Robert and Nancy Becker AYPE postcard collection, 1908-1909

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Becker, Robert
Title
Robert and Nancy Becker AYPE postcard collection
Dates
1908-1909 (inclusive)
Quantity
199 postcards (1 box) ; 5.5 x 3.5 in.
Collection Number
PH0078
Summary
Postcards of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE) in Seattle, Washington in 1909
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

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the Friends of the Library.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Klondike Gold Rush had made Seattle the dominant city in the Pacific Northwest, being the major source of supplies to Alaska. The goal of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition was to show off the growth and development of the Pacific Northwest, specifically Seattle, and to display the value of commercial trade with the Pacific Rim. When Japan agreed to participate, the AYPE became a truly international, multi-cultural event, which planners of the AYPE hoped would demonstrate cooperation between people from around the world. City officials also hoped that the exposition would encourage people to relocate to the growing metropolis of Seattle.

The location needed to demonstrate the beauty of the region. Officials soon decided on the largely wooded grounds of the University of Washington, situated on Lake Washington, with Mount Rainier visible in the distance. The first $650,000 for the AYPE was raised by proud Seattleites, who bought “shares” of the exposition. Much of the rest was funded by the sale of public lands and by the Washington State legislature, with the understanding that the buildings built for the exposition would become part of the University of Washington at the end of the AYPE. John and Frederick Olmsted, son and stepson of Frederick Law Olmsted, prominent landscape architects in their own right, designed much of the AYPE grounds.

Thanks to the two years of planning and the huge sums of money raised, the AYPE grounds and exposition were everything the planners had hoped for. It was a fascinating mix of ethnic diversity and crass commercialism, but it clearly appealed to the people of the United States. Over 80,000 people attended the AYPE on opening day in June 1909, and by closing day (October 16, 1909) 3.7 million people had paid to see attractions such as the Igorrote Village, and the Indian and Eskimo exhibits. They had seen animals built out of fruits and nuts, and rode on the Fairy Gorge Tickler. The AYPE had been a huge success. Seattle officials were pleased to note that the AYPE had drawn 700,000 people more than the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition had attracted in the rival city of Portland, Oregon.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Most of the collection consists of postcards from the numbered "official post card" series from the Portland Post Card Co. and the numbered series published by Robert A. Reid. Many of the Portland Post Card Co. and Robert A. Reid postcards images were made from the photographs by Frank H. Nowell, the official AYPE photographer. Some of the photographs are printed and some are original photographs.

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.

Preferred Citation

The required credit line for use of images from Special Collections is: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, [plus the negative number].

The negative number is provided with the image and is a letter + number combination such as UW13452; Hegg 1234; or NA1275. A typical credit line would be, University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, UW13452.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donors: Robert and Nancy Becker, received circa 1983.

Processing Note

Processed by Marion Brown; processing completed in 2007.

