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James P. Lee photographs, 1901-1940

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Lee, James P. (James Patrick), 1894-1963
Title
James P. Lee photographs
Dates
1901-1940 (inclusive)
1909-1912 (bulk)
Quantity
722 photographic prints (2 boxes)
605 nitrate negatives (5 boxes)
Collection Number
PH0294
Summary
Photographs of Seattle neighborhoods, docks, regrading and events, 1901-1940
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

Selected images can by viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Nitrate negatives are brittle; handling of negatives should be limited.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

In 1910, at the age of sixteen, James P. Lee started his career as a messenger boy for the Seattle Engineering Department where he worked for two years. From 1913 until his retirement in 1957, he worked for and became manager of their blue-print and photographic division which documented the progress of major city construction jobs. In 1922, he advanced from photographer's assistant to the position of full time photographer and was the sole photographer for the city until 1932.

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Content Description

This collection records the changing landscape of Seattle from circa 1907-1940. Includes photographs of Seattle neighborhoods including: Central Business District, Denny Regrade, First Hill, Capitol Hill, Fremont, Ballard, Georgetown, Ravenna, Magnolia, Leschi, Madrona, and Central District. Other images are of Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, regrades, houseboats, Seattle waterfront, Hooverville, King Street Station and 1930s labor rallies. A few of the images are copies of work by other Seattle photographers such as A. C. Warner and Webster and Stevens.

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Other Descriptive Information

Based on Lee's biographical details, it is extremely unlikely that he took the bulk of these photographs, especially those from 1907-1913, as he would have been thirteen years old in 1907. For many years, all of the photographs in this collection have been attributed to Lee, but it seems more reasonable to attribute the photographs taken 1922-1932 to him. Images in the collection made 1913-1922 may have been photographed by Lee, but are equally or more likely to have been taken by the photographers in charge before him.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format .

Restrictions on Use

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

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series: Negatives numbered by James P. Lee, his predecessors or colleagues at the Seattle Engineering Department and negatives assigned numbers by University of Washington Libraries staff. Negatives numbered by city staff are generally follow a chronological order; however, some inconsistencies exist. In the second series, negative numbers assigned by the University of Washington have been kept to ensure consistency; these negative numbers are not in order by date.

Preservation Note

Nitrate negatives are brittle; handling of negatives should be limited.

Acquisition Information

Gift: Mrs. James P. Lee, circa 1963.

Processing Note

Processed by Elizabeth Russell, completed 2015.

Lee copy and contact prints were pulled from subject files and reincorporated into the collection, 2010.

Related Materials

See also Engineering Department photographs of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, PH Coll 760. The Seattle City Light Albums (PH Coll 45) and the Photographs of Seattle City Light Projects (PH Coll 1124) contain Lee's photographs of Seattle's Skagit River Hydroelectric Project.

The Museum of History and Industry holds some prints donated by Lee, and the Seattle Municipal Archives has other negatives in the Engineering Department Photographic Negatives (Record Series 2613-07).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Grading (Earthwork)--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Geographical Names

  • Pike Street (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Pine Street (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Ravenna Park (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs
  • Western Avenue (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • Yesler Way (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs


2009 (Last modified: 8/24/2021)

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