University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH1243Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America. Nile Temple (Seattle, Wash.)Nile Shrine
collection of photographs and other materialapproximately 1899-200415.09 cubic feet (17 boxes, 1 oversized package containing
3 framed photographs, 24 oversize folders, 1 film reel)Approximately 2200 photographic
printsApproximately 488
slidesApproximately 450
negatives24 albums1 film reel : black and white print ; 16mmCollection materials are in
English.Collection of
photographs and other material from the Nile Shrine of SeattleThe 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.
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.
Viewing or listening to media materials may require production of use
copies. Contact Special Collections for more information.
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
Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on
copying, quotation or publication. Users are responsible for researching
opyright status before use.
Donor: Richard M. Kovak, Potentate for Nile Shrine, February 2009.
Photo on guide was taken from box 9.
Collection accessioned as PH2009-018.
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America. Nile Temple (Seattle, Wash.)--PhotographsPhotographsSocieties and Clubs
1Photographs - prints and negativescirca 1908-1990sMember 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.
2Photographs - prints and negativescirca 1899-1981Member 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).
3Photographs - prints and negativescirca 1908-1990sMember 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.
4Photographs - prints and negativescirca 1925-1970sGroup portraits, officer portraits, Nile Shrine bands, and other
Panoramic photographscirca 1910s-1950sThese 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.
M272P1Panorama of 45th Annual session of the Imperial Council
A.A.O.N.M.S.June 10-12, 1919Bretzmann, IndianapolisSeattle Nile Temple band in front row.
M272P2Panorama of Nile Shrine temple band A.A.O.N.M.S.,
Seattle (145)June 3, 1919Bretzmann, IndianapolisPosed in street near King Street Station. Drum has image of
Chief Seattle in a Shriners fez.
Written on image: 145.
M272P3Panorama of Seattle Nile Shriners in front of U.S.
Capitol, Washington D.C.June 5-7, 1923SchutzWritten 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.
M272P4Panorama of 55th annual session of the Imperial Council
A.A.O.N.M.S., Los Angeles (Keystone S-79)1929Keystone, Los AngelesShriners from Afifi temple in Tacoma, WA.
M272P5Panorama of 63rd Imperial Council of the Nobles of the
Mystic Shrine of North America, Detroit, MIJune 21-24, 1937Spencer & Wyckoff, DetroitM272P6Panorama of 13th Annual Washington State Conclave, De
Molay, Everett, WAAugust 28, 1937Juleen, Everett, WADe Molay is an international fraternal organization for young
men ages 12-21.
M272P7Panorama of 64th annual session of the Imperial Council
Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Los Angeles (Keystone
S.H.-32)June 6-9, 1938Keystone, Los AngelesWritten 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.
M272P8Panorama of Pacific Northwest Shriners Convention,
Brockton Point Oval, Stanley Park, Vancouver B.C.May 1942Sunday PhotosM272P9Panorama of Nile Patrol, 76th Imperial Council session
A.A.O.N.M.S., Los Angeles (Weaver 18655-4)June 19-23, 1950Weaver, Los AngelesM272P10Panorama of Nile Legion of Honor, 76th Imperial Council
session A.A.O.N.M.S., Los Angeles (Weaver 18655-6)June 19-23, 1950Weaver, Los AngelesM273P11Panorama of group of Nile Shriners in St. Paul,
MN1914Written on verso of duplicate: Taken in St. Paul in 1914 on way
to Atlanta.
M273P12Panorama from 41st Annual Session Imperial Council,
A.A.O.N.M.S. , in front of Nile Temple Band and Drum & Bugle Corp
storefront, Seattle July 12-17, 1915Frank H. NowellWritten on front: Capt. Geo. R. Drever.
M273P13Panorama of Nile Patrol members in Fargo, NDJune 6, 1919Camera Craft, MinneapolisM273P14Panorama of Seattle Nile Patrol members at Forty-fifth
Annual Session of the Imperial Council, A.A.O.N.M.S., in Indianapolis,
INJun 10-12, 1919Bretzmann, IndianapolisM273P15Panorama of Seattle Nile Shrine members including
bandbetween 1920 and 1935?M273P16Panorama of Seattle Nile Temple Patrol in Tacoma (Shrine
Photo No. 50)January 8, 1921Richards Film Service., TacomaCaption on photo: Smile with the Nile.
M273P17Panorama of Nile Patrol at Hotel Maryland,
Pasadena1925Photo News Service, PasadenaM273P18Panorama of Bethlehem Commandery No. 19 band members in
Seattle, on way to convention in DenverJune 1926Colorado Photo Co., DenverHandwritten 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.
M273P19Panorama of Seattle Nile members at Fifty-fifth Annual
Session of the Imperial Council A.A.O. N.M.S., Los Angeles (Keystone S-9)
1929Keystone, Los Angeles7Photographs - prints1904-1909 "Emeritus Outer Guard" group portraits.
Box missing but probably emptied when photographs moved to
oversize folders.
8Photographs - printscirca
1912-1940circa 1980sNile Patrol (1912-1940), officers and other group portraits
(1980s).
Box missing but probably emptied when photographs moved to
oversize folders.
9Photographs - prints1982-1989 Group portraits: Nile Patrol, Shriners' Moto Squadron,
Chanters.
10Miscellaneous photographic prints and textual
materialscirca 1930s-1980s11Photographs - slides12Original drawings and ephemeracirca 1922-2000s13Photograph albums1982-19887 albumsIncludes an album of potenaires and a bridal party.
14Photograph albumscirca 1960-19917 albumsParades, special events, community activities, etc.
15Photograph albumscirca 1940s-1980s7 albumsParades, special events, and group portraits.
16Photograph albumscirca 1908-19973 albumsMostly group portraits.
17Scrapbook and slidescirca 1960s-1970s18not usedM294Panoramic photographs - group portraitscirca 1915-1950E024 (Oversize folder 22)Photo collages, poster, and original drawing1999undatedHT 955 (Folders 23-24)Group portraits; matted advertisement for
eventReel (not numbered)16mm film: Ceremonial in Seattle CenterNo box 19 (never existed)20Framed photo of of Emeritus Outer Guard
officercirca 1904-1920Man is wearing pin which says " C.D. Knight, Tyler St. John's
Lodge No. 9, 1884-1904".
21Travel - Alaska / Pacific Northwestcirca 1910-1990s5 Folders in chronological orderParades, ceremonial events, landscape, fire disaster and group
portraits.
TravelAsia22/11Group photo in Shanghaicirca 191022/12Group photo at a dinner event192222/13-4Member in Oriental garb with pipecirca 192022/15-6Men in Commodore dress with Flag,
Philippinescirca 192022/17-8Members seated in blackfacecirca 191022/19Fuji Shrine dinner in Yokohama, Japan5 Feb 193722/110-12Guam Shrine Club ceremonial ballNov 194922/113Shriner and doll - "Largest member and smallest
member" w/poem on backcirca 193022/114American and Chinese Shriners at the Dragon Shrine,
Hong Kongcirca 194022/21Seattle PI article "Seattle Shrine to Dine with
Injured G.I.'s in Tokyo5 Nov 195022/22-5Nile Shrine in Japan & Hong Kongcirca 195322/26Group photo in Taiwancirca 195322/27Frank Rosenquist and Hal Snyder in China195422/28-10Group photos in China w/Freemasonscirca 194522/211Santa visits Children in YokohamaDec 195222/212Members w/Nile Temple Orient brochurescirca 195022/213-14"Torii Topics" pamphlet - Farewell luncheon for Noble
Gen. Doyle O. Hickey in Yokahama, JapanApr 195322/215News release document - translation of Santa Claus
visit in Yokohama story24 Dec 195222/216-18 Members visit to Hawaii and Pearl Harbor
Memorial195422/219Newspaper article "Nile Shriners arrive in
Tokyo"3 Nov 195322/220-21Chinese language articles on Nile Shrine visit in Wah
Yat Po newspaper195122/31-10Pilgrimage to Torii Oasis Shrine with Potentate H, Dan
Brackens and Divan in Japan- Hospital visit195122/315-20Pilgrimage to Torii Oasis Shrine with Potentate H, Dan
Brackens and Divan in Japan - Shrine Ceremonial photos with military
members195122/321-25Pilgrimage to Torii Oasis Shrine with Potentate H, Dan
Brackens and Divan in Japan - Visit with locals in the countryside195122/326-36 Pilgrimage to the Dragon Oasis Shrine with Potentate
H, Dan Brackens and Divan in Hong Kong195122/337-41Pilgrimage to Kyoto, Japan - Group photos with
military members195122/342-46Pilgrimage to the Bamboo Oasis Shrine in Manila,
Philippines195122/41Pilgrimage to Tokyo Ceremonial - Divan leaving on
plane to JapanNov 195522/42Pilgrimage to Tokyo Ceremonial - Divan arrival at
Tokyo airportNov 195522/43-4Pilgrimage to Tokyo Ceremonial - Potentate Leslie W.
Eastman of the Nile Temple greeted by General L.L. Lemnitzer9 Nov 195522/45Group photo at Charcoal Steak Dinner with the Saigon
Oasis and Hiram Club in Dai Nam, Saigon, Vietnam23 Dec 195822/51Pilgrimage to Manila, Philippines - Nile Shrine
Potentate Bill Parker arriving at airport196522/52Pilgrimage to Manila, Philippines - Nile Shrine
Potentate Bill Parker in parade car196522/53Nile Shriner with local women in Taipai,
Taiwan10 Jul 197622/54-26Potentate Edgar R. Davidson in Singapore, Hong Kong,
Tokyo and Taipei1989