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Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway photographs, 1890-1970

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway
Title
Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway photographs
Dates
1890-1970 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 cubic feet, (6 document cases)
Collection Number
Org. Lot 78
Summary
Collection consists of marketing and promotional photographs used by the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway. It includes images of rolling stock, railroad tracks, railroad stations, agriculture, street scenes, and landscapes.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

The Spokane, Portland and Seattle (SP & S) Railway operated rail lines in Oregon and Washington between 1905 and 1970. James J. Hill incorporated the railway in 1905 to connect his two transcontinental railway lines, the Northern Pacific (NP) and Great Northern (GN) railways. The company was initially named the Portland & Seattle Railway, and Spokane was added to the name in 1908. SP & S also oversaw the operation of the Oregon Electric Railway, the Oregon Traction Company, and the Oregon Trunk Railroad. SP & S merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1970.

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Content Description

Collection consists of marketing and promotional photographs used by the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway. Subjects include railroad stations and yards; railroad tracks; rolling stock; train wrecks; railroad bridge construction and maintenance; and railway personnel. There are also photographs of towns and landscapes in Oregon, Washington, and California through which the railroads passed, including images of the construction of the Bonneville Dam, the Columbia River and Columbia River Gorge, the Oregon Coast, Mount Hood, and other mountains and lakes. The collection additionally contains photographs of people engaged in various recreations, including hiking, golfing, skiing, and fishing. There are also photographs relating to agriculture in the Pacific Northwest. Also included is one photograph album containing interior and exterior photographs of the Reserved Seat Coach-Cafe Car of the SP & S Railway in 1939. Many of the photographs in this collection were commissioned specifically for SP & S. Photographers represented in this collection include Kiser Photo Co., Photo-Art Commercial Studios, Angelus Commercial Studio, and Arthur M. Prentiss.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Selections from the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway photographs are viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.

Preferred Citation

Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway photographs, Org. Lot 78, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series: Series 1. Regional locations and scenery; Series 2. Railroad properties, personnel, and equipment; Series 3. Non-rail transportation, industry, and recreation; Series 4. Railroad promotional materials.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Burlington Northern Railroad, December 1970 (Lib. Acc. 11760, Photo Acc. 970D001).

Separated Materials

Office records of the Seattle, Portland and Spokane Railway Company donated with this collection were separated to Mss 2018, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Brian Davis
2011

CC0

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