The postcards were removed from a deteriorating album and were kept in the original order as they appeared in the album.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box item
1 1 AYPE official emblem
Portland Post Card Co. (x46) (publisher)
1908
1 2 Embossed official AYPE emblem 1908
1 3 Official flower Cactus Dahlia
Portland Post Card Co. (x24) (publisher)
1908
1 4 Official AYPE flag 1909
1 5 Welcome arch on Second Avenue and Marion Street
Robert A. Reid (94) (publisher)
1909
1 6 AYPE welcome arch
O.T. Frasch (photographer)
1909
1 7 Bird's eye view drawing of exposition
Portland Post Card Co. (x82) (publisher)
1909
1 8 Bird's eye view photograph of Arctic Circle and Court of Honor
O.D. Goetze (photographer)
1909
1 9 A.Y.P Exposition guards
Robert A. Reid (57) (publisher)
1909
1 10 Main entrance, facing into exposition
A. J. Park (publisher)
1909
1 11 Main entrance with flags, facing out of exposition 1909
1 12 Main entrance illuminated at night
Portland Post Card Co. (x157) (publisher)
1909
1 13 Main entrance with crowds
Robert A. Reid (92)Nowell (x2312) (publisher)
1909
1 14 Washington Statue unveiling ceremony
Robert A. Reid (60)Frank H. Nowell (x1971) (publisher)
1909
1 15 View of Puget Plaza facing U.S. Government Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x69) (publisher)
1909
1 16 U.S. Government Building 1909
1 17 Cascades and U.S. Government Building illuminated at night
Oakes Photo Co. (1226) (photographer)
1909
1 18 Overview of exposition with Mt. Rainier in background
Robert A. Reid (50)Frank H. Nowell (publisher)
1909
1 19 Alaska Monument and Hawaii Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x70) (publisher)
1909
1 20 U.S. Government Philippine Exhibit Building 1909
1 21 Yakima County Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x98) (publisher)
1909
1 22 California State Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x75) (publisher)
1909
1 23 Idaho State Building and grounds
Robert A. Reid (65) (publisher)
1909
1 24 Emergency Hospital Building 1909
1 25 Spokane County Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x53) (publisher)
1909
1 26 Spokane County Building with visitors
Robert A. Reid (68) (publisher)
1909
1 27 Chehalis County Building
Oakes Photo Co. (1200) (photographer)
1909
1 28 Chehalis County Building
Robert A. Reid (62) (publisher)
1909
1 29 Chehalis County Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x100) (publisher)
1909
1 30 Utah Building
Robert A. Reid (66) (publisher)
1909
1 31 Utah Building with man mowing lawn
Oakes Photo Co. (1176) (photographer)
1909
1 32 Arctic Brotherhood Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x56) (publisher)
1909
1 33 Natural Amphitheater
Robert A. Reid (90) (publisher)
1909
1 34 New York State Building with flags
Portland Post Card Co. (x86) (Publsiher)
1909
1 35 New York State Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x153) (publisher)
1909
1 36 New York State Building
Robert A. Reid (63) (publisher)
1909
1 37 California State Building
Robert A. Reid (64) (publisher)
1909
1 38 Forestry Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x89) (publisher)
1909
1 39 Educational Building
On reverse is an advertisement for the School Officer's Congress
1909
1 40 Forestry Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x71) (publisher)
1909
1 41 Forestry Building
Reverse reads: SNOHOMISH COUNTY HAS: An area of 2,500 miles. A population of 75,000. An assessed valuation of $35,000,000 with low tax rate. Two hundred and forty thousand acres of standing timber. More acres of fertile bottom lands and "cut over" lands than any county in western Washington. Thirty six miles of waterfront on Puget Sound and 75 miles of inland waterways. Everett, the county seat, population 35,000, offers the cheapest and best manufacturing sites in the state with no boom-inflated valuations. TOTAL- A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.
1909
1 42 Forestry Building with Nome Circle Bandstand
Robert A. Reid (54)Frank H. Nowell (x150?) (publisher)
1909
1 43 Washington State Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x14) (publisher)
1909
1 44 Washington State Building
Robert A. Reid (61) (publisher)
1909
1 45 Washington State Building with California Building in background
Portland Post Card Co. (x134) (publisher)
1909
1 46 Intersection of Yukon and Bering Avenues
Portland Post Card Co. (x78) (publisher)
1909
1 47 Yukon Avenue facing west with visitors
Portland Post Card Co. (x6131) (publisher)
1909
1 48 Yukon Avenue facing east
Portland Post Card Co. (x35) (publisher)
1909
1 49 View of Washington State Building showing part of Nome Circle Bandstand and part of the Oregon State Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x79) (publisher)
1909
1 50 Nome Circle Bandstand with Oregon State Building in background
Portland Post Card Co. (x5362) (publisher)
1909
1 51 Oregon State Building illuminated at night
Portland Post Card Co. (x5211) (publisher)
1909
1 52 Oregon State Building
Robert A. Reid (69) (publisher)
1909
1 53 Grounds showing planters and flowers
Oakes Photo Co. (1349) (photographer)
1909
1 54 Nome Circle Bandstand
Portland Post Card Co. (x51) (publisher)
1909
1 55 Nome Circle Bandstand with Forestry Building in background
Portland Post Card Co. (x137) (publisher)
1909
1 56 Columns of Forestry Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x155) (publisher)
1909
1 57 View up staircase inside Forestry Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x141) (publisher)
1909
1 58 Large dice and Indian girl inside Forestry Building
Oakes Photo Co. (12?0) (photographer)
1909
1 59 Machinery Building
Robert A. Reid (58) (photographer)
1909
1 60 Interior of Forestry Building with woman on balcony
Portland Post Card Co. (x154)Frank H. Nowell (x1149) (publisher)
1909
1 61 Interior of Forestry Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x129)Frank H. Nowell (x1084) (publisher)
1909
1 62 Exhibit of International Typographical Union of North America
Reverse reads "Presented by the International Typographical Union"
1909
1 63 Men standing underneath "The Big Stick"
Robert A. Reid (84) (publisher)
The "Big Stick" was a piece of timber 5 feet square and 87 feet long
1909
1 64 Forestry Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x133) (publisher)
1909
1 65 Hoo-Hoo House
Portland Post Card Co. (x152)
1909
1 66 Michigan Club 1909
1 67 Washington Dairy Building
Oakes Photo Co. (1196) (photographer)
1909
1 68 View looking North on Pacific Avenue with Paraffine Paint Company and Forestry Buildings in background
Portland Post Card Co. (x90) (publisher)
(Nowell photo x1526 (x1596?))
1909
1 69 Machinery Hall
Edward H Mitchell (publisher)
1909
1 70 View from the steps of the Manufactures Building facing Machinery Hall
Portland Post Card Co. (x30) (publisher)
1909
1 71 King County Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x55) (publisher)
1909
1 72 King County Building with visitors
Robert A. Reid (87) (publisher)
1909
1 73 View facing West on Lake Washington Avenue
Portland Post Card Co. (x6129) (publisher)
1909
1 74 View facing southeast on Lake Washington Avenue
Portland Post Card Co. (x18) (publisher)
1909
1 75 Manufactures and Agricultural Buildings
Portland Post Card Co. (x22) (publisher)
1909
1 76 Side of Manufactures Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x2) (publisher)
1909
1 77 Manufactures Building and Rainier Garden
Portland Post Card Co. (x142) (publisher)
1909
1 78 View of Arctic Circle facing the U.S. Government Building
Robert A. Reid (59)Frank H. Nowell (x1289) (publisher)
1909
1 79 View of Arctic Circle facing the U.S. Government Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x73) (publisher)
1909
1 80 Court of Honor illuminated at night
Robert A. Reid (86)Frank H. Nowell (x2246) (publisher)
1909
1 81 View east through the colonnade of Agricultural Building towards the Manufactures Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x5365) (publisher)
1909
1 82 Manufactures Building, King County Building and Machinery Hall
Portland Post Card Co. (x76) (publisher)
1909
1 83 View facing Manufactures Building across Arctic Circle
Portland Post Card Co. (x9) (publisher)
1909
1 84 End elevation of Manufactures Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x5357) (publisher)
1909
1 85 Men and two children posing outside Manufactures Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x74)Frank H. Nowell (x838) (publisher)
1909
1 86 Manufactures Building at night from across Arctic Circle
Portland Post Card Co. (x5216) (publisher)
1909
1 87 Vista from the steps of the Agricultural Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x44) (publisher)
1909
1 88 University of Pennsylvania AYPE souvenir postcard 1909
1 89 Three men in the Arctic Circle with Manufactures Building in background
Portland Post Card Co. (x41) (publisher)
1909
1 90 Pergolas of the Manufactures Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x3) (publisher)
1909
1 91 Manufactures Building with visitors
Robert A. Reid (53) (publisher)
1909
1 92 Manufactures Building with Arctic Circle on the right
Portland Post Card Co. (x123) (publisher)
1909
1 93 View across Geyser Basin with water buffalo statue in foreground
Oakes Photo Co. (1235) (photographer)
1909
1 94 View across Cascade Court to Manufactures Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x 67) (publisher)
1909
1 95 View looking west across Yukon Avenue
Portland Post Card Co. (x43) (publisher)
1909
1 96 View across Cascades towards Manufactures Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x40) (publisher)
1909
1 97 Cascades and U.S. Government Building illuminated at night
Portland Post Card Co. (x5215) (publisher)
1909
1 98 Cascades and U.S. Government Building with visitors
Portland Post Card Co. (x5370) (publisher)
1909
1 99 Cascades and U.S. Government Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x84) (publisher)
1909
1 100 View looking west from Agricultural Building steps
Portland Post Card Co. (x10) (publisher)
1909
1 101 Manufactures and Oriental Buildings
Portland Post Card Co. (x39) (publisher)
1909
1 102 East side of the Cascade Court
Portland Post Card Co. (x147) (publisher)
1909
1 103 View of Hawaii and Oriental Buildings from European Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x75) (publisher)
1909
1 104 Hawaii and Oriental Buildings with urn in foreground
Portland Post Card Co. (x151) (publisher)
1909
1 105 View of Oriental Building from Manufactures Building entrance
Portland Post Card Co. (x149) (publisher)
1909
1 106 Oriental Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x52) (publisher)
1909
1 107 View of Mines Building from across the Cascades
Portland Post Card Co. (x5355) (publisher)
1909
1 108 View up Yukon Avenue facing Nome Circle
Portland Post Card Co. (x148) (publisher)
1909
1 109 Oriental Building with Manufactures Building on the right
Portland Post Card Co. (x121) (publisher)
1909
1 110 Right corner of Oriental Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x58) (publisher)
1909
1 111 European and Manufactures Buildings from across the Cascades
Portland Post Card Co. (x81) (publisher)
1909
1 112 Left corner of the Oriental Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x57) (publisher)
1909
1 113 U.S. Government Building from the Cascade Court
Portland Post Card Co. (x156) (publisher)
1909
1 114 U.S. Government Building and Hawaii Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x155) (publisher)
1909
1 115 U.S. Government Building illuminated at night
Portland Post Card Co. (x5214) (publisher)
1909
1 116 U.S. Government Building and Hawaii Building
Robert A. Reid (51)Frank H. Nowell (x1310) (publisher)
1909
1 117 Alaska Monument with Alaska Building in background
Portland Post Card Co. (x140) (publisher)
1909
1 118 Gold nugget exhibit, interior of Alaska Building
Robert A. Reid (91) (publisher)
1909
1 119 Oriental Building
Robert A. Reid (55) (publisher)
1909
1 120 European Building illuminated at night
Portland Post Card Co. (x130) (publisher)
1909
1 121 Front entrance of European Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x60) (publisher)
1909
1 122 European Building from left side
Portland Post Card Co. (x48) (publisher)
1909
1 123 European Building from right side
Portland Post Card Co. (x47) (publisher)
1909
1 124 View up street toward side of European Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x38) (publisher)
1909
1 125 Architectural detail on Oriental Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x124) (publisher)
1909
1 126 Side of the European Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x32) (publisher)
1909
1 127 Agricultural, European and Alaska Buildings
Portland Post Card Co. (x77) (publisher)
1909
1 128 Oriental and Manufactures Buildings from across Geyser Basin
Portland Post Card Co. (x42) (publisher)
1909
1 129 Agricultural and Oriental Buildings from across the Cascades
Portland Post Card Co. (x33) (publisher)
1909
1 130 Geyser Basin with European Building and Alaska Monument in background 1909
1 131 Northeast view from Manufactures Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x5353) (publisher)
1909
1 132 End of the Agriculture and European Buildings
Portland Post Card Co. (x36) (publisher)
1909
1 133 Agricultural Building reflected in Geyser Basin
Portland Post Card Co. (x78) (publisher)
1909
1 134 Agriculture Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x63) (publisher)
1909
1 135 Agriculture Building illuminated at night
Portland Post Card Co. (x144) (publisher)
1909
1 136 Agriculture Building illuminated at night
Portland Post Card Co. (x5208) (publisher)
1909
1 137 Pergolas of the Agriculture Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x4) (publisher)
1909
1 138 Colonnade of Agriculture Building with urn in foreground
Portland Post Card Co. (x65) (publisher)
1909
1 139 Motorists in a car on AYPE grounds
Portland Post Card Co. (x5367) (publisher)
1909
1 140 End elevation of Agriculture Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x1) (publisher)
1909
1 141 End of Agriculture Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x64) (publisher)
1909
1 142 Agriculture Building and grounds
Robert A. Reid (52) (publisher)
1909
1 143 Mines and Agriculture Buildings
