Columbia Valley Lumber Company photograph album, 1921-1922

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Donovan, J. J. (John Joseph), 1858-1937
Title
Columbia Valley Lumber Company photograph album
Dates
1921-1922 (inclusive)
Quantity
.1 cubic feet (1 box and 1 folder)
36 photographs in 1 album ; various sizes
36 photocopies
Collection Number
PH0826
Summary
Album of photographs taken by J. J. Donovan on trips to visit the Columbia Valley Lumber Company yards in Wenatchee, Cashmere, Omak, Okanagan and other towns in Washington state
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

Access to the original photographs is restricted. Use photocopies for viewing. Permission of curator required for viewing original photographs. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

J.J. (John Joseph) Donovan was born in 1858 in Rumney, New Hampshire. He earned his civil engineering degree in 1882 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. He worked for a while for the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1888 Donovan moved to Bellingham, Washington and worked as the chief engineer of the Fairhaven and Southern Railroad and the Blue Canyon Mining Company. He later became the Secretary of the Bellingham Bay and Eastern Railroad Company. In 1898, Mr. Donovan and his business partners J.H. Bloedel and Peter Larson, founded the Whatcom Logging Company, later to be known as the Bloedel-Donovan Lumber Mills. Mr. Donovan served as vice president until his death in 1937. The mills and logging properties Donovan and his partners had acquired over the years, including the Columbia Valley Lumber Company, operated until 1945.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

In 1921 and 1922, J.J. Donovan took a tour of several Columbia Valley Lumber Company yards in Washington state, including Watersville, Wenatchee, Cashmere, Monitor, Dryden, Douglas, Withrow, Omak, and Chelan. He later collected the photographs into albums to be presented to the various managers of the different lumber yards. This album was given to W.S. McLean, the manager of the Dryden yard, in 1923.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The album contains 36 photographs of Columbia Valley Lumber Company yards and related sites in Washington state including people and scenes from Wenatchee, Waterville, Cashmere, Monitor, Dryden, Douglas, Withrow, Omak, and Chelan. The photographs were made in 1921 and 1922 by J.J. Donovan and include a few explanatory notes. The album is dated September 1922.

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

Acquisition Information

Source: Fairlook Antiques, 2008.

Processing Note

Processed by Hilary Pittenger, 2009.

The album is warped; photocopies have been made for viewing purposes.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Album item
1 1 Introductory letter describing J.J. Donovan's trips and the participants January 30, 1923
1 2 List of Columbia Valley Lumber Company managers and their cities of operation 1923
1 3 Woman in profile standing in garden
Printed caption on album page: "The Real Manager of Columbia Valley."
1921-1922
1 4 Woman holding baby
Possibly the son of R.A. Thompson, the manager at Waterville.Printed caption on album page: "Our Youngest Manager, Waterville."
1921-1922
1 5 Street scene of Columbia Valley Lumber Co. office and Wenatchee department store, Wenatchee, Washington 1921-1922
1 6 Columbia Valley Lumber Co. office, Wenatchee, Washington 1921-1922
1 7 Five men speaking on sidewalk
Printed caption on album page: "Serious questions."
1921-1922
1 8 Three men in a reception room in South Wenatchee office, Wenatchee, Washington 1921-1922
1 9 South Wenatchee office building, Wenatchee, Washington 1921-1922
1 10 South Wenatchee office and lumberyard, Wenatchee, Washington 1921-1922
1 11 Great Northern Train depot and factories, Wenatchee, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "Great Northern Shops."
1921-1922
1 12 South Wenatchee Columbia Valley Co. sign with pelican on top and office building, Wenatchee, Washington 1921-1922
1 13 Five men in front of a Columbia Valley Lumber Co. sign in Cashmere, Washington 1921-1922
1 14 Four children in front of a house with trellises
Printed caption on album page: "Miller, LaValley & Co."
1921-1922
1 15 Two men and four children in front of a house, Cashmere, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "Proud Fathers, Cashmere."
1921-1922
1 16 Mr. Volk and man in front of Columbia Valley Lumber Co. storefront in Monitor, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "Volk praises prospects of Monitor."
1921-1922
1 17 View of house with utility pole and mountains in the background 1921-1922
1 18 The McLean family in front of a building with a striped awning, Dryden, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "The Clan McLean, Dryden."Possible relatives of W.S. McLean
1921-1922
1 19 Barnes' Church in Douglas, Washington 1921-1922
1 20 H.A. Barnes, manager of the Columbia Valley Lumber Co., in front of a building in Douglas, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "So Lonesome."
1921-1922
1 21 Main Street in Waterville, Washington 1921-1922
1 22 Columbia Valley Lumber Co. building in Waterville, Washington 1921-1922
1 23 Men filling up a horse-drawn cart with lumber in Withrow, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "Hard at work as we arrive, Withrow."
1921-1922
1 24 Ed Ballinger, manager of the Withrow Columbia Valley Lumber Co., in front of his storefront 1921-1922
1 25 Two men in front of a building speaking with a person in an automobile
Printed caption on album page: "Eilersten Tells Bill How to Reach Bridgeport."
1921-1922
1 26 View of Omak, Washington
Caption on picture: "Birdseye view Omak Wash showing warehouses."
1921-1922
1 27 Men and automobiles in front of Columbia Valley Lumber Co. building in Omak, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "Omak, 'The Hub of Okanogan,' according to Wright."
1921-1922
1 28 Six men standing against a building
Printed caption on album page: "Fine men but poor picture."
1921-1922
1 29 Landscape and warehouse next to railroad track in Omak, Washington 1921-1922
1 30 Apple warehouse in Omak, Washington 1921-1922
1 31 Okanogan Bureau Hotel, Okanogan, Washington 1921-1922
1 32 Man and woman with two children in Okanogan, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "Exhibit A, Okanogan."
1921-1922
1 33 Photograph of an apology letter from J.J. Donovan to H.J. McMahon, Tonasket manager of the Columbia Valley Lumber Co., dated September 28, 1922
Letter states: "My dear Mr. McMahon, We were very sorry on our recent trip that road conditions between Mansfield and Bridgeport delayed us and compelled us to defer our visit to your city. We hope for better luck next time."
1922
1 34 Three men eating watermelon near Malott, Washington 1921-1922
1 35 Columbia River near Chelan, Washington 1921-1922
1 36 Brick hospital building
Printed caption on album page: "Bill Connor's Pride."
1921-1922
1 37 Five men standing in front of a building in Kirkland, Washington
Printed caption on album page: "McAvoy & Co."
1921-1922
1 38 Lake Chelan 1921-1922

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cities and towns--Washington (State)--Photographs
  • Lumber trade--Washington (State)--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • Columbia Valley Lumber Company--Officials and employees--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Wenatchee (Wash.)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photograph albums
  • Photographs