Washington Agricultural College and Personal Photographs

Washington Agricultural College and Personal Photographs, 1895-1901

Overview of the Collection

Title: Washington Agricultural College and Personal Photographs
Dates: 1895-1901 (inclusive)
18951901
Quantity: .5 linear feet of shelf space, (1 box)
Collection Number: PC 173 (collection)
Summary: Collected photographs of Washington State University circa 1895-1901, as well as personal and family photographs in the same era.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The origin of these photographs is unknown, but they appear to have all come from one person, almost certainly a male college student attending Washington State University (then Washington Agricultural College) circa 1895-1901. The Washington Agricultural College and School of Science opened for classes in 1892.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists primarily of photographs documenting buildings and student life at the Washington Agricultural College (later Washington State University) ca. 1893 to 1902, as well as a dismantled photo album primarily containing family or friend images from approximately the same timeframe.

The images in this collection are all permanently mounted on heavy cardstock, and range from 4x5 inches to over 7x9 inches. Aside from some short pithy or humorous notes in the album pages, there are no identifications, descriptions, or dates on the photographs.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item Description] Washington Agricultural College and Personal Photographs, 1895-1901 (PC 173)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The materials from the college occupy the first 19 folders; the remaining folders are not campus related. The materials are loosely arranged by subject – campus buildings and scenes, then student life, then cadet life. Folders 21-30, at the end, are loose pages which were obviously once a photo album. They were presumably received at MASC in the loose condition they are maintained in today.

Acquisition Information

This collection was gifted to the Washington State University Libraries’ Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC) by Betty and Bill Ferguson of Flagstaff, AZ, in Sept. 1999, and accessioned as UPC-0011. The Fergusons had owned the materials for about 25 years prior to the donation, but noted them as “found” materials and did not know where they came from, nor the people depicted.

Processing Note

The collection was processed in October, 2018 by University Archivist Mark O’English. A decision was made to keep the materials together rather than parse them out into other subject-based collections in hopes that the context of the materials as a whole might eventually allow identification of the central student(s) and more precise dating of the materials.

Related Materials

WSU Libraries’ MASC contains several campus images from this era, notably in PC 4, the WSU Historical Images Collections, and PC 6, WSU Lantern Slides.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description
Folder
1	Administration Building [Thompson Hall]. 2 images.
2	Ferry Hall [old]. Circa 1892-1896.
3	Ferry Hall [new]. Circa 1900-1901.
4	Armory / gymnasium [TUB - Temporary Union Building].
5	College Farm House and College Farm buildings.
6	Campus view: Stevens, Administration [Thompson], Ferry [old].
7	Campus view: Stevens, Crib, Administration [Thompson], College [old], Ferry [old], Mechanical building. 1895.
8	Campus view: Stevens, Crib, Administration [Thompson], College [old], Ferry [old], Mechanical building. 1895.
9	Campus view: Stevens, Administration [Thompson], Science [Murrow], Morrill [under construction], Ferry [new], [Old Smoke]Stack, Mechanical building. 1901.
10	Pullman view from campus. Circa 1895-1899.
11	Male student groups. 3 images.
12	Student in boat-poling costume.
13	Student at desk.
14	Dorm rooms. 2 images.
15	Dining area.
16	Two to three students in cadet uniforms. 2 images.
17	Military cadet troop outside Administration [Thompson] Hall. President Bryan [?] in window.
18	Military cadet troops drilling.
19	Military cadet tents.
20	Spokane Falls. 3 images.
21-30	Photo album, unbound. 40 images in total. Includes informal home and studio photos (some in costume), and boat, picnic, and camping photographs.

Archives West Finding Aid

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