Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Ben Paris photographs and other material, 1909-1943
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Paris, Ben
- Title
- Ben Paris photographs and other material
- Dates
- 1909-1943 (inclusive)19091943
- Quantity
- 2 boxes , (1 linear foot)
- Collection Number
- 1991.64
- Summary
- Photographs and other materials documenting the business and personal interests of Ben Paris and his family. Paris owned a well-known sporting goods store and restaurant in downtown Seattle.
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Ben Paris was a well-known Seattleite whose namesake store was a destination for area sportsmen. He married Florence Alma Conner in 1916, and worked as an ironworker until he was injured on a job in St. Louis. After returning to Seattle, he served as the first representative for Local 302 of the National Union of Steam Engineers of America. He then borrowed $500 from his brother Jack to open a pool hall on Admiral Way, which was soon followed by another in Auburn. He eventually opened a business that became a downtown Seattle landmark, a combination of restaurant, bar, sporting goods store, and pool hall. The store (along with the Seattle Star newspaper) also sponsored the area's first fishing derby beginning in 1931, reportedly motivated by Paris's desire to sell more fishing rods.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection mainly documents the business and personal interests of Ben Paris, including his store, the fishing derbies he started, and the baseball team he sponsored. The contents are predominantly photographs, but also include news clippings, correspondence, and ephemera. There are also a few items related to Paris's wife Florence and daughter Paulla.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Ben Paris Photographs and Other Materials, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | 1991.64.1: Photo: Coliseum Theatre during Big Snow of 1916 | 1916 |
| 1 | 1991.64.2: Photo: Ben Paris and two men at fountain, Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.3: Photo: Ben Paris and three men behind lunch and cigar counters of Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.4: Photo: Two men seated and boy standing | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.5: Photo: Sailboat and large yacht with about sixty people standing on deck | 1940 |
| 1 | 1991.64.6: Photo: Man talking to girl at gathering | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.7: Photo: Gander Club | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.8: Postcard: Paris Bros. Billiard and Lunch Room, Auburn, Wash. | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.9: Photo: 1940 Fishing Derby -- men in rowboats, West Seattle in background | 1940 |
| 1 | 1991.64.10: Photo: 1940 Fishing Derby -- men in rowboats, people on dock at West Seattle Boat House | 1940 |
| 1 | 1991.64.11: Photo: 1940 Fishing Derby contestants and spectators | 1940 |
| 1 | 1991.64.12: Photo: Two men and two women on automobile near big tree | circa 1915 |
| 1 | 1991.64.13: Photo: Emil Sick, D.K. McDonald, Ben Paris, and three unidentified men | circa 1930s |
| 1 | 1991.64.14: Photo: Unidentified man | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.15: Photo: Six West Seattle baseball players and manager | circa 1915 |
| 1 | 1991.64.16: Photo: Flowers inside entrance to Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.17: Photo: Ben Paris and five men putting money in large cup held by woman | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.18: Photo: Ben Paris in yachting cap at radio microphone on dock at West Seattle Boat House during 1940 Fishing Derby | 1940 |
| 1 | 1991.64.19: Photo: Interior of Ben Paris Billiard and Lunch Room, Auburn, Wash. | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.20: Outdoor Sports Reporter and Washington Sportsman clippings | 1937 |
| 1 | 1991.64.21: Newspaper clipping re: Ganders Club | 1942 |
| 1 | 1991.64.22: War ration book issued to Paulla M. Paris | 1943 |
| 1 | 1991.64.23: Ben Paris correspondence | 1935-1939 |
| 1 | 1991.64.24: Newspaper clipping re: Ben Paris-Seattle Star Salt Water Derby | 1935 |
| 1 | 1991.64.25: Newspaper clipping: Paulla Paris and other women in costumes posed on old cable car | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.26: Newspaper clipping: Ed Bender, winner of fishing derby, with Ben Paris and winning fish | undated |
| 1 | 1991.64.30: Photo: West Seattle Baseball Club (Paris brothers, managers) | circa 1914-1915 |
| 1 | 1991.64.31: Photo: Elliott Bay showing fishing derby boats with battleships in background | 1940 |
| 1 | 1991.64.32-42: Photos: Snapshots of fishing derby scenes in Elliott Bay | circa 1935 |
| 2 | 1991.64.27: Scrapbook: Newspaper clippings re: Ben Paris business and other activities | 1917-1930s |
| 2 | 1991.64.28: Scrapbook: Photos and newspaper clippings re: Florence Alma Conner | 1914-1920 |
| 2 | 1991.64.29: Florence Alma Conner's diploma from Lincoln High School | 1909 |
| Oversize | ||
| unboxed | 1991.64.43: Hand-colored photo of Mount Rainier | undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Sporting goods industry -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Stores, retail -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Tournament fishing -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Corporate Names
- Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation (Seattle, Wash.)
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographic prints
Finding aid prepared by Julie Kerssen
2006
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
