Seattle and Washington State stereocard collection, approximately 1911-1928

Overview of the Collection

Title
Seattle and Washington State stereocard collection
Dates
approximately 1911-1928 (inclusive)
Quantity
31 photographic prints on stereo cards (1 box) : stereograph ; 3.5 x 7 in.
24 modern contact prints : stereograph
30 negatives (1 box) : stereograph
Collection Number
PH0655
Summary
Stereoscopic views of various locations around Seattle including downtown, parks, University of Washington , lakes, Sand Point Naval Base and some views in Sammamish Valley
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 negatives are not available for viewing without permission. Contact the Special Collections division, University of Washington Libraries.

Languages
English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Stereographs were a popular form of photography in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Two stereoscopic pictures were mounted side by side on a card approximately seven inches wide and three inches tall. When viewed through a stereoscope or special glasses, the image appeared to be three-dimensional.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection comprises stereoscopic views of Seattle and Washington locations, landmarks, waterways, and events between 1919 and 1928. Highlights include Wide Awake, the first elephant purchased for Woodland Park Zoo; naval ships and small personal craft using the Ballard Locks; Blethen Chimes on the University of Washington campus; the ground breaking ceremony for the Sand Point Naval Air Station, cherry trees in Kirkland and logging scenes.

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 the Special Collections division, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Gift of Green Lake Methodist Church.

Original stereocards transferred from Stereocard Collection PH Coll 372 in 2008. They were probably part of the original gift. Many of the original stereocards were prints from the negatives in the collection.

Processing Note

Processed by Diane Constantine, 2004 and Marion Brown, 2008.

The negatives were printed and the modern prints and the vintage stereocards made from the negatives have been combined. Some of the prints from the negatives show information written on the photographs that was cropped out when the photographer made the stereocards.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Aerial views
Box item
1 1
Lake Union looking northeast
between 1919 and 1928?
1 2-3 between 1919 and 1928?
1 4 between 1919 and 1928?
Downtown Seattle
Box item
1 5a-b
Parade on 1st Avenue viewed from Cherry Street
5a is a stereocard. 5b is a modern print.
Caption reads "Returning from France."
1920?
1 6 1919?
1 7 1919?
1 8 between 1919 and 1928?
1 9 between 1919 and 1928?
1 10
Looking northwest along 2nd Avenue
between 1919 and 1928?
1 11
Yesler Hill with City Light Building and trolley
Caption reads "Seattle--Yesler Hill."
between 1919 and 1928?
1 12
County-City Building with Seattle Shriners' Camp
Located at 3rd Avenue and James Street, the County-City building is now the site of the King County Courthouse.
1922?
1 13 May 30, 1922
Parks
Box item
1 14 a-b
Boardwalk and crowd at Alki Beach
14a is a stereocard. 14b is a modern print.
between 1919 and 1928?
1 15 between 1919 and 1928?
1 16 between 1919 and 1928?
1 17
Green Lake Park
between 1919 and 1928?
1 18 a-b
Trees and shore at Lincoln Beach
18a is a stereocard. 18b is a modern print
between 1919 and 1928?
1 19 between 1919 and 1928?
1 20
Seward Park bathhouse
The bathhouse was built in 1927.
circa 1927
1 21 a-b
Wading pool in Volunteer Park
21a is a stereocard. 21b is a modern print.
between 1919 and 1928?
1 22 between 1919 and 1928?
1 23
Woodland Park
"Seattle--Under the maples, Woodland Pk."
between 1919 and 1928?
1 24 between 1919 and 1928?
1 25
Eight year old Elephant with visitors at the Woodland Park Zoo
The elephant is quite possibly Wide Awake--the Woodland Park Zoo's first elephant, purchased in 1921.
1921
University District and Sand Point Naval Station
Box item
1 26-27
Blethen Chimes, University of Washington campus
The 12 bells of Chimes Tower were donated by Colonel A.J. Blethen. They were enclosed in the tower in 1914.
1914?
1 28 between 1919 and 1928?
1 29 between 1919 and 1928?
1 30
Rainier Vista with Sylvan Theater in the distance
1911?
1 31-32
Sylvan Theater, University of Washington campus
The focus of the Sylvan Theater-- the four iconic columns reading "Loyalty" "Industry", Faith" and "Efficiency"-- were moved to their current location in 1911 from the Territorial University.
1911?
1 33 a-b
Three people walking on a residential street
33a is a stereocard. 33b is a modern print.
between 1919 and 1928?
1 34
Sand Point Aviation Field, Seattle
On June 19, 1920 Navy officers and elected officials held a ground breaking ceremony for the Sand Point Naval Air Station.
1920?
Waterways
Box item
1 35
Chittenden Locks
caption incorrectly reads: "Small lock--Lake Washington Canal"
between 1919 and 1928?
1 36 between 1919 and 1928?
1 37
Lake Washington looking east
between 1919 and 1928?
1 38
Children on the shore of Lake Washington
"Lake Washington, looking NE from Denny Estate."
between 1919 and 1928?
1 39
Lake Washington, looking southwest from Denny Estate
between 1919 and 1928?
1 40 a-b
Three automobiles on Lake Washington Boulevard
40a is a stereocard. 40b is a modern print
between 1919 and 1928?
1 41
Lake Washington Cut, Portage Bay and Union Bay
between 1919 and 1928?
1 42 between 1919 and 1928?
1 43-44
Montlake Bridge
The Montlake Bridge was finished in 1925
1925?
1 45 between 1919 and 1928?
1 46
University Bridge
The bridge opened on July 1, 1919
1919?

Outside SeattleReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Known locations
Box item
1 47 between 1919 and 1928?
1 48
Woman sitting in Hudson Park in Edmonds, Washington
between 1919 and 1928?
1 49
State House in Olympia, Washington. Viewed from across the water.
The legislative building with its distinctive dome was completed in 1928
1928?
1 50 between 1919 and 1928?
1 51 between 1919 and 1928?
1 52
Sammamish Valley, Washington
between 1919 and 1928?
1 53
Vancouver, B.C. viewed across the water
between 1919 and 1928?
Unknown locations
Box item
1 54 between 1919 and 1928?
1 55 between 1919 and 1928?

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bridges--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Lakes--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Parks--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Shorelines--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Geographical Names

  • Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Photographs
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs
  • Washington, Lake (Wash.)--Photographs