View XML QR Code

Evergreen Washelli film and slide collection, approximately 1929-1975

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Evergreen Washelli
Title
Evergreen Washelli film and slide collection
Dates
approximately 1929-1975 (inclusive)
Quantity
253 items total (17 reels of 16mm film, 1 reel of 8mm film, 129 stereoscopic slides and 2 "Stereo Realist" slide projectors, 50 glass plate lantern slides, 47 2x2" slides, 6 35mm slides, 1 brochure)
Collection Number
PH2018-031
Summary
Film and slides of a cemetery in Seattle, Washington
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

Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Return to Top

Biographical Note

Evergreen Washelli Cemetery originated in 1884 in an area north of Seattle, Washington known as Oak Lake, owned by David Denny, one of the founders of Seattle. Denny had the remains of his infant son moved from their original resting place in Seattle Cemetery to his property at Oak Lake, upon the closure of Seattle Cemetery. In 1887, David Denny's cousin Henry Levi Denny moved his family's plot from Capitol Hill to the new burial ground, and soon more and more family members and friends also began to bury their dead there. In 1903, the property, known as Oak Lake Cemetery, was inherited by David's son, Victor. Victor sold the property in 1914 to the American Necropolis Association, a St. Louis-based company that owned cemetery properties in several states. ANA gave the cemetery the name "Washelli" (a Makah word meaning "west wind"), which had been the name of a central Seattle cemetery disestablished in 1887.

In 1919, the Evergreen Cemetery Company started a competing cemetery on the western side of Aurora Avenue, directly opposite Washelli Cemetery. In 1922, Evergreen Cemetery purchased Washelli from ANA, although the merger did not become final until 1928. By 1952, Evergreen had taken over the mausoleums, crematory and columbarium. The cemetery changed its name to Evergreen Washelli in 1962. The Veterans Memorial Cemetery was started in 1927, and contains over 5,000 white marble headstones. It also hosts two cannons from the frigate "Constitution" (known as "Old Ironsides"), and a Chimes Tower, which was added in the 1950s. In 1998, the "Doughboy" statue (cast in 1928) was moved from Seattle Center to the Veterans Cemetery, and was re-dedicated there on November 11, 1998. Services have been held in the cemetery every Memorial Day since 1927.

Evergreen Washelli cemeteries were started as "endowment care" cemeteries. In other words, a portion of the cost of a grave goes into a trust fund for maintenance of the grounds. For this reason, the rolling hills and gardens of Evergreen-Washelli will remain as a beautiful landmark in perpetuity.

The Evergreen Washelli funeral home was started in 1972 in response to public demand. It quickly outgrew its offices on the eastern side of Washelli, and in 1994, moved into larger premises on the Evergreen side of the property, just off Aurora Avenue. To meet the need for a gathering and reception space, Evergreen Washelli expanded the funeral home facility in 2008 to include a modern and inviting reception room.

Return to Top

Content Description

Films and slides related to activities at the Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections for details.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donor: Evergreen Washelli Cemetery, May 8, 2014.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Description: Marriage ceremony, industry, and newspaper stories
    1 reel (300 feet) : silent, color, black and white ; 16mm

    Film is backwards. Includes scenes of a marriage (with decorated car and rice throwing), people on docks and around boats, men logging, cars and a closeups of a newspaper with headlines from World War II.

    Dates: between 1929 and 1946
    Container: Box 1, Item 1
  • Description: Cemetery locations and travel spots
    50 glass plate lantern slides : color

    Includes images of locations in Evergreen Washelli, English castles/scenic spots, maps of Phillippines geography and diagrams of Egyptian temples and Japanese gardens.

    Descriptions of individual slides on inside of canister lid.

    Dates: between 1929 and 1950?
    Container: Box 3, Item 2
  • Description: Ships, Camp Orkila, military funeral, and cemetery views
    1 reel (400 feet) : silent, color, black and white ; 16mm

    Includes scenes of an outdoor ceremony, ships and a 'tall ship' sailing, what appears to be the Ballard Locks, children and costumed adults performing a skit or play at Camp Orkila, people in rowboats on the water, a bird nest containing eggs, what appears to be a military funeral (includes scenes of a flag draped casket and the firing of rifles) and images of the cemetery interspersed with construction.

    Dates: between 1929 and 1952
    Container: Box 1, Item 3
  • Description: Scenic cemetery views
    47 2x2" slides : color

    Medium format slides showing scenic views of the cemetery, including flowers, grave markers, etc.

    Dates: between 1929 and 1975?
    Container: Box 2, Item 4
  • Description: Evergreen Washelli Compilation #1
    1 reel (160 feet) : silent, color, black and white ; 16mm

    Various scenes spliced together with title segments. Titles are, "Outdoor Beauty Spots on Evergreen Memorial Park and Washelli", "Sunday Vesper Service", "Dedication of Edmond S. Meany Memorial Pool in Washelli" and "Dean Landes Memorial Glen in Evergreen Memorial Park." Opens with scenes of men in uniform, and closes with a bible quote "Builded on the Rock."

    Dates: between 1930 and 1946
    Container: Box 1, Item 5
  • Description: Song book collection and outdoor event
    1 reel (50 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm

    Composed of two different pieces of film. First shows display of songbooks collected by the 'Washelli Quartet'. Second shows scenes of large cross, people and cars at an outdoor event.

    Dates: between 1931 and 1933
    Container: Box 1, Item 6
  • Description: Meany Pool dedication
    2 reels (7 feet, 25 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm

    Reel 1: Very short. Scenes of ceremony at cemetery.

    Reel 2: Group of people wearing formal dress standing with minimal movement.

    Dates: 1939
    Container: Box 1, Item 7-8
  • Description: Gardens and Military March
    1 reel (400 feet) : silent, color, black and white ; 16mm

    Scenes of gardens and people in gardens. Also contains scenes of people marching in military uniforms.

    Dates: between 1939 and 1946
    Container: Box 1, Item 9
  • Description: Choir and Minister
    1 reel (160 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Scenes of a choir singing. Close up of the "Lamb of God" image on the church altar. Scenes of the altar and associated items (possibly for communion). Scenes of a minister speaking in front of the altar.

    Handwritten label on canister: "Prod 72 Orig" and "Rev? And Church"

    Dates: 1945
    Container: Box 2, Item 10
  • Description: Park Scenes
    1 reel (300 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Various scenes of the park. Includes cars driving down the road, flowers, buildings and grave markers. Also show park staff working, including grounds maintenance and forming new markers out of cement.

    Dates: 1946
    Container: Box 1, Item 11
  • Description: Ceremonies and construction
    1 reel (400 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Includes scenes from ceremonies, one possibly a military funeral, the other centered around a stone marker engraved with, "Loyal Order of Moose." Also shows a tower under construction and surrounded by scaffolding. Men go to the top of the tower. Scenes of the view from the tower of the cemetery and surrounding areas.

    Dates: between 1946 and 1951
    Container: Box 1, Item 12
  • Description: Ceremonies and construction
    1 reel (400 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Scenes from various ceremonies, indoor and outdoor. Some appear to be of a military nature. Also includes scenes of men constructing a wooden structure and some segments that are too dark to make out.

    Dates: between 1946 and 1955
    Container: Box 1, Item 13
  • Description: Military Funeral and Construction
    1 reel (200 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Scenes of construction and tall wooden scaffolding. Close up of truck with "W.G. Clark & Co" written on side. (This is the same company that was involved in Mercer Court construction). Scene of outdoor ceremony, which appears to be military funeral. Includes images of men carrying a flag covered casket, a bugler, and black cars driving.

    Dates: between 1947 and 1950
    Container: Box 1, Item 14
  • Description: Views around Evergreen Washelli
    77 stereoscopic slides : color

    Glass plates with labeled stereoscopic slides (some plates missing slides). "Stereo Realist" white button projector model included. Projector is functional (batteries have been removed).

    Dates: between 1949 and 1954
    Container: Box 2, Item 15
  • Description: Sales aides of sampler monuments and grave markers
    52 stereoscopic slides : color

    Stereoscopic slides mounted on glass and cardboard. "Stereo Realist" red button projector model included. Projector is functional (batteries have been removed).

    Dates: between 1949 and 1954?
    Container: Box 2, Item 16
  • Description: The Ederer "grave digging" Trencher
    2 reels (220 feet each) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Scenes of the operation of a mechanical grave digger. Shows the digging of trenches and men driving the machine.

    Film is backwards on Reel #22.

    Dates: 1950
    Container: Box 2, Item 17-18
  • Description: Howitzer Construction and Holiday Events
    1 reel (400 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Film is backwards. Includes scenes of construction (men digging ditches and operating heavy machinery), a lady in a red coat walking, an outdoor ceremony where the canon (possibly a howitzer) is being fired. Men wearing uniforms. Scenes of sailboats sailing.

    Handwritten labels on canister: 1950 Mothers Day (Denny Lot) & 1950 Memorial Day.

    Dates: between 1950 and 1954
    Container: Box 1, Item 19
  • Description: Garden and Military Ceremonies
    1 reel (350 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Scenes from two outdoor ceremonies. One shows families at a garden that contains plaques naming the donors of certain plants. The other ceremony appears to be a military ceremony, with flowers being placed on a grave marker.

    Dates: 1955
    Container: Box 1, Item 20
  • Description: Evergreen Washelli Compilation #2
    1 reel (350 feet) : silent, color ; 8mm

    Various scenes of Evergreen Washelli. Includes many scenic shots of the park, buildings and monuments (including the Mausoleum, Columbarium, Denny monument, etc.) Many close-up images of grave markers. Also has scenes of the daily workings of Evergreen Washelli such as grounds maintenance, the creation of grave markers and transportation of a casket.

    Dates: 1956
    Container: Box 1, Item 21
  • Description: Washelli Sewer Construction
    1 reel (50 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm

    Shows scenes of workmen and heavy equipment digging a large ditch. Large concrete pipe segments can be seen in the background. Box also contains two seemingly unrelated very short pieces of film of cars.

    Dates: 1958
    Container: Box 1, Item 22
  • Description: Pearl Harbor Survivors Association 27th Anniversary Convention brochure

    Includes letters from the director of "Tora, Tora Tora", elected officials, a schedule for the convention, and a list of names and pictures of veterans (possibly members or attendees of the convention). Newspaper clippings of an article about the convention were inside of the brochure.

    Dates: 1968
    Container: Box 2, Item 23
  • Description: Billboard and Seattle Skyline
    6 35mm slides : color

    Slides depicting an Evergreen Washelli billboard next to the Alaskan Way Viaduct with the Seattle skyline in the background. Pictures taken from above as well as below the viaduct.

    Handwritten label on canister: E.W. Rotating Paint Alaska Way Viaduct + Dearborn.

    Dates: September 1975
    Container: Box 2, Item 24

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Moving Image Collections (University of Washington)
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Loading...
Loading...