Portland Post Card Co. (x188) (publisher)
1909
1 144 Mines Building
Oakes Photo Co. (1195) (photographer)
1909
1 145 Gardens with YWCA Building in background
Oakes Photo Co. (1332) (photographer)
1909
1 146 YWCA Building
Oakes Photo Co. (1205) (photographer)
1909
1 147 Rainier Vista
Portland Post Card Co. (x139) (publisher)
1909
1 148 Formal Gardens with Temple of Music (Music Pavilion) 1909
1 149 Rainier Vista with Music Pavilion on left side
Portland Post Card Co. (x92) (publisher)
1909
1 150 Music Pavilion (Temple of Music) with visitors
Robert A. Reid (89) (publisher)
1909
1 151 Music Pavilion and grounds
O.T. Frasch (260) (photographer)
1909
1 152 Rainier Vista with Music Pavilion on left side
Portland Post Card Co. (x143) (publisher)
1909
1 153 Music Pavilion
Portland Post Card Co. (x50) (publisher)
1909
1 154 Canadian Government Building with flagpole
Portland Post Card Co. (x104) (publisher)
1909
1 155 Close up of Canadian Government Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x132) (publisher)
1909
1 156 Japan Exhibit Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x150) (publisher)
1909
1 157 Japan Exhibit Building
Robert A. Reid (82) (publisher)
1909
1 158 Grounds near the Japan Building
Oakes Photo Co. (1305) (photographer)
1909
1 159 Rear Admiral Hikojiro Ijichi and dignitaries
Robert A. Reid (85) (publisher)
1909
1 160 Washington State Women's Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x101) (publisher)
1909
1 161 Washington State Women's Building 1909
1 162 Fine Arts Palace
Robert A. Reid (55) (publisher)
1909
1 163 Auditorium
Portland Post Card Co. (x5352) (publisher)
1909
1 164 Administration Building with Fine Arts Palace in background
Portland Post Card Co. (x27) (publisher)
1909
1 165 Administration Building
Portland Post Card (x6502) (publisher)
1909
1 166 American Women's League 1909
1 167 Masonic Building
Oakes Photo Co. (1193) (photographer)
1909
1 168 Composite of photographs from the Pay Streak
Robert A. Reid (93) (publisher)
1909
1 169 Ferris Wheel
Robert A. Reid (79) (publisher)
1909
1 170 Swedish Building 1909
1 171 Chinese Village
Robert A. Reid (74)Frank H. Nowell (x1560) (publisher)
1909
1 172 Battle of Gettysburg Building
Portland Post Card Co. (x105) (publisher)
1909
1 173 Eskimo Village
Robert A. Reid (70)Frank H. Nowell (x1766) (publisher)
1909
1 174 Eskimos on steps
Portland Post Card Co. (x6136) (publisher)
1909
1 175 Eskimo, Joe Cook
Portland Post Card Co. (x5198) (publisher)
1909
1 176 Eskimo woman and man
Portland Post Card (x5197) (publisher)
1909
1 177 Eskimo mother and child
Portland Post Card Co. (x5195) (publisher)
1909
1 178 Eskimo baby
Portland Post Card Co. (x146) (publisher)
1909
1 179 Looking North on Pay Streak from Pacific Avenue
Portland Post Card Co. (x88)Frank H. Nowell (x1594) (publisher)
1909
1 180 Pay Streak from Igorrote Village
Portland Post Card Co. (x89)Frank H. Nowell (x1607) (publisher)
1909
1 181 Igorrote Tribe in Igorrote Village
Portland Post Card Co. (x128) (publisher)
1909
1 182 Men performing war dance in Igorrote Village
Portland Post Card Co. (x5346) (publisher)
1909
1 183 Portrait of man 1909
1 184 Igorrote boy in Igorrote Village
Portland Post Card Co. (x5310) (publisher)
1909
1 185 Igorrote child and Eskimo Child
Portland Post Card Co. (x136) (publisher)
1909
1 186 Seated Igorrote men
Robert A. Reid (72)Frank H. Nowell (x2165) (publisher)
1909
1 187 Battle of the Monitor and Merrimac Building, Pay Streak
Oakes Photo Co. (1202) (photographer)
1909
1 188 Dixieland
Robert A. Reid (73) (publisher)
1909
1 189 San Marino Village
Portland Post Card Co. (x107) (publisher)
1909
1 190 Baby incubator exhibit
Robert A. Reid (78)Frank H. Nowell (x1528) (publisher)
1909
1 191 The Fairy Gorge Tickler
Robert A. Reid (80) (publisher)
1909
1 192 Looking North on the Pay Streak
Portland Post Card Co. (x87)Frank H. Nowell (x1515) (publisher)
1909
1 193 Japanese Village
Robert A. Reid (75)Frank H. Nowell (x2757) (publisher)
1909
1 194 Geisha girls in Japanese Village
Robert A. Reid (81) (publisher)
1909
1 195 Tokio Café on Pay Streak
Portland Post Card Co. (x96)Frank H. Nowell (publisher)
1909
1 196 U.S. Lifesaving Station with visitors
Robert A. Reid (83)Frank H. Nowell (x1551) (publisher)
1909
1 197 U.S. Lifesaving Station with sign in the background, "You'll Like Tacoma" 1909
1 198 Crowds watching the life saving demonstration outside Tokio Café
Oakes Photo Co. (1268) (photographer)
1909
1 199 Military encampment
Portland Post Card Co. (x95)Frank H. Nowell (x1542) (publisher)
1909

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909 : Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic postcards

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Becker, Nancy (collector)
    • Nowell, Frank H., 1864-1950 (photographer)