James B. Barton photographs

James B. Barton photographs, circa 1909 and undated

Overview of the Collection

Photographer: Barton, James B
Title: James B. Barton photographs
Dates: circa 1909 and undated (inclusive)
19041913
Quantity: 229 negatives and transparencies
Collection Number: PH2007-038
Summary: Photographs of Mount Rainier; Snoqualmie Falls; the AYPE, a circus parade and other Seattle scenes; and a trip to Alaska.
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

James B. Barton was a photographer living and working in Seattle from approximately 1900 until the late 1960s. He is listed in the city directory variously as a bookeeper, collector, photographer, salesman and insurance agent. James B. Barton and his brother Arthur formed the Barton Brothers photography studio.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection of glass and film negatives and positives includes images of the natural landscape, Seattle scenes, local events and people, as well as documentation of what was probably a trip to Alaska. Photographs of the natural landscape includes several images of Mount Rainier. The appearance of negative and positive duplicates of the same image, some of which have masking paint on them, suggests that Barton intended to produce an orotone of the image. Other images depict Snoqualmie Falls and other waterfalls.

One album includes a series of photographs of a Barnum & Bailey circus parade in 1909, and images of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, including 1908 photographs of buildings under construction and images of President Taft's visit to the Exposition in 1909.

The second album includes images of several ships in an icy landscape and photographs of Alaska natives in their everyday lives, possibly from a trip Barton took to Alaska.

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: Allan Doyle, November 5, 2007

Processing Note

Minimally processed.

One negative of Seattle's "Umbrella Man," Robert Patten, was transferred to PH Coll 868 a collection of materials on Robert Patten which contains prints of this negative.

Related Materials

See also Barton Brothers Photographs, PH Collection No. 365.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

PhotographsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1,2,3	Mount Rainier 21 negatives and positives ; 5"x7"; 8"x10"; 11"x14" The Mount Rainier negatives and positives include a number of duplicate images, some with light areas masked off, suggesting that the images were being prepared as orotones. (At least one orotone of Mount Rainier by James B. Barton is known to exist.)	undated
2, 3	Snoqualmie Falls and other falls 12 positives and negatives; ; 5"x7"; 8"x10"	undated
2, 3	Other natural landscapes 7 negatives and positives ; 5"x7"; 8"x10" Glacier, path through trees, water, Mount Baker, gazebo on shore, stone bridge over river	undated
3	People 3 negatives Man in baseball uniform, group portrait	undated
3	University of Washington campus Frasch, O.T (photographer) 2 negatives	undated
	Miscellaneous
Box
2	Puppies	undated
3	BattleshipOregon	undated
3	ShipPrincess May	undated
3	Capitol (?) building	undated

AlbumsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
4	Album 1 97 negatives ; 4x5 Images of a Ringling Brothers Circus parade (1909), the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1908-1909), ships at anchor and other views of roads and waterfronts. The negatives were removed from the album and placed in sleeves. Since Barton created a numbered index for the photos in this album, the numbering on the original sleeves has been retained. Negatives are numbered 1-100; however negatives for sleeves 19, 22 and 97 are missing.	1908-1909, undated
5	Album 2 83 negatives ; 5x7; 4x5 The bulk of the negatives in this album appear to be from a trip to Alaska. They include images of the beached sailing vessel Sea Wolf; other vessels at sea, inlcuding the Polar Bear, Ednaand Standard; Alaska natives outside dwellings, with canoes, and with rifles; waterfronts; wooden buildings; and non-native individuals. The negatives were removed from the album and placed in sleeves. The original order of the negatives has been retained. However, since many negatives were missing and Barton did not create an index for this album, negatives are simply numbered in order, not by original sleeve number.	undated

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