Albert Sperry Kerry was born in Kingston, Ontario, on April 14, 1866, the son of Aaron and Matilda Kerry. A Northwest lumberman by profession, Albert Kerry was known for his business acumen in the lumber industry and for his civic involvement, particularly in Seattle. Two towns, one in Oregon and one in Washington, where Kerry established lumber mills were ultimately named after him. Kerry's involvement in Seattle’s civic affairs included taking part in the construction of the Rainier Club building in 1904, and later serving as president of the club. In 1909 he served as vice-president of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle, and also served on the fair’s executive committee. In 1923 he served as president of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and later that year was elected president of the Community Hotel Corporation for the purpose of overseeing construction of the Olympic Hotel (now named the Fairmont Olympic Hotel), which opened in downtown Seattle in December 1924. A well-rounded man, Kerry also played a leading role in a number of other organizations and projects during his life, such as the King County Anti-Tuberculosis League and the Seattle Park Board. In the mid-1930s Kerry’s health began to decline, forcing him to scale back his civic activities. On April 27, 1939, Kerry was once again traveling through Oregon, returning by train to Seattle from a trip to California with his daughter, Glen. As the train approached Portland, he suffered a third, and far more serious, heart attack. In Portland he was transferred to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where died a few hours later.
The collection contains home movies of garden parties, the
Kerry-Trimble wedding, and sporting activities in Seattle; a Kerry family
vacation to Alaska including McKinley Park, Nenana, Matanuska Valley, and
Sitka; and travel abroad to Great Britain and France. Also included in the
collection is
Individual film titles have been derived from canister and reel labels present at the time of donation.
The original films are not accessible due to preservation concerns. Viewing copies are available and arrangements can be made to view the film by contacting the Visual Materials Curator.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the Special Collections division of the University of Washington Libraries for details.
Following the death of Albert Kerry, the collection passed to his wife, Audrey L. Kerry, and then to their daughter, Katherine Kerry Crossley.
Donors: Audrey L. Kerry, 2001; Katherine Kerry Crossley, 2005.
Processed by Marion Brown; Alden Lee, 2012; Elizabeth Russell, 2014; Kelly Burton, 2016.
A group of people playing tennis, and a large garden party with stylishly dressed people. People hiking around the base of a large waterfall, and boating for leisure. The Kerrys vacationing in various European cities, probably in Italy.
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
People going into a church, possibly St. Stephens in Seattle, Washington. People coming out the church, and going into a reception hall.
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Magic tricks being performed, and a costumed staging of the Little Red Riding Hood tale. Acting out a parody of a crime movie. Young people sitting on porch, smoking. People visiting a farm. Various outdoor activities, such as sledding, skiing, fishing, boating, and swimming. A woman reading on yacht. Going through boat locks, presumably in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard. The Aurora Bridge in Seattle under construction, shot from below as a boat passes under the bridge. Wisteria in bloom. Dogs playing on a lawn. Lanterns hanging in a garden in the evening.
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
A costume party with small groups of people; couples showing off their costumes. People boarding a train. Golf, tennis, and people enjoying another garden party.
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
An elderly gentleman outdoors wearing a suit. Women approach the man, and the three talk. Women at a table with teacups and saucers. A bridal party. The bride, groom, and guests socializing and celebrating under a tent. The bridal party posing for pictures.
A caravan of cars leaving for summer holiday. A large group of people, the women with fur coats over their arms. What appears to be a large logging camp used for group activities. Log buildings, alpine meadows, and bears. A car being towed through mud. Children using dogs as pack animals. A Native American woman, man and child walking along the road. Buildings in the camp marked "Chitina" and "Sourdough."
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Party in the Highlands. People on a glacier. A fishing harbor,
possibly Valdez. People boarding a steam ship named
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Glaciers, and a tent camp in the bush. The touring party visiting Mount McKinley (now Denali) National Park. A train station in Nenana, Alaska. Parsons Hotel and Matanuska Valley, also in Alaska.
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Glaciers and scenery. Shipboard, and loading boats on a dock at what appears to be a cannery. Various views of Sitka, Alaska.
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
A woman and a man walking in the snow, waving at the camera. People skiing down a ramp.
Traveling north in Alaska between Ketchikan and Juneau. Images of clouds, a mountain, and a stone well.
A ship named
Ship set sail on Sept. 10, 1927
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Several locations in Europe, probably England, Wales, the French Riviera, and Italy.
1 film reel (400 feet) : silent black and white ; 16mm
Several locations in Europe, possibly England, Scotland, and the French Riviera.
1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
An instructional film that teaches how to properly splice Kodascope film.
Film created by the Eastman Kodak Company.