WAUNorthernStateHospitalPHColl231.xml Guide to the Photographs of Northern State Hospital circa 1909-1950 Northern State Hospital, Photographs of Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries ©2008 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH0231 Photographs of Northern State Hospital circa 1909-1950 200 photographic prints (1 box, 1 folder) Collection materials are in English. Photographs of hospital for the mentally ill in Sedro Woolley, Washington

The Northern State Hospital in Sedro Woolley, Washington opened in May of 1912 and closed in 1976. The hospital was one of three mental hospitals in the state, and was also known by the names “Northern State Hospital for the Insane” and “Northern State Hospital for the Criminally Insane”. Northern State Hospital began as a farm for non-violent patients from Western Hospital at Fort Steilacoom. The first building on the hospital campus opened in the fall of 1910, and was used for both planning and administration purposes. In 1911, the hospital was separated from Western Hospital, and became the largest hospital in the state. When Northern State Hospital officially opened on May 27, 1912, it only contained an administration building and a few wards. A large amount of work was put into cleaning and cultivating additional land, building roads, grading, laying drains and sewers, constructing buildings, cutting wood, and repairing barns. Patients assisted in much of the labor through 1914. The well-renowned Olmstead Brothers designed the hospital grounds. As the hospital attained more funding, the campus grew. Multiple buildings were added, including an auditorium, commissary building, machine shop, laundry, refrigeration plant, reservoir, pathological laboratory, library, clinical center, chapel, morgue, crematory, and multiple barns. By 1953, Northern State Hospital consisted of 33 ward buildings and 13 additional buildings spread over 1,200 acres.

Northern State Hospital fostered education and training for patients and staff alike. In addition to construction tasks, patients took part in vocational training at the farm, dairy, printing plant, gardens, greenhouse, and other buildings on the campus, making the hospital largely self-sufficient. Student nurses were also trained on the hospital premises.

Patients were sent to the hospital from the eight northwestern counties of Washington State: Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish, King, Jefferson, San Juan, Clallam and Island. Superintendents for the hospital include Dr. A. H. McLeish (from 1911-1933), Dr. W.E. Cass (from 1913-1914), Dr. J.W. Doughty (from 1914-1945), Dr. Clifford Halvorsen (1945-1950), and Dr. Charles H. Jones (from 1950- presumably 1971), and Dr. James Reardon (1971-1976).

The collection includes images of the land that Northern State Hospital was built on before it was cleared, the land clearing and construction process, hospital buildings and grounds, clinical treatment areas, farm buildings and grounds, hospital staff, and flooding (1945).

View the digital version of the collection

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Donor: Pearl Blackburn, 17 prints of interior and exterior views of Northern State Hospital, staff, panoramas.

Processed by Melanie Kay; processing completed in 2018.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Northern State Hospital (Wash.)--Photographs Northern State Hospital (Wash.)--Employees--Photographs Northern State Hospital (Wash.)--Buildings--Photographs Sedro Woolley (Wash.)--Photographs Psychiatric hospitals--Washington (State)--Sedro Woolley--Design and construction--Photographs Psychiatric hospitals--Washington (State)--Sedro Woolley--Photographs Photographs Medicine and Health Washington (State)

 

Pre-construction and clearing land 1 1 Old growth tree and underbrush at hospital site between 1909 and 1911? 1 2 Wooded area at hospital site between 1909 and 1911?

A steam donkey logging engine can be seen in the background on the left.

 1 3 Hansen Creek before diversion was built between 1909 and 1911? 1 4 Tree stumps and loose dirt between 1909 and 1911? 1 5-7 Logged ground with stumps between 1909 and 1911? 1 8 Pile of stumps from clearing land between 1909 and 1911? 1 9 Single tree on otherwise cleared land between 1909 and 1911? 1 10 Workers and horses on cleared land with makeshift construction shelters between 1909 and 1911? 1 11 Worker shoveling to make preliminary road between 1909 and 1911? 1 12 Preliminary road on cleared land between 1909 and 1911? 1 13 Preliminary road and fields on cleared land between 1909 and 1911? Construction 1 14 Workers standing by railroad tracks between 1909 and 1911? 1 15 Man driving a horse-drawn plow through fields between 1909 and 1911? 1 16 Men unloading debris from a wagon between 1909 and 1911? 1 17 Man driving a horse-drawn carriage with garbage cans through pre-landscaped grounds between 1911 and 1912? 1 18 Workers digging a trench for plumbing pipes between 1911 and 1912? 1 19 Workers building bracings for plumbing between 1911 and 1912? 1 20 Exposed plumbing bracings with railroad tracks on top between 1911 and 1912? 1 21 Exposed plumbing bracings in logged area with stumps between 1911 and 1912? 1 22-23 Elevated plumbing bracings over Hansen Creek wetlands between 1911 and 1912? 1 24 Workers pouring cement for foundation with Northern Pacific train car in the background between 1911 and 1912?

