Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
McBride Studio photographs, approximately 1916-1930
Overview of the Collection
- Photographer
- McBride Studio
- Title
- McBride Studio photographs
- Dates
- approximately 1916-1930 (inclusive)19161930
- Quantity
- 33 photographs (1 oversize box; 2 oversize folders ) ; various sizes
- Collection Number
- PH0551
- Summary
- Photographs of UW campus, and portraits of individuals by a photographer, environmentalist and civic leader
- 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
Ella E. McBride (1862-1965) born in Albia, Iowa was an internationally noted fine-art photographer, as well as an avid mountain climber, environmentalist, and civic leader. She moved to Portland, Oregon with her family in 1865. Before going into photography, McBride was a teacher and in 1894 the principal at the Ainsworth school. She met Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952) in 1897 during a climb he led up Mount Rainier. During the descent of this climb, Edgar McClure lost his footing and died. McBride was present during this accident. Curtis was impressed with her physical and mental strength and requested her assistance on other mountaineering treks. In 1907, she relocated to Seattle, WA after some convincing by Curtis to assist him in running his photography studio.
In 1916, she partnered with Edmund Schwinke, a photographer who also worked with Curtis, and opened her own studio in Seattle. She was soon joined by Wayne Albee in 1918 as a partner and chief photographer. During this time, McBride had yet to acquire her own photographic skills and had to rely on Albee. Sometime later, the photographers Frank Kunishige and Soichi Sunami (1885-1971,) who both worked at Curtis’s studio for a short period of time, joined McBride. With all of their help, McBride developed her own photography. She focused primarily on floral subjects. By 1921, she had started exhibiting Pictorial photographs and, along with her assistants, she produced beautiful images of iconic dancers from the Cornish School of Allied Arts. In the following years, McBride participated in regional, national and international competitions and exhibits. One competition of note was sponsored by the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain in 1922 where her work was accepted into this prominent Salon for their sixty-seventh annual.
McBride then joined a newly formed group called the Seattle Camera Club (SCC) and became one of their most accomplished members. The SCC was established by Dr. Kyo Koike and fellow Japanese Immigrants or Issei who were all amateur photographers in 1924. Even though this group was made up predominately by Issei, they attracted and welcomed Caucasian photographers who tended to be more professional. Ella McBride was one of the first Caucasian and female photographer who joined this male dominated group. The club became a place where different cultures and races could meet, for instance, McBride tended to use elements from the Japanese aesthetic in her floral photographs. The SCC were able to bring national awareness to Seattle’s artistic scene through photographic publications, exhibits, and competitions. In 1927, McBride’s work was admitted into the First International Photographic Salon of Japan and this was followed by solo exhibitions containing her best works at the California Camera Club, San Francisco and at the Portage Camera Club in Akron, Ohio. Unfortunately, the SCC had to disband in 1930 due to the Great Depression. McBride was able to stay afloat during this time by conducting commercial photographs and a solo exhibit at the Art Institute of Seattle in January 1931. A couple of years later, she became a member in a new organization, the Seattle Photographic Society, which still exists today.
Her studio operated successfully for more than 30 years. In 1932, she brought a new partner into her studio, Richard H. Anderson who was a highly skilled portrait photographer. The studio then became, McBride and Anderson. She retired at the age of 91 because of her failing eyesight, but she continued to be involved in the world of photography as a consultant. During her nearly 103 years, she maintained successful professions in the fields of art, education, and business. She was an adventurous, creative woman who embodied the pioneering spirit associated with the American West.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs of UW campus, and portraits of individuals. One portrait depicts poet Don Blanding.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
University of Washington CampusReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
box:oversize | item | ||
1 | 1 | Between 1916 and 1930? | |
1 | 2 | Between 1916 and 1930? | |
1 | 3 | Between 1916 and 1930? | |
1 | 4 | Between 1916 and 1930? | |
1 | 5 | Between 1916 and 1930? |
McBride Studio PortraitsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
box:oversize | item | ||
1 | 6 |
Middle-aged man wearing a spotted tie McBride Studio, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
1 | 7a-7b |
Middle-aged man wearing a striped tie McBride Studio, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
1 | 8 |
Older man wearing a spotted bow-tie Ella McBride (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
1 | 9 |
Two young women McBride Studio, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
1 | 10 |
Two boys McBride Studio, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
box-folder:oversize | |||
XD3/1 | 11 |
Middle-aged man wearing a solid tie McBride Studio, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
Written on verso: Bridge of Allan and District Photographic
Society. 3rd Annual Exhibition (International).
|
1926? |
XD3/1 | 12 |
The poet Don Blanding wearing a coat and hat McBride Studio, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
Written on mat: To Ella McBride in appreciation of the artist
Don Blanding.
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
McBride Studio Environmental PortraitsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
box:oversize | item | ||
1 | 13 |
Woman wearing a shawl in a garden Ella McBride, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
1 | 14 |
Man and two boys in a garden Ella McBride, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
1 | 15 |
Man and woman seated in a garden Ella McBride, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
1 | 16 |
Group of actors on a stage Ella McBride, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
box-folder:oversize | |||
XD3/2 | 17 |
Young boy in a garden Ella McBride, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
XD3/2 | 18 |
Boy lying on a wooden mantle above a large
fireplace Ella McBride, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
XD3/2 | 19 |
Boy at a rocky beach Ella McBride, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
XD3/2 | 20 |
Boy sitting on stone steps Ella McBride, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1916 and 1930? |
McBride and Anderson StudioReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
box-folder:oversize | item | ||
XD3/1 | 21 |
Man (probably Dick Anderson) holding a book McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
Written on mat: To Dick Anderson, master of the lens! With my
sincere regards.
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
box:oversize | |||
1 | 22 |
Older man wearing a decorative tie McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
1 | 23 |
Middle-aged man wearing glasses and a
bow-tie McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
1 | 24 |
Older man with cane McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
1 | 25a-25b |
Mabel Alexandria Seagrave wearing glasses and a
tie McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
1 | 26 |
Boy wearing a shirt with a wide collar McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
1 | 27 |
Smiling young man wearing a slim tie McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
1 | 28 |
Girl wearing a ribbon in her curly hair McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
1 | 29 |
Two young girls, with one holding a toy McBride and Anderson, Seattle, WA (Photographer)
|
Between 1932 and 1940? |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)