Earl N. Steele Photograph Collection, circa 1920-1955

Overview of the Collection

Compiler
Steele, E. N. (Earl N.)
Title
Earl N. Steele Photograph Collection
Dates
circa 1920-1955 (inclusive)
Quantity
27 photographs (1 folder)
Collection Number
PH1517
Summary
Photographs related to Earl N. Steele and oyster farming
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

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of the Visual Materials Curator is required to view original photographs.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Nicknamed the "Daddy of the Pacific Oyster Industry", Earl Newell Steele was born in Altoona, Iowa on April 19th, 1881. He grew up in Perry, Iowa where he graduated from the University of Iowa with a law degree in 1903. In August 1903, he moved to Seattle, Washington and then moved to Olympia where he opened his law office in 1904. Steele married Clara Ann Remdt on December 25th, 1917. They had three children: Margaret Ann, Richard N., and Bonny Jean. He owned a summer home in Oyster Bay, a large production area for the native Olympian oyster. He became interested in the scientific development and improvement of the oyster industry starting in 1907. Steele described oysters as "luscious, exquisite, delightful, delicate, food for the Gods." In 1924 he imported his first large order of Japanese oyster spat (seed) from Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Civic minded and interested in the development of his community, Steele also served as Director of the Olympia Chamber of Commerce for three years and President of the Olympia Chamber of Commercefor two years, elected Olympia City Commissioner of Finance for seven years, Mayor of Olympia for two years, and State Senator from Thurston County for four years. All the while, his interest in his oyster growing hobby and commitment to the oyster industry continued to develop. Using his numerous connections to the extended oyster community, he helped form the Pacific Coast Oyster Growers Association in 1930 where he served as president and secretary until December 1945 and a Trustee and valued consultant beyond that. As the oyster supply began to outgrow demand, Steele suggested unity between growers and on January 1st, 1922, helped launch one of the most unique and effective advertising campaigns of its day. It was hugely successful, creating "an oyster right for the market, a market right for the oyster". However, with the Great Depression from 1929-1939, people could no longer afford luxury foods such as oysters. The Code of Business was developed to set reasonable prices and rules for fair competition industry wide. In September 1933, Steele was made administrator for the Pacific Coast division of the Oyster Code. Unfortunately, with the construction of the sulfite pulp mill in Shelton, Washington in 1927, the local oyster industry was in steady decline. Waste from the mill was discharged into Oakland Bay, polluting the surrounding waters with bleaching compounds and other chemicals preventing the oysters from seeding. Those that did seed died quickly or contained little meat. Doctor A. E. Hopkins researched this issue and found the mill directly at fault. Steele died in 1968.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of people in the oyster industry and oyster farming in Olympia and the Puget Sound region, Washington.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: Earl N. Steele, July 12, 1965, August 10, 1965

Processing Note

Processed by Annsofie Wikegard, 2018.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Earl N. Steele papers, 1914-1953 (Mss Coll 0555)

Bibliography

http://olympiahistory.org/jeffers-building/http://wsg.washington.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Immigrant-Oyster.pdf

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

OystermenReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 1
Portrait of Mud Bay Sam (Sam-Saw-Witz-Kaw)
Mud Bay Same was a respected Shaker Priest of the Indian Shaker Church on Mud Bay. He promoted friendship between the Indian Northwest tribes by serving Olympia Oysters at their annual Shaker conventions.
Between 1880 and 1889?
1 2
Portrait of Charley John
Charley John was an expert oysterman for over 50 years and a member of the Quinault Indian Tribe.
Between 1940 and 1950?
1 3
George Draham, Jack Brenner, and Earl N. Steele examining oyster records at the Golden Anniversary Banquet of the Olympia Oyster Growers Association
Draham, photographed at age 86, was director for 35 years. Brenner, photographed at age 96, was treasurer and director for 32 years. Steele, photographed at age 74, was secretary and director for 36 years.
September 22, 1955
1 4
George Draham, Jack Brenner, and Earl N. Steele examining oyster records at the Golden Anniversary Banquet of the Olympia Oyster Growers Association
Draham, photographed at age 86, was director for 35 years. Brenner, photographed at age 96, was treasurer and director for 32 years. Steele, photographed at age74, was secretary and director for 36 years.
September 22, 1955

Oyster FarmingReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Facilities
Folder item
1 5 1927?
1 6 1927?
1 7 Between 1920 and 1940?
1 8 Between 1920 and 1940?
mapcase
M272 9 Between 1920 and 1929?
Oystermen At Work
Folder item
1 10A Between 1930 and 1939?
1 10B
Newspaper clipping about the oyster crop
Text reads: Experiments for a period of ten years have proven that the shallow oyster beds of Samish Bay are ideal for the growing of the new species. This oyster has been developed by the ebb of the tide and exposed to the hot sun of the summer and the frosts of the winter. It is not injured by either, but grows on as rapidly as ever. THE MOST VALUABLE WATER CROPThis is the world's most valuable water crop and the limited acreage of Samish Bay is Nature's chosen field for production. How much land does it take to make a Sea Farm for an individual or a company? The individual will have room enough to raise immense crops on about ten (10) acres of land. A company should own a considerable acreage to provide oysters for the expanding market.
Between 1930 and 1939?
1 11
Three Asian men holding strings of oyster shells while standing at the base of a pile of oysters and baskets
Written on photo: Preparing shells for oyster culch. A culch is a mass of stones, broken shells, and grit of which an oyster bed is formed.
Between 1920 and 1940?
1 12 Between 1920 and 1955
1 13
Olympia Oyster beds, near the home and culling house of Herbert Nelson
Formerly owned and developed by his step father U. G. (Les) Young, a pioneer oyster grower.
Between 1920 and 1955
1 14
Workers leveling oyster beds by hand
Jeffers, Olympia, WA (photographer)
Scows are loaded by cutting down the high part of the bed to the desired level and then floated to the part to be filled in where the earth is shoveled off. Written on verso: "Oscar Zandell grading oyster land by hand".
Between 1920 and 1949
1 15
D. R. Helser standing in oyster bed
Written on verso: Oyster bed on Oyster Bay D. R. Helser
Between 1907 and 1929
Boats and Barges
Folder item
1 16
Four workers standing on a pile of oysters carried by a barge Olympia No. 205 Olympia
Written on verso: D. R. Helser unloading shells on his ground at Oyster Bay.
Between 1907 and 1929
1 17 Between 1920 and 1949?
1 18 Between 1920 and 1949?
1 19 Between 1920 and 1949?
Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 20 Between 1925 and 1930?
1 21
Lundin oyster beds
Bert Huntoon, Bellingham, Washington (photographer)
May 20, 1940
1 22
B. C. Packers Association scows loading oysters for transplanting
Bert Huntoon, Bellingham, Washington (photographer)
April 17, 1941
1 23 July 3, 1944
1 24-26
Oyster close ups
Written in verso on item 25: "Rock Point Oyster" Beds.
Between 1920 and 1949?
1 27
Oyster seed
Written on photo: Oyster seed on arrival approximately 1/3 size.
Between 1920 and 1949?

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)