Archives West Finding Aid
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F.E. Matthes photographs of Mount Rainier, 1910-1911
Overview of the Collection
- Photographer
- Matthes, François, 1874-1948
- Title
- F.E. Matthes photographs of Mount Rainier
- Dates
- 1910-1911 (inclusive)19101911
- Quantity
- 98 negatives (1 box) : nitrate ; 95 3"x5"; 3 2"x3"
- Collection Number
- PH0895
- Summary
- Photographs of Mt. Rainier, Matthes, his wife Edith, and his assistants camping and mountain climbing
- 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
-
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Francois Emile Matthes (1874-1948) was a Dutch-born topographer/geologist/glaciologist who immigrated to the United States in 1891. He studied civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned his degree in 1895. After a year working as an instrument and draftsman in Rutland, Vermont, Matthes went to work for the United States Geological Survey, first as a topographer and then as a geologist/glaciologist. His association with the USGS lasted for 51 years, until his retirement in 1947.
From 1907 to 1913, Matthes served as an Inspector of Maps for the USGS. In 1910, he was assigned the task of mapping Mount Rainier National Park. He made his first ascent of the mountain in 1910 but, because of subfreezing temperatures and high winds, accomplished little. Poor weather and forest fires hampered his second ascent, in 1911. As a result, Matthes completed little more than a fourth of the map. The map was completed by others in 1913.
Matthes is best known for his detailed topographic maps of the Bighorn Mountains, the upper Grand Canyon, and Yosemite National Park. His text, Glacial Sculpture of the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming, published in 1899, is still a standard reference.
Matthes made these photographs while on assignment to map the topography of Mount Rainier as part of his duties as Inspector of Maps for the U.S. Geological Survey. These photographs were made during the field seasons in 1910 and 1911. His wife, Edith, whom he had married in June 1911, accompanied Matthes on the second field visit.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes photographs a Mt. Rainier mapping expedition including F.E. Matthes, his wife Edith, and his assistants camping and mountain climbing.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View the digital version of the collection
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The photographs are arranged in order by Matthes' numbering system. However, some of the negatives were missing from the collection when the collection was acquired.
Custodial History
The collection was given to Don Easterbrook by Austin Post.
Acquisition Information
Donor: Don Easterbrook; received 2006.
Processing Note
Processed by Shannon G. Moller; processing completed in September 2011
The collection was separated from the Austin Post Photographs, November 2010.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Mountain mapping--Washington (State)--Rainier, Mount
Geographical Names
- Rainier, Mount (Wash.)--Photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Matthes, François, 1874-1948--Photographs (photographer)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)