last stand, the annual Crow Fair, Tlingit dance ceremonies and other Tlingit celebrations, Powwows, the Navajo Nation Fair , the centennial re-enactment of the Sitka "Last Potlatch" of 1904, and the dedication of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

One of Sonneman's major photographic projects was documentation of the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline. Influenced by Eric Hegg's photographs of the Klondike Gold Rush in the Murray Morgan book One Man's Gold Rush: A Klondike Album, Sonneman left his job and spent the years from 1974 to1977 photographing the pipeline with an 8'" x 10" view camera. Sonneman's pipeline photographs have been exhibited in Chicago, San Jose, Oklahoma and California.

Joe Sonneman relocated to Seattle in 2006.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists largely of photographs, varying in format from 35 mm snapshots through 8" x 10" contact prints, including a large number of slides and other transparencies.. Subjects include Sonneman's family and friends at home and at social events; the city of Juneau and local events; political events such as Alaska Democratic Party picnics; Native American events, such as dances, ceremonies, and celebrations, including Tlingit dances, a recreation of the Sitka Potlatch of 1904, a re-enactment of Custer's Last Stand at Little Bighorn, and the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian.

One series documents Sonneman's work photographing the construction of Trans-Alaska pipeline from 1974-1977, in slides, color photographs and, primarily, large format black and white photographs. This series also includes materials related to Sonneman's project of pairing his photographs with analogous photographs from One Man's Gold Rush, a book of Eric Hegg's photographs of the Klondike gold rush. In addition to the photographs, materials include correspondence, manuscripts and posters.

A series of albums, 1997-2006, includes snapshots of family, friends, the city of Juneau, and trips to other cities such as Chicago, Tucson, and Washington D.C. The albums also includes snapshots of political events and Native American events, and documentation of artwork in shows.

Non-photographic material in the collection include videos of Native American events, including a DVD of a re-enactment of Custer's Last Stand, correspondence to and from Sonneman, promotional materials and ephemera.

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.

Preferred Citation

The required credit line for use of images from Special Collections is: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, [plus the negative number].

The negative number is provided with the image and is a letter + number combination such as UW13452; Hegg 1234; or NA1275. A typical credit line would be, University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, UW13452.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in 7 series:

One Man's Pipelinematerials
Photographs
Albums
Audiovisiual and other format materials
Papers
Ephemera and artifacts
Works by others

Acquisition Information

Source: Joseph Sonneman; received in 2007.

