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Viretta Chambers (Mrs. C.L.) Denny photographs and albums, 1894-1901

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Denny, Viretta Chambers, 1862-
Title
Viretta Chambers (Mrs. C.L.) Denny photographs and albums
Dates
1894-1901 (inclusive)
Quantity
62 glass plate negatives (3 boxes) ; various sizes
2 albums with 21 photographic prints (2 boxes) ; various sizes
41 photographic prints and 62 scans from glass plate negatives (1 box) ; various sizes
Collection Number
PH0805
Summary
Photographs of landscapes in Seattle, Thurston and Snohomish Counties, family, and friends by Viretta Chambers (Mrs. C. L.) Denny
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Viretta Chambers Denny (1862-1951) was one of the nine daughters of Andrew Jackson Chambers (1825-1908), who is said to have been a relative of president Andrew Jackson. She grew up on Chambers Prairie in Thurston County, which were 700 acres of land owned by her father near Olympia, Washington. She attended the Washington Territorial University during the 1879-1880 school year, taking classes in the Commercial Course, but did not complete her degree. Her family was on personal terms with the University President, A. J. Anderson. She married Charles L. Denny on June 15, 1887 in Olympia. She and her husband were founding members of the first Seattle Camera Club which formed in 1895, as well as the Seattle Amateur Photographic Club in 1901. In addition to being a photographer, she was also a painter. She was a historian for the Seattle Historical Society (now the Museum of History and Industry).

The Denny family figures significantly in Seattle history. With his partner Elbert F. Blaine, C. L. Denny established the Denny-Blaine Land Company in 1899 and bought land to develop several parks in Seattle, forming the Denny-Blaine Lake Park neighborhood in the early 20th century. Viretta Denny and Mr. Blaine's wife, Minerva Stone Blaine, are commemorated in the names of Viretta Park and Minerva Fountain. Mr. and Mrs. Denny had two children: Andrew Chambers Denny (1893-1973) and Horton Hershel Denny (1888-1925). Andrew was named for Viretta's father, while Horton is the surname of a family closely connected with the Dennys; Dexter Horton, who partnered with Charles' father, Arthur Denny (1822-1899), in 1854.

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Content Description

Two albums of landscape views of various locations in and around Seattle (including Ravenna Park and Lake Washington), Monte Cristo, and Thurston County (including Deschutes River and Chambers Prairie).The collection also includes images of friends and family of Mrs. Denny participating in various social activities such as boating and gatherings at various residences. Also included are several still life views of flowers and birds, Denny Hall at the University of Washington and the U.S.S. Battleship Oregon .

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Other Descriptive Information

The collection contains two albums, glass plate negatives, and prints. Several photographs appear in both albums or in an album and as prints. When an image appears in multiple locations, it is noted.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

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

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Source: Seattle Auction House, 2006. One album and glass plate negatives. The glass plate negatives came from the Seattle Auction House via Ravenna Rare Books.

Some original prints donated by Mrs. C.L. Denny (Viretta Denny) probably in the 1940s. The album "Views from Home" was probably donated by Mrs. Denny also.

Processing Note

Special housing was created for the two albums.

PH Coll 47, "Views from Home," the Thurston County Album, was merged with this collection in 2008. Prints transferred from the Seattle--Parks and Social Issues subject files, Ships subject files, and UW Denny Hall subject files in 2009, 2010 and 2013. Several prints transferred from the Chambers Family Photograph Collection in 2010.

Processed by Erin Whitney in 2009; Jennifer Hawkins in 2010 and 2011. Revised by Susan Fitch in 2013.

Related Materials

The Chambers Family Photograph Collection (PH Coll 2004-097) includes photographs of the Denny and Chambers families.

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Detailed Description of the Collection