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Frank S. Matsura Photographs, 1907-1913

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Matsura, Frank, 1873-1913
Title
Frank S. Matsura Photographs
Dates
1907-1913 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 Linear feet of shelf space, (2 Boxes)
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
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Biographical Note

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.

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Content Description

The collection consists of 1886 photographic prints depicting pioneer life in Okanogan County, Washington, including scenes of work and entertainment. 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.

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.

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Use of the Collection

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

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

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

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

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The photographs have been roughly organized into eight general series and sorted within by subjects.

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)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series 1: People

  • Series 2: Places

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

  • Series 3: Things

    • Description: Automobiles
      18 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 31
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Blacksmith, tack shop
      2 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 32
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Building interiors
      7 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 33
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Farm animals
      11 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 34
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Farms
      9 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 35
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Homesteads and ranches
      54 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 36
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Horse-drawn vehicles
      41 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 37
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Hotels
      16 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 38
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Houses
      15 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 39
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Orchards
      55 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 40
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Steamboats
      9 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 41
      Location: Series 3: Things
    • Description: Street scenes and buildings
      16 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 42
      Location: Series 3: Things

  • Series 4: Activities

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

  • Series 5: Scrapbook

    • Description: Scrapbook of mounted prints
      350 items.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 52
      Location: Series 5: Scrapbook

  • Series 6: Oversize

  • Series 7: Recent (2001) Japanese materials

    • Description: Photographs and printed materials by Tatsuo Karihara relating to Matsura, including recent photographs from vantage points used by Matsura.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 53
      Location: Series 7: Recent (2001) Japanese materials

  • Series 8: Scrapbook

    • Description: Dismantled scrapbook. A photocopy of the original scrapbook/placement is included.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 54
      Location: Series 8: Scrapbook

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Brown, William Compton, 1869-1963 -- Photographs
  • Matsura, Frank, 1873-1913 -- Archives

Geographical Names

  • Okanogan County (Wash.) -- History -- Photographs

Finding aid prepared by David Smestad and Terry Abraham
2021

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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