Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Swartz Family Photographs, circa 1890-1910
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Swartz family
- Title
- Swartz Family Photographs
- Dates
- circa
1890-1910 (inclusive)18851915
- Quantity
- 235 glass plate negatives
- Collection Number
- 1991.40
- Summary
- Photographs of the family and friends of Russian immigrant Joseph Swartz; of the Swartz shingle mill near Granite Falls, Washington; and of Everett High School student groups.
- 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.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Joseph Swartz was the founder and owner of the Swartz shingle mill on Swartz pond, three miles southeast of Granite Falls, Washington. Swartz was born on March 15, 1860 in the province of Podolsk in southern Russia. After graduating from college and serving in the army in Russia, he prepared himself to immigrate to the United States by studying industrial arts and learning the trade of machinist. Upon immigrating to the U.S. in 1884, Swartz went directly to Cleveland, where he worked for eighteen months in a machine shop. In Ohio, he was joined by his fiancée Mary Vinshinkof of Bershad, Russia, who he married in 1886. He spent three years clearing a timbered tract of land in Ohio before moving to Missouri and opening a shoe store in Kansas City.
After a fire destroyed this business, he went to Seattle, arriving just after the Great Fire of 1889, and from there to Snohomish County where he took a homestead east of Granite Falls. Around 1900, he formed a shingle mill business with a Mr. Stacey under the firm name of Swartz & Stacey until Stacey's retirement in 1903; the mill was one of the four shingle mills near Granite Falls at that time. Granite Falls boomed during the early 1900s, with as many as twelve lumber mills operating at one time. Swartz shingle mill and the nearby logging camp ran till at least 1906. As of 1906, Swartz had four children, Leo (b. 1887), Elbert (b. 1888), Florence (b. 1890) and Gladys (b.1896), though the photographs in the collection suggest that Swartz and his wife had more children after this date.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists mostly of photographs of the family and friends of Russian immigrant Joseph Swartz, of the Swartz shingle mill near Granite Falls, Washington and of Everett High School student groups. With the exception of Swartz's wife, Mary Vinshinkof, the individuals in the family photographs are largely unidentified. Many of the family photographs were taken on the grounds of the Swartz family home; others depict groups of people camping, people in automobiles, and posed in comical scenarios, probably in college dorm rooms.
Many photographs depict groups of students at Everett High School, including sports teams, orchestra and theater groups and school classes. Photographs of the Swartz mill depict mill buildings, the log pond and horse teams pulling shingle bolts. Other pictures of Everett include boats at dock, the water company reservoir and businesses on a commercial street.
A number of the photographs are signed "Swartz" and are presumed to have been taken by Joseph Swartz.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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
Swartz Family Photographs, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Negatives were numbered by the Museum upon accession in the original order in which they were received.
Location of Collection
4b.4.4 (glass plate negatives)Location of Collection
2b.2.10 (modern prints)Custodial History
These glass plate negatives were found abandoned in a house by a real estate agent who contacted the Museum of History & Industry. The museum took possession of the negatives in 1991.
Acquisition Information
Acquired in 1991.
Bibliography
Shiach, W.S., ed. (1906). An illustrated history of Skagit & Snohomish Counties: Their people, their commerce and their resources. Chicago: Interstate Publishing Co.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Description | Dates |
---|---|
1: Man, woman and young girl
"Laghf Wetmor family"
|
|
2: Two men aiming rifles near mountain
"Mt. Pilchuck Gulph scene by camp"
|
|
3: Man with rifle on road through trees | |
4: Everett High School freshmen in front of school | |
5: Two men burning timber | |
6: High school group in aprons
"Senior class apron social"
|
|
7: Everett High School senior track team with trophy cup | |
8: Boys on school sports team, probably Everett High School | |
9: Men cooking around campfire | |
10: Building and log pond at Swartz Mill | |
11: Rocky mountainside (Mt. Pilchuck?) | |
12: Everett High School group | |
13: German club at Everett High School | |
14: Building and log pond at Swartz mill | |
15: Men and women around campfire (at Mount Pilchuck?) | |
16: Everett High School junior class | |
17: Swartz family around Christmas tree | |
18: Everett High School sophomore class | |
19: Mr. and Mrs. Eli Stanford and family in front of wood house | |
20: Men and women around campfire (at Mount Pilchuck?) | |
21: Everett High School orchestra on steps of school | |
22: Everett High School class photo | |
23-24: Everett High School sophomore class | |
25: Girl ("Gladys") and two dogs near fountain | |
26: Everett High School class photo | |
27: Mount Pilchuck | |
28: Mountain | |
29-30: Houses at lakeside | |
31: Everett High School junior class photo | |
32: Birdseye view of Everett with mountains in distance | |
33: Couple in automobile decorated with
BPOE banner and elk head in front of Everett Auto Co.
