Keystone stereocard collection, approximately 1898-1920
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Keystone View Company
- Title
- Keystone stereocard collection
- Dates
- approximately
1898-1920 (inclusive)18901919
- Quantity
- 389 stereocards (2 boxes) ; 7" x 3.5"
- Collection Number
- PH0372
- Summary
- Photographs of locations around the world with the people Native to that area at home, working, or pursuing daily life in the early part of the 20th century
- Repository
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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
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The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical Note
In 1892 the Keystone View Company was started in Meadville, Pennsylvania by B.L. Singley. The company's primary focus was to create a wide range of stereocards and by 1905 it was the largest stereographic company in the world. Keystone created and distributed millions of stereocards throughout the United States. In 1898 they organized an education department that produced boxed sets for school instruction. These sets included images and descriptive text illustrating culture, industry, commerce and politics world-wide. Stereocard sets were all marked by a letter. Customers could buy stereocards by the box. Boxes were shaped like books and contained 50, 100, or 200 stereocards. Though cinema took over as the most popular entertainment medium, the Keystone Company continued to produce stereocards until 1972 when it went out of business.
Content Description
The stereocards depict views from across the globe, including the Australia, Burma, Canada, China, Fiji Islands, France, Guam, Jamaica, Java, Korea, Monaco, New Guinea, Palestine, Philippines, Russia, Syria, Switzerland, the USA, series of miscellaneous story cards depicting a wedding, a dream, and other topics.
Use of the Collection
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 Information
Acquisition Information
Donor: Sarah Hood, May 2008 (seven stereocards of the hemp industry in Manila, Philippines).
Donor: Charles Hart, March 1, 2017 (two stereocards).
Processing Note
Processed by Aletheia Wittman, 2011; Erin Bailey 2012; Melody Hauf 2012; processing completed 2012.
Many of these stereocards were transferred from PH Collection 31 in the Repository in 2011.
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Geographic Locations
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Australia
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Description: 10 stereocards including views of Melbourne, Bendigo, Balaclava, New South Wales, Sydney and Warrah
Views include citizens and agricultural scenery, Jenolan Caves, and an Australian football game.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item A1-10
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Burma
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Description: 11 stereocards including views of Mogok, Pagan, Sagaing and Rangoon
Views include citizens working in a ruby mine, agricultural scenes, workers unloading rice boats, a working elephant at a lumber yard, and a sculptor creating a Buddha.
Dates: 1904, 1910'sContainer: Box 1, Item B1-11
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Canada
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Description: 1 stereocard of a view of Laliberte's fur parlor in QuebecDates: 1899Container: Box 1, Item C1
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China
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Description: 16 stereocards including views of Canton, Chefoo, Hong Kong, Hankow, Kinkow, Loong Wah, and Macao
Views include all classes of citizens active in city and rural life, transportation, waterways, architecture, and temples.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item CHA1-16 -
Description: 8 stereocards including views of the Manchurian cities of Liaoyang, Newchwang, Dainy, and Port Arthur
Views of citizens living and working in cities, rural life, and temples.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item CHB 1-8 -
Description: 17 stereocards including views of Mukden, Manchuria
Views of all classes of citizens active in city and rural life, the Mongolian Spring Festival, temples, pack trains, and architecture.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item CHC 1-17 -
Description: 6 stereocards including views relating to the Japanese occupation in Manchuria
Views include images relating to the Japanese occupation, including troops, citizens at a battleground, and refugees.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item CHD 1-6 -
Description: 8 stereocards including views of Manchuria
Views include citizens in rural life, robbers in prison, coal making near the Hun river, Chinese Eastern Railroad, and architecture.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item CHE 1-8 -
Description: 25 stereocards including views of Nankin, Ningpo, and Peking
Views include activities of all classes of citizens, political figures, transportation, temples, architecture, and areas in and around the Imperial City.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item CHF 1-25 -
Description: 11 stereocards including views of Reel, Shanghai, Shankiwan, and Soo-chow
Views include all classes of citizens active in city and rural life, rice fields, waterways, architecture, interior of a tea house, and fishing in the Grand Canal.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item CHG 1-11 -
Description: 7 stereocards including views of Tientsin and Taku
Views include all classes of citizens active in city and rural life, transportation, waterways, and architecture.
Dates: 1900-1909Container: Box 1, Item CHH 1-7 -
Description: 6 stereocards including miscellaneous views of China
Views of foot binding, a religious woman, a sampan, chain-gang, rice field, and agriculture.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item CHI 1-6
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Fiji Islands
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Description: 2 stereocards with views including two men in Suva and a hilltop landscapeDates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item F1-2
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France
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Description: Clemenceau, Wilson and Lloyd George leaving the Palace of Versailles after signing the Treaty of VersaillesDates: circa 1919Container: Box 1, Item FR1
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Guam
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Description: 15 stereocards including views of Agana, Agat, Mariso, Pitt, and Sumai
Views of citizens traveling by bull cart, water buffalo, village homes, and an outdoor oven.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item G1-15
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Jamaica
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Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item J1-2
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Java
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Description: 10 stereocards including views of Buitenzorg, Lake Bagendit, and Tanjoen
Views include citizens fishing, rice cultivation, men carrying coconuts, and the botanical gardens.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item JA 1-10
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Korea
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Description: 7 stereocards including views of citizens working at Fusan and Port of Chemulpo
Chosen appears on many cards, and is a Japanese name for Korea that also appeared in English sources when Korea was under Japanese rule 1910-1945.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item KA1-7 -
Description: 25 stereocards including views of Seoul
Views of working class citizens, farmers, architecture, transportation of goods, railways, the Han river, school children, missions, and an orphanage.
Chosen appears on many cards, and is a Japanese name for Korea that also appeared in English sources when Korea was under Japanese rule 1910-1945
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 1, Item KB1-25 -
Description: 12 stereocards including views of Seoul
Views include citizens of middle and upper class aristocracy and their activities, transportation by sedans, and architecture.
Chosen appears on many cards, and is a Japanese name for Korea that also appeared in English sources when Korea was under Japanese rule 1910-1945.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item KC1-12 -
Description: 17 stereocards including views of citizens engaged in religious events and activities in Seoul
Views of citizens in a wedding, burial, at kings tomb, religious ceremonies, and religious architecture.
Chosen appears on many cards, and is a Japanese name for Korea that also appeared in English sources when Korea was under Japanese rule 1910-1945.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item KD1-17
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Monaco
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Description: 1 tinted stereocard view of flower beds at the Monte Carlo casinoDates: 1900Container: Box 2, Item M1
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New Guinea
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Description: 15 stereocards including views citizens in villages
Views include villages and families, preparation of food, and an English mission.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item N1-15
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Palestine
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Description: 1 stereocard landscape view of the Garden of Gethsemane and Mount of Olives in JerusalemDates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item P1
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Phillippines
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Description: 10 stereocards including views of Cavite and Cebu
Views of citizens and their activities in villages and markets, at a saw mill, in the hemp industry, surrounding a cock fight, and boys in a boat on the beach.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item PHA1-10 -
Description: 10 stereocards including views of Luzon Island
Views of citizens in villages, on waterways, Malolos, the man Aguinaldo, the famous Insurrecto the Filipino constabulary.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item PHB1-10 -
Description: 10 stereocards including rural views and citizens in Manila, Luzon Island
Views include children at school, a hunter, farmers, human bones in a grave, a parade ground, and citizens at their homes.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item PHC1-10 -
Description: 21 stereocards including agricultural views in Manila, Luzon Island
Views include citizens working with hemp, coconut, and cigarette making industries.
Dates: 1906, 1910'sContainer: Box 2, Item PHD1-21 -
Description: 7 stereocards including waterway views of Manila, Luzon Island
Views include citizens living and working on waterways.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item PHE1-7 -
Description: 10 stereocards of city scape views in Manila, Luzon Island
Views include views of architecture with citizens living and working in the city of Manila.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item PHF1-10 -
Description: 9 stereocards including views of Macabebe, Mindanao Island, Panay, and Paranaque
Views include citizens in their villages, a burial procession, a woman weaving, a church interior, and citizens with outrigger canoes.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item PHG1-9 -
Description: 14 stereocards including miscellaneous views of the Philippines
Views include citizens and their activities in village life, gathering rice seedlings, at market, an outdoor barbar shop, building a house, and US and British occupation interactions.
Dates: circa 1898, 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item PHH1-14
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Russia
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Description: 1 stereocard with view of Nijni-NovgorodDates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item R1
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Samoa
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Description: 1 stereocard with a view of a Samoan child at homeDates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item S1
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Singapore
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Description: 1 stereocard with a view of a tropical home in a Malay VillageDates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item SP1
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Sri Lanka
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Description: 1 stereocard view of a pepper vine plantation in CeylonDates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item SR1
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Switzerland
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Description: 1 stereocard with a view of Aare Gorge in MeiringenDates: 1900Container: Box 2, Item SW1
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Syria
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Description: 1 stereocard with a view of sword makers in DamascusDates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item SY1
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United States
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Description: 7 stereocards including views of Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Texas
Views include citizens working, agricultural scenes, and the interior of Box Canyon.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item USA1-7 -
Description: 13 stereocards of views of Hawaii
Views include citizens at home, working in agriculture, and Little Beggar Volcano.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item USB1-13 -
Description: 10 stereocards of views of Honolulu, Hawaii
Views include citizens at home and working, agricultural and city scenes, boys with surfboards, and Waikiki Beach.
Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item USC1-10 -
Description: Inagural ballroom decorated for the inauguration of President McKinley, Washington, D.C.Dates: circa 1910sContainer: Box 2, Item USD1
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Subject Stereocards
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Wedding Story
Often stories were created with multiple stereocards, and there might be up to 25 in the set.
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Description: 16 stereocards of a wedding story sequence
One stereocard hand colored.
Dates: 1898-1901Container: Box 2, Item W1-16
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Miscellaneous
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Description: 10 stereocards including a dream story sequence, humorous bike accident, and children playing.Dates: circa 1899Container: Box 2, Item Z1-10
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
- Weddings--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Keystone View Company--Archives
Geographical Names
- Australia--Photographs
- Burma--Photographs
- Canada--Photographs
- China--Photographs
- Fiji--Photographs
- Guam--Photographs
- Jamaica--Photographs
- Java (Indonesia)--Photographs
- Korea--Photographs
- Monaco--Photographs
- New Guinea--Photographs
- Palestine--Photographs
- Philippines--Photographs
- Russia--Photographs
- Switzerland--Photographs
- Syria--Photographs
- United States--Photographs
