M.W. Priestley Collection of Photographs of Fort Simcoe, 1888-1889
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
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Biographical Note
- Historical Background
- Other Descriptive Information
- Content Description
- Use of the Collection
- Administrative Information
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Detailed Description of the Collection
- Priestley family and other employees on horseback, Fort Simcoe, WA, circa 1888-1889
- Captain Thomas Priestley, United States Yakima Indian agent, with employees, Fort Simcoe, WA, 1889
- Captain Thomas Priestley, United States Yakima Indian agent, and White Swan (Joe Styrie), Chief of the Yakama Indians, on horseback in front of United States Indian Agency House, Fort Simcoe, WA, circa 1888-1889
- Priestley family and dog sitting on porch of United States Indian Agency House, Fort Simcoe, WA, circa 1888-1889
- Employees and school children in front of the Yakima Indian Agency school, Fort Simcoe, WA, circa 1888-1889
- People standing at the ruins of the Yakima Indian Agency school's boarding house, Fort Simcoe, WA, circa 1888-1889
- Names and Subjects
Overview of the Collection
- Compiler
- Priestley, M. W. (Mary Ward)
- Title
- M.W. Priestley Collection of Photographs of Fort Simcoe
- Dates
- 1888-1889 (inclusive)18881889
- Quantity
- 1 folder (11 photographs)
- Collection Number
- PH1464
- Summary
- Photographs of Captain Thomas Priestley and Native Americans at Fort Simcoe. Priestley was the Indian Agent at Fort Simcoe in the 1880s.
- Repository
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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
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Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Thomas Priestley was born on January 29, 1836 in Leeds, England, to George Priestley and Ellen Ward. In 1838, the family moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where Priestley became the proprietor of a harness-making shop. In 1861, Priestley enlisted as a sergeant in Company E of the 11th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment; later, he enlisted as a second lieutenant in Company B of the 30th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, where he was promoted to captain. During his final year of service, he also served as provost marshall of Kentucky. In 1866, he married Katherine (or Catherine) Jane Tyack. The couple had four children: Mary Ward Priestley, William Priestley, Henry Tyack Priestley, and Thomas Mortimer Priestley. In 1886, Priestley was appointed as United States Indian Agent at Fort Simcoe, Washington. Captain Priestley died on July 29, 1890.
Historical Background
Fort Simcoe is located on the Yakama Indian Reservation at a site of an ancient gathering place of the Yakama Indians. Fort Simcoe was one of two regular Army posts established in the interior of Washington Territory as a direct consequence of the Yakima Indian War of the late 1850's. The other was Fort Walla Walla, located 120 miles further east.
Fort Simcoe was barely completed before its usefulness as a military post ended. On May 22, 1859, Fort Simcoe was turned over to the Department of Indian Affairs, remaining an Indian agency until 1923. During the agency period, the agency staff occupied the former officers' quarters and the post lost its military atmosphere. The parade ground was plowed and planted as a garden, tended by boys of the school, and then, in 1861, as an orchard. Various of the military buildings were razed and replaced by frame structures.
Content Description
Photographs of Captain Thomas Priestley and Native Americans at Fort Simcoe. Priestley was the Indian Agent in the 1880s.
Other Descriptive Information
In this guide, the Yakama Indians are referred to as Yakama. Since the agency was the Yakima Indian agency, references to the agency are spelled in the manner that was used in the 1880s.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
View the digital version of the collection
Restrictions on Use
Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.
Administrative Information
Return to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
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Description: Priestley family and other employees on horseback, Fort Simcoe, WA
Written on verso: Group of employees and children at Fort Simcoe in 1888 or 1889. From M. W. Priestley, 21 W Gilman St, Madison, Wis.
People in photograph: Thomas Mortimer Priestley (left), M. Wilger? (second from left), John Lacy (third from left), George T. Priestley (fourth from left), Harry Priestley (fifth from left), H. Sinclair (center), G. B. Taliaferro (fifth from right), H. J. Kilgore (fourth from right)
Handwritten notes on item 1b indicate that the men sixth from left and first and second from right are Indian (probably Yakama Indian).
Dates: circa 1888-1889Container: Folder 1, Item 1a-b -
Description: Captain Thomas Priestley, United States Yakima Indian agent, with employees, Fort Simcoe, WA
Individuals in photograph: (standing) Homer Hoffer (probably) (third from left), Mr. Taliaferro (possibly) (fifth from left), Mr. Kilgour (possibly) (sixth from left), Captain Priestly (seventh from left), Mrs. Kilgour (probably) (eighth from right), Celeste Lacy (possibly) (second from right), Wallace Arquette (possibly) (right)
Dates: 1889Container: Folder 1, Item 2 -
Dates: circa 1888-1889Container: Folder 1, Item 3a-b
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Description: Priestley family and dog sitting on porch of United States Indian Agency House, Fort Simcoe, WA
People in photograph: Thomas Priestley, Thomas Mortimer Priestley, Catherine Tyack Priestley, Harry Priestley, Georgie Priestley, Mary "Maria" Ward Priestley
A handwritten note on item 4b indicates that the family's dog "Sport" sits between Catherine Tyack and Harry Priestley.
Dates: circa 1888-1889Container: Folder 1, Item 4a-b -
Description: Employees and school children in front of the Yakima Indian Agency school, Fort Simcoe, WA
Identifications of individuals in the photograph are handwritten on item 5b.
Written on item 5b: North side of Square.
Dates: circa 1888-1889Container: Folder 1, Item 5a-b -
Description: People standing at the ruins of the Yakima Indian Agency school's boarding house, Fort Simcoe, WA
Written on item 6b: Only shows one side of L. Old log house used as carpenter shop, police quarters, & etc. (S. side of square)
Handwritten notes on item 6b indicate the location of the school and the Agency house.
Dates: circa 1888-1889Container: Folder 1, Item 6a-b
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Yakama Indians--Photographs
- Yakama Indians--Photographs
Personal Names
- Priestley, Thomas Captain, 1836-1890--Family--Photographs
- Priestley, Thomas Captain, 1836-1890--Family--Photographs
- Priestley, Thomas Captain, 1836-1890--Photographs
- Priestley, Thomas Captain, 1836-1890--Photographs
Corporate Names
- United States Office of Indian Affairs. Yakima Agency--Buildings, structures, etc--Photographs
- United States Office of Indian Affairs. Yakima Agency--Buildings, structures, etc--Photographs
- United States Office of Indian Affairs. Yakima Agency--Employees--Photographs
- United States Office of Indian Affairs. Yakima Agency--Employees--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Fort Simcoe (Wash.)--Photographs
- Fort Simcoe (Wash.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
- Photographs
Other Creators
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Personal Names
- Priestley, M. W. (Mary Ward) (collector)
- Priestley, M. W. (Mary Ward), (collector,)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