"Pulland & wife Elk Head Automobile"
|
|
34: Sailboats from Clark Nickerson Lumber Company | 1908 February 29 |
35: Everett High School orchestra on school steps | 1908 |
36: Group at campsite | |
37: Everett High School baseball team | 1908 |
38: Everett High School track team | 1908 |
39: Girls in E.M.F. "30" automobile | circa 1909 |
40: Two men inside power house in Everett | |
41: Two men on cable crossing over river | |
42: Everett High School orchestra on steps of school | |
43: Group, including Mary and Joseph Swartz and their daughter Florence, in front of Christmas tree | |
44: Group with wagon on dock | |
45: Men near car in front of house | |
46: Two men with horse-drawn hay wagon in field | |
47: Men with debris from boiler explosion at lumber camp | |
48: Houses | |
50: Man driving horse drawn mowing machine | |
51: Two men and two women on steps of building | |
52-53: Field and trees | |
54: Woman using push mower near house | |
55: House and garden pond | |
56: Orchard | |
57: Horses outside barn in the snow | |
58: Woman holding field camera | |
59: Everett High School | 1907 |
60: Woman in chair | |
61: Women and children near river | |
62: Three girls (Swartz's daughters?) in front of garden pond | |
63: Baseball game with houses in distance | |
64: Couple ice skating | |
65: House in woods | |
66: Everett High School senior track team with trophy cup | |
67: Two girls (probably Swartz's daughters) | 1900 June 15 |
68: Baby in chair
"Swazy baby"
|
1908 March 2 |
69: Pots of wildflowers in Everett | |
70: Three men playing cards, possibly in University of Washington dormitory room | |
71: Group on porch of house | |
72: Four men with guns in woods | |
73: Front deck of battleship Tennessee | |
74: Everett High School track team | |
75: Houses and Mount Pilchuk | |
76: Man with hoe in vegetable field | |
77: Debris from destruction of bridge near Ebey Island during flood of Snohomish River | 1906 December |
78: Man pole vaulting | |
79: Two men carrying log | |
80: Chris Nelson doing the high jump | |
81: Icicles | |
82: Mrs. J. Swartz (Mary Vinshinkof) | |
83: View of Swartz shingle mill | |
84: Group, including Mary and Joseph Swartz and their daughter Florence, in front of Christmas tree | |
85: Three girls with parasols near gate | |
86: Landslide at Tunnel #1 of the Monte Cristo Railroad | 1907 February |
87: Double exposure of women on horses and automobile | |
88: Two women on horseback | |
89: People in canoes watching two men in a log rolling contest | |
90: Two women on horseback | |
91: Group of mountain climbers on rock | |
92: Two men on bridge | |
93: Two women on horseback | |
94: Three women in garden near man with camera | |
95: Brick building (school?) | |
96: Men at fire near stacks of shingles
"Fire on 14th St. Kiln burned"
|
1907 September 26 |
97: Lumber mill near railroad tracks, probably near Everett | |
98: Man with gun near tree | |
99: Two men with guns near lake | |
100: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Swartz in horse
drawn buggy
Albert Swartz
(photographer)
|
|
101: Group, including Mary and Joseph Swartz and their daughter Florence, in front of Christmas tree | |
102: Family in horse drawn cart on road | |
103: Two men climbing snowy hillside on hands and feet | |
104: House and fountain covered in snow | |
105: Deck of battleship Tennessee | |
106: Everett High School orchestra on steps of school | |
107: Boy performing high jump | |
108: Military group in parade | |
109: Men and women sitting on fence in park | |
110: Two women on grass | |
111: Tree in bloom near house | |
112: Two girls seated in woods | |
113: Three women and man on porch | |
114: Rock, stream and trees | |
115: Two men and woman studying in room with school pennants (dorm room?) | |
116: Three men posed in card game with props and gun (in dorm room?) | |
117: Group on porch of house | |
118: Two men in front of house | |
119: Bedroom, possibly a college dorm room | |
120: Three people in automobile on residential street | |
121: Man and five women joking in front of Laurelhurst Co. sign | |
122: Everett commercial street at night
showing trolley tracks in road
Showing Maize Cafe, Bank of Commerce, Everett Beer
|
|
123: People and car in front of Swartz family house | |
124: Three women and two men with University of Washington pillows and pennant | |
125: Group in automobile | |
126: Ship at Oriental dock | |
128: Automobile on road in woods | |
129: Man standing near lake | |
130-133: Swartz family house | |
134: Six men in college room with "Washington" banner | |
135: Group on lawn in front of Swartz house | |
136: Four men in front of house | |
137: Lake with trees and reflection | |
138: Man in rowboat on lake | |
139: Group with dog picnicking under tree | |
140: View of mountain and trees | |
141: Six young men on porch | |
143: People sleeping in camp | |
144: Men and women around campfire (at Mount Pilchuck?) | |
145: Group at camp | |
146: Group of mountain climbers on rock | |
147: Trees and clouds | |
148: Man and four women on rocks on mountain | |
149: Exterior of house | |
150: Man with gun and dog on snowy trail | |
151: Rocky hillside | |
152: Trees | |
153: Six young men on porch | |
154: Man with gun and dog on snowy trail | |
155: Steam shovel digging near houses | |
156: Men building tall wooden structure near docks | |
157: Building | |
158: Men and women around campfire (at Mount Pilchuck?) | |
159: Five people standing on log over water | |
160: Everett High School baseball team | |
161: Mrs. Joseph Swartz seated at fountain at Swartz house | |
162: Mrs. Swartz and four girls in front yard | |
163: Three women with hats | |
164: Mrs. Swartz and four girls in front yard | |
165: Three women in front yard with tennis rackets | |
166: Life boats on ship City of Puebla | |
167: Girl on horse with Mrs. J Swartz | |
168: Woman in woods | |
169: Man ice skating on log pond in front of Swartz mill | |
170: Icicles | |
171: View of house, probably the Swartz home | |
172: Girl on horse with Mrs. J. Swartz | |
173: Man working on car stopped on road | |
174: Car and dog outside Swartz home in snow | |
175: Girl in woods | |
176: Girl spading in garden at Swartz house | |
177: Two men in front of Swartz shingle mill | |
178: Two men eating at campsite | |
179: Man ice skating on pond | |
180: Three men on log near two horses
"Shingle bolt team drawing log-Al Hamley, F. Chambers, Ted
Keeler"
|
|
181: Joseph Swartz | |
182: Everett High School | |
183: Lily Irving with guitar | |
184: Family group | |
185: Mrs. Joseph Swartz | |
186: Five people standing on log over water | |
187: Building dome lit at night | |
188: Everett High School trophy cup | |
189: Family group | |
190: Men with debris from boiler explosion at lumber camp | |
191: Man on fence in front of lake | |
192: Man with gun and dog in woods | |
193: Six young men on porch | |
194: Men and women in launch | |
195: Reservoir of the Everett Water Company | |
196: Group on porch of house | |
197: Reservoir of the Everett Water Company | |
198: Railroad tunnel, possibly the Monte Cristo Railroad | |
199: Men on railroad tracks near tunnel entrance, probably the Monte Cristo | |
200: Three sailing vessels near dock | |
201: Boats at wharf loading lumber | |
202: Railroad tunnel, possibly the Monte Cristo Railroad | |
203: Wooden pioneer house | |
204: Group standing on porch | |
205: Man near abandoned wood building | |
206: Railroad track along river | |
207: Swartz mill | |
208: Three men near skid road | |
209: Four men with guns in woods | |
210: Girl with camera on tripod | |
211-212: Students from the Sunny Slope
School on steps on building
Corbett
(photographer)
|
|
213: Men and rail cars on train tracks | |
214: Man driving horse drawn cart loaded
with bundles of shingles
"Hauling shingles to railroad-Swartz Mill, Wlm. Earl,
driver"
|
|
215: Florence Swartz and Myrtle Crouse in armchair | |
216: Actors in costume on proscenium stage for play "The Rivals" at Everett High School | 1908 |
217: Ship at Oriental dock | |
218: Actors in costume for play "The Rivals" at Everett High School | 1908 April 29 |
219: Florence Swartz and Myrtle Crouse in armchair | |
220: Men and boys sitting at top of Mount Pilchuk | 1908 August 18 |
221: Family outside house in Granite Falls | |
222: Albert Hamley driving horse drawn
cart loaded with shingle bolts.
"Shingle bolt teams"
|
|
223: Boats near American Tug Boat Co. building at city dock, Everett | |
224: City dock in Everett | |
225: Everett High School track team | 1908 April 29 |
226: Man and three women with Studebaker on road | |
227: A. Swartz (Joseph's son?) with two dogs on road | |
228: Steamship Salatie | |
229: Men loading shingle bolts near horse team | |
230: Three women in horse drawn buggy | |
231: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Swartz in horse
drawn buggy
Albert Swartz
(photographer)
|
|
232: House
"Old Swartz homestead"
|
1907 September 22 |
233: Everett High School | 1906 September 8 |
234: Horse teams pulling shingle bolts on skid road | |
235: Woman and two men in EMF 30 automobile on road |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Everett High School (Everett, Wash.)--Photographs
- High School Students--Washington (State)--Everett
- Lumber industry--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Mills--Washington (State)--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Swartz & Stacey
Geographical Names
- Everett (Wash.)
- Granite Falls (Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Glass negatives
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Swartz, Joseph (photographer)