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Edward Weber Allen papers, 1838-1976

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Allen, Edward Weber, 1885-1976
Title
Edward Weber Allen papers
Dates
1838-1976 (inclusive)
Quantity
37.07 cubic feet
Collection Number
0129
Summary
Papers of an attorney, fisheries expert, collector, and commissioner of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission
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

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Edward Weber Allen (1885-1976) was an attorney from Seattle, Washington, who specialized in fisheries law. Beginning in 1928, he represented Alaska salmon packers in many capacities, including legal affairs, labor matters, lobbying, and as public spokesman for the industry. The following is a list of organizations to which he belonged or by which he was employed, and their function:

  • Canned Salmon Industry Inc. (advertising, etc.),
  • Alaska Salmon Industry Inc. (industry representatives in labor negotiations, etc.) ,
  • Pacific Fisheries Conference (Allen was vice chairman),
  • Alaska Salmon Institute Northwest Salmon Canners Association (trade group), and
  • American Salmon Protective Committee Association of Pacific Fisheries (research organization).

Allen also used his knowledge of fisheries law to the benefit of various international commissions. He was a member from 1932 to 1955 of the International Fisheries Commission (known after 1953 as the International Pacific Halibut Commission), and also served as its chairman and secretary. The International Fisheries Commission helped restore the depleted halibut stocks in the North Pacific. Allen also served as a commissioner of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission from 1937 to 1957, which was formed to revive the salmon stock of the Puget Sound and Fraser River. In 1954 Allen helped create the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission, which was composed of representatives of the United States, Canada, and Japan. The commission met every three years and Allen served as chairman. He was also a long-time member of the U.S. State Department Fishing Industry Advisory Committee.

Additionally, Allen was active in the American Bar Association. He chaired its Law of the Sea Committee and served on its International and Comparative Law Section, as well as other committees. During World War II Allen served in the United States Office of Strategic Services.

In 1957 Allen was named Puget Sound Maritime Man of the Year. In 1959 he received the Raymond J. Huff Memorial Award for service in the field of international affairs.

Allen was the author of four books: North Pacific: Japan, Siberia, Alaska, Canada (1936), which attempted to raise the alarm about Japanese fishing in the North Pacific; Dancing Tails and Other Fishy Jingles (1951) – a collection of his poems; The Vanishing Frenchman: The Mysterious Disappearance of Lapérouse (1959); and Lapérouse: A Check List (1959).

Allen was a collector of historical documents and memorabilia. His collection included newspaper articles, letters, photographs, pins, and buttons largely from political movements and elections in the 19th century. He also collected land transfer deeds belonging to John George Meyer, as well as Military Warrant patents related to the 1855 Act granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and Soldiers who had been engaged in the Military Service of the United States.

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Content Description

Contains correspondence, writings, reports, proceedings, and related items documenting Allen's work as a fisheries expert. Includes records from Allen's work with the International Fisheries Commission, the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission, and the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission; records from various law associations and foundations, such as committees of the American Bar Association on which Allen served; records from other organizations or associations, many relating to fishing, in which Allen was active. Also includes records of Allen's work as a long time representative of the Alaska salmon packing industry. Also includes personal writing, autographs, correspondence, and collected historical documents.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 0129-003, Edward Weber Allen papers, 1886-1975 (bulk 1929-1974)
  • Accession No. 0129-004, Edward Weber Allen papers, 1838-1976

Acquisition Information

Gift of Edward Allen, 1960-1969, 1978. Acc 004 donated by Jim Allen, January 2023.

Processing Note

Partially processed in 1985 and 1987-1988. Accession No. 0129-003 is a merger of Accession Nos. 0129-001 and 0129-002.

Allen's folder headings or subject designations were retained whenever they were informative. However, Allen's filing system was not consistent, and in later years he sorted his papers in labeled envelopes. The labels were sometimes too general to be useful or were inaccurate, but they were retained when they provided some descriptive element or subject matter.

In 1985 classified papers were removed by the University of Washington facilities security officer. By 1988 a few items had been declassified, returned, and integrated into the papers. The rest of the declassified papers were returned in 1990 and 1995, and integrated into the papers in 1992 and 1995.

89 photographs were relocated to the Edward Allen Photograph Collection, PH Coll. 23, and the Portrait Files, PH Coll. 563, in Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, in 1988.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

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Subject Terms

  • Authors, American--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Collective bargaining--Fisheries
  • Fish trade--Law and legislation
  • Fish trade--Law and legislation--Washington (State)
  • Fisheries--Alaska
  • Fisheries--Japan
  • Fisheries--North Pacific Ocean
  • Fisheries--North Pacific Ocean--Societies, etc
  • Fisheries--North Pacific Ocean--Statistics
  • Fisheries--Societies, etc
  • Fishery consultants--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Fishery law and legislation--Alaska
  • Fishery law and legislation--Congresses
  • Fishery law and legislation--North Pacific Ocean
  • Fishery law and legislation--Northwest, Pacific
  • Fishery management, International--North Pacific Ocean
  • Halibut industry--North Pacific Ocean
  • Indians of North America--Fishing--Alaska
  • Law of the sea
  • Law--Societies, etc
  • Lawyers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Pacific halibut fisheries
  • Pacific salmon fisheries
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Salmon canning industry--Alaska
  • Salmon industry--North Pacific Ocean

Personal Names

  • Allen, Edward Weber, 1885-1976--Archives
  • Bartlett, Edward Lewis, 1904-1968
  • Bennett, Eugene D. (Eugene Dunlap), 1894-1968
  • Bingham, Joseph Walter, 1878-1973
  • Bishop, William W. (William Warner), 1906-1987
  • Brooding, Milton E
  • Chapman, Wilbert McLeod, 1910-1970
  • Freeman, Miller, 1875-1955
  • Herrington, William C. (William Charles), 1903-1989
  • Jackson, Charles E
  • Jackson, Henry M. (Henry Martin), 1912-1983
  • Johansen, George
  • Magnuson, Warren G. (Warren Grant), 1905-1989
  • Moran, Robert, 1857-1943
  • Pelly, Thomas M. (Thomas Minor), 1902-1973
  • Tollefson, Thor C. (Thor Carl), 1901-1982

Corporate Names

  • American Bar Association
  • Association of Pacific Fisheries
  • Institute of Pacific Relations. American Council. Pacific Northwest Division
  • International Fisheries Commission
  • International North Pacific Fisheries Commission
  • International Pacific Halibut Commission
  • International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission
  • Law of the Sea Institute
  • Pacific Northwest Trade Association
  • United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea
  • United States. Department of State
  • United States. Department of State. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
  • United States. Office of Strategic Services
  • Washington State Bar Association

Geographical Names

  • United States--Economic policy--1933-1945
  • United States--Foreign relations--20th century
  • United States--Politics and government--20th century

Titles within the Collection

  • Dancing tails and other fishy jingles
  • North Pacific: Japan, Siberia, Alaska, Canada
  • The vanishing Frenchman: the mysterious disappearance of Lapérouse


2006 (Last modified: 1/24/2024)

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