Austin Seward photograph collection

Austin Seward photograph collection, circa 1900-1930s

Overview of the Collection

Collector: Seward, Austin, 1885-1974
Title: Austin Seward photograph collection
Dates: circa 1900-1930s (inclusive)
18951945
Quantity: 700 photographs including 4 albums, (3 boxes)
Collection Number: 1980.6877
Summary: Photographs include Seattle, Bainbridge Island, buildings, scenery, logging, ships, planes, foreign monuments, products from Joseph Mayer & Brothers, cremation urns, funeral products and various artifacts.
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.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Austin Seward was born May 4, 1885 and died in May of 1974. Sources say he spent time working as a sheriff, mill worker, politician, and dairy operator, among other things. Seward worked as a local photographer for Pierson’s studio in the early 1920s. He was also a photographer for Bainbridge Studios.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of 4 photograph albums and loose photographs (approximately 700 photographs in total) depicting a wide range of subjects. Some of the photographs are stamped Pierson Studios, some Bainbridge Studios, some with both studio names, and others were not stamped at all. Some of the photographs are identified and/or dated, but many are not. Many of the photographs were taken in Seattle and include scenic and aerial views, downtown views, clocks, buildings and commercial photography. One of the albums contains photographs that highlight various products made by Joseph Mayer & Brothers Company in Seattle. There is also an album that contains photographs and specifications of cremation urns and other funeral products. There are many miscellaneous photographs with subjects including scenery, logging, ships, planes, foreign monuments, and artifacts.

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.

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.

Preferred Citation

Austin Seward Photograph Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection has been divided into two series: albums and loose photographs. The loose photographs are organized loosely by subject.

Location of Collection

2b.1.5

Location of Collection

2b.1.7

Acquisition Information

Donor: Evelyn “Lyn” Seward Damewood (widow of Austin Seward); 1980.

Processing Note

One of the albums (1980.6877.5) was disassembled for preservation purposes and separated into several different folders. The original order of the album pages has been retained.

Items .1, .2, and .3 were removed from the collection and added to Museum library reference. The collection starts at .4.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Albums, circa 1900-1930sReturn to Top

4 albums

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	.4: Image of Aurora Avenue Bridge construction, ca. 1931 Image of J.E. Standley and young girl in front of Alaska Indian Totem Pole, ca. 1925 Image of Joseph Mayer & Bros. worker with clock dial for Chehalis County Courthouse, ca. 1910 Image of Man and woman with eggs at J.F. Jappe’s Farm, Alderwood Manor, ca. 1925 143 photographs 8"x11" Includes Volunteer Park, scenery, commercial photography, business interiors and exteriors, houses interiors and exteriors, Tatoosh Range, Drummond Lighterage Co. barge, Sovereign Gas Station, logging, Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Co., Montlake Bridge, Mt. Rainier, Aurora Bridge, Herbert Hoover, Alaska Indian Totem Pole at “Totem Place” West Seattle, Chatterton Bakeries, Eddie Hubbard with the Boeing B-1, Columbus Hospital Nurses, J.F. Jappe’s Farm – Alderwood Manor, farming, Invalid Coach Service – Shepard, YWCA pool.	circa 1900-1930s
Box/Folder
1/1-28	.5: Image of Franklin High School assempbly room, ca. 1912 Image of Colman dock clock, 1910 Image of Pipe organ with clock at the Elks Club, Seattle, ca. 1910 Image of Street clock in front of L.W. Suter Jeweler, ca. 1918 Image of Street clock in front of S. Friedlander and Son, Inc., ca. 1922 Image of Street clock in front of Theo Wolfe Watchmaker, Seattle, ca. 1907 Image of Street clock in front of Stacy Shown & Co. Jewelers, Seattle, ca. 1918 Image of street clock in front of Albert Hanson jeweler, ca. 1918 Image of street clock in front of B.L. Gates jeweler, ca. 1914 Image of street clock in front of B.L. Gates jeweler, ca. 1918 Image of street clock in front of Albert Hanson jeweler, ca. 1910 Joseph Mayer & Brothers Co. street clock for Frank Briggs Jeweler, 1402 1st Ave., Seattle, circa 1920 Joseph Mayer & Brothers Co. street clock for Friedlander Jewelers, 2nd Ave., Seattle, circa 1920 Joseph Mayer & Brothers Co. street clock, Market Street, San Francisco, circa 1920 Joseph Mayer & Brothers Co. floor clock, Broadway High School, Seattle, circa 1920 28 folders containing 139 photographs Album taken apart and separated into folders. Includes various objects from the Jos. Mayer & Bros. Company such as: clocks, medals, buckles, pins, coins, rings, and platters.	circa 1900-1930s
Box
1	.6: Album 115 photographs 8"x11" Includes various objects from Jos. Mayer & Bros. such as: medals, buckles, pins, coins, rings, and platters.	circa 1900-1930s
1	.7: Album 46 photographs 8 ¼”x 11 ½” Includes cremation urns, memorial tablets, vases, and emblems of fraternal organizations. Includes identifications and specifications.	circa 1900-1930s

