WAUWebsterStevensLeschiBoathousePHColl901.xmlGuide to the Webster & Stevens Photographs of the Leschi Boathouse and Madison Park Theatre approximately 1900-1910Webster & Stevens Photographs of the Leschi Boathouse and Madison Park TheatreSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2011 (Last modified: 2/18/2022)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0901Webster & StevensWebster & Stevens photographs of the Leschi Boathouse and Madison Park Theatreapproximately 1900-19106 photographic prints (1 folder) ; sizes varyCollection materials are in English.The photographs document the Leschi Boathouse and Madison Park Theatre in the early 20th century.

Ira Webster and Nelson Stevens, natives of Michigan, moved to Seattle in 1899. They opened a photography studio in the area in 1903, after several years of working for local photographers. Their motto was "Anything. Anytime. Anywhere." and they lived up to that motto.

Webster & Stevens photographed much of the work life around Puget Sound and their staff of photographers took more than 60,000 black-and-white photographs of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

Webster & Stevens were among the frontrunners of the use of photography in commercial advertising, photojournalism, and industry throughout Washington's Puget Sound area. They provided photographic services to many Northwest businesses, including being the exclusive photographers for the Seattle Times from 1906 to 1943.

In Madison Park’s early days there was a beach community, with lakeside amenities including a boardwalk, a bandstand, bathing pavilions, boathouses, and a ball park. In the late 1800s and well into the early 1900s, the centerpiece of Madison Park entertainment was a large Victorian structure on the Lake known then as the Madison Street Park Pavilion. The Pavilion's auditorium seated 500 and there was outdoor seating for hundreds more. Another major feature of the building was its large covered observation deck at the top. The beach community was apparently known as Laurel Shade until Madison Park founder John J. McGilvra donated a large section of his Lakefront property for a park, initially known as the Madison Street Park, later shortened to just Madison Park.

The collection features scenes of the Leschi Boathouse and Madison Park Theatre in the early 20th century. All of the photographs were made by Webster and Stevens.

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

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Source: R. W. Nord, 2002.

Processed by Meggie Brummett, Don Romero; processing completed in 2011.

Webster & StevensMadison Park (Seattle, Wash. : Park)--PhotographsMadison Park (Seattle, Wash. : Park)--Buildings, structures, etc.--PhotographsLeschi Park (Seattle, Wash.)--PhotographsLeschi Park (Seattle, Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--PhotographsBoathouses--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsParks--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsVisual Materials Collections (University of Washington)SeattlePhotographsPerforming Arts

 

Leschi Boathouse11View of Leschi Boathouse from shorecirca 1900-1910 12The steamboat Fortunadocking near the Leschi Boathousecirca 1900-1910 13People in canoes and on shore near the Boathousecirca 1900-1910 Madison Park Boathouse and Theatre14View of docks and Madison Park boathousecirca 1900-1910 15Front view of Madison Park Theatrecirca 1900-1910 16Side view of Madison Park Theatrecirca 1900-1910