Asahel Curtis Seattle photograph album, approxiomately 1901-1903

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941
Title
Asahel Curtis Seattle photograph album
Dates
approxiomately 1901-1903 (inclusive)
Quantity
78 photographs in 1 album (1 box) ; various sizes
Collection Number
PH0481
Summary
Album of photographs of 3rd and 4th Avenues and other streets in Seattle, arranged to create panoramas showing a continuous view of the buildings on each street
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 Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Asahel Curtis was the most prominent Seattle photographer of the early twentieth century, as well as a noted outdoorsman and regional booster. Born in Minnesota in 1874, he moved to Washington Territory in 1888. Asahel's brother, Edward, supported the family by opening a photography studio in Seattle, and Asahel went to work for him in 1894. In 1897, the brothers agreed that Asahel should go to the Yukon and document the Klondike Gold Rush. Asahel remained there for two years, alternately taking pictures and working a small and largely unproductive claim. The brothers parted ways after a bitter disagreement over the rights to Asahel's Yukon photos, which Edward had published under his own name. Edward later became nationally recognized for his twenty-volume series of photos of Native Americans. Asahel also enjoyed a successful career as a photographer, although he did not receive the acclaim that Edward did. He married Florence Carney in 1902 and opened his own studio in 1911. He was hired by a number of local companies, organizations, and wealthy individuals to take portraits and promotional photos. Asahel became more widely known for his high-quality images of the Washington landscape that were published nationally.

Asahel Curtis had a deep appreciation of Mt. Rainier and for several decades he directed both his appreciation for scenic beauty and efforts at regional boosterism into the development of Mt. Rainier National Park. Curtis was a founding member of the Mountaineers, a mountain-climbing group which also promoted the preservation of wilderness areas. Curtis was active in the affairs of the club for the first several years after its founding in 1906. He led the Mountaineers on climbs of Mt. Rainier and organized a committee within the club on Mt. Rainier National Park. However, his involvement in the Seattle-Tacoma Rainier National Park Committee (later the Rainier National Park Advisory Board) strained his relations with the group. The committee, which Curtis chaired from 1912 to 1936, was formed by community business interests to exploit the park's tourism potential. Curtis, through the committee, sought to promote accessibility to the park and to increase tourism by building roads. His opposition to the expansion of Olympic National Park in the late 1930s led to a further deterioration of relations with the Mountaineers. It also caused a rift between Curtis and his fellow Mt. Rainier boosters and effectively ended his involement in park affairs.

Curtis's advocacy was not limited to the development of Mt. Rainier National Park. While serving as the offical photographer for the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, he also chaired its Development Committee and its Highway Committee for many years. His interests reached beyond the Puget Sound region. Curtis owned a small orchard in Ellensburg, and he believed that the landscape of Central Washington could be improved by building irrigation projects to turn the arid region into cropland. The Washington Irrigation Association thus chose Curtis to be its president in the 1920s. He also participated in the affairs of the Washington State Good Roads Association, serving as its president in 1932 and 1933. Asahel Curtis died in 1941.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The album documents many historic buildings in the downtown Seattle area. The album has been dated to after 1900 (Cyrus Clapp building, page 34), and before 1903-1904 (Bonney & Stewart Undertakers, page 23). It probably dates closer to the 1903 opening of the Hotel Washington (page 48).

The album consists of a sequence of photographs that document Seattle street scenes up and down 3rd and 4th Avenues between Yesler and Pine, on both sides of the street; the photos look up and down the named streets as well. The photographs are arranged together in the album so as to present a continuous view of each street. The buildings shown include: Plymouth Congregational Church, First Presbyterian Church, Shorey's Old Book Store, New Western Hotel, Telephone Building, Third Avenue Theatre, Seattle Theatre, St. Elmo Hotel, Old City Hall and Police Station.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Most pages consist of two photographic prints forming a panoramic image.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Megan Churchwell, 2009.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1 Blank
Two or more photos appear originally to have been on this page.Caption probably referring to owner reads: Mrs. [illegible] Gifford
2-3 Houses on the 1100 block of the east side of 4th Ave. from Seneca St. to Spring St. circa 1901-1903
4-5 Houses on the 1000 block of the east side of 4th Ave. from Spring St. to Madison St.
These homes were replaced by the Carnegie Library in 1905-1906.
circa 1901-1903
6-7 Houses and businesses on 900 block of the east side of 4th Ave. from Madison St. to Marion St.
Businesses include the Telephone Building and Young Plumbing, Gas, and Steam Fitting.
circa 1901-1903
8-9 Houses on the west side of 4th Ave. from Marion St. to Madison St. circa 1901-1903
10-11 Lincoln Apartments and houses on the west side of 4th Ave. from Madison St. to Spring St. circa 1901-1903
12-13 First Presbyterian Church and house on the west side of 4th Ave. from Spring St. to Seneca St.
The house was replaced by the Independence Telephone Co. by 1905.
circa 1901-1903
14 Businesses on 4th Ave. between Yesler Way and Jefferson St. circa 1901-1903
15 Businesses on the 500 block of Jefferson St. between 5th and 6th avenues
A. Curtis 285 cropped.Businesses include J. Jesperson Tailor, Globe Laundry, Geo. Mass and Co. Seals and Rubber Stamps, Earl Wing cigar factory, French hand laundry, and German-American Investment with Buttner, Attorney.
circa 1901-1903
16 Businesses on the east side of 3rd Ave. from Jefferson St. to James St.
Businesses include Dellar Barbers Supply Co., J.D. Warnsholdt and Sons, Tailors, Ray's Cafe/Ray's Restaurant, the Normandy Hotel, Dalbey's Oyster Cafe and Coffee Parlor.
circa 1901-1903
17 View looking west on James St. from 3rd Ave
Shows streetcar line running down James St. and the side of the Normandy Hotel.
circa 1901-1903
18-19 Businesses on the 600 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. from James St. to Cherry St. circa 1901-1903
20 View looking west along the 200 block of Cherry St. from 3rd Ave. circa 1901-1903
21 Shorey's Old Book Store and other businesses on the first half of the 700 block of the east side of 3rd Ave. from Cherry St. to Columbia St.
Includes: Occidental Hotel, Kane & Gross Merchant Tailor, and Oxford Tailor.
circa 1901-1903
22a Businesses on the second half of the 700 block of the east side of 3rd Ave. from Cherry St. to Columbia St.
Businesses include a confectionery shop, a tobacconnist's shop, and the Bonney & Stewart Undertakers.
circa 1901-1903
22b Missing photo
Glue spots still evident where photo was pasted. Photo presumably would have shown the front of the building of Bonney & Stewart, Undertakers.
circa 1901-1903
23 Looking west on Columbia St. from 3rd Ave.
Shows 700 block businesses including: Turkish bath/Alley Restaurant, Bonney & Stewart Undertakers, and Lyon House/Lyon Building.Bonney & Stewart built a brick building at the 3rd Ave. and Columbia St. site, where the Seattle Chamber of Commerce building now stands. Bonney & Stewart moved into the building in 1893. Ten years later, the name of the business changed when Harry W. Watson bought out Stewart. The Bonney-Watson business still exists, and is now one of the oldest surviving Seattle businesses.In 1910, the Lyon House was replaced by the Lyon Building which still stands today.
circa 1901-1903
24-25 Businesses on the 800 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. from Columbia St. to Marion St.
Right hand Item25 is a cropped version of A. Curtis 313. Photo in left hand photo is cropped version of A. Curtis 312.Businesses include Kinsel Bros. Drugs, H. Hassenpflug, Tailor, I.X.L. Creamery, New Western Hotel, and the Electric Laundry Co.
circa 1901-1903
26 Looking west on Marion St. from 3rd Ave.
The small homes or businesses shown here were replaced by the Marion Building by 1905.
circa 1901-1903
27 Buildings on the 900 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. and on the first half of the block from Marion St. to Madison St.
Includes M.A. Hart's Hand Laundry.
circa 1901-1903
28 Businesses on the 900 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. and on the second half of the block from Marion St. to Madison St.
Businesses include a barber's shop and Home Bakery.
circa 1901-1903
29 Looking west on Madison from 3rd Ave.
Businesses shown include a real estate firm and Carpenter Shg. Part of the Frederick & Nelson building on 2nd Ave. and Madison St. can be seen in this photo.
circa 1901-1903
30-31 Businesses on the 1000 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. and from Madison St. to Spring St.
Businesses include: C&E News Depot, Morgan's Exchange Real Estate, and Block Bros. Manufacturers.
circa 1901-1903
32 Looking west on Spring St. from 3rd Ave. with a view of the Frederick & Nelson Building on 2nd Ave.
The Frederick & Nelson department store was located in the Rialto Building at 2nd Ave. and Madison St. The store moved to a new building on 5th Ave. in 1918.
circa 1901-1903
33 Businesses on the 1100 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. and on the first half of the block from Spring St. to Seneca St.
Businesses include: Mills, Randall & Co., Carpenters and Contractors, the Albemarle Hotel, Routman Plumbing Co., Puget Sound Investment Co., and theSeattle Daily Star.TheSeattle Daily Staroperated as a daily newspaper from 1899 to 1947.
circa 1901-1903
34 Businesses on the 1100 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. and on the second half of the block from Spring St. to Seneca St.
Businesses include: the Cyrus F. Clapp Building (built in 1900), the New York Notion Co., and Howard D. Thomas Co. Carpets.
circa 1901-1903
35 Downtown Seattle street scene
No caption. This may be a view looking down Seneca St. from 1st Ave., or it may be the first half of the block from Seneca St. to University St. on the west side of 3rd Ave.
circa 1901-1903
36 University Book Store on 1223 3rd Ave. on the west side of 3rd Ave. between Seneca St. and University St.
Right hand photo is A. Curtis 345B.This is the site of the 1201 3rd Ave. Tower, previously known as the WAMU Tower.
circa 1901-1903
37 Looking west on University St. toward the Hotel Brooklyn, from 3rd Ave.
The Hotel Brooklyn still stands at 1222 2nd Ave. This Romanesque Revival building is one of the few surviving structures that were built immediately after the Great Fire. The building was designated a city landmark in 1986, but was altered to accomodate the construction of the Washington Mutual Tower. Only the primary facades remain.
circa 1901-1903
38-39 Houses on the 1300 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. from University St. to Union St. circa 1901-1903
40 Large house on the west side of 3rd Ave. on the second half of the block between University St. and Union St. circa 1901-1903
41 Building at the corner of the west side of 3rd Ave. and Union St. circa 1901-1903
42-43 Businesses on the 1400 block of the west side of 3rd Ave. between Union St. and Pike St.
Businesses include: W.O. Hardin Real Estate, a coal seller, the Snoqualmie Building containing the Snoqualmie Pharmacy, and Hewitt's Restaurant.
circa 1901-1903
44 Looking west on Pike St. from 3rd Ave.
Businesses include: the Snoqualmie Hotel Bar, Gustave Neal Paint Co., and Snoqualmie Hotel/Dentist. The view also shows streetcar lines, a brick street, and a W.O.W. banner in the background.
circa 1901-1903
45 Businesses on the 1400 block of the east side of 3rd Ave. on the first half of the block between Pike St. and Union St.
Businesses include: Butterworth Undertakers/Butterworth & Sons Embalmers and W.O. Nelson Plumbing.
circa 1901-1903
46-47 Businesses on the 1400 block of the east side of 3rd Ave. on the second half of the block between Pike St. and Union St.
Item47-cropped version of left hand side of the photo at A. Curtis 358.Businesses include: the Lyndhurst Building, Wm. Hensel Jr., Grocer, Superior Cafe, Colson's Restaurant, Ideal Restaurant, Western Laundry, and a shop selling groceries, fruits, and confectionery.
circa 1901-1903
48 Advertisement for the opening of the Washington Hotel
This hotel was previously known as the Denny Hotel, before the Panic of 1893 halted work before the completion of the interior. The hotel was left uncompleted for a decade, before developer James A. Moore bought the hotel. He completed and renamed the 100 room building as the Washington Hotel. Moore personally handed over the first hotel room keys to President Teddy Roosevelt on May 23, 1903. The building survived only until 1906, when the western part of Denny Hill was leveled. Today the historic Moore Theater occupies this location.
circa 1901-1903
49 Businesses on the 1300 block of the east side of 3rd Ave. on the first half of the block between Union St. and University St.
Businesses include: Walker Portrait Studio, Delmonico Oyster/Chop House, Secondhand Furniture, the Washington Furnished Rooms, Martin & Fox Auctioneers, Puget Sound Marble & Granite Co., and Seattle Undertaking Co.
circa 1901-1903
50-51 Businesses on the 1300 block of the east side of 3rd Ave. on the second half of the block between Union St. and University St.
Right hand side of Item50 in A. Curtis 348.Right hand side of Item51 in A. Curtis 346.Businesses include: Plymouth Congregational Church and the University House Building which housed a furrier and the Pacific Picture Frame Co.
circa 1901-1903
52a Newspaper clipping titled "It's Not Collegiate" with photograph of Territorial University Building
Story is about a public showing of "early Seattle scenes" at the Green Lake Fieldhouse. The Territorial University Building was built in 1861, and was replaced by the Olympic Hotel.
circa 1901-1903
52b Houses on the first half of the block between University St. and Seneca St. on the east side of 3rd Ave. circa 1901-1903
53 Houses on the second half of the block between University St. and Seneca St. on the east side of 3rd Ave. circa 1901-1903
54-55 Businesses on the 1100 block of the east side of 3rd Ave. between Seneca St. and Spring St.
Businesses include: Conklin House, A.R. Smith Cash Grocery, Pacific Paper Box Co., Theosophical Society, a telephone company, and Theo. Turner Steam Carpet Beating.
circa 1901-1903
56-57 Businesses on the east side of 3rd Ave. between Spring St. and Madison St.
Businesses include: Kee Wass Laundry, D.H. King Plumbing, a shoeing forge, a wallpaper and paper hanging business, and the Third Avenue Theater at the corner of 3rd Ave. and Madison St.The Third Avenue Theater opened in 1890 and ran as a family theater with "polite vaudeville," farce, and melodrama. The theater did not survive the 1906-1907 Third Avenue regrade.
circa 1901-1903
58 Houses and the First Presbyterian Church circa 1901-1903
59 Houses and the east side of 3rd Ave. between Madison St. and Marion St. circa 1901-1903
60-61 Businesses on the 800 block of the east side of 3rd Ave. from Marion St. to Columbia St.
Includes: First M.E. Church, C.F. Stolting Wallpaper/Painting, and J. Kenney Boot & Shoe Repair. An Actor's Relief poster is in window of otherwise unidentified business.
circa 1901-1903
62 Shorey Block on the east side of 3rd Ave. between Columbia St. and Cherry St.
Includes: C. Miller Cigar Manufacturer, Smith-Premier Typewriter, G.H. Hoover & Co., and Washington Electric Supply and Mantel Co.
circa 1901-1903
63 3rd Ave. near Seattle Theater
Probably between Columbia St. and Cherry St. on the east side of 3rd Ave. View shows the Anchor Printing Co. at 712 3rd Ave. and a plumbing business.
circa 1901-1903
64 View from 3rd Ave. of the Seattle Theater on the northeast corner of 3rd Ave. and Cherry St.
The Seattle Theater was replaced by the Arctic Building in 1915.
circa 1901-1903
65 Shorey's Old Book Store on the corner of 3rd Ave. and Cherry St. circa 1901-1903
66a Seattle Theater on 3rd Ave. and Cherry St. taken from opposite street corner
Is also A. Curtis 394.
circa 1901-1903
66b St. Elmo Hotel at the corner of 3rd Ave. and Cherry St. on the 600 block of the east side of 3rd Ave.
Is also A. Curtis 292.
circa 1901-1903
67 Businesses on the first half of the 600 block on the east side of 3rd Ave. between Cherry St. and James St.
Includes: James McGough House and Sign Painting, Good Health Restaurant, and Battle Creek Sanitarium Treatment Rooms. Businesses shown are next door to the St. Elmo Hotel.
circa 1901-1903
68 Businesses on the second half of the 600 block on the east side of 3rd Ave. between Cherry St. and James St.
Includes a modiste's shop and The American Tailors. The large commerical building depicted is possibly the Scurrey Building.
circa 1901-1903
69 The old Yesler home near James St.
Seattle pioneer Henry Yesler commissioned William Boone to build his house. Completed in 1884, the mansion occupied the whole block between James St. and Jefferson St., and between 3rd and 4th avenues. It was the largest home in Seattle in 1884. From 1899 to 1901, the building housed the Seattle Public Library until the mansion burned down on January 2, 1901.Photo probably taken from 3rd Ave. near the intersection with James St.
circa 1901-1903
70 The old Yesler home near Jefferson St.
Photo probably taken from corner of Jefferson St. and Third Ave.
circa 1901-1903
71 Seattle City Hall at the corner of 3rd Ave. and Jefferson St.
Left hand photo is a cropped version in A. Curtis 278.Right hand photo is a cropped version in A. Curtis 277.Full photograph in SEA3041.Caption: Old Police Station.This was Seattle's second location for City Hall. Before the city purchased the building in 1891, the building was the King County Courthouse. The building was nicknamed "Katzenjammer Castle" because of the city's many subsequent renovations and additions to it.
circa 1901-1903
72 Street car lines on Yesler Way circa 1901-1903
73 Bremerton Navy Yard circa 1901-1903
74 Looking north on 2nd Ave. from just below Yesler Way
Notation in lower left corner of image: Curtis X119.
circa 1901-1903
75 Pioneer Place park between 1st Ave. and Yesler Way
Notation in lower left corner of image: Curtis X101.
circa 1901-1903
76 Ships near Pacific Coast Co. piers on waterfront
Faded caption unreadable.
circa 1901-1903
77 Printed image titled "The Lake Front at Leschi Park"
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
Between 1888 and 1940, a cable car line ran from Pioneer Square to Leschi Park.The Anderson Steamboat Co. boats are visible in this photo.
circa 1901-1903

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Apartments--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Dwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Small business--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Streets--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941--Archives

Corporate Names

  • First Presbyterian Church (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Plymouth Congregational Church (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Shorey Book Store--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Fourth Avenue (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Pine Street (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Photographs
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs
  • Third Avenue (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Yesler Way (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs