Nile Shrine collection of photographs and other material, approximately 1899-2004

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America. Nile Temple (Seattle, Wash.)
Title
Nile Shrine collection of photographs and other material
Dates
approximately 1899-2004 (inclusive)
Quantity
15.09 cubic feet (17 boxes, 1 oversized package containing 3 framed photographs, 24 oversize folders, 1 film reel)
Approximately 2200 photographic prints
Approximately 488 slides
Approximately 450 negatives
24 albums
1 film reel : black and white print ; 16mm
Collection Number
PH1243
Summary
Collection of photographs and other material from the Nile Shrine of Seattle
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

Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers is restricted. See below and contact repository for details.

Viewing or listening to media materials may require production of use copies. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), or "The Shrine," was created by members of the Masonic Order as a new fraternity in 1871. The "Shriners" adopted a Middle Eastern theme for their rituals and costumes. The Shriners are known for their philanthropy in the building and operating of Shriners Hospitals, which provide free medical care to children. They are also known for their participation in local parades, and often recognized by the trademark red fez.

According to a history on its website, the Nile Shrine was established in 1908-1909, when some 457 Seattle-area "Nobles" split off from the existing Afifi Temple of Tacoma, Washington. The original Nile Shrine meetings took place in Seattle at the Moore Theater and at the Masonic Temple when it was completed in 1916; in 1924, the group purchased a parcel of land on Lake Ballinger in Mountlake Terrace to serve as a country club, including a golf course, which it still owns and operates today. In 1955, the Nile Nobles constructed a new office building in downtown Seattle, but this was soon thereafter sold back to the city as preparations for the 1962 World's Fair developed the grounds at Seattle Center. Subsequently, the Mountlake Terrace property served all of the administrative, ceremonial and recreational purposes.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs, albums, scrapbook, drawings, film and other material relating to the Nile Shriners and their community activities. Includes numerous group photos of Nile Nobles, including panoramas. Photo albums include mostly snapshots documenting community activities such as parades, school and hospital visits. One 16mm film is in the collection, labeled "Ceremonial in Seattle, 1963". Other material includes clippings, certificates of recognition, ceremonial programs, artifacts, ephemera, manuscripts, and correspondence.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Preservation Note

Viewing or listening to media materials may require production of use copies. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Acquisition Information

Donor: Richard M. Kovak, Potentate for Nile Shrine, February 2009.

Processing Note

Photo on guide was taken from box 9.

Collection accessioned as PH2009-018.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Photographs - prints and negatives, circa 1908-1990sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 1

Member portraits and officer group portraits; snapshots of social events and community activities such as picnics, parades, ceremonies, and performances; Nile Shrine buildings and grounds; Shriners' hospital; group trips; includes a shot of the mascot camel, and a group of Shriners in front of the Tacoma Hotel.

Photographs - prints and negatives, circa 1899-1981Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2

Member portraits and officer group portraits, clubhouse grounds, Nile Temple Bands, the Imperial Council, various ceremonies and events, "Bess the horse," and "The Original Nile Smile" (Noble J. E. Chilberg).

Photographs - prints and negatives, circa 1908-1990sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 3

Member and officer portraits; group portraits of officers, bands, clubs, and other subgroups; Nile Shrine Temple buildings and grounds; ceremonies and social events; parades and performances; includes the 1912 Pilgrimage of Nile Temple.

Photographs - prints and negatives, circa 1925-1970sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 4

Group portraits, officer portraits, Nile Shrine bands, and other

Panoramic photographs, circa 1910s-1950sReturn to Top

These boxes are missing but were probably emptied when rolled photographs were flattened and moved into panorama folders.

Access restricted to boxes 5 and 6 until the collection is processed: these contain rolled photographs which require preservation attention.

Group portraits of Nile Shriners: Nile Patrol, bands, chanters, etc.

Container(s) Description Dates
mapcase item
M272 P1
Panorama of 45th Annual session of the Imperial Council A.A.O.N.M.S.
Bretzmann, Indianapolis
Seattle Nile Temple band in front row.
 June 10-12, 1919
M272 P2
Panorama of Nile Shrine temple band A.A.O.N.M.S., Seattle (145)
Bretzmann, Indianapolis (photographer)
Posed in street near King Street Station. Drum has image of Chief Seattle in a Shriners fez.
Written on image: 145.
 June 3, 1919
M272 P3
Panorama of Seattle Nile Shriners in front of U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C.
Schutz (photographer)
Written on verso of duplicate print: Patrol, Band, and chanters of Nile Temple at Wahsington D.C.
Written on image: Schutz 2787 Official Photo, 613 14th St.
 June 5-7, 1923
M272 P4
Panorama of 55th annual session of the Imperial Council A.A.O.N.M.S., Los Angeles (Keystone S-79)
Keystone, Los Angeles (photographer)
Shriners from Afifi temple in Tacoma, WA.
 1929
M272 P5
Panorama of 63rd Imperial Council of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North America, Detroit, MI
Spencer & Wyckoff, Detroit (photographer)
June 21-24, 1937
M272 P6
Panorama of 13th Annual Washington State Conclave, De Molay, Everett, WA
Juleen, Everett, WA (photographer)
De Molay is an international fraternal organization for young men ages 12-21.
 August 28, 1937
M272 P7
Panorama of 64th annual session of the Imperial Council Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Los Angeles (Keystone S.H.-32)
Keystone, Los Angeles
Written on accompanying material removed from orignal frame: This picture of the 1938 Drill team and Associated unit taken in Los Angeles was presented to the Legion of Honor at a meeting on 19 May 1965 - By Post Commander Jack W[illeg] and Wally Peterson. [Illeg.]
Accompanying list labelled LEGION OF HONOR, NILE TEMPLE-IMPERIAL SESSIONS, LOG ANGELES, JUNE 6-9-1938, HARRISON HART, POTENTATE. identifies all pictured members.
 June 6-9, 1938
M272 P8
Panorama of Pacific Northwest Shriners Convention, Brockton Point Oval, Stanley Park, Vancouver B.C.
Sunday Photos (photographer)
May 1942
M272 P9
Panorama of Nile Patrol, 76th Imperial Council session A.A.O.N.M.S., Los Angeles (Weaver 18655-4)
Weaver, Los Angeles (photographer)
June 19-23, 1950
M272 P10
Panorama of Nile Legion of Honor, 76th Imperial Council session A.A.O.N.M.S., Los Angeles (Weaver 18655-6)
Weaver, Los Angeles (photographer)
June 19-23, 1950
M273 P11
Panorama of group of Nile Shriners in St. Paul, MN
Written on verso of duplicate: Taken in St. Paul in 1914 on way to Atlanta.
 1914
M273 P12
Panorama from 41st Annual Session Imperial Council, A.A.O.N.M.S. , in front of Nile Temple Band and Drum & Bugle Corp storefront, Seattle
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Written on front: Capt. Geo. R. Drever.
July 12-17, 1915
M273 P13
Panorama of Nile Patrol members in Fargo, ND
Camera Craft, Minneapolis (photographer)
June 6, 1919
M273 P14
Panorama of Seattle Nile Patrol members at Forty-fifth Annual Session of the Imperial Council, A.A.O.N.M.S., in Indianapolis, IN
Bretzmann, Indianapolis (photographer)
Jun 10-12, 1919
M273 P15
Panorama of Seattle Nile Shrine members including band
 between 1920 and 1935?
M273 P16
Panorama of Seattle Nile Temple Patrol in Tacoma (Shrine Photo No. 50)
Richards Film Service., Tacoma (photographer)
Caption on photo: Smile with the Nile.
 January 8, 1921
M273 P17
Panorama of Nile Patrol at Hotel Maryland, Pasadena
Photo News Service, Pasadena (photographer)
1925
M273 P18
Panorama of Bethlehem Commandery No. 19 band members in Seattle, on way to convention in Denver
Colorado Photo Co., Denver (photographer)
Handwritten on photo: On way to Siloam Comdry. in Oak Park, Ill. May 22-June 1, 1926. Names handwritten below members in ink. Typed list of members affixed to front of photo.
 June 1926
M273 P19
Panorama of Seattle Nile members at Fifty-fifth Annual Session of the Imperial Council A.A.O. N.M.S., Los Angeles (Keystone S-9)
Keystone, Los Angeles (photographer)
1929

Photographs - prints, 1904-1909Return to Top

Container(s): Box:oversize 7

"Emeritus Outer Guard" group portraits.

Box missing but probably emptied when photographs moved to oversize folders.

Photographs - prints, circa 1912-1940, circa 1980sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box:oversize 8

Nile Patrol (1912-1940), officers and other group portraits (1980s).

Box missing but probably emptied when photographs moved to oversize folders.

Photographs - prints, 1982-1989Return to Top

Container(s): Box:oversize 9

Group portraits: Nile Patrol, Shriners' Moto Squadron, Chanters.

Miscellaneous photographic prints and textual materials, circa 1930s-1980sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 10

Photographs - slidesReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 11

Original drawings and ephemera, circa 1922-2000sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 12

Photograph albums, 1982-1988Return to Top

Container(s): Box 13

7 albums

Includes an album of potenaires and a bridal party.

Photograph albums, circa 1960-1991Return to Top

Container(s): Box 14

7 albums

Parades, special events, community activities, etc.

Photograph albums, circa 1940s-1980sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 15

7 albums

Parades, special events, and group portraits.

Photograph albums, circa 1908-1997Return to Top

Container(s): Box 16

3 albums

Mostly group portraits.

Scrapbook and slides, circa 1960s-1970sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 17

not usedReturn to Top

Container(s): Package:oversize 18

Panoramic photographs - group portraits, circa 1915-1950Return to Top

Container(s): Mapcase M294

Photo collages, poster, and original drawing, 1999, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Folder E024 (Oversize folder 22)

Group portraits; matted advertisement for eventReturn to Top

Container(s): Folder HT 955 (Folders 23-24)

16mm film: Ceremonial in Seattle CenterReturn to Top

Container(s): Reel Reel (not numbered)

No box 19 (never existed)Return to Top

Framed photo of of Emeritus Outer Guard officer, circa 1904-1920Return to Top

Container(s): Box:oversize 20

Man is wearing pin which says " C.D. Knight, Tyler St. John's Lodge No. 9, 1884-1904".

Travel - Alaska / Pacific Northwest, circa 1910-1990sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 21

5 Folders in chronological order

Parades, ceremonial events, landscape, fire disaster and group portraits.

Container(s) Description Dates
Asia
Box/Folder item
22/1 1
Group photo in Shanghai
 circa 1910
22/1 2
Group photo at a dinner event
 1922
22/1 3-4
Member in Oriental garb with pipe
 circa 1920
22/1 5-6
Men in Commodore dress with Flag, Philippines
 circa 1920
22/1 7-8
Members seated in blackface
 circa 1910
22/1 9
Fuji Shrine dinner in Yokohama, Japan
 5 Feb 1937
22/1 10-12
Guam Shrine Club ceremonial ball
 Nov 1949
22/1 13
Shriner and doll - "Largest member and smallest member" w/poem on back
 circa 1930
22/1 14
American and Chinese Shriners at the Dragon Shrine, Hong Kong
 circa 1940
22/2 1
Seattle PI article "Seattle Shrine to Dine with Injured G.I.'s in Tokyo
 5 Nov 1950
22/2 2-5
Nile Shrine in Japan & Hong Kong
 circa 1953
22/2 6
Group photo in Taiwan
 circa 1953
22/2 7
Frank Rosenquist and Hal Snyder in China
 1954
22/2 8-10
Group photos in China w/Freemasons
 circa 1945
22/2 11
Santa visits Children in Yokohama
 Dec 1952
22/2 12
Members w/Nile Temple Orient brochures
 circa 1950
22/2 13-14
"Torii Topics" pamphlet - Farewell luncheon for Noble Gen. Doyle O. Hickey in Yokahama, Japan
 Apr 1953
22/2 15
News release document - translation of Santa Claus visit in Yokohama story
 24 Dec 1952
22/2 16-18
Members visit to Hawaii and Pearl Harbor Memorial
 1954
22/2 19
Newspaper article "Nile Shriners arrive in Tokyo"
 3 Nov 1953
22/2 20-21
Chinese language articles on Nile Shrine visit in Wah Yat Po newspaper
 1951
22/3 1-10
Pilgrimage to Torii Oasis Shrine with Potentate H, Dan Brackens and Divan in Japan- Hospital visit
 1951
22/3 15-20
Pilgrimage to Torii Oasis Shrine with Potentate H, Dan Brackens and Divan in Japan - Shrine Ceremonial photos with military members
 1951
22/3 21-25
Pilgrimage to Torii Oasis Shrine with Potentate H, Dan Brackens and Divan in Japan - Visit with locals in the countryside
 1951
22/3 26-36
Pilgrimage to the Dragon Oasis Shrine with Potentate H, Dan Brackens and Divan in Hong Kong
 1951
22/3 37-41
Pilgrimage to Kyoto, Japan - Group photos with military members
 1951
22/3 42-46
Pilgrimage to the Bamboo Oasis Shrine in Manila, Philippines
 1951
22/4 1
Pilgrimage to Tokyo Ceremonial - Divan leaving on plane to Japan
 Nov 1955
22/4 2
Pilgrimage to Tokyo Ceremonial - Divan arrival at Tokyo airport
 Nov 1955
22/4 3-4
Pilgrimage to Tokyo Ceremonial - Potentate Leslie W. Eastman of the Nile Temple greeted by General L.L. Lemnitzer
 9 Nov 1955
22/4 5
Group photo at Charcoal Steak Dinner with the Saigon Oasis and Hiram Club in Dai Nam, Saigon, Vietnam
 23 Dec 1958
22/5 1
Pilgrimage to Manila, Philippines - Nile Shrine Potentate Bill Parker arriving at airport
 1965
22/5 2
Pilgrimage to Manila, Philippines - Nile Shrine Potentate Bill Parker in parade car
 1965
22/5 3
Nile Shriner with local women in Taipai, Taiwan
 10 Jul 1976
22/5 4-26
Potentate Edgar R. Davidson in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Taipei
 1989


2009 (Last modified: 2/16/2024)

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