Albert H. Van Arsdale photograph album, 1929-1946

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Van Arsdale, Albert H., 1910-1986
Title
Albert H. Van Arsdale photograph album
Dates
1929-1946 (inclusive)
1929-1939 (bulk)
Quantity
.21 cubic feet (1 box)
298 photographs in 1 album
Collection Number
PH2010-007
Summary
Photograph album of a Seattle man serving in the US military at Fort Mills in the Philippines and elsewhere in the mid-1930s, and worked in Alaska in the late 1930s
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

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Albert H. Van Arsdale (1910-1986) is listed in the 1930 Federal Census as living with his parents in Seattle, with the occupation of seaman, and working as a merchant marine. Photographs in the album strongly suggest that Van Arsdale served in the United States military at Fort Mills on Corregidor, Philippine Islands in the mid 1930s. World War II Army enlistment records show Van Arsdale enlisted as a private in the infantry in September 1943, with his civil occupation listed as "unskilled sailors and deckhands." After the war, records indicate that Van Arsdale continued working as a seaman.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The album consists mostly of photographs of Fort Mills and other Philippine Island views from around 1934-1935, and views of Van Arsdale in Alaska, circa 1936-1939.

Fort Mills (Corregidor, the Philippines) was the headquarters for the Philippine Department's Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays and was one of the locations at which coastal artillery training was conducted. The photographs in the album, which include many photographs of field guns and mounted rifles (including "Barbette" rifles), suggest that Van Arsdale was stationed at Fort Mills in some capacity; one image depicts Van Arsdale and others as a members of Signal Tower crew. Other images of Fort Mills depict the barracks, a beach, Malinta Hill and views of Topside and Bottomside on Corregidor. Other Philippine Island images depict Fort Wint in Subic Bay, Fort Hughes on Caballo Island, Bilibid Prison in Manila, Camp Juan in Laoag City, Dewey dock drydock in Olongapo, and other images of Subic Bay and Manila.

Images of Alaska, from 1936 to 1938, show Van Arsdale and others on a fishing boat, a dog team race, Ester mine, views on the Inland Passage, and Fairbanks.

Other images depict Hong Kong and China (Canton, Kowloon Harbor, and the Yellow Sea); Japan (the Inland Sea); Fort McDowell in California, Port Madison (1946), and Van Arsdale in Seattle.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Fairlook Antiques; received October 2008.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)