WAUThomasHarlanPHColl394.xmlGuide to Harlan Thomas Architectural Work Photograph Collection approximately 1910-1940Thomas (Harlan) Architectural Work Photograph CollectionSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2008 (Last modified: 2/16/2024)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0394Harlan Thomas Architectural Work Photograph Collection approximately 1910-194070 black and white photographic prints (1 box)Collection materials are in English.Photographs of buildings, architectural renderings, and floor plans designed by Harlan Thomas, as well as those designed by architecture firms in which Harlan Thomas was involved. Also included are portraits of Harlan Thomas

Harlan Thomas was born in Des Moines, Iowa on January 10, 1870. His father, a Civil War Veteran, moved the family to Fort Collins, Colorado, when Harlan was nine years old. He enrolled in Colorado State College in 1885 and became interested in architecture, although his father's death in 1886 forced him to withdraw after only one year of study. Between 1886 and 1891, Thomas worked as a carpenter and draftsman, eventually re-enrolling in Colorado State in 1891. By the time he graduated in 1894 he had already designed two buildings for Colorado State University's campus and a home addition for Franklin Avery, a prominent Fort Collins businessman. After graduation, Thomas opened an architectural office before moving to Europe with his new wife, Edith Partridge, in 1895.

Thomas worked in Denver and traveled extensively between 1896 and 1906, finally moving to Seattle in 1906. Over the next 43 years, Thomas contributed numerous architectural works to the Pacific Northwest. His projects include: the Chelsea Hotel, the Sorrento Hotel, the Queen Anne Seattle Public Library, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Building, the Rhodes Department Store (now known as the Arcade Plaza Building), the first Harborview Hospital building, Bagley Hall at the University of Washington, Laurelhurst Church and the Sand Point Community United Methodist Church. In addition, he designed several high schools, including one in Enumclaw, Washington, the Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen, Washington, and the Masonic Temple and high school in Juneau, Alaska.

From 1926 until 1940 Thomas was a Professor of Architecture and Director of the School of Architecture at the University of Washington, Seattle. In 1940 he became the Director Emeritus of the School of Architecture at the University of Washington. Thomas retired from practice in 1949 and devoted his time to water-color painting, a skill he had practiced throughout his career. In 1951, he exhibited a number of his watercolor sketches at the University of Washington Henry Art Gallery. On September 4, 1953, Harlan Thomas died at the age of 83 at his home on 3015 West Market Street.

The collection includes photographs of architectural works by Harlan Thomas. Photographs of architectural renderings and floor plans are included as well. Images depict commercial, medical, residential, educational, and religious structures, as well as three portraits of Harlan Thomas and one group photograph.

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Gift of Karen Gordon, Urban Conservation Project, Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle; received February 28, 1994.

Gift of Ed Baar (?): items 394.2-3.

Processed by Liam McDonnell, 2005, and Megan Peacock, 2006; processing completed in 2006

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Thomas, Harlan, 1870-1953Thomas, Harlan, 1870-1953--PhotographsArchitects--United States--20th centuryArchitects--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsCollege teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsCollege facilities--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsHospital buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsHotels--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsPhotographsArchitectureWashington (State)Architectural Drawings

 

Portraits11Harlan Thomas undatedS. Walters Studio 12-3Harlan ThomasSeptember 192114Group portrait of first excursion party at Alaska-British Columbia boundary monument September 16, 1917

Harlan Thomas is in the third row, eleventh person from the left.

Architectural works

Arranged alphabetically by project.

25Aluminum Research Laboratories, New Kensington, Pennsylvaniaundated26Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute chemistry lab, Brooklyn, New Yorkundated27-9W.A. Broom Residence, Woodway ParkundatedRounds & Roaf Commercial Photo Studio, Seattle, Washington 210Chelsea Hotel, Seattle, Washingtonundated 211Cobb Building elevators, Seattle, Washington1937 312Cornell University, Baker Chemistry Lab, Ithaca, New Yorkundated313De Wolfe Building, Seattle, WashingtonundatedPierson Photo Co. Commercial Photographer

Pen and ink illustration of building facade.

Note on verso reads: "Design by Kenneth Anderson (went with Disney)"

314Paul Feldenheimer storefront, Portland, Oregon1937

Note on verso attributes architecture to McLelland & Jones.

