Photographs of Northern State Hospital, circa 1909-1950

Overview of the Collection

Title
Photographs of Northern State Hospital
Dates
circa 1909-1950 (inclusive)
Quantity
200 photographic prints (1 box, 1 folder)
Collection Number
PH0231
Summary
Photographs of hospital for the mentally ill in Sedro Woolley, Washington
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.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Northern State Hospital in Sedro Woolley, Washington opened in May of 1912 and closed in 1976. The hospital was one of three mental hospitals in the state, and was also known by the names “Northern State Hospital for the Insane” and “Northern State Hospital for the Criminally Insane”. Northern State Hospital began as a farm for non-violent patients from Western Hospital at Fort Steilacoom. The first building on the hospital campus opened in the fall of 1910, and was used for both planning and administration purposes. In 1911, the hospital was separated from Western Hospital, and became the largest hospital in the state. When Northern State Hospital officially opened on May 27, 1912, it only contained an administration building and a few wards. A large amount of work was put into cleaning and cultivating additional land, building roads, grading, laying drains and sewers, constructing buildings, cutting wood, and repairing barns. Patients assisted in much of the labor through 1914. The well-renowned Olmstead Brothers designed the hospital grounds. As the hospital attained more funding, the campus grew. Multiple buildings were added, including an auditorium, commissary building, machine shop, laundry, refrigeration plant, reservoir, pathological laboratory, library, clinical center, chapel, morgue, crematory, and multiple barns. By 1953, Northern State Hospital consisted of 33 ward buildings and 13 additional buildings spread over 1,200 acres.

Northern State Hospital fostered education and training for patients and staff alike. In addition to construction tasks, patients took part in vocational training at the farm, dairy, printing plant, gardens, greenhouse, and other buildings on the campus, making the hospital largely self-sufficient. Student nurses were also trained on the hospital premises.

Patients were sent to the hospital from the eight northwestern counties of Washington State: Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish, King, Jefferson, San Juan, Clallam and Island. Superintendents for the hospital include Dr. A. H. McLeish (from 1911-1933), Dr. W.E. Cass (from 1913-1914), Dr. J.W. Doughty (from 1914-1945), Dr. Clifford Halvorsen (1945-1950), and Dr. Charles H. Jones (from 1950- presumably 1971), and Dr. James Reardon (1971-1976).

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection includes images of the land that Northern State Hospital was built on before it was cleared, the land clearing and construction process, hospital buildings and grounds, clinical treatment areas, farm buildings and grounds, hospital staff, and flooding (1945).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

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

Preferred Citation

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: Pearl Blackburn, 17 prints of interior and exterior views of Northern State Hospital, staff, panoramas.

Processing Note

Processed by Melanie Kay; processing completed in 2018.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Pre-construction and clearing landReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box item
1 1
Old growth tree and underbrush at hospital site
between 1909 and 1911?
1 2
Wooded area at hospital site
A steam donkey logging engine can be seen in the background on the left.
between 1909 and 1911?
1 3 between 1909 and 1911?
1 4
Tree stumps and loose dirt
between 1909 and 1911?
1 5-7
Logged ground with stumps
between 1909 and 1911?
1 8 between 1909 and 1911?
1 9
Single tree on otherwise cleared land
between 1909 and 1911?
1 10 between 1909 and 1911?
1 11 between 1909 and 1911?
1 12 between 1909 and 1911?
1 13
Preliminary road and fields on cleared land
between 1909 and 1911?

ConstructionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box item
1 14
Workers standing by railroad tracks
between 1909 and 1911?
1 15
Man driving a horse-drawn plow through fields
between 1909 and 1911?
1 16
Men unloading debris from a wagon
between 1909 and 1911?
1 17 between 1911 and 1912?
1 18 between 1911 and 1912?
1 19 between 1911 and 1912?
1 20
Exposed plumbing bracings with railroad tracks on top
between 1911 and 1912?
1 21
Exposed plumbing bracings in logged area with stumps
between 1911 and 1912?
1 22-23
Elevated plumbing bracings over Hansen Creek wetlands
between 1911 and 1912?
1 24
Workers pouring cement for foundation with Northern Pacific train car in the background
An eastern extension of the line extended to Northern State Hospital from the main north-south line for construction purposes.
between 1911 and 1912?
1 25 between 1911 and 1912?
1 26 between 1910 and 1912?
1 27-28 between 1909 and 1912?
1 29 between 1910 and 1912?
1 30
Builders setting up scaffolding
between 1910 and 1912?
1 31
Builders working on partially-constructed building
between 1910 and 1912?
1 32 between 1910 and 1912?
1 33 between 1911 and 1912?
1 34-35 between 1911 and 1912?
1 36
Completed men's wards in non-landscaped fields
between 1911 and 1912?
1 37 between 1911 and 1912?
1 38
Fountain before landscaping
between 1911 and 1912?
1 39 between 1911 and 1912?
Folder
1 40
Workers creating form for foundation at construction site
between 1911 and 1912?
Container(s) Description Dates
Box item
1 41
Temporary decorated stage in front of Garage Building
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
The temporary stage might possibly have been a part of the grand opening celebration for the hospital.
1912?
1 42
Trophies on a table
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
The trophies might have possibly been a part of the grand opening celebration for the hospital.
1912?
1 43 1912?
1 44-45
Early retaining wall on Hansen Creek
1912?
1 46-48 1912?
1 49-50
Grounds in the snow
between 1930 and 1935?
Folder
1 51-52
Panoramic view of hospital campus
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
Box
1 53
Pond with building in the background
between 1930 and 1935?
1 54
Circular English garden
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 55
Circular fountain
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 56
Retaining wall on Hansen Creek
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 57
Water treatment area
between 1930 and 1935?
1 58
Water reservoir
between 1930 and 1935?
1 59 between 1930 and 1935?
1 60 between 1930 and 1935?
1 61-65 1944?

BuildingsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Employee Housing
Box item
1 66-67
Front view of Winfield Hall
Winfield Hall housed single male and female employees and married couples.
between 1935 and 1944?
Folder
1 68
Panoramic view of front entrance of Winfield Hall
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
1944?
Box
1 69
Rear view of Winfield Hall
1944?
1 70-71
Views of Trevennen Dormitory
Trevennen Dormitory housed female nurses.
1944?
1 72 1944?
1 73
Employee apartment building
Written on verso: Dr. Th. & Frieda Bauer, Mr. and Mrs. Robb, Dr. & Mrs. Newkirk, Dr. & Mrs. Dwyer, Mr. Allhands.
1944?
1 74
Two men standing in front of Nyberg home
Written on verso: Scotty Fyfe home-first. Occupied by Nyberg Family-Florist.
1944?
1 75
E.A. Griffin standing in front of Nyberg home
Written on verso : Nyberg Home. Scotty Fyfe first occupant.
1944?
1 76
Cottage
Written on verso: Wallin's.
1944?
Folder
1 77
Employee's Dining Room
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
Box
1 78 1944?
Patient Housing
Folder item
1 79
Panorama of women's wards D-E-F-G
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
Written on verso: Walk to Winfield Hall.
between 1930 and 1935?
1 80
Panorama of men's wards, front lawn, and golf course
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
Box
1 81 1944?
1 82
Exterior views of ward buildings
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
Written on print: Some of the 14 Wards.
between 1930 and 1935?
1 83
Wards C and D
Centlivere Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 84
Women's wards D-E-F-G and old receiving ward building
Written on back: Wards DEFG (Chronic and T.B. cases) Old receiving ward bldg (female).
1944?
1 85 1944?
1 86
View of the south side of women's wards J and K building
Written on verso: Working womens ward.
1944?
Folder
1 87
Female ward buildings
Written on verso: Ward L and M. Completed 1934.
1934-1936?
Box
1 88
View of the south side of women's wards L and M building
Written on verso: Female violent ward.
1944?
1 89
North entrance of women's wards L and M building with covered walkway
1944?
1 90
Women's wards L and M building
Written on verso: 3rd floor attic (student Nurses quarters).
1944?
1 91
West side of women's wards L and M building
Written on verso: Taken from road in front of Trevennen.
1944?
1 92
Male wards 10 and 11 building
Written on verso: (Wd. 10 Working men's ward) (Wd. 11 Violent men's ward).
1944?
1 93
Southwest side of male wards 10 and 11 building
Written on verso: Male working men's ward & Violent ward.
1944?
1 94
Male wards 10 and 11 building
La Roche Photo, Seattle (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 95
Front view of male wards 12 and 14 building
Written on verso: (Old men's ward bldg.)
1944?
1 96
Rear view of male wards 12 and 14 building
Written on verso: (next to ball park).
between 1930 and 1935?
1 97
Side views of male wards 12 and 14 building
La Roche Photo, Seattle (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 98
Side views of male wards 12 and 14 building
between 1930 and 1935?
1 99
Male ward buildings 12 and 14 near Hansen Creek
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
Written on front of photo: One of the 14 wards.
between 1930 and 1935?
1 100
Interior view of covered walkway between ward buildings
La Roche Photo, Seattle (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 101 between 1930 and 1935?
1 102
Covered walkway at the North entrance to 6-7-8-9 wards building
Written on verso: (Next to Crematorium.) Old receiving ward bldg. Male.
1944?
1 103-104 between 1930 and 1935?
Administration Building
Folder item
1 105 between 1930 and 1935?
1 106
Panoramic view of the East side of the Administration Building
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
Written on verso: Wards 1 and 2 East side of Admin. Bldg.
between 1930 and 1935?
1 107
Panoramic view of back entrance to the Administration Building
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
Written on front of print: Clinical Building. Written on verso: Back entrance to Adm. Building.
between 1930 and 1935?
Box
1 108
South entrance of the Administration Building
La Roche Photo, Seattle (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 109 between 1930 and 1935?
1 110
Front view of the Administration Building
Ellis Photography, Seattle (Photographer)
between 1930 and 1935?
1 111
Rear view of the Administration Building
between 1930 and 1935?
1 112
Entrance of the Administration Building
between 1930 and 1935?
1 113
North entrance of the Administration Building
Written on verso: North entrance of Clinical center- Adm. Building.
between 1935 and 1944?
1 114
Cars in the parking space at the North end of the Administration Building
1944?
Other Hospital Buildings
Box item
1 115
Men's Occupational Therapy building
Written on verso: Shoe repair shop, mattress factory, print shop, furniture shop, etc.
1944?
1 116 between 1930 and 1935
1 117 between 1930 and 1935
1 118
Looms and weaving materials in the Occupational Therapy building
between 1930 and 1935
1 119-121 between 1935 and 1944?
1 122
Front of Commissary Building
Written on verso: Central stores Branch "N".
1944?
1 123-124 between 1935 and 1944?
1 125-126 between 1940 and 1944?
1 127
Morgue and Crematorium
Written on verso: Ward 13.
1944?
1 128
Rear and East side view of Main Kitchen building
1944?
1 129
Rear and West side view of Main Kitchen building
1944?
1 130 between 1930 and 1935?
1 131
Walkway to the kitchen on the west side of the Old Apartment House
1944?
1 132
Small cabin
This cabin may the homestead of T. Hansen, which Hansen Creek is named after.
between 1930 and 1935?
1 133-136 between 1930 and 1937?
1 137 between 1932 and 1937?
Clinical Treatment Areas
Folder item
1 138
Hospital staff in the Insulin Room, also known as the Treatment Room
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
Written on verso: Dr. Clayton Merillas, Clarence Presley, Miriam McArthur (Vroman). Treatment Room (Shock Therapy). Across from Surgery 2nd floor Adm. Bldg.
between 1930 and 1935?
Box
1 139-140 between 1935 and 1940?
1 141
Sterilizing equipment in the surgery room
between 1935 and 1940?
1 142-143 between 1935 and 1940?
1 144-145 between 1935 and 1940?
Farm Buildings
Box item
1 146 1944
1 147-150 1944?
1 151-153
Walkway between Milk House and cow barn
1944?
1 154 between 1935 and 1944?
1 155
Horse barn
between 1935 and 1944?
1 156
Interior of horse barn
between 1935 and 1944?
1 157-158 between 1935 and 1944?
1 159
Calf and horse barns
Written on verso: Stove pipe- horseshoeing dept. Silo North end.
between 1935 and 1944?
1 160
Calf and cow barns
between 1935 and 1944?
1 161
North end of cow barn
between 1935 and 1944?
1 162 between 1935 and 1944?
1 163 1944?
1 164
Cow barn and running shed
1944?
1 165-166 between 1935 and 1944?
1 167
Running shed
1944?
1 168
Boiler and barns
The boiler is in the center building.
1944?
1 169-172
Views of bull pens
1944?
1 173 between 1930 and 1935?
1 174
Bull barn
1944?
1 175
Dehorning pen
1944?
1 176 between 1935 and 1940?
1 177
Piggery Department building
Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley (Photographer)
between 1935 and 1940?
1 178
Piggery Department building
between 1935 and 1940?
1 179 1944?
1 180
Sheep eating grass clippings at the foot of Reservoir Hill
Written on verso: Wallin cottage & Trevennen. Paul J. Blackburn
1944?
1 181
Implement shed
1944?
1 182-183
Sections of implement shed damaged by two windstorms
1944?
Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 184
Group of office and department heads personnel
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
between 1935 and 1940?
1 185 between 1935 and 1940?
1 186
Group of ward nurses
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
between 1935 and 1940?
1 187
William Rome Allhands sitting at a desk
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
William Allhands was a supervisor.
between 1935 and 1940?
1 188 between 1935 and 1940?
1 189 between 1935 and 1940?
1 190
Accounting staff sitting at their desks in the accounting office
M.D. Boland, Tacoma (Photographer)
Written on verso: Frank R. Knapp (Acct.), Percy Rainforth Banks (Asst. Acct.), Rae Nelson (Wilson)
between 1935 and 1940?
1 191
Female staff member sitting at her desk
between 1940 and 1950?
Box
1 192 between 1940 and 1950?

October 1945 FloodReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box item
1 193-196
Hansen Creek creekbed after floodwaters resided
Written on verso: Marguerite Reardon.
October 1945
1 197-200 October 1945

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Psychiatric hospitals--Washington (State)--Sedro Woolley--Design and construction--Photographs
  • Psychiatric hospitals--Washington (State)--Sedro Woolley--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • Northern State Hospital (Wash.)--Buildings--Photographs
  • Northern State Hospital (Wash.)--Employees--Photographs
  • Northern State Hospital (Wash.)--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Sedro Woolley (Wash.)--Photographs