An eastern extension of the line extended to Northern State Hospital from the main north-south line for construction purposes.

 1 25 Workers pouring cement for foundation between 1911 and 1912? 1 26 Hansen Creek before retaining wall was put in between 1910 and 1912? 1 27-28 Workers digging diversion channels for Hansen Creek between 1909 and 1912? 1 29 Workers building a retaining wall at Hansen Creek between 1910 and 1912? 1 30 Builders setting up scaffolding between 1910 and 1912? 1 31 Builders working on partially-constructed building between 1910 and 1912? 1 32 Construction site with buildings in varying degrees of completeness between 1910 and 1912? 1 33 Almost-completed men's ward near railroad tracks between 1911 and 1912? 1 34-35 Men's wards in final stages of construction between 1911 and 1912? 1 36 Completed men's wards in non-landscaped fields between 1911 and 1912? 1 37 Main Kitchen building with semi-completed covered walkway between 1911 and 1912? 1 38 Fountain before landscaping between 1911 and 1912? 1 39 Man standing next to Truck on cleared land between 1911 and 1912? 1 40 Workers creating form for foundation at construction site between 1911 and 1912? Grounds 1 41 Temporary decorated stage in front of Garage Building 1912? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley

The temporary stage might possibly have been a part of the grand opening celebration for the hospital.

 1 42 Trophies on a table 1912? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley

The trophies might have possibly been a part of the grand opening celebration for the hospital.

 1 43 View of the newly-constructed campus 1912? 1 44-45 Early retaining wall on Hansen Creek 1912? 1 46-48 Cement dam on Hansen Creek 1912? 1 49-50 Grounds in the snow between 1930 and 1935? 1 51-52 Panoramic view of hospital campus between 1930 and 1935? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley 1 53 Pond with building in the background between 1930 and 1935? 1 54 Circular English garden between 1930 and 1935? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley 1 55 Circular fountain between 1930 and 1935? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley 1 56 Retaining wall on Hansen Creek between 1930 and 1935? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley 1 57 Water treatment area between 1930 and 1935? 1 58 Water reservoir between 1930 and 1935? 1 59 Two boys and a man in a car in front of the Garage building between 1930 and 1935? 1 60 Man standing by a car in front of the Commissary Building between 1930 and 1935? 1 61-65 View from hospital campus from Reservoir Hill 1944? Buildings Employee Housing 1 66-67 Front view of Winfield Hall between 1935 and 1944?

Winfield Hall housed single male and female employees and married couples.

 1 68 Panoramic view of front entrance of Winfield Hall 1944? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 69 Rear view of Winfield Hall 1944? 1 70-71 Views of Trevennen Dormitory 1944?

Trevennen Dormitory housed female nurses.

 1 72 Superintendent's Residence 1944? 1 73 Employee apartment building 1944?

Written on verso: Dr. Th. & Frieda Bauer, Mr. and Mrs. Robb, Dr. & Mrs. Newkirk, Dr. & Mrs. Dwyer, Mr. Allhands.

 1 74 Two men standing in front of Nyberg home 1944?

Written on verso: Scotty Fyfe home-first. Occupied by Nyberg Family-Florist.

 1 75 E.A. Griffin standing in front of Nyberg home 1944?

Written on verso : Nyberg Home. Scotty Fyfe first occupant.

 1 76 Cottage 1944?

Written on verso: Wallin's.

 1 77 Employee's Dining Room between 1930 and 1935? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 78 Employee garage and flower bed between Winfield Hall and Trevennen 1944? Patient Housing 1 79 Panorama of women's wards D-E-F-G between 1930 and 1935? M.D. Boland, Tacoma

Written on verso: Walk to Winfield Hall.

 1 80 Panorama of men's wards, front lawn, and golf course between 1930 and 1935? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 81 L and M Wards, J and K Wards, and other female wards 1944? 1 82 Exterior views of ward buildings between 1930 and 1935? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley

Written on print: Some of the 14 Wards.

 1 83 Wards C and D between 1930 and 1935? Centlivere Photography, Sedro Woolley 1 84 Women's wards D-E-F-G and old receiving ward building 1944?

Written on back: Wards DEFG (Chronic and T.B. cases) Old receiving ward bldg (female).

1 85 West side of women's wards D-E-F-G building 1944? 1 86 View of the south side of women's wards J and K building 1944?

Written on verso: Working womens ward.

 1 87 Female ward buildings 1934-1936?

Written on verso: Ward L and M. Completed 1934.

 1 88 View of the south side of women's wards L and M building 1944?

Written on verso: Female violent ward.

 1 89 North entrance of women's wards L and M building with covered walkway 1944? 1 90 Women's wards L and M building 1944?

Written on verso: 3rd floor attic (student Nurses quarters).

 1 91 West side of women's wards L and M building 1944?

Written on verso: Taken from road in front of Trevennen.

 1 92 Male wards 10 and 11 building 1944?

Written on verso: (Wd. 10 Working men's ward) (Wd. 11 Violent men's ward).

 1 93 Southwest side of male wards 10 and 11 building 1944?

Written on verso: Male working men's ward & Violent ward.

 1 94 Male wards 10 and 11 building between 1930 and 1935? La Roche Photo, Seattle 1 95 Front view of male wards 12 and 14 building 1944?

Written on verso: (Old men's ward bldg.)

 1 96 Rear view of male wards 12 and 14 building between 1930 and 1935?

Written on verso: (next to ball park).

 1 97 Side views of male wards 12 and 14 building between 1930 and 1935? La Roche Photo, Seattle 1 98 Side views of male wards 12 and 14 building between 1930 and 1935? 1 99 Male ward buildings 12 and 14 near Hansen Creek between 1930 and 1935? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley

Written on front of photo: One of the 14 wards.

 1 100 Interior view of covered walkway between ward buildings between 1930 and 1935? La Roche Photo, Seattle 1 101 Exterior view of covered walkway between ward buildings between 1930 and 1935? 1 102 Covered walkway at the North entrance to 6-7-8-9 wards building 1944?

Written on verso: (Next to Crematorium.) Old receiving ward bldg. Male.

 1 103-104 Interior views of ward dormitory between 1930 and 1935? Administration Building 1 105 Panoramic view of the front of the Administration Building between 1930 and 1935? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 106 Panoramic view of the East side of the Administration Building between 1930 and 1935? M.D. Boland, Tacoma

Written on verso: Wards 1 and 2 East side of Admin. Bldg.

1 107 Panoramic view of back entrance to the Administration Building between 1930 and 1935? M.D. Boland, Tacoma

Written on front of print: Clinical Building. Written on verso: Back entrance to Adm. Building.

 1 108 South entrance of the Administration Building between 1930 and 1935? La Roche Photo, Seattle 1 109 South entrance of the Administration Building between 1930 and 1935? 1 110 Front view of the Administration Building between 1930 and 1935? Ellis Photography, Seattle 1 111 Rear view of the Administration Building between 1930 and 1935? 1 112 Entrance of the Administration Building between 1930 and 1935? 1 113 North entrance of the Administration Building between 1935 and 1944?

Written on verso: North entrance of Clinical center- Adm. Building.

 1 114 Cars in the parking space at the North end of the Administration Building 1944? Other Hospital Buildings 1 115 Men's Occupational Therapy building 1944?

Written on verso: Shoe repair shop, mattress factory, print shop, furniture shop, etc.

 1 116 Interior of Occupational Therapy building between 1930 and 1935 1 117 Sewing machines in the Occupational Therapy building between 1930 and 1935 1 118 Looms and weaving materials in the Occupational Therapy building between 1930 and 1935 1 119-121 Views of Amusement Hall, Chapel, Canteen, and Women's Occupational Therapy Building between 1935 and 1944?

The above areas were located in the same building.

 1 122 Front of Commissary Building 1944?

Written on verso: Central stores Branch "N".

 1 123-124 Views of Laundry Building between 1935 and 1944? 1 125-126 Views of Garage Building between 1940 and 1944? 1 127 Morgue and Crematorium 1944?