315Foster residence, Seattle, Washingtonundated Harborview Hospital of King County, Seattle, Washington416Three quarter profile view of building exteriorcirca 1930 417-18View of hospital from across the streetcirca 1930Kenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington 419-20Lobby1930Kenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington 421Photograph of drawing of hospitalundatedDepue, Morgan & Co., Inc, Seattle, Washington 422-23Photograph of architectural modelundatedWalter P. Miller Commercial Photographer, Seattle, Washington 424-29Photograph of architectural modelundated High Schools530Enumclaw and Aberdeen, Washington, and Juneau, Alaska, High Schoolsundated 531-35Photograph of architectural plans of proposed site plot, building and floor plans of Juneau High School, Juneau, Alaska March 28, 1927636Artist rendering and proposed floor plans of Laurelhurst Community Church, Seattle, Washingtoncirca April 27, 1937

Note on back reads: "St. Stephen's Church, 4805 NE 45th."

637William O. McKay Co. Lincoln Sales & Service Garageundated 638Artist rendering of Masonic Temple, Juneau, AlaskaundatedDepue, Morgan & Co., Inc, Seattle, Washington639Mt. Rainier Lodge, Longmire, WashingtonundatedAsahel Curtis, Seattle, Washington 640Artist rendering of the Queen Anne Library, Seattle, WashingtonundatedWebster & Stevens, Seattle, Washington Rhodes Department Store, Seattle, Washington741Artist rendering of exterior undated

"Arcade Plaza Bldg. (known as Rhodes Department Store), Second & Union."

742Exterior with department store signundatedKenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington 743View of interior, shoe department in foregroundundatedKenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington 744Jewelry and accessory departmentsundatedKenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington 745Royal Dutch Bakeryundated 746Artist rendering of Sand Point Community Church, Seattle, Washingtonundated

"Designed by Donald P. Thomas."

747Seventh Church of Christ Scientist, Seattle, WashingtonundatedDepue, Morgan & Co., Inc, Seattle, Washington 748Artist rendering of lodge, plot layout and floorplan for Snoqualmie Hot Springs, Snoqualmie, WashingtonundatedWebster & Stevens, Seattle, Washington

"Located on Middle Fork of Snoqualmie River and Burnt Boot Creek."

849-53Sorrento Hotel floor plansundated 954Sprouse Reitz Co. storefront, Portland, Oregonundated

Completed November, 1935. Material used was Orebraloy Aluminum with polished, satin and lacquered finishes. The contractor for the project was Allen V. Moore. "Store front consisting of push bars, kick plates, cast aluminum plaques and letters, horizontal and vertical bars (louvres and glass setting furnished by others): installed complete - $650.00 (Price as of November, 1936)."

955University of West Virginia Chemistry Laboratory, Morgantown, West Virginia.undated

"Downdraft table hoods, table tops, sinks, and wall shelves of Alberene Stone."

956Artist rendering of proposed University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, Washingtonundated University of Washington Chemistry - Pharmacy Building, Seattle, Washington

Now called Bagley Hall.

1057Artist renderingFebruary 21, 1939

"Bagley Hall. Construction Cost: $1,154,000.000. 35 general laboratories, 60 research laboratories and offices, stock room, library, study hall, auditorium (300 seats), Lecture Hall (150 seats), 3 smaller lecture halls. Fireproof construction: 190 x 250: 4 floors and basements."

1058Exterior of hall with Drumheller fountain in front of buildingundatedRoger Dudley, Commercial Photographer, Seattle, Washington 1059-60Exterior of hallundatedRoger Dudley, Commercial Photographer, Seattle, Washington 1061Weatherwax High School, Aberdeen, Washingtonundated 1062Yale University, Sterling Laboratory of Chemistry, New Haven, Connecticutundated

" Table tops, reagent shelving and hoods of Alberene Stone."

Unidentified projects1163-64Backside of residence and pool.undated1165-66Front and rear view of courthouse and jail.undated1167View of Seattle, Washington, street and buildings at intersection with University StreetOctober 9, 1911 1168Pen and ink rendering of a two-towered building, possibly a hotelundated1169View of interior stone stairs with wrought iron railing undatedRounds & Roaf Commercial Photo Studio, Seattle, Washington

"Whitcomb interior."

1170View of lake and surrounding brush-covered landscapeundatedWebster & Stevens, Seattle, Washington