M.W. Priestley Collection of Photographs of Fort Simcoe, 1888-1889

Overview of the Collection

Compiler
Priestley, M. W. (Mary Ward)
Title
M.W. Priestley Collection of Photographs of Fort Simcoe
Dates
1888-1889 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 folder (11 photographs)
Collection Number
PH1464
Summary
Photographs of Captain Thomas Priestley and Native Americans at Fort Simcoe. Priestley was the Indian Agent at Fort Simcoe in the 1880s.
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 required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Thomas Priestley was born on January 29, 1836 in Leeds, England, to George Priestley and Ellen Ward. In 1838, the family moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where Priestley became the proprietor of a harness-making shop. In 1861, Priestley enlisted as a sergeant in Company E of the 11th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment; later, he enlisted as a second lieutenant in Company B of the 30th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, where he was promoted to captain. During his final year of service, he also served as provost marshall of Kentucky. In 1866, he married Katherine (or Catherine) Jane Tyack. The couple had four children: Mary Ward Priestley, William Priestley, Henry Tyack Priestley, and Thomas Mortimer Priestley. In 1886, Priestley was appointed as United States Indian Agent at Fort Simcoe, Washington. Captain Priestley died on July 29, 1890.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Fort Simcoe is located on the Yakama Indian Reservation at a site of an ancient gathering place of the Yakama Indians. Fort Simcoe was one of two regular Army posts established in the interior of Washington Territory as a direct consequence of the Yakima Indian War of the late 1850's. The other was Fort Walla Walla, located 120 miles further east.

Fort Simcoe was barely completed before its usefulness as a military post ended. On May 22, 1859, Fort Simcoe was turned over to the Department of Indian Affairs, remaining an Indian agency until 1923. During the agency period, the agency staff occupied the former officers' quarters and the post lost its military atmosphere. The parade ground was plowed and planted as a garden, tended by boys of the school, and then, in 1861, as an orchard. Various of the military buildings were razed and replaced by frame structures.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of Captain Thomas Priestley and Native Americans at Fort Simcoe. Priestley was the Indian Agent in the 1880s.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

In this guide, the Yakama Indians are referred to as Yakama. Since the agency was the Yakima Indian agency, references to the agency are spelled in the manner that was used in the 1880s.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: probably Mary Ward Priestley

Processing Note

Processed by Beck Prigot, 2017; processing completed in 2017.

Photographs relocated from the Washington Localities Subject File, 2017.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 1a-b Priestley family and other employees on horseback, Fort Simcoe, WA
Written on verso: Group of employees and children at Fort Simcoe in 1888 or 1889. From M. W. Priestley, 21 W Gilman St, Madison, Wis.People in photograph: Thomas Mortimer Priestley (left), M. Wilger? (second from left), John Lacy (third from left), George T. Priestley (fourth from left), Harry Priestley (fifth from left), H. Sinclair (center), G. B. Taliaferro (fifth from right), H. J. Kilgore (fourth from right)Handwritten notes on item 1b indicate that the men sixth from left and first and second from right are Indian (probably Yakama Indian).
circa 1888-1889
1 2 Captain Thomas Priestley, United States Yakima Indian agent, with employees, Fort Simcoe, WA
Individuals in photograph: (standing) Homer Hoffer (probably) (third from left), Mr. Taliaferro (possibly) (fifth from left), Mr. Kilgour (possibly) (sixth from left), Captain Priestly (seventh from left), Mrs. Kilgour (probably) (eighth from right), Celeste Lacy (possibly) (second from right), Wallace Arquette (possibly) (right)
1889
1 3a-b Captain Thomas Priestley, United States Yakima Indian agent, and White Swan (Joe Styrie), Chief of the Yakama Indians, on horseback in front of United States Indian Agency House, Fort Simcoe, WA circa 1888-1889
1 4a-b Priestley family and dog sitting on porch of United States Indian Agency House, Fort Simcoe, WA
People in photograph: Thomas Priestley, Thomas Mortimer Priestley, Catherine Tyack Priestley, Harry Priestley, Georgie Priestley, Mary "Maria" Ward PriestleyA handwritten note on item 4b indicates that the family's dog "Sport" sits between Catherine Tyack and Harry Priestley.
circa 1888-1889
1 5a-b Employees and school children in front of the Yakima Indian Agency school, Fort Simcoe, WA
Identifications of individuals in the photograph are handwritten on item 5b.Written on item 5b: North side of Square.
circa 1888-1889
1 6a-b People standing at the ruins of the Yakima Indian Agency school's boarding house, Fort Simcoe, WA
Written on item 6b: Only shows one side of L. Old log house used as carpenter shop, police quarters, & etc. (S. side of square)Handwritten notes on item 6b indicate the location of the school and the Agency house.
circa 1888-1889

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Yakama Indians--Photographs
  • Yakama Indians--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Priestley, Thomas Captain, 1836-1890--Family--Photographs
  • Priestley, Thomas Captain, 1836-1890--Family--Photographs
  • Priestley, Thomas Captain, 1836-1890--Photographs
  • Priestley, Thomas Captain, 1836-1890--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • United States Office of Indian Affairs. Yakima Agency--Buildings, structures, etc--Photographs
  • United States Office of Indian Affairs. Yakima Agency--Buildings, structures, etc--Photographs
  • United States Office of Indian Affairs. Yakima Agency--Employees--Photographs
  • United States Office of Indian Affairs. Yakima Agency--Employees--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Fort Simcoe (Wash.)--Photographs
  • Fort Simcoe (Wash.)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs
  • Photographs

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Priestley, M. W. (Mary Ward) (collector)
    • Priestley, M. W. (Mary Ward), (collector,)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)