Processing Note

Minimally processed.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

One Man's Pipeline materials, circa 1974-1980Return to Top

Sonneman photographed the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline from 1974 through 1977 using an 8" x 10" view camera. His project was inspired by One Man's Gold Rush, Murray Morgan's book about the Alaska Gold Rush as depicted in photographs by Eric Hegg. Sonneman then paired his captioned photographs with Hegg's captioned gold rush photos, in an unpublished volume titled One Man's Pipeline. Sonneman exhibited his pipeline photographs in several shows: in San Jose, Claremont, at the University of Oklahoma, and the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Negatives Items are numbered using Sonneman's system. Some numbers are used twice.
Box	item
N1	74-101	Beginning Work, Future Valdez Terminal Site	1974
N1	74-102	Valdez	1974
N1	74-102 [sic]	River and mountain landscape	1974
N1	74-103	Crusher Crew, Galbraith	1974
N1	74-104	Gravel road and trees with river landscape	1974
N1	74-105	Valdez	1974
N1	74-106	Juneau	1974
N1	74-107	"Christmas Trees," Prudhoe Bay	1974
N1	74-108	Empty road through evergreens	1974
N1	74-108 [sic]	Right-of-Way Work	1974
N1	74-109	Drilling Rock, Future Pump Station 4 Site	1974
N1	74-110	Gathering Gravel, Gailbraith	1974
N1	74-111	Valdez Pipe Storage Yard	1974
N1	74-112	Road to Valdez	1974
N1	74-113	The View From Thompson Pass	1974
N1	74-114	Yukon River Bridge Piers	1974
N1	74-115	The Fairbanks Pipeyard	1974
N1	74-116	Clearing Right-of-Way, 5 Mile	1974
N1	75-101	Building Gakona Bridge	1975
N1	75-102	Building Gakona Bridge	1975
N1	75-103	Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-104	Bridge Building	1975
N1	75-105	Loading Pipe, Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-106	Loading Pipe, Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-107	Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-108	Pipe Welding Building, Fairbanks	1975
N1	75-109	Expediter and Beluga, Pump Station 10 "Pump 10 Beauty"	1975
N1	75-110	Building Tanker Loading Platforms, Valdez Terminal	1975
N1	75-111	Heavy equipment on dirt road cut between trees	1975
N1	75-112	Building the Terminal, Valdez	1975
N1	75-113	Awaiting Burial, North of Valdez	1975
N1	75-114	Stuck!--While Clearing Right-of-Way, Near Dietrich, "Getting Free, Dietrich Camp"	1975
N1	75-115	North Slope Drill Rig	1975
N1	75-116	North of Fairbanks, South of the Yukon	1975
N1	75-117	North of Fairbanks, S04	1975
N1	75-118	Pump Station 10 Tank Farm	1975
N1	75-119	BP Hilton, North Slope	1975
N1	75-120	Isabel Pass	1975
N1	75-121	Dooble [sic] X Welding, North Slope	1975
N1	75-122	Waiting for Work, Fairbanks May be 1974, per notations on plastic sleeve	1975
N1	75-123	Clearing Right-of-Way, South of Fairbanks	1975
N1	75-124	New Ties Near Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-125	Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-126	Pump 8 Open House	1975
N1	75-127	Pump 8 Open House	1975
N1	75-128	Pump 8 Open House	1975
N1	75-128 [sic]	Firemen Practice, Fairbanks, University of Alaska	1975
N1	75-130	Livengood View	1975
N1	75-131	Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-132	Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-133	The Pipehandler, Fairbanks Pipeyard	1975
N1	75-134	Yukon River Bridge: Halfway Done	1975
N1	76-101	Laying in the Last Section, Thompson Pass	1976
N1	76-102	Satellite Communications, Pump Station 1	1976
N1	76-103	Franklin Bluffs Airport	1976
N1	76-104	Helicopter Landing, Fairbanks	1976
N1	76-105	Helicopter in Snow, Franklin Bluffs	1976
N1	76-106	Valdez Tank Farm	1976
N1	76-107	Going Over Thompson Pass	1976
N1	76-108	Valdez: Town Site, Harbor, and Terminal	1976
N1	76-109	Loading Pipe, Valdez Pipeyard	1976
N1	76-110	Franklin Bluffs Heli-pad	1976
N1	76-111	Loading Pipe, Franklin Bluffs	1976
N1	76-112	Wiring Pipeline Control, Pump Station 1, "Wiring Pump Station"	1976
N1	76-113	Valdez Terminal Site	1976
N2	76-114	Livengood Surveyor	1976
N2	76-115	Valdez	1976
N2	76-116	Japanese Pipe Offloaded, Valdez	1976
N2	76-117	Yukon River Bridge Construction	1976
N2	76-118	Fairbanks Overview	1976
N2	76-119	Yukon River Barge & Bridge	1976
N2	76-120	River Crossing, North of Prospect	1976
N2	76-121	Pipeline Terminal, Valdez	1976
N2	76-122	Wrapping Pipe, North Slope	1976
N2	76-123	Insulation Installation, 5 Mile, Just North of Yukon	1976
N2	76-124	Welding Pipe, in the Brooks Range	1976
N2	76-125	Completed Yukon River Bridge	1976
N2	76-125 [sic]	Tamping Down Re-Inspected Pipe, Valdez	1976
N2	76-126	Prudhoe Bay, Drill Rig, the Arctic Ocean	1976
N2	76-127	The View South, Franklin Bluffs	1976
N2	76-128	Bending Pipe, Brooks Range	1976
N2	76-129	Overview, Yukon River Bridge	1976
N2	76-130	Fairbanks Mayor's Cup Race, Solstice	1976
N2	76-131	Insulation Installation, Just North of Yukon	1976
N2	76-132	Lifting Pipe Valve Section, Fairbanks	1976
N2	76-133	Yukon River Bridge	1976
N2	76-134	Fairbanks, Mayor's Cup Race, Solstice	1976
N2	76-135	Yukon River Bridge Checkpoint	1976
N2	76-136	Yukon River Bridge	1976
N2	76-137	Expediter and Flat Bed Driver, Pump Station 10, "Women Working, P.S. 10"	1976
N2	76-138	Prospect Creek Camp	1976
N2	76-139	Near Galbraith	1976
N2	76-140	Insulation Installation	1976
N2	76-141	Stringing Pipe, Brooks Range	1976
N2	76-142	Near PS 6	1976
N2	76-143	Ring Crew, Near Galbraith	1976
N2	76-144	Stringing Pipe, North of the Brooks Range	1976
N2	76-145	Pipeline Pose North of Prospect, Stringing Pipe	1976
N2	76-146	Stringing Pipe, North of the Brooks Range	1976
N2	76-147	Yukon River Bridge, The Northern Approach	1976
N2	76-148	Welding Pipe, Franklin Bluffs	1976
N2	76-149	Stringing Pipe, North of Prospect, "Before Welding"	1976
N2	76-150	Welding Oil Storage Tanks, Valdez Terminal	1976
N2	76-151	VSM Crew, Near Prospect	1976
N2	76-152	Laying Pipe, the North Slope	1976
N2	76-153	North Side Yukon River Bridge	1976
N2	76-154	"Wouldn't You Rather Be In Texas?" Near Prospect	1976
N2	76-155	Near Prospect	1976
N2	76-156	PS5	1976
N2	76-157	On Man-Lift	1976
N2	76-158	Woman Operating Man-Lift	1976
N2	76-159	Repair Truck Crane, North Prospect	1976
N2	76-160	Jumping Pipe, During Hydrostatic Testing. North of Fairbanks Hydrostatic Accident	1976
N2	76-161	Welding Pipe, Near Franklin Bluffs	1976
N2	76-162	Welding Pipe, Brooks	1976
N2	76-163	Yukon River Bridge	1976
N2	76-164	North Side Yukon River Bridge	1976
N2	76-165	Fairbanks Electioneering	1976
N3	76-166	Welding VSM	1976
N3	76-167	Haul Ready Right-of-Way	1976
N3	76-169	"VSM Crew" Ring Crew	1976
N3	76-16?	XX remove?	1976
N3	77-101	North Slope Drill Rig	1977
N3	77-102	Pipeline Start, PS1	1977
N3	77-103	Oil Reaches PS3	1977
N3	77-104	Oil Reaches PS3	1977
N3	77-105	Before Start-up PS1	1977
N3	77-106	Prior to Startup PS1	1977
N3	77-107	Darch Press Conference, BP Hilton	June 1977
N3	77-108	Darch Press Conference, BP Hilton	1977
N3	77-109	Scenic Valley, North of Valdez	1977
N3	77-110	The Day Before the Beginning, Inside Pump Station 1	1977
N3	77-111	PS1 Tank Farm	1977
N3	77-112	Loading First Tanker Out of Valdez	1977
N3	77-113	Loading Valdez First Tanker	1977
N3	77-114	The Day Before the Beginning, Inside Pump Station 1	1977
N3	77-115	Valdez Oil-In Celebration	1977
N3	77-116	First Tanker, Valdez	1977
N3	77-117	Valdez Terminal Site	1977
N3	77-118	Darch Press Conference, Valdez	1977
N3	77-119	Oil Arrives in Valdez	1977
N3	77-120	Oil Arrives in Valdez; The Moon Shines On, "Oil Arrives at Valdez (night)"	1977
N3	77-121	XX Valdez	1977
N3	77-122	Street Dance, Valdez Oil-In	1977
N3	77-123	Crossing Tundra	1977
N3	77-124	Darch & Howard Slack in Valdez	1977
N3	77-125	Valdez Terminal	1977
N3	77-126	XX Oil Spill Franklin	1977
N3	77-127	First Oil Spill, Fairbanks	1977
N3	77-128	Races, Valdez Oil-In	1977
N3	77-129	The Oily T-Shirt Contest, Start-Up Celebrations, Valdez	1977
N3	77-130	First Tanker Sails Out of Valdez	1977
N3	77-131	Oily T-Shirt Contest, Valdez	1977
N3	77-132	Alaskan Native, Pipeliner	1977
N3	77-133	Oil-In Feast, Valdez	1977
N3	77-134	Completed Line, North of Brooks (PS4)	1977
N3	77-135	Pipeline Camp Mess Hall, "P.S.1 Mess Hall"	1977
N3	77-136	The 1st Tanker Leaves Valdez	1977
N3	77-137	The First Major Oil Spill, Franklin Bluffs	1977
N3	77-138	Strikers' Blockade, Franklin Bluffs	1977
