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Photographs of Northern State Hospital, circa 1909-1950
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Photographs of Northern State Hospital
- Dates
- circa 1909-1950 (inclusive)19301950
- 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.
- 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
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? |
GroundsReturn to Top
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 |
Panoramic view of the front of the Administration
Building
M.D. Boland, Tacoma
(Photographer)
|
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 |
Views of Amusement Hall, Chapel, Canteen, and Women's
Occupational Therapy Building
The above areas were located in the same building.
|
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? |
StaffReturn to Top
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 |
Group of hospital staff including doctors, nurses,
orderlies, and administration staff
M.D. Boland, Tacoma
(Photographer)
|
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 |
R.N. Supervisor Ina Buchannan Rothausen sitting at her
desk
M.D. Boland, Tacoma
(Photographer)
|
between 1935 and 1940? |
1 | 189 |
Educational Director of Nursing Lucille Scott (Bynum)
sitting at her desk
M.D. Boland, Tacoma
(Photographer)
|
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