Hercules F. Anderson family photograph collection

Hercules F. Anderson family photograph collection, approximately 1948-2011

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Anderson (Family : Anderson, Hercules F., 1921-1974)
Title: Hercules F. Anderson family photograph collection
Dates: approximately 1948-2011 (inclusive)
19482011
Quantity: 33 photographic prints and 9 negatives (1 box and 9 envelopes)
Collection Number: PH1611
Summary: Photographs and ephemera related to Hercules F. Anderson including Hull & Anderson construction projects, the Hull & Anderson truck and lumber yard, and the Anderson family and friends
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: Access restricted: For terms of access, contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Hercules Franklin Anderson (1921-1974) was born in August 1921 in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated from West Virginia State College and attended the University of Washington. In 1946, he married Fumi Nakayama in Seattle, Washington and between 1947 and 1953, they had four children: Hercules F. Anderson, Jr., James W. Anderson III, Hans Anderson and Harold L. Anderson.

Anderson was an African-American real estate developer, as well as building contractor and partner in the Hull & Anderson, Inc. , construction company between 1946 and 1955. Among the construction projects they worked on were the John Rohrer house, designed by Rohrer, a professor of Architecture at the University of Washington; and Ben-Mar Apartments, designed Benjamin F. McAdoo, Jr., an African-American architect.

In 1956, he left the construction field and became President of the Angelus Funeral Home. By 1958, he was the owner and funeral director of the Angelus Funeral Home.

During his career, Anderson was active in community groups such as the East Madison Commercial Club, a unit of the Urban League in the 1940s and 1950s. He unsuccessfully ran for the 37th District State Representative in 1954. He died in February 1974.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of Hull and Anderson construction projects including the building of homes. Also included is an image of the Hull and Anderson truck and lumber yard, photographs of the Anderson family and political ephemera from Hercules Anderson's political campaign for State Representative in 1954.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Status of creator's copyrights is unknown. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use. Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Fairlook Antiques: four photographs 2016; collection of clippings, photographs and ephemera 2018; and 16 prints, 5 negatives.

Processing Note

Processed by Arlene G. Cohen, January 2019.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Professional lifeReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
1	1	Hercules F. Anderson on right and Harold L. Hull on left, co-owners of Hull and Anderson, Inc., General Contractors standing in front of an almost completed home	between 1948 and 1950?
1	2	Hercules F. Anderson and Harold L. Hull standing in front of an almost completed two story home with a body of water in the background	between 1948 and 1950?
1	3	Hull and Anderson, Inc.. construction site near 21st Ave and East Madison, Seattle, showing a close up of their trailer, with a woman and possibly Anderson children nearby. Scanned from negative	between 1950 and 1955?
1	4a-b	Hull and Anderson, Inc.. construction site near 21st Ave and East Madison, Seattle, showing the trailer, with a woman and probably two of the Anderson children standing beside it. A Coca-cola sign is on the wall of the building behind the trailer.Image 4b scanned from negative.	between 1950 and 1955?
1	5a-b	Hull and Anderson, Inc.. construction site near 21st Ave and East Madison, Seattle photographed from a distance showing their trailer, a Coca-Cola sign on a building and the Mardi Gras Tavern in the background The Mardi Gras Tavern was located at 21st. Ave and East Madison St., SeattleImage 5b scanned from negative.	between 1950 and 1955?
1	6	Construction of the Ben-Mar Apartments, a nine unit apartment complex at 315 23rd Ave., Seattle, designed by Benjamin F. McAdoo, Jr. , and built by Hull and Anderson Construction, Inc. The apartment complex was financed through a U.S. Federal Housing Administration-insured financing program designed to make better housing available to racial minorities. The Ben-Mar Apartments was one of the earliest apartment buildings in Seattle to be openly free of racial and religious discrimination. Benjamin F. McAdoo, Jr., was the first African-American architect to operate a long-term architectural practice in Washington state. Gil Baker, Seattle (photographer)	1950
1	7	Piles of lumber on the ground on the 2700 block of East Cherry St., Seattle, with several automobiles and a truck in the background Jassen's Grocery Store at 2722 East Cherry St., Seattle, is seen in the background. Gil Baker, Seattle (photographer)	August 11, 1950
1	8-10	Single family dwelling homes in the process of being constructed, with the Hull and Anderson sign displayed in front of the homes Gil Baker, Seattle (photographer)	between 1950 and 1955
1	11	Real estate flyer for the sale of the Rohrer house on 122 37th Ave. East, Seattle, built in 1949 by Hull and Anderson The Rohrer House became a "Home of the Month," in the June 1954 issue of McCall's Magazine.	2011
1	12	Two-story wooden house at 115 14th Ave. South, Seattle, with the Hull and Anderson sign on the house and their truck parked in front, where they were probably doing repairs or remodeling The sign on the building indicates "Home of The Old Rocking Chair Club, Inc., a jazz club established in 1946.Written in pencil on photocopy is the address and note: Most known jazz joint.Photocopy of photograph.	between 1950 and 1955?

Personal lifeReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
2	13	Portrait of Hercules F. Anderson J.M Amano, Seattle (photographer)	1957?
2	14-15	Hercules F. Anderson, his wife, children and other people Gil Baker (photographer)	1956?
2	16	Hercules F. Anderson and family celebrating the 1st Birthday, probably of their youngest son Gil Baker (photographer)	1955 ?
2	17	Hercules F. Anderson and a Japanese man sitting by a plaque commerating Deception Pass in Washington	between 1950 and 1960
2	18	Family outing to Deception Pass Resort in Washington, showing Hercules F. Anderson and his wife with a young child, and another man and woman with a young child Deception Pass Resort appears on a sign in front of a building.	between 1949 and 1956?
2	19	Family outing to Deception Pass, Washington showing Mrs. Anderson and another woman, with two young children	between 1949 and 1956?
2	20	Probably two of the Anderson's sons with an adult all holding fishing poles	between 1953-1960?
2	21	Mrs. Anderson and a man standing by a Cadillac automobile Scanned from negative.	1953?
2	22	Anderson family and others in a park Scanned from negative.	between 1956 and 1958?
2	23	Mrs. Anderson with Japanese woman standing near Paradise Inn, Mount Rainier National Park Scanned from negative.	between 1950 and 1960
2	24	Hercules F. Anderson and two women standing probably in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington Scanned from negative.	between 1950 and 1960
2	25	Anderson family and Japanese women at the beach Written in pencil on verso: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, 1435 - 22, PR 5847, Hughes, 19th and E. Union Scanned from negative.	between 1950 and 1960
2	26	Anderson family and Japanese women at the beach Scanned from negative.	between 1950 and 1960
2	27	Hercules F. Anderson, his wife and four sons	1961?
2	28	Son of Hercules F. Anderson wearing a Roosevelt High School sweater and carrying a school megaphone	between 1963 and 1969?
2	29	High school graduation portrait of Hercules F. Anderson's oldest son. Sticker on the portrait indicating Class of 64. Ted Gatz, Seattle, Washington (photographer)	1964?
2	30	Son of Hercules F. Anderson on a motorcycle	between 1964 to 1973?
2	31	Son of Hercules F. Anderson with a woman	between 1964 to 1973?
2	32	Son of Hercules F. Anderson standing in front of a 1964 Dodge Sportsman wagon	between 1964 to 1973?
2	33	Possibly the Anderson family home on 1861 East Spruce, Seattle, Washington Scanned from negative.	1951?

EphemeraReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
2	34	Last Will and Testament of Hercules F. Anderson	April 28, 1953
2	35a-b	Hercules Anderson's political campaign card for the 37th District State Representative 35a is front and 35b is the verso of the handout.	1954
2	36	Seattle Public Schools Progress Report for James W. Anderson in Kindergarten	1956
2	37	Seattle Public Schools Progress Report for James W. Anderson in 1st Grade	1957
2	38	Seattle Public Schools Quarterly Report for Hercules Anderson in Intermediate Pre-adjustment	1957

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

African American construction workers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
African American construction workers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
African American families--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Apartment houses--Washington (State)--Seattle--Design and construction--Photographs
Apartment houses--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Construction industry--Washington (State)--Seattle--Employees--Photographs
Dwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Real estate developers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

Anderson, Hercules F., 1921-1974--Archives
Anderson, Hercules F., 1921-1974--Photographs
Anderson, Hercules F. 1921-1974--Family--Photographs
Anderson, Hercules F. 1921-1974--Photographs
Hull, Harold L.--Photographs
Hull, Harold L. (Harold Legrand), 1923---Photographs

Corporate Names

Hull & Anderson, Inc.--Photographs
Hull and Anderson, Inc

Family Names

Anderson family--Photographs

Geographical Names

Madison Valley (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Baker, Gil (photographer)

Archives West Finding Aid

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