N3	77-139	First Oil Spill Near Fairbanks	1977
N3	77-140	Oil Starts Through Line, P.S. 1	1977
N3	77-141	Pipeliner's Party, Happy Valley, "4th of July"	1977
N3	77-142	Pipeliner's Party, 4th of July, Happy Valley	1977
N3	77-143	Pump Station 3 Control as Oil Arrives	1977
N3	77-144	First Major Oil Spill Near Prudhoe Bay Print with same number titled "The 1st Major Oil Spill, Franklin Bluffs"	1977
N3	77-146	Stringing Pipe, North of the Brooks Range, "Near Galbraith"	1977
		Exhibition Photographs
box:oversize	item
31	74-101, 103, 105 to 107, 109, 110, 112, 113 to 116	Prints of selected 1974 negatives 12 photographs	1974
31	75-109, 110, 112, 114 to 116, 122, 123, 133, 134	Prints of selected 1975 negatives 10 photographs	1975
31	76-101, 102, 107 to 109	Prints of selected 1976 negatives 5 photographs	1976
25	76-112, 117, 120 to 127, 136, 137	Prints of selected 1976 negatives 12 photographs	1976
25	76-143, 146 to 152, 154, 160, 161	Prints of selected 1976 negatives 11 photographs	1976
24	77-101, 114, 120, 123, 129, 132	Prints of selected 1977 negatives 6 photographs	1977
24	77-135 to 138, 141 to 144	Prints of selected 1977 negatives 6 photographs	1977
Box
24		15 9x12 unmounted black & white prints; 24 9x12 black & white prints mounted on 11x14 board; 1 black & white print and 1 color print mounted on exhibition-size board (18x24?) All but the colored print are duplicates.	1974-1977
box:oversize
23		Morgan, M. (1967). One Man's Gold Rush. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. Includes an inscription: "For Edith and Eric on the occasion of their Alaskan Adventure--on board the Prinsendam in Juneau, August 18, 1978, [signed] J.A. Sonneman "One Man's Pipeline"
		The following photographs were made by Eric Hegg and used by Murray Morgan in his book One Man's Gold Rush. The titles and item numbers are those used by Sonneman in his exhibition, One Man's Pipe Line.
box:oversize	item
23	Hegg 101	First ship to leave Seattle in the Gold Rush that followed the Portland's arrival in Seattle with more than two tons of gold from the Klondike.	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 102	Juneau	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 103	Prospectors each with a year's supplies, Dyea Beachhead	1899
23	Hegg 104	"Captain Arthur H. Lee of the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, wrote of the Dead Horse Trail, 'To put it very mildly, it's a hell of a business.'" M. Morgan caption	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 105	The last restaurant and hotel on the trail of '98, Sheep Camp.	1898
23	Hegg 106	Supplies had to be backpacked the final 1200 steps carved in ice.	1898
23	Hegg 107	It took about twenty trips over the Chilkoot Pass to move a year's supplies.	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 108	The view from the Chilkoot Pass.	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 109	"'The man who travels in Alaska only when the weather is good will make about a mile a month,' said a veteran prospector. 'And it is a country of magnificent distances.'" M. Morgan caption	1898
23	Hegg 110	Clearing the track after a snow storm on the summit of White Pass and Yukon Route. Hegg's title, written on print.	1899
23	Hegg 111	The stampeders paused to build boats which would carry them to Dawson.	1898
23	Hegg 112	Yukon River Hegg's title, written on print.	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 113	"'It is all unreal,' said the correspondent of The London Chronicle. 'A sawboard metropolis where no town should be. Daylight at midnight. Millionaires too occupied to bathe.'" M. Morgan caption.	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 114	The cabin in the foreground is where George Carmack discovered the first gold in the Klondike Bonanza Creek, [sic] Gold Hill is seen on the right. The mouth of the Eldorado Creek is just beyond Gold Hill. This photo is not found in One Man's Gold Rush. The title is printed on the print, author unknown.	unknown
