Mrs. Frederick Swanstrom collection of South Canal photographs, 1901-1903

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Swanstrom, Mary Ethel Semple
Title
Mrs. Frederick Swanstrom collection of South Canal photographs
Dates
1901-1903 (inclusive)
Quantity
9 photographic prints
Collection Number
PH1177
Summary
All photographs are of the South Canal Project construction
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

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Eugene Semple was a Northwest based politician and lawyer who in 1893 created a bill to facilitate and privately finance canals in today's city of Seattle. He financed and tried to create a canal through Beacon Hill that would connect Elliot Bay to Lake Washington called the South Canal Project. Work commenced in 1885, filling in Duwamish Tide Flates located south of Pioneer Square. The South Canal project rivaled the more northern canal that was championed by Judge Burke and James J. Hill who after legal and political battles reduced the political support for the South Canal Project, ceasing its construction and financial support in 1904. Eugene Semple married Ruth Lownsdale, daughter of one of Portland's founders Daniel H. Lownsdale in May,1870. Their daughter Mary Ethel Semple was born in 1877 in Oregon.

Mary Ethel Semple married Frederick E. Swanstrom, a Naval Lieutenant, on January 14, 1902 changing her name to Mary Ethel Swanstrom. They lived in Seattle where she worked in real estate.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

All the photographs are of the South Canal Project construction including workers on the South Canal Trestle, views of the tideflats and Duwamish River's east waterway and hydraulic sluicing work. Many of the photographs were taken by Asahel Curtis and William P. Romans.

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

Donated by Mrs. Frederick Swanstrom, 1948.

Processing Note

Processed by Stefanie Terasaki, 2013; processing completed in 2013.

Photographs were transferred from Seattle subject files, 2012.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

South Canal ProjectReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1
Elliot Bay before tidelands were filled, showing South Canal Trestle and Grant Street Bridge
Curtis and Romans, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
Item is the same as photograph found in Asahel Curtis Photo Co. Collection, A. Curtis 1771.
1901
1/1 2 1901
mapcase
M271 3
Panorama of South Canal Project on Duwamish River's east waterway showing hydraulic sluicing work (Romans 4073)
Romans Photographic Company, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
Panorama in 4 pieces.
1901
Box/Folder
1/1 4-5
South Canal Project showing hydraulic sluicing work
Curtis and Romans, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
Only one photograph is marked with Curtis and Romans but both photographs were taken from the same location.
1901
1/1 6
South Canal Project showing hydraulic sluicing work and scenery
Curtis and Romans, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
July 16, 1903
1/1 7 circa 1901
1/1 8
Workers for the South Canal Project
Curtis and Romans, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
1901
1/1 9
Workers on bridge for South Canal Project
Curtis and Romans, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
1901

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Swanstrom, Mary Ethel Semple--Photographs