University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH1643French, ArthurArthur French
Photographsapproximately 1890-19062 folders (19 photographs)Collection materials are in
English.Studio
portraits, photographs of logging activities, fishing, Snoqualmie Falls, a
Puyallup Indian woman, and of illustrations of the steamer taken by a Pacific
Northwest photographerArthur French (1864-1948) was born in Maine and came to Tacoma in
1891, where he was an active photographer until 1906. In 1891, he was listed as
a partner with Frank LaRoche in a studio in the California Building, where he
photographed logging, landscapes and views of the city. In the early 1900’s, he
established a studio on Pacific Ave, and became one of Tacoma’s most
sought-after studio photographers.
French married Mable Garretson in 1895 and they had two children. It
appears they left Tacoma sometime after 1906 and by 1909, he had a photography
studio in New York. During the next 20 years, he worked in New York, then in
the 1930’s he moved his studio to Connecticut, where he continued to work, and
died there in 1948.
Arranged in 3 series.
- Series 1, Portraits
- Series 2, Logging
- Series 3, Native Americans, Boats and Buildings
Studio portraits, photographs of logging activities, fishing,
Snoqualmie Falls, a Puyallup Indian woman, and of illustrations of the steamer
S.S. ALIDA and the Washington Building for the
World's Columbian Exposition.
Not to be confused with French, E. Arthur "Happy" (1897-1962), a
Seattle, Washington newspaper photographer (University of Washington Libraries
Special Collections PH1652
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Source: Patricia Quanbeck, Kirjah's Antiques, February 21, 2015 (10
photographs): transferred from PH334 Early Photographers, 2021
Processed by Arlene G. Cohen, October 2023.
French, Arthur. (1902?). Tacoma, the city of
destiny : being views of the port of Puget Sound and illustrating its shipping,
lumbering, architecture, parks and giant Mount Tacoma in its varied moods .
Tacoma, Washington: Central News Company.
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)PhotographsLoggingFishing and Canning
Series 1Portraits11Studio portrait of Clara Helen Shaw as
a child standing in a field of flowers1893Clara Helen Shaw (February 20, 1890-February 1, 1983) was born
to Soren R. Shaw and Mary Elizabeth Shaw on a farm near Star Lake in King
County on. She married George Whitfield on September 10, 1910.
12Studio portrait of Clara Helen Shaw as
a child approximately 1893Clara Helen Shaw (February 20, 1890-February 1, 1983) was born
to Soren R. Shaw and Mary Elizabeth Shaw on a farm near Star Lake in King
County on. She married George Whitfield on September 10, 1910.
1 3Studio portrait of LenaFebruary
10, 1893 Written on verso: Yours Truly
14Studio portrait of Orno
Strongapproximately 1890-1900 Orno Strong (1852-1913) was the publisher of
West Coast Trade, an independent journal published
in Tacoma devoted to the mercantile interests of the North Pacific country. It
contained quotations on the leading articles of merchandise, a weekly review of
the markets in general, a record of the events of trade and business, editorial
essays and notes, and industrial, financial, manufacturing and shipping news.
The aim of the Trade was to represent, fully and
fairly, Washingtons mercantile interests, and to prove a careful, faithful
friend to the retail merchant.
15Studio portrait of Albert
Haywoodapproximately 1892-1895 Albert Haywood (1862-March 12, 1935) was born in New York and
graduated from Cornell University in 1889 with a degree in architecture. His
academic dissertation was titled Architecture as an
Educator. In the 1890's, he designed several buildings in Tacoma.
Series 2Logging16Giant log chained to a railroad flatcar
with a man standing on the flatcar (French 99)approximately 1892-1902This photograph appears in French's book, Tacoma the City of Destiny
17Two loggers standing on springboards
chopping a wedge into a Douglas fir tree (French 111)approximately 1892-1902This photograph appears in French's book, Tacoma the City of Destiny
18Loggers constructing a skid road in the
forestapproximately 1892-1906Copy print.
19Men posing in front of several giant
logs on flatcars (French 1162)approximately 1892-1906Written on photograph on log: 10264 ft.
A sign on the front log reads: "Washington Fir from St. Paul and
Tacoma Lumber Co. Tacoma, Washington."
110Three loggers standing beside a giant
log (French 102)approximately 1892-1906211A group of oxen used for pulling logs
down a skid road (French 1171)approximately 1892-1906Written on front of photograph: Landing No. 3 with oxen.
212Loggers standing next to four teams of
horses pulling a log through forest (French 1181?)approximately 1892-1906213Trees at the edge of the forest
overlooking a body of water (French 590)approximately 1892-1906214The upper portion of Snoqualmie Falls,
Washington (French 1023)approximately 1892-1906Series 3Native Americans, Boats and Buildings215Puyallup woman named Betsy Boston
sitting on a box on a riverbank beside a canoe, paddle and basket approximately 1890-1899 Photograph appears in French's book Views
of Tacoma, Washington: Photo-gravures
Photograph is hand tinted with white ink outlines.
216Several Native American canoes in a
field near a river (French 296)approximately 1890-1906Written on the front of the photograph: Hop fields of Wash.
Cache de Canoe.
217Several men in a canoe seine fishing
(French 532)approximately 1890-1906Written on the front of the photograph: Salmon fishing a full
net.
218Photograph of an illustration of the
S.S. Alida Steamboat
approximately 1890 Written on verso: "Alida"- I think Capt Starr.
The S. S. Alida was built in
Olympia in 1869 and owned by the Starr Brothers. The steamer ended her days by
fire in 1890 while anchored off Gig Harbor, Washington
219Photograph of a illustration of the
design of the Washington Building for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in
Chicagoapproximately 1891-1906Caption on front of illustration: Bullard & Haywood -
Architects - Tacoma, Washington