Written on verso: Ward 13.

 1 128 Rear and East side view of Main Kitchen building 1944? 1 129 Rear and West side view of Main Kitchen building 1944? 1 130 Rooftop view of Main Kitchen building between 1930 and 1935? 1 131 Walkway to the kitchen on the west side of the Old Apartment House 1944? 1 132 Small cabin between 1930 and 1935?

This cabin may the homestead of T. Hansen, which Hansen Creek is named after.

 1 133-136 Views of the Powerhouse between 1930 and 1937? 1 137 Coal bunkers for the Powerhouse between 1932 and 1937? Clinical Treatment Areas 1 138 Hospital staff in the Insulin Room, also known as the Treatment Room between 1930 and 1935? M.D. Boland, Tacoma

Written on verso: Dr. Clayton Merillas, Clarence Presley, Miriam McArthur (Vroman). Treatment Room (Shock Therapy). Across from Surgery 2nd floor Adm. Bldg.

 1 139-140 Views of surgery room between 1935 and 1940? 1 141 Sterilizing equipment in the surgery room between 1935 and 1940? 1 142-143 Shock therapy stretcher and equipment between 1935 and 1940? 1 144-145 Pharmacy between 1935 and 1940? Farm Buildings 1 146 Roothouse, peeling room, and cannery buildings 1944 1 147-150 Views of the Milk House 1944? 1 151-153 Walkway between Milk House and cow barn 1944? 1 154 Horse barn and sheds between 1935 and 1944? 1 155 Horse barn between 1935 and 1944? 1 156 Interior of horse barn between 1935 and 1944? 1 157-158 View of south end of calf barn between 1935 and 1944? 1 159 Calf and horse barns between 1935 and 1944?

Written on verso: Stove pipe- horseshoeing dept. Silo North end.

 1 160 Calf and cow barns between 1935 and 1944? 1 161 North end of cow barn between 1935 and 1944? 1 162 Interior of cow barn between 1935 and 1944? 1 163 Cow barn and grain shed 1944? 1 164 Cow barn and running shed 1944? 1 165-166 Silo at the north end of t he calf barn between 1935 and 1944? 1 167 Running shed 1944? 1 168 Boiler and barns 1944?

The boiler is in the center building.

 1 169-172 Views of bull pens 1944? 1 173 Bull in bull pen between 1930 and 1935? 1 174 Bull barn 1944? 1 175 Dehorning pen 1944? 1 176 Annex and farm buildings with crops in the foreground between 1935 and 1940? 1 177 Piggery Department building between 1935 and 1940? Hartvig Photography, Sedro Woolley 1 178 Piggery Department building between 1935 and 1940? 1 179 The west side of the piggery house and pens 1944? 1 180 Sheep eating grass clippings at the foot of Reservoir Hill 1944?

Written on verso: Wallin cottage & Trevennen. Paul J. Blackburn

 1 181 Implement shed 1944? 1 182-183 Sections of implement shed damaged by two windstorms 1944? Staff 1 184 Group of office and department heads personnel between 1935 and 1940? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 185 Group of hospital staff including doctors, nurses, orderlies, and administration staff between 1935 and 1940? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 186 Group of ward nurses between 1935 and 1940? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 187 William Rome Allhands sitting at a desk between 1935 and 1940? M.D. Boland, Tacoma

William Allhands was a supervisor.

 1 188 R.N. Supervisor Ina Buchannan Rothausen sitting at her desk between 1935 and 1940? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 189 Educational Director of Nursing Lucille Scott (Bynum) sitting at her desk between 1935 and 1940? M.D. Boland, Tacoma 1 190 Accounting staff sitting at their desks in the accounting office between 1935 and 1940? M.D. Boland, Tacoma

Written on verso: Frank R. Knapp (Acct.), Percy Rainforth Banks (Asst. Acct.), Rae Nelson (Wilson)

 1 191 Female staff member sitting at her desk between 1940 and 1950? 1 192 Stablehand "Harvy" with horses Jim and Major between 1940 and 1950? October 1945 Flood 1 193-196 Hansen Creek creekbed after floodwaters resided October 1945

Written on verso: Marguerite Reardon.

 1 197-200 Exposed plumbing pipes at Hansen Creek creekbed washed out by the flood October 1945