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Clay and Relta Cooke photograph and film collection, 1903-1964
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Clay and Relta Cooke photograph and film collection
- Dates
- 1903-1964 (inclusive)19031964
1918-1920 (bulk)19181920 - Quantity
-
20 photographic prints (1 folder) ; various sizes
1 reel of film (100 feet) : silent, color ; 8 mm - Collection Number
- PH0003
- Summary
- Views of Afognak, Alaska and vicinity including Clay and Relta Cooke and the Afognak school and a film of Indian women weaving in Mrs. Barber's weaving shop near Lummi Island in Washington State
- 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 original photographs and film restricted. Contact Special Collections for more informaiton. Permission of curator required for viewing.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Clay Cooke, born in 1893, and Relta Nichols Cooke, born in 1894, spent their early years in Bellingham, Washington. Following their marriage, the Cookes spent several years teaching for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the island of Afognak, Alaska.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
Afognak was an Alutiiq village on the southwest coast of Afognak Island in the Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska. The village was established sometime before 1839 by Russian and Alutiiq settlers, but was destroyed by a tsunami following the Good Friday earthquake in 1964. The Afognak survivors left the island following the tsunami and settled in the new village of Port Lions on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Currently, Afognak Island is listed as having no established communities.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The photographs depict natives and landscapes in Alaska, mainly in Afognak, including scenes of Clay and Relta Cook at the Afognak school. The film depicts Ethel Barber's weaving shop near the ferry to Lummi Island, Washington, showing Indian women taught by Mrs. Barber weaving in the shop.
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
Acquisition Information
Donor: Mary Jeanne Durfy, 1986
Processing Note
Processed by Marion Brown, 2008 ; Completed by Andrew Weaver, 2014.
Bibliography
Al Currier, "Local company rode cusp of '50s-era high fashion: Barber Hand Weaving began as a hobby by owners in the late 1920s," Bellingham Business Journal June 1, 2004.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Afognak, AlaskaReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| item | ||
| 1 |
Afognak viewed from the
water On verso: "The village is divided into three parts: 'Aleut
Town,' 'Russian-town' and 'Creole-town'. This is a view of 'Russian-town' from
the water. We live in the third building from the left."
|
circa 1910 |
| 2 | circa 1919 | |
| 3 |
Native wedding in Afognak Information from verso: The bride and groom are in the center of
the photograph. Clay Cooke is at the center back and Father Gerasin in the back
right.
|
1919 |
| 4 | 1918 | |
| 5 | 1919 | |
| 6 | 1918 | |
| 7a | 1920 | |
| 7b |
Mr. and Mrs. Cooke standing in front of
staff and school children, Afognak On verso: "I ask you in all fairness!! Can you beat it?"
|
1920 |
| 8 | circa 1918-1920 |
AlaskaReturn to Top
These photos may be from Afognak
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| item | ||
| 9 | circa 1918-1920 | |
| 10 | circa 1918-1920 | |
| 11 | circa 1918-1920 | |
| 12 | circa 1918-1920 | |
| 13 |
Relta Cooke and a man standing outside
a small building On verso: "An Alaskan native barabara where we stayed all night
while duck hunting. It is made of straw and drift wood."
|
circa 1918-1920 |
| 14 | 1919 | |
| 15 | circa 1918-1920 | |
| 16 | circa 1919 | |
| 17 | 1919 | |
| 18 | 1903 | |
| 19 | 1964 |
FilmReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| viewcopy | item | ||
| VC93 | 1 |
Barber Hand
Weaving Shop on Lummi Island Young women model skirts and dresses of various patterns and
designs outside. Young boy plays with a water bucket next to a tall woven
basket. Sunset over Lummi Island. Ducks swimming. Same young boy plays with a
stick in the sand. Fabric is displayed outside on a line.
From note with film: This color film was taken during the summer
of 1948 (1949?) at Ethyl Barber's weaving shop near the ferry to Lummi Island.
None of the Indian girls that appear in the film are identifiable, although one
of them was proclaimed to be a princess in the Lummi Tribe. [One of the girls
has now been identified by her niece as Verla Kinley, Lummi. - January
2024].Four other persons appear in the film, the older lady is Mrs.
Barber, the other two ladies are Mary Jeanne Durfy and Donna Swangerg (of the
darker hair), the man appearing is C. W. Swanberg, a commercial artist residing
on Vashon island. Mrs. Barber designed the patterns in the cloth and taught the
girls to do the weaving. During the period we were at the shop, she had about 6
looms. Mrs. Barber's husband built the looms. Making the films was an exceptional opportunity since the
designs and patterns were quite well protected, and Mrs. Barber was very
careful of whom she let see the unsold work. February 27, 1986, Mrs. H.A.
Durfy
Original 1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 8mm
|
circa 1949 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Off-reservation boarding schools--Photographs
- Students--Alaska--Afognak--Photographs
- Teachers--Alaska--Afognak--Photographs
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Cooke, Clay--Photographs
- Cooke, Relta--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Afognak (Alaska)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Photographs
