WAUCookeClayandReltaPHColl003.xmlGuide to the Clay and Relta Cooke Photograph and Film Collection 1903-1964Cooke (Clay and Relta) Photograph and Film CollectionSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2010 (Last modified: 7/9/2025)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0003Clay and Relta Cooke photograph and film collection 1903-19641918-19201 folder (20 photographic prints)1 reel of film (100 feet) : silent, color ; 8 mmCollection materials are in English.Views of Afognak, Alaska and vicinity including Clay and Relta Cooke and the Afognak school and a film of Indian women weaving in Mrs. Barber's weaving shop near Lummi Island in Washington State

Clay Cooke, born in 1893, and Relta Nichols Cooke, born in 1894, spent their early years in Bellingham, Washington. Following their marriage, the Cookes spent several years teaching for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the island of Afognak, Alaska.

Afognak was an Alutiiq village on the southwest coast of Afognak Island in the Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska. The village was established sometime before 1839 by Russian and Alutiiq settlers, but was destroyed by a tsunami following the Good Friday earthquake in 1964. The Afognak survivors left the island following the tsunami and settled in the new village of Port Lions on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Currently, Afognak Island is listed as having no established communities.

Arranged in 3 series.

Afognak, AlaskaAlaskaFilm Barber Hand Weaving Shop on Lummi Island

The photographs depict natives and landscapes in Alaska, mainly in Afognak, including scenes of Clay and Relta Cook at the Afognak school. The film depicts Ethel Barber's weaving shop near the ferry to Lummi Island, Washington, showing Indian women taught by Mrs. Barber weaving in the shop.

View selections from the collection in digital format

Access to original photographs and film restricted. Contact Special Collections for more informaiton. Permission required for viewing.

Request at UW

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

Donor: Mary Jeanne Durfy, 1986

Processed by Marion Brown, 2008 ; Completed by Andrew Weaver, 2014.

Al Currier, "Local company rode cusp of '50s-era high fashion: Barber Hand Weaving began as a hobby by owners in the late 1920s," Bellingham Business Journal June 1, 2004.

Cooke, Clay--PhotographsCooke, Relta--PhotographsAfognak (Alaska)--Buildings, structures, etc.--PhotographsOff-reservation boarding schools--PhotographsStudents--Alaska--Afognak--PhotographsTeachers--Alaska--Afognak--PhotographsVisual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Moving imagesPhotographsAlaska

 

Afognak, Alaska1 Afognak viewed from the watercirca 1910

On verso: "The village is divided into three parts: 'Aleut Town,' 'Russian-town' and 'Creole-town'. This is a view of 'Russian-town' from the water. We live in the third building from the left."

2Home of Clay and Relta Cooke in Afognakcirca 1919 3Native wedding in Afognak1919

Information from verso: The bride and groom are in the center of the photograph. Clay Cooke is at the center back and Father Gerasin in the back right.

4Three girls standing on the porch of the Afognak school. 1918 5 Four children with a sled outside the Afognak school1919 6The Afognak graduating class of 1918 outside the school1918 7aMr. and Mrs. Cooke with staff and school children, Afognak1920 7bMr. and Mrs. Cooke standing in front of staff and school children, Afognak1920

On verso: "I ask you in all fairness!! Can you beat it?"

8Group of buildings near or on Afognak islandcirca 1918-1920 Alaska

These photos may be from Afognak

9Captain Arthur and Mrs. Parker standing on a boatcirca 1918-1920 10Relta Cooke and others in a rowboatcirca 1918-1920 11Billie and dog sled team in snow circa 1918-1920 12Clay Cooke and two Native Americanscirca 1918-1920 13Relta Cooke and a man standing outside a small buildingcirca 1918-1920

On verso: "An Alaskan native barabara where we stayed all night while duck hunting. It is made of straw and drift wood."

14Clay Cooke carrying dead ducks1919 15Clay Cooke holding up a small animalcirca 1918-1920 16Woman and children outside a buildingcirca 1919 17Buildings and beach in Cold Bay, Alaska1919 18Eight men and two women eating outside a tent1903 19Clay Cooke and Yesta Higgenson behind group of Alaska Natives, Kotzebue, Alaska1964 FilmVC931Barber Hand Weaving Shop on Lummi Islandcirca 1949

Young women model skirts and dresses of various patterns and designs outside. Young boy plays with a water bucket next to a tall woven basket. Sunset over Lummi Island. Ducks swimming. Same young boy plays with a stick in the sand. Fabric is displayed outside on a line.

From note with film: This color film was taken during the summer of 1948 (1949?) at Ethyl Barber's weaving shop near the ferry to Lummi Island. None of the Indian girls that appear in the film are identifiable, although one of them was proclaimed to be a princess in the Lummi Tribe. [One of the girls has now been identified by her niece as Verla Kinley, Lummi. - January 2024].

Four other persons appear in the film, the older lady is Mrs. Barber, the other two ladies are Mary Jeanne Durfy and Donna Swangerg (of the darker hair), the man appearing is C. W. Swanberg, a commercial artist residing on Vashon island.

Mrs. Barber designed the patterns in the cloth and taught the girls to do the weaving. During the period we were at the shop, she had about 6 looms. Mrs. Barber's husband built the looms.

Making the films was an exceptional opportunity since the designs and patterns were quite well protected, and Mrs. Barber was very careful of whom she let see the unsold work. February 27, 1986, Mrs. H.A. Durfy

Original

1 reel (100 feet) : silent, color ; 8mm