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George G. White photograph album, circa 1870s-1910

Overview of the Collection

Collector
White, George G., 1853-1930
Title
George G. White photograph album
Dates
circa 1870s-1910 (inclusive)
Quantity
46 photographic prints (1 box) ; 4 x 7 in.
Collection Number
PH1228
Summary
Photographs of the O'Connor, Halford and Nixon families from California and Seattle, during the Washington Territory era
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

Open to the public.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

George G. White (November, 1853-December 28, 1930) was the first silversmith in Seattle. He had a shop on Front Street, prior to the fire of 1889. The shop was destroyed in the fire, and he went to work for Mayer Brothers, a retail and wholesale jewelry store in Seattle. While employed by Mayer Brokers, he designed and smithed a captain's tea service for the heavy cruiser Olympia which became Admiral Perry's flagship during the Spanish American War. The tea service was donated to the State of Washington and is now in the governor's mansion. White was a member of the Nile Temple and the Knights Templar in Seattle.

John Cleaver Nixon (July 12, 1853-August 16, 1897) was born on the family farm in Cedarville, N.J. He was a member of the 100th New Jersey Rifles during the Civil War. After the war, he spent time in engineering school. He was hired by the Union Pacific to supervise the construction of the railroad spur from Sacramento to Portland, Oregon. In 1870, he supervised the construction of the United Pacific line from Tacoma to Kalama. He brought the Kicks Saloon on Front Street in 1871 and the Grotto Saloon in 1879; he also began bottling Cutter's Kentucky Bourbon. In the mid-1880s, he began buying sealing schooners. In 1895, he entered a claim against the government for the seizure of his four sealing ships in the Bering Sea; the claim was finally settled in 1926, with the money going to his daughters. Nixon was also a Knights Templar; his sponsor for membership was Dr. David Maynard.

White and Nixon married sisters. White married Julie O'Connor and Nixon married Annie O'Connor. After Nixon's death in 1897 and his wife's death in 1898, Nixon's daughters were taken in and raised by White.

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Content Description

Photographs from an album of the O'Conner, Halford and Nixon families. It also includes portraits of Seattle Knights Templar members.The original album belonged to either George G. White or John Cleaver Nixon, both residents of Seattle from before the fire of 1889.

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Use 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

Custodial History

Michael White received the album from Patricia Mack, the daughter of Ruth Nixon, his great aunt. The album originally belond to either George G. White, Michael White's step-grandfather, or John Cleaver Nixon, Michael White's great grandfather.

Acquisition Information

Donor Michael White, November 18, 2013.

Processing Note

Processed by Susan Peskura, 2014; Processing completed in 2014.

The photographs were removed from the album, which was deteriorating.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Corporate Names

  • Knights Templar (Masonic Order)--Clothing--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
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