23	Hegg 115	Sluice box crew.	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 116	"They slept atop riches in cabins the poorest at home might scorn." M. Morgan caption. Claim no. 6 on the Bonanza	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 117	Searching for gold on the shores of Nome.	ca. 1898-1900
23	Hegg 118	Blockade on Front St. Nome July 1st 1900. Hegg's title, written on print.	1900
23	Hegg 119	"Most would have done better, financially, if they had stayed home and worked for wages. But they had their memories that set them apart, the Klondikers. Their annual reunions still radiate delight at the troubles they knew. The few who are left retain the mystique of a unique experience. They heard a call and answered, and ever since have felt themselves apart and privileged." M. Morgan	1898
23	Hegg 120	Hegg Studio, Skagway "Hegg's Gold Rush was one of the best. He saw Alaska and the Yukon from a special point of view. He did not become rich, but he accumulated a treasure which . . . a scattering of sourdoughs and Alaska historians have saved for us." M. Morgan
Box
15		Items described in Box 15 are not necessarily in the order presented.
15		Publications about and drawings for One Man's Pipeline exhibit	1974-1977, 1985
15		Color slides of pipeline construction, intermixed with slides of people, landscapes, houses, aerial shots, and photo exhibits Approximately 600 slides in 3 folders and 5 loose sheets of slides. These slides were removed from binders on arrival. Groups of pages are noted as "Binder 1 Part A" and Binder 1 Part B." Only a few slides have descriptive information.	1969-1979
	item
15	"Envelope 2"	Slides and narrative of Sonneman's experience photographing the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
15	"Envelope 3"	Handwritten note from Sonneman to Kes accompanying prints and photocopies related to One Man's Pipeline	1979-1980
15		Stack of duplicates of photos used in One Man's Pipeline, some identified and numbered, others not.
	item
15	74-103	(1 print)	1974
15	75-114	(1 print)	1975
15	75-115	(2 prints)	1975
15	75-116		1975
15	76-101	(2 mounted prints)	1976
15	76-112	(3 prints of 1 image, 1 mounted print of a different image)	1976
15	76-122	(7 prints, 6 mounted)	1976
15	76-125	(10 prints, 8 mounted)	1976
15	76-137	(3 mounted prints)	1976
15	76-145	(3 mounted prints)	1976
15	76-146	(5 prints, 4 mounted)	1976
15	76-148	(3 mounted prints)	1976
15	76-149	(9 prints, 8 mounted)	1976
15	76-152	(4 prints, 3 mounted)	1976
15	76-161	(5 prints, 4 mounted)	1976
15	76-169	(3 mounted prints)	1976
15	105	Man & Nature: Digging Pipeline Ditch, Isabel The following are color prints of the pipeline construction for which negatives have not been found; these images were not used in Sonneman's One Man's Pipeline exhibit. The numbers, where there are any, are those used by Sonneman. (2 mounted prints)	1975
15	107	VSM Crews, near Prospect (1 mounted print)
15	116	Welding Pipe, near Prospect (1 mounted print)
15	none	Drill rig with water shooting out of pipe (1 print)
15	none	Aerial photo of city (1 print)
15	none	Elevated pipeline extending up hill through landscape (1 print)
15	none	Tundra (1 print)
15	none	Cutting or welding pipe (1 print)
15	none	View from inside perforated clay pipe (1 print)
15	none	Pick-up truck with front tires in large puddle (1 print)
15		Alaska roads, bridges and pipeline construction 15 photographs	circa 1975
15		Mounted prints 88 photographs	1975-1977
15		Color pipeline photographs 14 photographs	1975-1977
15		Pipeline-related photographs 119 photographs	circa 1974-1977
15		Gold Rush photographs 17 photographs Include copies of at least 5 Hegg photographs. Also includes captioned photocopies of photographs.	undated
15		"Spring '74 on the Pipeline" slide show 47 slides Also includes index of captions and scripted commentary	circa 1974
15		Correspondence with Kes Woodward of Alaska State Museum 2 letters	circa 1980
15		Correspondence with Light Impressions Press	circa 1980
Box
15		One Man's Pipelinedrafts and manuscripts	circa 1980
15		One Man's Gold Rushmonograph	undated
box:oversize
32-33		Posters approximately 400 copies of 2 posters Posters for "One Man's Pipeline" and "Trans-Alaska Pipeline Views"	undated

PhotographsReturn to Top

Arranged in subseries:

Snapshots
Slides
Photographs

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Snapshots Includes snapshots of family, friends, social events, Native American events, political events, Juneau and trips to other cities.
Box
12		1983, 1996-2006 approx. 2715 color snapshots and 4290 color negatives	1983, 1996-2006
13		circa 2001-2004 approx. 2515 color snapshots and 5010 color negatives 1 CD	circa 2001-2004
19		circa 1970s-2004 approx. 3190 photographs and 2310 negatives Includes approx. 40 Polaroids from the 1970s, approx. 100 photographs on the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, images an Alaska Democratic Party event in Juneau, political events and images of a running race in Juneau.	circa 1970s-2004
		Slides
Box
7		Slides approx. 1300 slides People, events, buildings, scenery	1957-1968; 1987-2002; undated
8		Slides approx. 1300 slides Includes images of Juneau, Anchorage and other Alaska images, documentation of artwork, including sets of pairs of slides intended to be shown together. Documents a 1964 trip to Japan and 1968 trip to Europe.	1964; 1968; 1977-1980; 2002; undated
box:oversize
37		Slides 30 slides	undated
Box
40		Slides approx. 1920 slides	circa 1970-1976
Box/Folder
41/3-4		Slides approx. 750 slides These pages were removed from binders when received. Note in folder of 1984 slides reads: "Contrast: Book 1 Awards"	1970s; 1984
41/1		Portraits of Sonneman and others
Box	item
41	"Envelope 1"	Prints of people and places
Box/Folder
42/2		Crow Creek approx. 150 slides	April 1982
42/2		Art show 40 slides	1980
42/3		Rajneeshpuram trip; "S.F."; N. Californian and Oregon approx. 350 slides	undated
42/4		1968-1977 approx. 650 slides	1968-1977
		Photographs
box:oversize
22		Abstract compositions approx. 65 photographs	undated
35		Panorama photographs 32 black and white and 20 color photographs Box also includes approx. 85 color computer prints	undated
36		"Alaska Positive" exhibit submissions, mounted 4 black and white and 5 color prints	circa 1996-2006
Box
16		Miscellaneous 545 black & white photographs; 240 color photographs Includes one panoramic class portrait for Georgetown Law program (1989); a makeshift "album" of 10 photos, labelled "Rosh Hashanah"; miscellaneous photographs of Juneau and other Alaska locations, Sonneman with friends and family; landscapes, vacations, and still lifes.	circa 1960s-2001
17		Miscellaneous 33 5 8" x 10" black and white negatives 6 color transparencies	1974-1977; undated
18		Miscellaneous 2198 black and white negatives 441 black and white photos; 140 color photos 958 transparencies Includes 1 folder of mounted photographs for Alaska State Museum traveling exhibit "Alaska Positive"; reproductions of family photos (1940-1985); copies of historic Alaska photos of dogsleds, mountain pass, glacier and people. General subjects: Sonneman, landscapes, bridges, cars, ceremonies, legal proceeding (includes explanation of "1955 session" photos for sale).59 rolls of film have the negatives matched with the contact sheet.Box includes 3 folders of damaged negatives. Also includes 130 computer prints of a few panoramic photos and wallet-sized computer prints in folder labelled "Vision Center" (not counted above).	circa 1940s-2000
20		Miscellaneous 52 black and white photographs and approx. 5807 negatives approx. 1809 transparencies Includes 1 tintype of an infant
box:oversize
34		Miscellaneous 161 black and white and 12 color photographs	undated
Box
38		Miscellaneous 247 photographs and and 70 negatives	undated
39		Miscellaneous approx. 2294 negatives and 21 prints approx. 30 transparencies Some negatives and contact sheets are matched. Includes some pipeline images.	1970s and later
43		Miscellaneous approx. 80 prints, 1200 negatives, and 300 transparencies Includes a group of approx. 400 4" x 5" negatives labelled "pre-1984."Other images depict Washington D.C., Chicago, Juneau, Sitka, Tucson and Albuquerque.	pre-1984; 1990-2004
44		Miscellaneous 51 photographs and approx. 1900 negatives Includes matched contact sheets and negatives. One folder marked "Binder 6 Part B."	circa early 1970s; undated
Box/Folder
45/1-2		"Binder 5 Part A" and "Binder 5 Part B" approx approx.1048 negatives and 62 prints (contact sheets) Includes matched negatives and contact sheets	1997-1999
45/3		2005 132 negatives	2005
45/4		"Binder 4 Part A" 646 negatives, 13 contact sheets and 20 transparencies Juneau, Chicago, Tucson	2002; 2005-2006
Box
46		Miscellaneous approx. 3024 negatives, 75 contact sheets and 1564 transparencies Folders labelled Binder 2 Parts A & B"; Binder 3 Parts A & B"; and "96-99 Parts A & B."	circa 1974-1999
48		Miscellaneous 65 black and white and 5 color photographs	undated
16		Shrouded Juneau building à la Christo Photo printed as small poster with explanatory note on separate sheet, copied by Sonneman to hand out and/or give to friends. Photo shows a Juneau building under construction covered in a plastic tarp, taken shortly before Christo came to Juneau for a reception at the Governor's mansion.	2001
box:oversize
26		Diptych and multi-tychs 9 mounted multi-photo pieces	1980-1991
26		Russian Orthodox Church 1 mounted photograph	undated
27		Panoramas approx. 90 color photographs	undated
28		Mounted photographs 9 color and 3 black and white photographs	circa 1980s
box:oversize-folder:oversize
37/1-2		Oversize photographs and collages 9 photographs and 3 photo collages	undated
Box
9		Mounted photographs for sale 78 black and white and 18 color photographs Black and white photographs of nature scenes and still lifes, and color photographs and Valdez, Juneau and Fairbanks construction and pipeline construction.	circa 1977-1981
box:oversize-box:oversize
29/30		Prints prepared for sale approx. 500 photographs Prints are signed and numbered. Many of the prints were wrapped in plastic which was damaging the photographs. All plastic wrappings and cardboard and foamcore backings were removed from the photographs.	undated
Box
10		Uncut film rolls	undated

Albums, 1997-2006Return to Top

30 photograph albums

Arranged chronologically

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	item
6	1	1997-1999 Includes photographs of Sonneman and others at events related to Sonneman's 1998 Senate campaign; other campaign events in Alaska; Alaska Democratic Party events; a democratic party picnic; and a trip to Washington, D.C.	1997-1999
6	2	1998 This album includes a detailed inventory identifying all events and people depicted in the photographs. The photographs includes images of an Alaska Democratic Party picnic, campaign scenes, Juneau scenes, as well as images of Seattle, Washington and Tucson, Arizona.	1998
5	3	2001 Includes images of a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade; of Chicago; and of Sonneman's family at an 80th birthday party (for Eric??). Also includes a few images of Anchorage taken in 2005.	2001
4	4	2001-2002 Photographs depict Alaska Democratic Party picnics in 2001 and 2002; a 2001 block party in Chicago; and 2002 images from Seattle and Bellingham, Washington, Gallup, New Mexico, Navajoland and Juneau.	2001-2002
5	5	2001-2002 Includes images of trips to Tucson and other Arizona cities, to Minnesota, and to Chicago.	20012002
4	6	2002 Images from Wasilla, Alaska; San Antonio, Alpine and Dallas, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; Seattle, Washington; and Vancouver, B.C.	2002
5	7	2002 Includes images from Seattle, Kirkland and Bellingham, Washington; and from Juneau.	2002
4	8	2002-2003 Album is labeled "Thanksgiving '02" and "Reunion to LV '03." The photographs document a Thanksgiving gathering in 2002 in Tucson, Arizona (as well as a 2001 trip Tucson); a reunion event (possibly high school) in Marina Del Rey in 2003; Marina Del Rey and San Diego, California; and Juneau.	2002-2003
4	9	2003 Album is labeled "JJC & 03 Tourism-J." Includes images of a Bat Mitzvah and of Juneau. Possible related to Sonneman's tourism business?	2003
4	10	2003 Album is labeled "Big Band" and "Tourism J." Includes images of a Pioneers of Alaska event, including the coronation of a "King" and "Queen," images of Juneau, and photographs of the Thunder Mountain Band.	2003
4	11	2003 Album is titled "Las Vegas 03." Includes images of Las Vegas, of Hoover Dam, on the border of Nevada and Arizona, and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Also includes photographs of a photo equipment trade show.	2003
1	12	"04-A" Images of a 2004 Juneau cruise. Also earlier photographs: Santa Cruz and Mt. Shasta (1994); Chicago, Washington D.C. and Georgetown University Law Center (1999); and Pomona (circa 2000).	1999-2000, 2004
1	13	"04-B" Includes images of Native American events in Illinois and elsewhere; and of Chicago, Illinois and Jerome and Tucson, Arizona.	2003-2004
1	14	"04-C" Includes images from and Alaska Democratic Party events, and views of Anchorage and Chicago.	2004
1	15	"04-D" Includes images of Juneau and Chicago.	2004
2	16	"04-S-I" Includes images of a recreation of the last Tlingit potlatch of 1904 in Sitka, on the centennial, taking place on October 23-24 in Sitka.	2004
2	17	"04-S-II" Includes more photographs of the centennial recreation of the last potlatch; images of an election recount; of a Buddhist mandala on display; and of Anchorage and Juneau.	2004
2	18	"04-NMAI" Photographs document the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. in September 2004.	2004
2	19	"04-NMAI-2" Album also labeled "Anch/Sitka" and "J-2x." Includes more photographs of the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, and images of Anchorage and Sitka.	2004
2	20	"04-JNO Summer" Includes images of social events, of a memorial service for Celia Kunz, and of a boat ride.	2004
3	21	"04-10-2x" Includes images of Anchorage, Sitka and Juneau.	2004
3	22	2004 Photographs of a Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau branch event.	2004
1	23	2004 Includes images of Portland, Newport and the Umpqua River lighthouse in Oregon; of Anchorage and Juneau; and of an Alaska Federation of Natives dance.	2004
2	24	2004 Includes images of Seattle, Tucson and Albuquerque and of Tent Rocks in New Mexico. Images of Tucson include photographs of the public sculpture "Sonora" by David Black outside the public library.	2004
3	25	"2006-1" Includes images of Seattle, Juneau, Anchorage (the Palmer Museum), and Sitka (50th Anniversary of the Filipino Community, Inc.). Also includes images of the Alaska Democratic Party Convention in May and a Pioneers of Alaska event in Wasilla. Also includes 2004 photographs of Washington, D.C. and Sitka, including St. Michael's cathedral and the Pioneer Home.	2004, 2006
3	26	"2006-2" Includes images of a 4th of July parade in Juneau, and the Crow Fair celebration in Montana, including images of the "Teepee Capital of the World," and the Little Big Horn battlefield. Also include images of Tongue River Canyon in Wyoming.	2006
1	27	Thunder Mountain Band performance	undated
5	28	People at events Includes a clipping of a cartoon about Sonneman published on October 22, 2006, probably coinciding with his farewell to Juneau: "Joe Sonneman has worn many hats for Juneau."	2006, undated
6	29	Hawaii trip Album of panorama photographs of Hawaii	undated
47	30	Album pages 264 snapshots on album pages Family, friends, houses, gardens, scenery, Mendenhall Glacier, North Douglas Pages removed from album.	1970s-2006

Audio visual and other format materialsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
11	"Along the Little Bighorn" by Joe Sonneman 15 DVDs (copies) This recording documents a reenactment of Custer's Last Stand at Little Bighorn. Box also includes the original label photograph, by Sonneman.	2005
11	Sound recordings 5 mini-cassettes
Box
11	National Museum of the American Indian (opening?)	circa 2004
11	Celia Kunz funeral	undated
11	"Gathering"	2005
11	Custer's Last Stand	2005
11	"Sitka"	undated
Box/Folder
11	Miscellaneous 2 DVD-Rs 57 3.5" floppy discs 16 mini-cassettes Unknown content	undated
Box
17	Miscellaneous 4 videocassettes Unknown content	undated

PapersReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Writings by Sonneman
box:oversize
37	"Joe's excellent adventure-S. California and Las Vegas"	2003
37	"US Policy on Political Assassination, 1976-1989" Chronology, compiled by Sonneman	circa 1989
Box
48	"A Tlingit 40-day Party"	1992
49	Synopses of Juneau World Affairs Council talks by various speakers	1994-2001
49	Summaries Summaries titled "Irish Law," "Guide to Global Finance," "Global Economics," and "Institutions of the European Community."	circa 1990s-2000s
49	Consulting reports Reports produced as part of Sonneman's work in his business "5-Star Consulting and Research."	1978-1982
41	"Autobiopoemetry" manuscript
box-box
14/48	Correspondence Letters, postcards and greeting cards sent and received by Sonneman. Includes several letters to and from his parents, including correspondence (Box 49) from time Sonneman spent studying law in London (1987).	circa 1970s-2006
Box
14	Senate campaign 1 folder Includes clippings and letters Sonneman sent to constituents personalized with different photographs	circa 1978
14	Interview transcript Transcript of interview with Shari Gross, Executive Director of the United Fisherman's Association
49	Resumes Resumes, some specific to Sonneman's work with photography, as a legal consultant, or as a writer/editor.	various

Ephemera and artifactsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Photography business promotions
box-box
14/21	Postcards Postcards announcing shows or otherwise advertising Sonneman's photography business. Box 37 contains uncut pages of postcards.
14/48	Promotional materials and order forms for photos	undated
Box
14	Announcement and entries for "Tourism Impacts" photo show	undated
box:oversize
37	Promotional posters for Sonneman's photo business
Box
14	Cup holders 3 items Printed with Joe Sonneman Photography??	undated
	Posters
box:oversize
37	Alaska cruise ship tourism Handmade poster showing 6 photographs and captions by Sonneman.	undated
37	Mendenhall Glacier Photo on poster by Sonneman	undated
37	Instructional posters Series of instructional/informational poster by Sonneman on photography and photographic processes.	undated
37	Group show posters	undated
24	Poster about saving the Juneau waterfront	undated
folder:oversize
1	"The Other Side of Juneau" exhibit poster	June 1973
	Publications
Box
14	Booklet: Constitution of the State of Alaska 5 copies	undated
	Education
Box
14	South Shore High School yearbook	1961
14	University of Illinois Bachelor of Science diploma	1968
14	Georgetown University Law Center yearbook	1989
	Campaign ephemera and artifacts
box:oversize
37	Sonneman for Senate bumper sticker	circa 1978
37	Sonneman for Mayor poster	circa 1973
Box
14	Silk-screened shirt: "Another Joe for Juneau - Joe Sonneman for Mayor	1973
	Other artifacts
Box
49	Drawings by Sonneman 3 pencil drawings Drawings of nude female models and version of creation of Adam	undated
14	Alaska themed and other tie tacks
box:oversize
25	Alaska state flag	undated
	Other ephemera
box:oversize
22	Memorial certificate for Eric Sonneman	undated
Box
50	Juneau "Soundings in Fathoms" chart	undated
50	Clipping of Sonneman at his going away party at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Juneau	2006
box-box
14/48	Miscellaneous ephemera Includes guest books from shows, programs, memo book, journal, magazines, book of song lyrics and other materials	undated

Works by othersReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Photographs
	Eve Sonneman
Box/Folder
49	Mounted photograph	1967
Box
9	Diptych with horse 1 photograph??? Signed	1968
box:oversize
37	Color diptych Signed	1976
37	Real time, book of diptychs Inscribed to Sonneman, March 4, 1977	1976
Box
9	Lisa Doughty	1978
box:oversize
22	Robert Klein 3 photographs	undated
37	Ted Orland	undated
	Original artwork
Box
49	Artwork by Mary Henrikson	undated
49	Greeting cards with artwork by others	undated
	Books
Box
50	Book of poetry by Rick Thielo	undated
14	Book Fruit Fields in my Blood by Toby Sonneman (Sonneman's sister) with photographs by Rick Steigmeyer	1992

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

Sonneman, Jospeh--Photographs

Geographical Names

Juneau (Alaska)--Photographs
Trans-Alaska Pipeline (Alaska)--Photographs

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents