Darwin Meisnest photograph collection

Darwin Meisnest photograph collection, 1907-1947

Overview of the Collection

Collector: Meisnest, Darwin
Title: Darwin Meisnest photograph collection
Dates: 1907-1947 (inclusive)
19071927
Quantity: 210 photographic prints (1 box)
Collection Number: PH0082
Summary: Photos of University of Washington student activities and sports, and portraits of individuals affiliated with the university. Also included are photographs documenting the construction of the stadium and the athletic pavilion as well as panoramic views of the campus.
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: Selections from the 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
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Darwin Meisnest was a member of the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) during his time as a student from 1915-1919. For his senior year, Darwin was the general manager of all student activities for the ASUW. In 1918, Weisnest was named the first student to be accepted to the Officers Material School at the Naval Training Station after trying and failing to join the army three times. As a student, he also worked for The Daily, the Washingtonian, the University magazine, business manager of the Tyee, representative to the Board of Control, basketball team manager, a member of the Oval Club, and member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After his graduation with a degree in Liberal Arts in 1919, he became the Graduate Manager of the ASUW, a position he held from 1920 to 1928.

Meisnest is widely attributed with leading the effort to build a sports stadium on campus, Washington stadium, which later developed into Husky Stadium. The stadium brought in a surplus of money after its construction and Meisnest was given the credit for the commercial success. He also was the Wayfarer assistant manager and executive secretary. Controversy emerged late in Meisnest’s time at UW when he was essentially given a blank check to build the UW athletic pavilion near the stadium. Its $600,000 budget was opposed by then ASUW president and future US representative, Marion Zioncheck. Zioncheck and Meisnest’s “civil war” is not noted as playing a part in Darwin Meisnest’s decision to leave his position. In 1928, he accepted a position as the assistant sales manager for the Pacific Coast Cement Company in Seattle to run their $3 million budget and was replaced by Earl F. Campbell.

Darwin Meisnest retained his close relationship with UW and the sports program in specific. He later served on as the Chairman for the alumni board for the crew team to raise funds to provide new equipment to the team and facilitate their travel. Upon his death, he left $5000 to the UW athletics program. The Meisnest memorial was dedicated in 1956 by Henry Schmitz.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of an album depicting University of Washington student and sports activities, including football rallies, women's hockey and basketball, fencing, track and field, May Day celebrations, various clubs, and military training.

Also included in the collection are portraits of individuals affiliated with the university (athletes, coaches, university president, etc.) and local dignitaries such as Washington Governor Louis F. Hart and Seattle Mayor Hugh M. Caldwell. In addition, there are photographs which document the construction of, and activities in the stadium, as well as photographs of the athletic pavilion. There are photographs of the University of Washington campus, as well as Frederick Meisnest, Darwin's father and a professor of German at the University of Washington. Some of the photographs were taken by Asahel Curtis, Webster & Stevens, and Lloyd G. Linkletter.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Darwin Meisnest papers (Mss Coll 2945-001)

Acquisition Information

Donor: Mrs. Darwin Meisnest Williams, March, 1980.

Processing Note

Processed by Rebekah Dalby, 2002.

Photograph Coll. 116 (the album, containing items 1-137) and Photograph Coll. 82 have been merged. The album had disintegrated and the photographs were therefore removed, but the original order of the photos was retained. The album's page numbers directly correspond to the folder numbers.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

University of Washington Album, approximately 1910-1915Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1	"First All-American yell king" Bill Horsley	Jan. 1, 1911
1/2	2-5	Rally for the University of Washington football team	November 27, 1912
1/3	6	Cadet ball	1914?
1/4	7	Dance	1914?
1/4	8	Cadet ball	1914?
1/5	9-10	Dance	1914?
1/6	11	Commencement procession	1913?
1/6	12	Dance	1913?
1/7	13-18	May Fete Grand March	1912
1/8	19-20	Senior-Junior picnic	1912
1/9	21	Students sitting on steps	1913?
1/10	22	Female students in costume	between 1910 and 1915?
1/11	23	Women's basketball team	1913
1/11	24-25	Women's field hockey team	1913
1/11	26	Shirtless athletes outside gymnasium	1913?
1/12	27	Football team	1913
1/12	28	Runner for University of Washington	between 1910 and 1915?
1/12	29	Men's basketball team	1910?
1/13	30	Spectators in bleachers during Roosevelt Day Linkletter, Lloyd G. (photographer)	April 6, 1911
1/14	31	Cars parked outside of Denny Field	1913?
1/14	32	Sports team, probably football	between 1910 and 1915?
1/14	33	Men fencing	1913?
1/15	34-35	Runners crossing the finish line	1913?
1/15	36	Captain Williams of the track team pole vaulting	1913
1/15	37	Men on each other's backs in a pyramid	between 1910 and 1915?
1/15	38	Football player	between 1910 and 1915?
1/16	39-40	Men jumping hurdles	between 1910 and 1915?
1/16	41	Men running in race	between 1910 and 1915?
1/16	42	Man pole vaulting	1913?
1/17	43	Women in costume outdoors	between 1910 and 1915?
1/17	44	Students dressed in costume on stage for theater production of The Mocking Bird	May 9, 1912
1/18	45	Female students in costume Same image as item 22.	between 1910 and 1915?
1/18	46	Female students sitting on steps	between 1910 and 1915?
1/18	47	Female students posing in front of open window	between 1910 and 1915?
1/18	48	Female students on steps	between 1910 and 1915?
1/18	49-50	Female students dancing around the maypole	1913
1/19	51	Men singing on steps for a crowd on Campus Day Written on photo: After dinner music.	between 1910 and 1915?
1/19	52	Columns near Denny Hall	1913?
1/19	53	Men walking	between 1910 and 1915?
1/19	54	Football game at Denny Field	1913?
1/19	55	Graduates standing to form the letters UW Linkletter, Lloyd G. (photographer)	1909
1/19	56	Men in tuxedos outdoors	between 1910 and 1915?
1/20	57-59	Pre-game or halftime entertainment with "the Hook" The Hook was an emblem of victory used to strike fear in the hearts of the University of Washington's football adversaries. It was the concept of Bill Horsley, first All-American yell king, in 1911. The Knights of the Hook was an underclass honor society organized for the sole purpose of guarding the Hook at all times.	1913?
1/20	60	Picnickers sitting at benches in the shape of a "W," Campus Day	1913?
1/20	61	Spectators watching the Washington vs. California football game at Denny Field This is two photos attached together to create a panorama.	1916
1/21	62	Men parading with bagpipes and "the Hook"	1913?
1/21	63	Student leading fans in a cheer at Denny Field	1913?
1/21	64	Rally for Washington vs. Washington State College football game	1912?
1/21	65	Parade possibly in downtown Seattle	1912?
1/21	66	Football team practicing Written on verso: Dobie's Team Champions. The Atelier, Seattle, Washington (photographer)	between 1910 and 1915?
1/21	67	Football team	1912
1/22	68	Man squatting on sports field Photo is missing.
1/22	69	Water tower	between 1910 and 1915?
1/22	70	Bonfire Written on photo: O.A.C.	between 1910 and 1915?
1/22	71	Rally for Washington vs. Whitman football game Linkletter, Lloyd G. (photographer)	October 21, 1911
1/23	72	University of Washington baseball team with members of the Mikado and Asahi baseball teams	1913?
1/23	73	Crowd watching as man falls into Geyser Basin (later Drumheller Fountain)	1913?
1/23	74	Pushball game at Denny Field, University of Washington	November 8, 1912
1/23	75	Students carrying large chimes or bells	1912?
1/23	76	Fans at football rally, University of Washington	1912
1/23	77	Students in costume for Washington vs. Pullman football rally The Atelier, Seattle, Wash. (photographer)	1912?
1/24	78	Men standing on steps of Denny Hall with rakes, possibly Campus Day	between 1910 and 1915?
1/24	79	Group of men outdoors	between 1910 and 1915?
1/24	80	Students with Professor Kincaid on Campus Day	1914
1/24	81	Man feigning injury while "nurses" attend to him	between 1910 and 1920?
1/24	82	Crowd watching two men on stage	between 1910 and 1915?
1/25	83a-b	University [ROTC?] band and cadets	between 1910 and 1915?
1/25	84	University [ROTC?] band and cadets	between 1910 and 1915?
1/26	85	Students carrying another student Written on verso: Kangaroo Court.	between 1910 and 1915?
1/26	86	Keg party with students holding beer steins	1915?
1/26	87	Students dressed up as Native Americans for social event	1912
1/26	88	Students posing in mock police raid, University of Washington Written on photo: The Pew-rity Squad	1912
1/27	89	People arriving at event	1915?
1/27	90	Men in a "wheelbarrow" race	1915?
1/27	91	Men in a two-legged race	1915?
1/27	92	Men in a sack race	1915?
1/27	93a-b	Women playing baseball	1915?
1/27	94	Men "spanking" another man	1915?
1/28	95-98	Picnic in the woods	between 1910 and 1915?
1/28	99	Women and canoe near lake	between 1910 and 1915?
1/29	100-105	Women field hockey players	1912
1/30	106-110	"Canoe War," Junior Day	1910
1/30	111	Women with canoe paddles dressed for the chorus of the musical production of Princess Bonnie	1913
1/31	112-114	Picnic in the woods	between 1910 and 1915?
1/31	115	Men and women standing in the woods	between 1910 and 1915?
1/31	116	Two couples and canoes on lake	1912
1/31	117	Sigma Kappa sorority members dressed as Native Americans	1910?
1/32	118-122	University of Washington students canoeing and boating on Lake Washington	1912
1/32	123	Downtown Seattle decorated with flags and banners	between 1910 and 1915?
1/33	124	Man standing outdoors	between 1910 and 1915?
1/33	125	Students setting type	1913?
1/33	126	People typing in office	1915?
1/34	127	Old North Hall steps at University of California, Berkeley	1915
1/34	128-130	"Canoe War," Junior Day	1910
1/34	131	Couple standing on dock	between 1910 and 1915?
1/34	132	Women in foot race	between 1910 and 1915?
1/34	133	Runners in a race	between 1910 and 1915?
1/35	134-137	Groups of students on steps of Denny Hall	between 1910 and 1915?

University of Washington AthleticsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/36	138	Darwin Meisnest with Sigma Chi basketball team	between 1920 and 1926?
1/36	139	Basketball team	1921
1/36	140-141	University of Washington varsity crew	1916
1/36	142	Crew member	1916
1/36	143	University of Washington crew on Lake Washington	1922
1/36	144	Sprinter Charles Paddock and Vic Hudley	between 1916 and 1922?
1/36	145	UW Ball Team Top row, L to R: Chamberlain, B. Pigott, A. Neilson, A. Rode, Torchy Torrance, B. McCrosky, R. Milhaus, R. Leonard. Bottom row, L to R: J. Prim, Darwin Meisnest, Spike Maloney, C. Zamberlin, Coach L. Allison, [Bill Foran?], P. Land. Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Wash. (photographer)	1920

Stadium Groundbreaking and Construction, 1920Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/37	146	Diamond Cement boat on Seattle waterfront The cement was probably used in stadium construction.	1920?
1/37	147	Darwin Meisnest and men with bags of Pacific Coast Cement Company Diamond Cement Left to right: Nat Moore, Darwin Meisnest, Floris Nagelvort, Arthur Murphy.	1920
1/37	148	Darwin Meisnest and men with model of stadium	1920?
1/37	149	Governor Louis Hart, Dr. Henry Suzzallo, and Jim Gallagher with model of stadium	1920?
1/37	150	Mayor Hugh Caldwell and Dr. Henry Suzzallo breaking ground for stadium	April 16, 1920
1/37	150a	Mayor Hugh Caldwell and Dr. Henry Suzzallo holding horse drawn plow at groundbreaking ceremony for stadium	April 16, 1920
1/37	151	Darwin Meisnest and men standing in field Left to right: Darwin Meisnest, Sam Hedges, ___ Arnold, Dr. Henry Suzzallo, Hugh Caldwell.	1920?
1/37	152	Governor Louis Hart speaking on stage with Dr. Henry Suzzallo standing behind him Probably taken during opening ceremony for stadium.	1920?
1/37	153	Stadium construction Caption on image: North east from top of bowl, center line axis. U. of W. Stadium, P.S. Bridge & Dredging Co. Curtis, Asahel (photographer)	Oct. 19, 1920

Completed StadiumReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/38	154	Airplane flagship Seattle flying over stadium Linkletter Studio (photographer) The flagship Seattle was part of a historic aviation event: the first globe-circling flight in aviation history, with four Douglas World Cruiser biplanes (including the Seattle) departing Seattle, Washington, on April 6, 1924 and heading westward for Asia via Alaska. Only two of the planes completed the journey, however. The Seattle crashed into a mountain in Alaska.	April 6, 1924
1/38	155	Upside-down airplane south of the new stadium Words on the wings read: Welcome Dartmouth.	November 1920
1/38	156	Darwin Meisnest and Dave Logg stand in front of upside-down airplane south of the new stadium	November 1920
1/38	157	Darwin Meisnest, team managers, and bulldog in front of stadium	1921
1/38	158	Women during commencement ceremony in stadium	1920?
1/38	159	Half-time ceremonies at the Washington vs. Dartmouth football game Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Wash. (photographer)	November 27, 1920
1/38	160	Aerial view of stadium and campus Mac (photographer)	1925
item
161		not used
Box/Folder	item
1/39	162	Darwin Meisnest and football squad	1921

Athletic Pavilion, 1926-1927Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/40	163	Breaking ground for new sports pavilion Left to right: Darwin Meisnest, D. Black, George Guttormsen, Charles May.	1926
1/40	164-164a	Darwin Meisnest with university sports team members and others posing with first shovel for pavilion	1927?
1/40	165	Cars parked outside pavilion on dedication night Lester Rounds, Seattle, Wash. (photographer)	1928?

Darwin Meisnest and OthersReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/41	166a-b	Darwin Meisnest 166a and 166b are both mounted on the same card stock.	between 1915 and 1925?
1/41	167a-d	Darwin Meisnest	between 1910 and 1925?
1/41	167e-f	Ruth Meisnest	between 1920 and 1930?
1/41	167g	Ruth and Darwin Meisnest	between 1920 and 1940?
1/41	167h-i	Darwin Meisnest in Naval officer uniform Grady, Seattle (photographer)	between 1930 and 1950?
1/41	167j	Darwin Meisnest being presented with a document, possibly by Admiral King U.S. Navy (photographer)	between 1930 and 1950?
1/41	168	Darwin Meisnest, Wylie Hemphill, with man signing paper	between 1920 and 1930?
1/41	169	Darwin Meisnest and other men standing behind boxes for the Americanus pageant Cress-Dale Photo Co, Seattle, Wash. (photographer)	between 1917 and 1923?
1/41	170	Darwin Meisnest and Wylie Hemphill with group of men stoking furnace	between 1920 and 1930?
1/41	171	Darwin Meisnest and Monty Lynch with another man standing in front of tent Curtis, Asahel (photographer)	between 1920 and 1930?
1/41	172	Darwin Meisnest and Coach C. Hunt with other men	between 1920 and 1930?
1/41	173	Darwin Meisnest, Helen McGovern, and man counting money in the ASUW office	between 1920 and 1930?
1/42	174	Darwin Meisnest, Merv McGinnis, and Matt Hillat work in the ASUW office	between 1920 and 1930?
1/42	175	Mrs. Harry Gowman christening the new shell presented to the Husky crew by Mr. Gowman	1925
1/42	176	Men standing in front of bleachers Top row, left to right: Charley May, Ross McGovern, and others. Bottom row, left to right: Darwin Meisnest, L.J. Ayer, Dean Thompson.	between 1920 and 1930?
1/42	177	Darwin Meisnest with Pacific Coast Coal Company members	between 1920 and 1930?
1/42	178	University of Washington crew coach Rusty Callow and Darwin Meisnest	between 1922 and 1927
1/42	179	Darwin Meisnest and Dr. Suzzallo with other men Nowell, Frank H., Seattle, Wash. (photographer)	1923?
1/42	180a-b	Birthday luncheon for Professor Frederick W. Meisnest Frederick W. Meisnest's sons, Darwin and Kenneth are both in photograph. Others are identified on verso.	November 29, 1938
1/42	181	Darwin and Ruth Meisnest driving in a 1907 Oldsmobile with Foster and Helen McGovern seated in backseat	between 1935 and 1940?
1/43	182a-b	Darwin Meisnest with his United States Navy company	1918
1/44	183a	Darwin Meisnest's United States Navy company	1918
1/44	183b	Probably University of Washington Athletic staff Front row: Meisnest, Butler, Torrance, Bagshaw, Arbuthnot. Back row: Spellman, Callow, Sutton, Graves, Edmundson.	between 1920 and 1925?
1/44	183c	University of Washington Athletic staff Front row: E. Bagshaw, D. Meisnest, B. Spellman, T. Torrance, J. Arbuthnot. Back row: Tubby Graves, C. May, W. Sutton, H. Edmundson. R. Callow.	1926?
1/45	184	Eleanor Roosevelt with christening bottle of champagne	between 1930 and 1940?
1/45	185	Lorraine Allen and man on boat	between 1920 and 1940?
1/45	186	Torchy Torrance	between 1920 and 1940?
1/45	187	Crew coach Rusty Callow on boat with others	between 1922 and 1927?
1/45	188	Edmond S. Meany and Dr. Hall in front of columns Curtis, Asahel (photographer)	between 1930 and 1935?

University of Washington CampusReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/46	189	University of Washington campus Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Wash. (photographer)	1915?
1/46	190	View of UW campus and stadium from water tower Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Wash. (photographer) Part one of two-part panorama.	1915?
1/46	191	"Razing the Commons" Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Wash. (photographer) Part two of two-part panorama.	1915?
1/46	192	View of Union Bay from the water tower Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Wash. (photographer)	1915?

Frederick W. MeisnestReturn to Top

Frederick W. Meisnest was Darwin's father, a professor of German at the University of Washington.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/47	193	Attendees at birthday luncheon for Frederick W. Meisnest	November 28, 1941
1/47	194	Attendees at birthday party for Frederick W. Meisnest	November 26, 1943
1/47	195	Attendees at birthday party for Frederick W. Meisnest List of attendees in case file. Howard L. Staples Photography (photographer)	November 28, 1947

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

College athletes--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
College buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
College sports--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
College students--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
College students--Washington (State)--Seattle--Societies, etc.--Photographs
Running races--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Sports facilities--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Stadiums--Washington (State)--Seattle--Design and construction
Stadiums--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Universities and colleges--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

Caldwell, Hugh Milton, 1881-1955--Photographs
Hart, Louis Folwell, 1862-1929--Photographs
Meany, Edmond S. (Edmond Stephen), 1862-1935--Photographs
Meisnest, Darwin--Photographs
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962--Photographs
Suzzallo, Henry, 1875-1933--Photographs

Corporate Names

Edmundson Pavilion (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
Husky Stadium (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
University of Washington--Buildings--Photographs
University of Washington--Football--Photographs
University of Washington--Officials and employees--Photographs
University of Washington--Presidents--Photographs
University of Washington--Rowing--Photographs
University of Washington--Societies, etc.--Photographs
University of Washington--Sports--Photographs
University of Washington--Students--Photographs
University of Washington. Associated Students--Photographs

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941 (photographer)
- Linkletter, Lloyd G (photographer)
- Nowell, Frank H., 1864-1950 (photographer)
Corporate Names
- Linkletter Studio (photographer)
- Webster & Stevens (photographer)

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents