Frank S. Matsura Photographs

Frank S. Matsura Photographs, 1907-1913

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Matsura, Frank, 1873-1913.
Title: Frank S. Matsura Photographs
Dates: 1907-1913 (inclusive)
19071913
Quantity: 2 Linear feet of shelf space, (2 Boxes), (1886 Items)
Collection Number: PC 35 (collection)
Summary: Photographic prints depicting pioneer life in Okanogan County, Washington, including scenes of work and entertainment.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Frank S. Matsura arrived in the United States from Japan in 1905, settling briefly in Seattle before crossing the Cascades to take a job at the Elliot Hotel in Conconully, Washington, as a handyman. In 1907 he moved to Okanogan, Washington, and opened a photography studio, which he operated until his death from tuberculosis in 1913 at the age of 32. Judge William C. Brown served as administrator of Matsura's effects and gained custody of his photographs. As one of Matsura's closest friends, Judge Brown recognized the historical importance of the photographs in his custody.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The photographs have been sorted into subject groupings and roughly organized into eight series. Series I. People - Includes individual and group portaits, children, Judge William Compton Brown's animals, athletics, Indians, and horsemen; Series II. Places - Consists of photographs of the Columbia River Okanogan, Omak, and Riverside; Series III. Things - Includes automobiles, homesteads and ranches, horse-drawn vehicles, houses, and orchards; Series IV. Activities includes scenes of farming, irrigation projects in Okanogan, construction of the Conconully Dam and the Elgin Canyon Road; Series V. Scrapbook - Includes mounted prints; and Series VI. Oversize - Consists of photographs of athletic groups. Series VII. Recent (2001) Japanese materials - Consits of photographs and printed materials by Tatsuo Karihara relating to Matsura; Series VIII. Scrapbook - Consists of a dismantled scrapbook added to the collection after the initial processing.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Almost all of the items in this collection have been digitized and are available online as the Frank S. Matsura Image Collection

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Frank S. Matsura Photographs, 1907-1913 (PC 35)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The photographs have been roughly organized into eight general series and sorted within by subjects. Series I. People; Series II. Places; Series III; Series IV. Activities; Series V. Scrapbook includes mounted prints; Series VI. Oversize; Series VII. Recent (2001) Japanese materials; and Series VIII. Scrapbook.

Acquisition Information

The Frank S. Matsura photographs were received by the Washington State University Library in the early 1960's as part of the papers of William Compton Brown. A scrapbook purchased by MASC in 2005 was added to the collection as Series 8.

Processing Note

The photographs were processed in February, 1979 by David Smestad. During this processing, any original nitrate negatives were removed for safety; photographic prints were made from these and used to replace the negatives, which were then discarded. Terry Abraham conducted additional arrangement and description in February, 1981. In 2010, a scrapbook purchased by MASC in 2005 was added to the collection as Series 8.

Separated Materials

The photographs were seperated from the William Compton Brown Papers, 1830-1963 (Cage 196)

Related Materials

Nez Perce Photographs, circa 1877-1905 (PC 83)

Lucullus Virgil McWhorter Photographs, circa 1868-1950 (PC 85)

Cull A. White Photographs and Negatives, 1861-1950 (PC 86)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: PeopleReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
1	1	Frank Matsura 100 items.
1	2	W. C. Brown 7 items.
1	3	W. C. Brown's animals 9 items.
1	4	Portraits 157 items.
1	5	Families 49 items.
1	6	Couples 20 items.
1	7	Children 71 items.
1	8	Group portraits 104 items.
1	9	Music groups 10 items.
1	10	Outing groups 13 items.
1	11	School groups 20 items.
1	12	Athletics 45 items.
1	13	Horsemen and horsewomen 59 items.
1	14	Indians 8 items.
		"Short shots" (multiple image negatives)
Box	Folder
1	15	Men 68 items.
1	16	Women 100 items.
1	17	Children 65 items.
1	18	Groups 28 items.
1	19	Couples, athletic groups and other 109 items.

Series 2: PlacesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
1	20	Columbia River 2 items.
1	21	Conconully, WA 10 items.
1	22	Fort Okanogan 7 items.
1	23	Malott, WA 3 items.
1	24	Okanogan, WA 50 items.
1	25	Okanogan Auditorium 9 items.
2	26	Okanogan fair and parades 17 items.
2	27	Okanogan high bridge 8 items.
2	28	Okanogan countryside 40 items.
2	29	Omak, WA 12 items.
2	30	Riverside, WA 4 items.

Series 3: ThingsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
2	31	Automobiles 18 items.
2	32	Blacksmith, tack shop 2 items.
2	33	Building interiors 7 items.
2	34	Farm animals 11 items.
2	35	Farms 9 items.
2	36	Homesteads and ranches 54 items.
2	37	Horse-drawn vehicles 41 items.
2	38	Hotels 16 items.
2	39	Houses 15 items.
2	40	Orchards 55 items.
2	41	Steamboats 9 items.
2	42	Street scenes and buildings 16 items.

Series 4: ActivitiesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
2	43	Hunting and fishing 14 items.
2	44	Farm land development 13 items.
2	45	Okanogan Irrigation project 10 items.
2	46	Harvest 4 items.
2	47	Construction of GNRR into Okanogan 16 items.
2	48	Construction of Conconully Dam 69 items.
2	49	Elgin Canyon Road construction 19 items.
2	50	Construction scenes 23 items.
2	51	Mining 3 items.

Series 5: ScrapbookReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
2	52	Scrapbook of mounted prints 350 items.

Series 6: OversizeReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description
Box
o.s.	Athletic groups 7 items.

Series 7: Recent (2001) Japanese materialsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
2	53	Photographs and printed materials by Tatsuo Karihara relating to Matsura, including recent photographs from vantage points used by Matsura.

Series 8: ScrapbookReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
2	54	Dismantled scrapbook. A photocopy of the original scrapbook/placement is included.

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents