Anonymous Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Photographs, 1909

Overview of the Collection

Title
Anonymous Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Photographs
Dates
1909 (inclusive)
Quantity
42 photos (1 box) ; 3 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Collection Number
PH0756
Summary
Photographs of the grounds and buildings of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
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 made Seattle the dominant city in the Pacific Northwest, as the major supplier to Alaska. The goal of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE) 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. On a less philosophical level, city officials also hoped that the exposition would encourage people to relocate to the growing metropolis of Seattle.

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 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. "quoted from the AYPE digital site

Although the Exposition boasted its own official photographer, amateur photographers could purchase a paper permit, allowing access for one day. With the day pass, an amateur photographer with a camera smaller than 6" x 8" was allowed to take unlimited photographs of the buildings, exhibits and other features.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs depicting the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle, Washington in 1909. The 42 photographs depict the exhibits, buildings and people strolling through the grounds of the exposition. The photographs were made by an unknown amateur photographer.

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

Processing Note

Processed by Marion Brown in 2008.

The photographs had apparently been in an album but had fallen out or been taken out. The original order was lost.

Relocated from UW Campus and AYPE subject files, 2006

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Exposition buildingsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 1
Alaska Building
1909
1 2 1909
1 3 1909
1 4 1909
1 5 1909
1 6 1909
1 7
Forestry Building
1909
1 8 1909
1 9 1909
1 10 1909
1 11 1909
1 12 1909
1 13 1909
1 14 1909
1 15-16
Oriental Building
1909
1 17
New York Building
1909
1 18 1909
1 19 1909
1 20
U.S. Government Building and Court of Honor, illuminated at night
1909
1 21
U.S. Government Building
1909

ExhibitsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 35 1909

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Exhibitions--Washington (State)-- Seattle--20th century --Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909 : Seattle, Wash.)--Buildings--Photographs
  • Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909 : Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Photographs
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Exhibitions--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Amateur works
  • Photographic prints
  • Photographs