Photographs, circa 1900-1930sReturn to Top

257 photographs

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2/1	.8-12: Lake Union aerial views	circa 1900-1930s
2/2-3	.13-18: Seattle aerial views	1930 March 30
2/4-5	.19-27: Seattle aerial views	circa 1900-1930s
2/6	.28-30, .33: Downtown Seattle streets and buildings Includes Pioneer Square, unidentified streets, Second Avenue & Columbia (Financial District), Dexter Horton Building.	circa 1920
2/6	.31: Unidentified Seattle streets	circa 1900-1930s
2/6	.32: Second Avenue and Columbia	circa 1925
2/7	.34, .37-40: Downtown Seattle streets and buildings Includes Metropolitan Theatre, White Building, unidentified Seattle streets.	circa 1925
2/7	.35: Downtown Seattle	circa 1930
2/7	.36: Unidentified Seattle streets	circa 1920
2/8	.41-42: Denny Regrade and Washington Hotel	circa 1900
2/9	.43-45: Northern Life Tower	circa 1930
2/9	.46-47: Seattle buildings Includes National Bank of Commerce, Masonic Temple.	circa 1915
2/9	.48-49: Seattle buildings Includes Nurses Home Columbus Hospital, Civic Auditorium.	circa 1900-1930s
2/10	.50, .52-53: Seattle buildings Includes Harborview Hospital, Dexter Horton Building, Medical Dental Building.	circa 1920
2/10	.51, .54, .56: Seattle buildings Includes Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Building, Cheasty Building, Melhorn Building.	circa 1930
2/10	.55: Bay Building	circa 1925
2/11	.57-59: Seattle buildings Includes the Bon Marche, Olympic Hotel.	circa 1920
2/11	.60: Alvord Hotel	circa 1915
2/11	.61: Continental Hotel	circa 1900-1930s
2/12	.62, .64, .66-67: Seattle buildings Includes Marlborough House, Sheffield Apartment, L.W. Sutter Silver Shop, J.J. Bleitz Undertaking.	circa 1900-1930s
2/12	.63: Faneuil Hall	circa 1930
2/12	.65: Unidentified apartments	circa 1930
2/13	.68, .71: Unidentified buildings	circa 1930
2/13	.69: Unidentified school	circa 1900-1930s
2/13	.70: Unidentified building	circa 1925
2/14	.72-77: Image of Lone Pine Bar and Odd Fellows Hall on dirt road, ca. 1905 Image of Madison Street cable cars next to Lennon's store on Second Avenue, Seattle, ca. 1910 Image of Two men with horse drawn delivery wagons outside of Kristoferson's Dairy, Seattle, ca. 1914 Includes downtown Seattle views, Madison Street cable car, unidentified church, Kristopherson’s Dairy and Western Union Telegraph & Cable Office, Lone Pine Bar, unidentified rural road.	circa 1900-1930s
2/15	.78-82: Seattle views Includes Seattle views, Union Street Station Great Northern Railroad, Lake Union.	circa 1900-1930s
2/16	.83-89: Commercial photography and scenery Includes commercial photography, Spring’s Jewelry Store, Pierson Studio, Mountain Lakes Water Company, Lake Hannon, Lake Fontell, Cherry Creek, Lake Marion, Young’s River, Tolt River.	circa 1900-1930s
2/17	.90, .93-94: Seattle businesses Includes Tower Coffee Shop, Van de Kamp’s Bakery.	circa 1920
2/17	.91: Pacific Catering Service	circa 1925
2/17	.92, .95-97: Image of Van de Kamp’s Bakery windmill-shaped building, Seattle, ca. 1930 Seattle Tent & Awning Co. employees, Seattle, circa 1925 Includes Van de Kamp’s Bakery, Seattle Tent and Awning Company, M. Seller Company.	circa 1900-1930s
2/18	.98-100, .102-103: Seattle and Bainbridge Island businesses Includes unidentified lobby, Smith Tower Annex interior, Bainbridge Beauty Shop (Winslow, Washington), hardware store interior, Star Machinery Co.	circa 1900-1930s
2/18	.101: Al’s Tonsorial Express portable barber shop	circa 1930s
2/19	.104-106: Restaurant interiors	circa 1900-1930s
2/20	.107-111: Seattle buildings Include building interiors, banks.	circa 1900-1930s
2/21	.112-115: Image of Interior of Hamilton’s Resort, Fletcher Bay, ca. 1920 Image of Hamilton’s Resort and Fletcher Bay Post Office, Bainbridge Island, ca. 1920	circa 1900-1930s
2/22	.116a-b: Pacific Coast Steel Corp	circa 1900-1930s
2/23	.117-121: Seattle Cedar Lumber Manufacturing Company, Salmon Bay, Seattle, circa 1925 Image of Men stacking lumber at Seattle Cedar Lumber Manufacturing Company, ca.1920 Image of Men with large cedar log at Seattle Cedar Lumber Manufacturing Co. yard, ca. 1920 Cedar drying stacks at Seattle Cedar Lumber Mfg. Co., Salmon Bay, Seattle, circa 1925	circa 1900-1930s
2/23	.122: University of Washington crew	1928
2/24-27	.123-145: Logging	circa 1900-1930s
2/28	.146-152: Ships Include ships, shipbuilding, Winslow Shipyard	circa 1900-1930s
2/29	.153-157: Ships Includes Eagle Harbor, ships, Captain Backland aboard C.S. Holmes, hospital ship, West Seattle Ferry.	circa 1900-1930s
2/30	.158-160, .162-163: Ships Includes ships, Bremerton ferry, bridges, ship C.S. Holmes.	circa 1900-1930s
2/30	.161: Port of Seattle Pier	1931
2/30	.164: Sailing ship St. Paul, steamships Jacob Luckenback and Amazon Maru	circa 1920
2/31	.165: Steamships Wheatland Montana and President Madison	circa 1925
2/31	.166-170: Ships Includes passenger ferries at Port of Seattle Pier 3, Eagle Harbor, Naval vessels, Seattle waterfront, ships sailing.	circa 1900-1930s
2/32	.171-176: Boeing airplanes Includes Boeing P314 float plane #NX18601, airplanes, Boeing B1 U.S. mail plane at Lake Union with Eddie Hubbard	circa 1900-1930s
2/32	.177: Boeing Airplane Company assembly room	1927 June 7
2/32	.178: Boeing Navy Fighter airplane	1927 September 14
2/33-34	.179-190: Homes, interiors and exteriors	circa 1900-1930s
2/35	.191: Home exterior	circa 1915
2/35	.192-196, 198: Homes, interiors and exteriors	circa 1900-1930s
2/35	.197: Kitchen	circa 1925
2/36	.199-200: Asian monuments	circa 1900-1930s
2/37	.201-205: Scenic views Includes scenery, Saw Tooth Range White Pass and Yukon Railroad track by Ed Andrews.	circa 1900-1930s
2/38	.206-212: Scenery Includes flowers, scenery, Mt. Rainier.	circa 1900-1930s
2/39	.213-215: Airship America, Redding, California	1909 July 3
2/40	.216-229: Objects and artifacts Includes paint brushes, art deco, sea shell, pendants, books, necklaces, planting pots, mining car, Briggs & Stratton one cylinder gasoline engine with gear reduction device on left side, Native American artifacts, Persian rug.	circa 1900-1930s
2/41	.230-235, .237-242: Miscellaneous Includes many miscellaneous photographs including railroad, foreign photographs, trail drive, Canadian Pacific Railroad, totem pole, family wedding scene, dog with shark, canine, White Pass and Yukon Railroad.	circa 1900-1930s
2/41	.236: Lloyd Transfer Company	circa 1915
box-folder:oversize
3/1	.243: Seattle waterfront	1929
3/1	.244-245: University of Washington from SE corner of campus	1933
3/1	.246: Unidentified bridge	1931 January 6
3/1	.247-248: Aerial views of downtown Seattle	1929 July 27
3/1	.249: Aerial view of downtown Seattle	circa 1900-1930s
3/2	.250-254: Waterfront and ships Includes harbor, ships, waterfront, lumber port, ship being cut up for scrap.	circa 1900-1930s
3/2	.255: Winslow Harbor Bainbridge Island	circa 1920
3/3	.256-258: Scenery Includes various scenic photographs and Snoqualmie Falls.	circa 1900-1930s
3/3	.259: Looking west upon 76, six miles above Monte Cristo	1929 August 13
3/4	.260, .262-264: Miscellaneous Includes lumbering; 1320 Queen Anne Avenue built by Fred Anhalt; Bainbridge Beauty Shop, Winslow, Washington; dance floor circa 1900-1930s.	circa 1900-1930s
3/4	.261: Washington Athletic Club	circa 1930
3/5	.273: Aerial view of University of Washington campus	circa 1930

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Boat & ship industry--Washington (State)--Bainbridge Island
Boat & ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
Clocks and watches
Commercial organizations--Washington (State)--Bainbridge Island
Commercial organizations--Washington (State)--Seattle
Commercial photography
Crematoriums--Washington (State)--Seattle
Houses--Washington (State)--Seattle
Lumber Industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
Urns
Vessels
Waterfronts --Washington (State)--Seattle
Waterfronts--Washington (State)--Bainbridge Island

Personal Names

Seward, Austin

Corporate Names

Bainbridge Studio
Boeing Aerospace Company
Joseph Mayer & Brothers
Pierson Photo Co.

Geographical Names

Bainbridge Island (Wash.)
Seattle (Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

Aerial photographs
Landscape photographs
Photographs

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents