Kurt E. Armbruster Collection, circa 1905-2020
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Armbruster, Kurt E.
- Title
- Kurt E. Armbruster Collection
- Dates
- circa
1905-2020 (inclusive)19302020
1990-2020 (bulk)19902020 - Quantity
- 7 boxes
- Collection Number
- 2014.43 (collection)
- Summary
- Photographs and ephemera documenting the changing face of Seattle, including architecture, businesses, the music scene, railways, and other subjects
- Repository
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Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
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The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
Biographical Note
Kurt E. Armbruster is a historian, author, and musician from Seattle. An expert on railroads in the Puget Sound region, he has written numerous articles in railway journals, and two books: Orphan Road: The Railroad Comes to Seattle, 1853-1911 (1999) and Pacific Coast – Seattle’s Own Railroad (2018). A professional bassist and music aficionado, he also wrote Before Seattle Rocked; A City and Its Music, a history of music in Seattle published in 2011. Armbruster also wrote Playing for Change (2012) about the Burton and Florence James, founders of the Seattle Repertory Playhouse.
Content Description
The Kurt E. Armbruster collection consists primarily of photographs of Seattle taken by Armbruster from the 1980s through 2020. The photographs (including negatives, slides, prints, and digital images) document changes over time in the urban landscape and the everday lives of people. The photographs depict buildings and storefronts in Seattle, including construction and demolition; the local music scene, including performance venues and band performances; the University District neighborhood; and Seattle street scenes, including businesses and people. The collection also includes an extensive series of photographs related to railways, including rail cars, stations and terminals, and people, organized by railway company. A smaller number of photographic prints by other photographers document the early local history of railroads and of music.
The Railroad series also contains several folders of ephemera related to railroads, including brochures, timetables, menus, and postcards. The Music series ephemera includes several issues of local music publications, and posters for local band performances at various venues.
There is some duplication of images across the collection, such as photographic prints of negatives and digital images, and slide copies of negatives.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Kurt E. Armbruster Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative Information
Arrangement
The collection is physically arranged by material format and intellectually arranged by subject into the following series:
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Architecture, 1971-2020
Photographs of Seattle businesses, homes and apartments, hotels, theaters and arenas, restaurants, churches, downtown business and office buildings, bus and train stations, as well as a small number of images of architecture in other Washington cities.
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Description: 1.1.ARCH1-611: Negatives22 sleeves of negatives : color;35 mmDates: 1971-2010Container: Box/Folder 1/1
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Description: 1.3.ARCH1-75: Slides75 slidesDates: 1972-2009Container: Box 2
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Description: 2.2.ARCH121-470: Photographic printscolor photographs;4 x 6 inchesDates: 2010-2020Container: Box/Folder 7/1-6
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Description: 1.4.ARCH1-120: Digital images112 files : jpg
Note by donor indicates that these are scans of select prints and recent digital images.
Dates: 2010-2013 -
Description: 2.4.ARCH121-470: Digital images306 files : jpg
Note by donor indicates that these are scans of select prints and recent digital images.
Dates: 2014-2020
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Construction and demolition, 2014-2020
Photographs showing various Seattle construction projects including new construction of and repairs on commercial buildings, bridges, apartments, and Link light rail, Amazon, and general construction and, to a lesser extent, demolition views.
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Description: 2.2.CONST1-1003: Photographscolor photographs;4 x 6 inchesDates: 2014-2020Container: Box 7
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Description: 2.4.CONSTR1-1003: Digital images730 files : jpgDates: 2012-2020
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Frederick & Nelson's last days, 1992
Photographs related to the closing of the downtown Frederick & Nelson department store in downtown Seattle.
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Description: FN1-35: Negatives1 sleeve of negatives : color;35 mm.Dates: 1992Container: Box/Folder 1/3
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Music, 1988-2017
Photographs and ephemera related to the Seattle music scene. Photographs consist largely of views of bands in performance at various Seattle venues. Also includes views of crowds, exterior club shots, and street performers. In addition to rock bands, the series includes photos of local jazz musicians and ensembles, as well as historical photos. Ephemera includes small posters advertising band performances at local venues, and several issues of music-related publications.
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Description: 1.1.MUSIC1-701: Negatives25 sleeves of negatives : color;35 mm.Dates: 1991-2020Container: Box/Folder 1/5
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Description: Research photographs
Photographs by various photographs sorted by decade from the 1930s through 2000s, plus one folder for earlier dates. Folders 3-9 are photographs acquired by Armbruster from other collections, as well as photos from Armbruster’s collection by other photographers. Photos in folders 10-12, covering the 1990s and 2000s, were all taken by Kurt Armbruster.
Reproduction is restricted.
Dates: 1930-2006Container: Box/Folder 4/3-12 -
Description: 2.2.MUSIC1-878: Photograph printscolor photographs;4 x 6 inchesDates: 1962-2020Container: Box/Folder 7/26-34
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Description: 1.4.MUSIC1-105: Digital images105 files : jpg
Note by donor indicates that these are select print scans and recent digital images.
Dates: 1991-2013 -
Description: 2.4.MUSIC81, 82, 409-878: Digital images458 files : jpgDates: 2013-2020
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Music ephemera, 1988-1999
Newspapers and posters related to the Seattle music scene.
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Description: Local music newspapers11 newspapers issues
- Three issues of The Rocket (February 15-March 1 and March 1-15, 1995; April 21-May 12, 1999)
- One issue of Hype (June 1992) One issue of S.L.A.M. News (circa 1990)
- One issue of Wire (December 1990)
- Two issues of Backlash (December 1988 and May 1990)
- One issue of Pandemonium (November 1996)
- One issue of City Heat (November 1988)
- One issue of Backfire (1999)
Dates: 1988-1999Container: Box/Folder 6/4 -
Description: Music posters28 posters 11 x 17 and smallerDates: circa 1990-1999Container: Box/Folder 6/3
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People, 1971-2007
Photographs of people going about their everyday lives on the streets and in parks in Seattle, with a small number taken indoors in public venues.
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Description: 1.1.P1-73: Negatives3 sleeves of negatives : color;35 mmDates: 1971-2007Container: Box 1
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Description: 2.2.P1-289: Photographscolor photographs;4 x 6 inchesDates: 2012-2020Container: Box 7
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Description: 1.4.P1-40: Digital images40 files : jpgDates: 2012-2020Container: Box 7
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Description: 2.4.P1-287: Digital images249 files : jpgDates: 2012-2020Container: Box 7
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Railroads, circa 1940-2020
Photographs and ephemera related to railroad companies operating in Seattle and Washington State. Includes two folders of early photographs acquired by the donor from other collections. The series also includes sound recordings related to trains.
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Description: 1.1.RR1-903: Negatives32 sleeves of negatives : color;35 mm.
Includes the following railroads: Amtrak; Ballard Terminal / Meeker Southern; BC Rail; Burlington Northern / BNSF; CMStP&P (Milwaukee Road); Great Northern; Northern Pacific; Union Pacific; Southern Pacific; Spokane, Portland & Seattle; Steam; Miscellaneous. Series also includes a group named "Railroad People."
Most negatives dated prior to 1980 are copies of slides.
Dates: 1971-2004Container: Box/Folder 1/7 -
Description: Slidesapproximately 600 slides : color;35 mm.
Organized and numbered alphabetically by railroad: Amtrak, BC Rail, Burlington Northern, BNSF; Canadian National; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway; Great Northern, Northern Pacific; Seattle & North Coast; Southern Pacific; Spokane, Portland & Seattle; and Union Pacific. Also includes Railroad People and Miscellaneous. Some of the slides are improved copies of negatives made by Armbruster.
Dates: 1966-2005Container: Box 3 -
Description: Research photographs
Photographs purchased from other collections by Kurt Armbruster.
Reproduction is restricted.
Dates: circa 1900-1968Container: Box/Folder 4/1-2 -
Description: Photographic printscolor;4 x 6 in.
Organized and numbered alphabetically by railroad: Amtrak; Burlington Northern and BNSF; Great Northern; Milwaukee Road; Northern Pacific; Southern Pacific; Sound Transit; and Union Pacific.
Dates: 1955-2020Container: Box 7/38-40 -
Description: 1.4.RR19-RRUP19: Digital images120 files : jpg
Select print scans and recent digital images. The files are organized and numbered by railroad: General railroad, Amtrak, Great Northern, Milwaukee Road; Northern Pacific; Southern Pacific; Union Pacific.
Dates: 1947-1996 -
Description: 2.4.RR41-RRUP14: Digital images131 files : jpg
The files are organized and numbered by railroad: General railroad, Amtrak, BNSF, Great Northern, Milwaukee Road; Northern Pacific; Southern Pacific; Union Pacific.
Dates: 2011-2020 -
Railroad ephemera, circa 1940-1990
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Description: Amtrak brochures and timetables6 itemsDates: circa 1970sContainer: Box/Folder 4/13
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Description: Amtrak Dining Car menuDates: circa 1970sContainer: Box/Folder 6/1
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Description: Coast Starlight Dining Car menuDates: circa 1970sContainer: Box/Folder 6/1
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Description: Great Northern Empire Builder brochureDates: circa 1950sContainer: Box/Folder 4/14
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Description: Northern Pacific postcard and brochureDates: circa 1940sContainer: Box/Folder 4/15
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Description: Booklet with illustrated history of Union PacificDates: circa 1960sContainer: Box/Folder 4/16
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Description: Union Pacific Centennial MenuDates: 1969Container: Box/Folder 4/17
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Description: Tourist train brochures: Spirit of Washington Dinner Train, and Lake Whatcom RailwayDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4/18
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Description: Timetables: Portland, Tacoma-Seattle, Vancouver B.C.Dates: 1950-1969Container: Box/Folder 4/19
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Description: Postcards6 postcardsDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4/20
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Description: Sound recordings: Train sounds3 CDs
Three of the CDs are labeled “Chaudierre/Purington Train Sounds” and are copies of recordings made by Elwin Purington and Herb Chaudierre. One CD appears to be original recordings made by Armbruster.
Dates: undatedContainer: Box 4
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Ships and Ferries, 1974-2005
Photographs of named ships and ferries in the water in the greater Seattle area.
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Description: 1.1.SH1-112: Negatives4 sleeves of negatives : color;35 mm.Dates: 1974-2005Container: Box/Folder 1/8
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Description: 1.3.FE1-71, 1.3.SH1-15: Slidesapproximately 85 slides : color;35 mm.Dates: undatedContainer: Box 2,3
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Description: 1.4.SH1-31: Digital images31 files : jpgDates: 1989-2013
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University Way NE / U District, 1990, 2010-2020
Photographs depict views along University Avenue and elsewhere in the University District neighborhood. These includes images of people in the neighborhood, such as street musicians, skaters, street fairs, and general street scenes, as well as views of apartments and houses, restaurants and cafes, movie theaters, and other University District businesses.
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Description: 1.1.AVE1-157: Negatives5 sleeves of negatives : color;35 mm.Dates: 1990Container: Box/Folder 1/2
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Description: 2.2.AVE1-333: Photographic printscolor photographs;4 x 6 inchesDates: 2010-2020Container: Box/Folder 7/6-11
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Description: 2.4.AVE1-330: Digital files339 files : jpgDates: 2012-2020
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Vehicles, 1995-2005
Buses and cars.
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Description: 1.1.VE1-33: Negatives2 sleeves of negatives : color;35 mm.Dates: 1995-2005Container: Box/Folder 1/9
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Miscellaneous, 1973-2020
Includes street views, people, animals, trees, and business interiors and exteriors.
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Description: 1.1.MISC1-17: Negatives1 sleeve of negatives : color;35 mm.Dates: 1980-2009Container: Box/Folder 1/4
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Description: 2.2.MISC130-318: Photographic printscolor photographs;4 x 6 inchesDates: 2012-2020Container: Box/Folder
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Description: 1.3MI1-55: Slides25 slides : color;35 mm.Dates: 1973-1990Container: Box 2
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Description: 1.4.MI1-29: Digital images27 files : jpgDates: 1990-2013
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Description: 2.4.MISC130-404: Digital images187 files : jpgDates: 2011-2020
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Cities & Towns--Washington (State)
- Musicians--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Railroads--Washington (State)
Personal Names
- Armbruster, Kurt E.--Archives
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
