George N. Moore photographs

George N. Moore photographs, circa 1870-1894

Overview of the Collection

Photographer: Moore, George N
Title: George N. Moore photographs
Dates: circa 1870-1894 (inclusive)
18651890
Quantity: 35 photographic prints (1 box) ; sizes vary
Collection Number: PH0281
Summary: Portraiture and views of Pacific Northwest scenes from circa 1870-1885
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 to the original photographs is restricted. See Visual Materials Curator for information. The entire collection is available on the digital site.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Washington Territorial Census, taken in February 1885, has an entry for a photographer named George N. Moore, born in Massachusetts circa 1844. The Pacific Wave (former title of the University of Washington student newspaperThe Daily) contains an advertisement for George N. Moore's studio in Seattle "established 1870." This and other records show that Moore worked as a photographer in Seattle from 1870 to 1897. Seattle business directories show that Moore's studio from 1876-1878 was on Commercial Street. After 1878, until 1884, Moore's studio address is not listed. From 1884-1889, Moore's studio occupied 708 1/2 Front Street, in Sullivan's Block. In 1891, his business address was 17 Shorey Block, until the next year, when directories list his studio at 76 Hinckley Block from 1891-1894. Moore's last known business address in Seattle was at 48 Boston Block from 1895-1897. Moore's advertisements in Seattle publications often use descriptions such as "oldest and best photographer," and he advertises himself as a portrait artist (with crayons and water colors) and as a specialist in creating carte de visite , cabinet, and Victoria card photographs. The portraits taken by Moore do seem to indicate a certain level of prestige for his studio in early Seattle, as he photographed many of the city's most well-known and respected citizens in the pioneer days, includingSeattle Post-Intelligencerpublisher Charles Prosch, Judge Thomas Burke, and Father Prefontaine.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of Pacific Northwest scenes from the 1870s to 1890s, particularly in Seattle, and studio portraits of noteworthy Seattle individuals and others.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Elizabeth Russell; completed in 2012.

Related Materials

The Prosch Seattle Views Photograph Albums, PH Coll 27, contains photographs of early Seattle by Moore.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Moore Portrait GalleryReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1	Moore Photograph Gallery parlor It is unclear whether this is a Moore photograph parlor in Seattle or in Oakland, as photographer's stamp on verso reads: George Moore's Photograph Parlors. Oakland, Cal. 1161 Broadway 'bet. 13 & 14th.	undated

Studio PortraitureReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	2	Judge Thomas Burke Thomas Burke (1849-1925), a lawyer, came to Seattle in 1875. He was a notable figure in early Seattle, serving as a probate judge from 1876-1880 and as Chief Justice of the Washington Territorial Supreme Court from 1888-1889. Burke steered many Seattle improvement projects to completion and advocated for the welfare of the poor and for Chinese immigrants. The Burke Museum and the Burke-Gilman Trail were named in Thomas Burke's honor.	circa 1885
1/1	3	Father William Duncan Father William Duncan (1832-1918), a lay missionary of the Church of England, was sent by the Church Missionary Society to Fort Simpson, British Columbia to convert the Tsimshian tribe. Conflicts arose between Father Duncan and his superiors in the Church Missionary Society, leading to his desire to separate from church authority. In 1887, he received permission from U.S. President Grover Cleveland to set up a new community for his Tsimshian converts at New Metlakatla on Annette Island, Alaska. Duncan remains a controversial figure in the history of the Tsimshian people.	circa 1891-1894
1/1	4	Judge Roger Sherman Greene Roger Sherman Greene (1840-1930) was Associate Justice on the Washington Territorial Supreme Court from 1870 to 1879. In 1880, Greene was appointed as Chief Justice and served on the Court in that position until March 1887. He unsuccessfully tried for a seat in Congress in 1888 and for the Washington State governorship in 1892, both times running as the Prohibition Party candidate.	circa 1895-1897
1/1	5	Richard Asbury Jones	circa 1884-1889
1/2	6	Father Francis Xavier Prefontaine Father Prefontaine (1838-1909), a French Canadian Catholic priest, arrived in Seattle in 1867. Prefontaine founded Seattle's first Catholic church, Our Lady of Good Help, on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Washington Street, which was dedicated in 1870.	circa 1875-1884
1/2	7	Charles Prosch Charles Prosch was a printer and newspaper publisher who arrived in the Pacific Northwest in 1855.	circa 1891-1894
1/2	8	James Scott Written on verso: James Scott, of Coupeville, attended the the university in 1872. Found dead in bed. Photograph probably collected by Edmond Meany.	undated
1/2	9	Marie Tristi Inscription in French on verso from Marie Tristi to Caroline Burke (wife of Thomas Burke), dated October 1895.	circa 1891-1895
1/2	10	S.C. Woodruff, costumed for theatrical role	undated
1/2	11	Studio portrait of small dog	circa 1884-1889
1/2	12	Young woman	1885

Pacific Northwest ViewsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Seattle
Box/Folder	item
1/3	13a	Moore copy of E.M. Sammis 1870 photograph of Commercial Street, now First Avenue, looking north Written on photograph: Copyright 1881 G. N. Moore. Handwritten on mount: Commercial St. looking north. 1870.	1881
1/3	13b	Copy print of E.M. Sammis 1870 photograph of Commercial Street It is unclear whether this copy print was made from a Moore copy of the Sammis photograph.	undated
1/3	14	North side of Mill St. (now Yesler Way), west of First Ave. This image is also in PH Coll 27, Prosch Seattle Views Photograph Albums, vol. 2, p. 15. Image is marked with arrow and numbering.	1871
1/3	15	Group of men in front of saloon on Yesler's Wharf, next to totem pole Handwritten on mount: On Yesler's Wharf - 1872. Verso is not stamped as are the other Moore stereoview cards.	1872
1/3	16	Trinity Church Half of stereograph card; card torn in half.	1873
1/3	17	Driving first pile for Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad Stamped on verso: Puget Sound Photographic Gallery, G. Moore, Artist. The Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad route started at Steele's Landing on the Duwamish River and extended to Newcastle. As its name suggests, the railroad was intended to transport farm products from Walla Walla to Seattle; however, the railroad company did not succeed in completing the line. The railroad was in fact used to carry coal from Newcastle to Seattle. In 1881, the railroad was purchased by Henry Villard and renamed the Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad.	May 4, 1874
1/3	18	Judge John J. McGilvra residence, "Laurel Shade," in Madison Park Stamped on verso: Puget Sound Photographic Gallery, G. Moore, Artist. "Peiser" is also stamped on verso. Judge McGilvra was Seattle's first land developer. During the 1860s, he bought 420 acres of land in what came to be known as the Madison Park neighborhood. McGilvra's house was the only house there until 1880, when he sold land for construction of cottages.	1874
1/4	19a	View of Front Street from Spring Street Stamped on verso: Puget Sound Photographic Gallery, G. Moore, Artist. This photograph was later copied by Theodore Peiser.	1874
1/4	19b	View of Front Street from Spring Street Copy print of stereograph in item 19a, containing the complete image from the right side and the partial image from the left side.	undated
1/4	20	View of Seattle from the water Stamped on verso: Puget Sound Photographic Gallery, G. Moore, Artist.	circa 1874
1/4	21	Looking north along Commercial Street, now First Avenue Stamped on verso: Puget Sound Photographic Gallery, G. Moore, Artist. Photograph later copied by Theodore Peiser.	circa 1874
1/4	22a	Looking up Commercial Street from New England Hotel Stamped on verso: Puget Sound Photographic Gallery, G. Moore, Artist. Photograph later copied by Theodore Peiser.	circa 1874
1/4	22b	Looking up Commercial Street from New England Hotel Right hand image from item 22a stereograph. Copy print of Asahel Curtis 28830 (the Curtis photo was made from the Moore stereograph).	circa 1874
1/4	23	Seattle Post-Intelligencerbuilding on Front Street Stamped on verso: Puget Sound Photographic Gallery, G. Moore, Artist.	circa 1875
1/5	24	First Avenue	circa 1875
1/5	25a	Washington Territorial University Stamped on verso: Moore, "The" Photographer, Sullivan's Block, Front St., Seattle. Note on verso: U. of Wash. when Dr. A.J. Anderson was Pres.	circa 1880
1/5	25b	Washington Territorial University Stamped on verso: Moore, "The" Photographer, Sullivan's Block, Front St., Seattle. Same view as item 25a, but slightly enlarged. Print is partially torn across center.	circa 1880
1/5	26	Post Building housingSeattle Post-Intelligenceroffice	circa 1881
1/5	27	Illustration of engraving of the Post Building Engraving possibly made from Moore photograph. Engraver's identity unknown. Appears to be page torn out of a book.	circa 1881
1/6	28	Seattle with Mount Rainier in the background Handwritten on mount: Mt. Rainier 90 miles distant. Height 14,444 ft. Snow covered year round. Stamped on verso: Moore, the Leading Photographer. Sullivan's Block, Front Street, Seattle, W.T.	circa 1884-1889
1/6	29	Front St. looking north from James Street Handwritten on mount: Front St., Seattle, W.T. May 1887. Stamped on verso: Moore, the Leading Photographer. Sullivan's Block, Front Street, Seattle, W.T.	May 1887
Box/Folder	item
1/7	30	Wooden house surrounded by cleared land Stamped on verso: Puget Sound Photographic Gallery, G. Moore, Artist.	circa 1870s
1/7	31	The Gorge, Victoria, B.C.	circa 1891-1894

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