WAURutterThomasHPHColl287.xmlGuide to the Thomas H. Rutter Photograph Collection 1888-1900Rutter (Thomas H.) Photograph CollectionFunding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2008 (Last modified: 5/7/2025)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0287Rutter, Thomas H., 1837-1925Thomas H. Rutter photograph collection 1888-19000.19 cubic feet (1 box and 1 oversize folder containing 20 photographic prints)Collection materials are in English.Photographs of Tacoma, Washington, surrounding Puget Sound areas and portraits of Yakima Indians

Thomas H. Rutter was born on January 1, 1837 in Truro, Cornwall, England and worked as a veterinarian before immigrating to the United States. During the Civil war, in July, 1861, he enlisted in Company M of the 1st New York Cavalry as a farrier. He was honorably discharged by February 1862 because of a disability. Enticed by reports of a gold rush, he moved to the Montana Territory in 1864 and established mining claims in and around Bannack, Butte, Highland and Last Chance Gulch, Montana.

By 1867, Rutter became fascinated with the art of photography and started a photography studio with R. J. Nesbitt in Glendale, Montana. In 1870, Rutter opened his own studio in Butte, Montana as "Thomas H. Rutter, Portrait and Landscape Photographer." He married Lydia Lymburner of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 26, 1882 in Butte.

Rutter and his wife moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1888, where he opened a photography studio on 1346 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. He operated the Tacoma studio until 1900, when he moved to North Yakima where he worked as a photographer until at least 1906 and possibly longer. During his time in Tacoma and Yakima, Rutter photographed the city, as well as the surrounding area and most notably the members of Yakima Indian tribe. He apparently sold off most or all of his negatives before his death. Some of his photographs were incorporated with other photographers' work and are not attributed to Rutter.

In 1915 Rutter and his wife moved to the Veteran’s Home in Orting, Washington where they remained until their deaths. Rutter died on August 21, 1925 at the age of eighty-eight.

Arranged in 4 series.

Tacoma, WashingtonPuget Sound, WashingtonYakima Indian portraitsPortraits

The collection consists of images of Tacoma, Washington including ships at dock in the harbor and buildings, as well as logging in the surrounding Puget Sound area and portraits of Yakima Indians.

The collection is open to the public.

Request at UW

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

View most of this collection on the UW Libraries' Digital Collections site.

Gifts from: C. Bagley, 1959; Doug McDonnell, no date; E. B. Meany; no date; and Dorothy Wills, no date.

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

Rutter, Thomas H., 1837-1925--PhotographsTacoma (Wash.)--Photographs--19th centuryYakama Indians--PhotographsHotels--Washington (State)--Tacoma--Photographs--19th centuryAnglican church buildings--Photographs--19th centuryFox Island (Pierce County, Wash. : Island)Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)PhotographsShips and shippingWashington (State)Tacoma

 

Tacoma, Washington1/11Episcopal Church August 18, 1888

Caption says "oldest church tower in United States."

1/12Headquarters building of the National Pacific Railroad overlooking the river and landscapeundated 1/13The Tacoma Hotel1888 1/14The Tacoma Hotel with addition built after 18881891 1/15The Tacoma Hotel on a hill above the harbor and docks.1892

The front of the photograph says "Rutter, Photographer" and the back of the mat board is stamped "French, Crayon Artist and Photographer, 501 California Block, Tacoma."

1/26Arch of coke and coal erected over Pacific Avenue at 13th Street for visit by President HarrisonMay 6th, 1891

Coke is a distillation of bituminous coal

1/27Arch constructed from bags of flour and grain erected over Pacific Avenue for visit by President HarrisonMay 6th, 1891

Above the arch is a banner reading "The State of Washington Can Feed All Mankind."

1/28Docks with ships loading wheat for Great Britain1890

"Rutter" is written on the image but the mat board says "French, California Building, Tacoma" is the photographer.

1/29Ships unloading cargo of tea at the Tacoma wharves undated 1/210Ship at dock near waterfront coal bunkersundated Puget Sound, Washington1/311Six men on shore of Old Fort Lake, Nisqually, Washingtonundated 1/312Three lumberjacks chopping down treeundated

Wood choppers of Puget Sound, cutting saw logs

1/313Group of men sitting on and around large cedar stumpundated

50 men on stump

VC113aFox Island Clay Works viewed from the waterundated

Printed on front: W.S. Bowen Gen Manager-William Lyons Suprin.

Yakima Indian portraits1/414Chief Dal-Tim-Shah in full-length feather headdress 1900

Caption on back: "This head-dress was made of eagle feathers and is very expensive. The bonnet was made by Cheyenne Sioux for this Indian. His dress is velvet and beads.”

1/415aChief Sheta-Mo-On-e in front of buffalo skin tepee1900

Caption on verso: "Shut-A-Mo-Ne, Sheep Cross Horns. This Indian is half Yakima and half Umatilla..." The caption explains that the clothing he is wearing in the photograph belonged to his uncle who was a Umatilla chief involved in the Bannock War of 1878 who served with the U.S. forces.

1/415bStudio portrait of Chief Sheta-Mo-On-e in front of painted backdrop, Spokane1900?

Postcard

1/416Chief Spencer, age 88 1900 1/417Chief White Swan, head chief of the Yakima tribe1900

Hand colored

1/418 Large group of Yakima men and women in front of a train1900

Standing starting from the left, second person in, Chief White Swan, Chief Spencer, and Chief Sheta-Mo-On-e. Hand colored.

Caption on back: “Most noted Indians of Yakima Reservation."

Portraits1/519Studio portrait of two women seated on swing1888-1900