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Phyllis Owen A Snapshot Diary of the Owens photograph album, 1947

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Owen, Phyllis M
Title
Phyllis Owen A Snapshot Diary of the Owens photograph album
Dates
1947 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 album: 182 photographs (1 box) ; sizes vary
Collection Number
PH0811
Summary
Photograph album documenting the Owen family in 1947
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 to original album restricted. Permission of curator required for viewing. Contact Special Collections for more information. A photocopy version of the album is available for viewing.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Phyllis Marshall Owen was born to Philip Herbert Owen and Lillie May Hahn. Phillip and Lillie Owen married in Victoria, B.C. in February 2, 1916. Sometime before World War II, the Owen family moved from Maine to Washington. Phillip Owen died some time before 1942. During World War II, Phyllis worked in the Boeing Aircraft Company as an inspector.

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Content Description

The collection consists of photographs capturing a year in the life of the Owen family in 1947. Mostly photographed by Phyllis Owen, the photographs depict daily scenes around her house in the White Center neighborhood of Seattle, as well as outings including the Boeing Inspection Department Picnic, oystering on the Hood Canal and other activities throughout Seattle and the surrounding region. Still lifes of trees, flowers, and cats are interspersed throughout a running narrative of trips to Hood Canal, Woodland Park, the Puyallup Fair, and their cabin on Bremerton. The album is heavily annotated with her observations and personal details of friends. She also points out the growing network of electrical lines and an electrically lighted blimp at the Puyallup Fair.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Photocopies are available for reference use.

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: Fairlook Antiques, 2008

Processing Note

Processed by Jill Hardy and Marion Brown, 2009.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Description: Title Page "To the Petersons-A Snapshot Diary of the Owens for 1947- Seattle, Washington"
    Dates: 1947
    Container: Page 1, Item 1
  • Description: Views of the Owen house before and after a snowstorm
    Dates: 1947
    Container: Page 2, Item 2a-e
  • Description: Lillie and Phyllis Owen gathering oysters at Hood Canal with Blanche Tallent and her family

    Handwritten caption on album page: "When mother and I went oystering on Hood's Canal with Blanche Tallent, lady I worked with, + her family. Oysters are all over the beach, on stones and fastened together in bunches."

    Dates: April 4, 1947
    Container: Page 3, Item 3a-d
  • Dates: April 4, 1947
    Container: Page 4, Item 4a-d
  • Description: Lillie and Phyllis Owen with Mrs. Hausen at Woodland Park on Mother's Day
    Dates: May 1947
    Container: Page 5, Item 5a-f
  • Description: Scenes of Phyllis Owen and Mrs. Hausen at Woodland Park and zoo animals
    Dates: May 1947
    Container: Page 6, Item 6a-e
  • Description: Zoo animals and children riding on pony cart at Woodland Park
    Dates: May 1947
    Container: Page 7, Item 7a-g
  • Description: Deer and swans at Woodland Park
    Dates: May 1947
    Container: Page 8, Item 8a-f
  • Description: Dodie, Mary Scalf, Lillie Owen and others wild blackberrying in West Seattle

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Dodie- a girl I worked with who had brain operation- taken day before she went to hospital on July 22nd."

    Dates: July 21, 1947
    Container: Page 9, Item 9a-f
  • Description: Blanche Tallent and two of her children, Pat and Sharron

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Blanche is the lady I visited so often at Bremerton this summer. These are the 2 younger of her 3 children. I went to the Y.M.C.A. dances with her older daughter, Colleen. I worked with Blanche at Boeing."

    Dates: 1947
    Container: Page 10, Item 10a-c
  • Description: Lillie Owen at Woodland Park

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Taken by Mrs. Hauder, when we went to Iowa State Picnic with her on July 27."

    Dates: July 27, 1947
    Container: Page 11, Item 11
  • Description: Boeing Inspection Department Picnic, with Mary Scalf, Lillie and Phyllis Owen, and others

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Me with some other I work with (Dodie in center with bandana-bandage showing)."

    Dates: August 3, 1947
    Container: Page 12, Item 12a-f
  • Description: Tiger the cat on a bed
    Dates: August 19, 1947
    Container: Page 13, Item 13a-f
  • Description: Tiger the cat, flowers, and a peach tree on the south side of the house
    Dates: Summer 1947
    Container: Page 14, Item 14a-d
  • Dates: September 18, 1947
    Container: Page 15, Item 15a-d
  • Description: Photos of a blimp and Lillie and Phyllis Owen, Mrs. Hausen and her niece eating caramel apples at the Puyallup Fair

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Blimp advertising Mobil oil & Gas. Electronically lighted sign, complete with animated red flying horse. Flew over Seattle for several weeks."

    Dates: September 18, 1947
    Container: Page 16, Item 16a-c
  • Description: Scenes around the home and garden on Armistice Day
    Dates: November 11, 1947
    Container: Page 17, Item 17a-g
  • Description: Scenes of trees and front yard around house
    Dates: November 11, 1947
    Container: Page 18, Item 18a-g
  • Description: Scenes of Bremerton ferry and crossing

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Mother and Mable Harriman, ferryman's wife and Harriman's houseboat."

    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 19, Item 19a-f
  • Description: Lillie Owen working on cabin on Bremerton

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Mother mending roof...cleaning rain barrel."

    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 20, Item 20a-g
  • Description: Views of a cabin and canyon in Bremerton
    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 21, Item 21a-d
  • Description: Forest scenes near house in Bremerton
    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 22, Item 22a-f
  • Description: Bremerton dirt road with new electric light poles

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Mother picking huckleberries on back of our place."

    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 23, Item 23a-e
  • Description: Cabin and beach between Lee and Dugdale homes

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Front porch looking across at Squaxon."

    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 24, Item 24a-e
  • Description: Views of Dugdale house and another cabin

    Handwritten caption on album page: "New house on hill just north of log cabin- built by son of people owning cabin. Is wired for electricity!"

    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 25, Item 25a-f
  • Description: Logging road and driftwood along beach
    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 26, Item 26a-d
  • Description: Cabin in forest clearing

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Tarp's place-Front half of house completely gone. Some Seattle people now own it and have fired up tent house under trees."

    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 27, Item 27a-f
  • Description: Beach scenes with Lillie and Phyllis

    Handwritten caption on album page: "McDougal's place- On beach below us. Squaxon Indiand Reservation across bay."

    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 28, Item 28a-f
  • Description: Lillie and Phyllis Owen walking north along beach from McDougal's place
    Dates: October 16-21, 1947
    Container: Page 29, Item 29a-g
  • Description: Lillie and Phyllis holding black cat

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Tommy- our orphan."

    Dates: 1947
    Container: Page 30, Item 30a-h
  • Description: Owen home in White Center

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Organ box still on front porch."

    Dates: 1947
    Container: Page 31, Item 31a-e
  • Description: Neighborhood scenes on Thanksgiving Day

    Handwritten captions on album page: "Corner of 18th & 100th where Orchard was; looking across fill where swamp was; our new fire station- at corner of fill shown above."

    Dates: November 27, 1947
    Container: Page 32, Item 32a-e
  • Dates: November 27, 1947
    Container: Page 33, Item 33a-e
  • Description: Downtown Seattle street scenes on Thanksgiving Day

    Handwritten caption on album page: "14th Ave. and E. Pine St. where Grandma Owen lives; Mother window gazing and waiting for bus at 14th Ave and E. Pike St."

    Dates: November 27, 1947
    Container: Page 34, Item 34a-d
  • Description: Portraits of Owens and Keyes in front of house

    Handwritten caption on album page: "Thanksgiving dinner with Mr. & Mrs. Howard Keyes & adopted daughter Carol- (14 months old). This is the lady mother took care of about 5 years ago."

    Dates: November 27, 1947
    Container: Page 35, Item 35a-f
  • Description: Christmas postcard photograph of Lillie Owen
    Dates: 1947
    Container: Page 36, Item 36
  • Description: Christmas postcard photograph of Phyllis Owen
    Dates: 1947
    Container: Page 37, Item 37

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