wasmhi1991_64.xml Guide to the Ben Paris Photographs and Other Material 1909-1943 Paris (Ben) Photographs and Other Material Finding aid prepared by Julie Kerssen Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Museum of History & Industry © 2006
5933 6th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.mohai.org
Finding aid encoded by ArchProteus 2006 Finding aid is in English Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard) Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.mohai.org
1991.64 Paris, Ben Ben Paris photographs and other material 1909-1943 2 boxes 1 linear foot Photographs and other materials documenting the business and personal interests of Ben Paris and his family. Paris owned a well-known sporting goods store and restaurant in downtown Seattle. 2b.2.5 2b.2.10 Collection materials are in English. Biographical Note:

Ben Paris was a well-known Seattleite whose namesake store was a destination for area sportsmen. He married Florence Alma Conner in 1916, and worked as an ironworker until he was injured on a job in St. Louis. After returning to Seattle, he served as the first representative for Local 302 of the National Union of Steam Engineers of America. He then borrowed $500 from his brother Jack to open a pool hall on Admiral Way, which was soon followed by another in Auburn. He eventually opened a business that became a downtown Seattle landmark, a combination of restaurant, bar, sporting goods store, and pool hall. The store (along with the Seattle Star newspaper) also sponsored the area's first fishing derby beginning in 1931, reportedly motivated by Paris's desire to sell more fishing rods.

This collection mainly documents the business and personal interests of Ben Paris, including his store, the fishing derbies he started, and the baseball team he sponsored. The contents are predominantly photographs, but also include news clippings, correspondence, and ephemera. There are also a few items related to Paris's wife Florence and daughter Paulla.

View selections from the collection in MOHAI's online collections.

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Ben Paris Photographs and Other Materials, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

The collection was donated by Paulla Paris Upjohn in 1991.

 Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation (Seattle, Wash.) Seattle (Wash.) Photographic prints Stores, retail -- Washington (State) -- Seattle Sporting goods industry -- Washington (State) -- Seattle Tournament fishing -- Washington (State) -- Seattle Sports and recreation Retail trade Seattle Photographs Scrapbooks 1 1991.64.1 Photo: Coliseum Theatre during Big Snow of 1916 1916 1 1991.64.2 Photo: Ben Paris and two men at fountain, Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation undated 1 1991.64.3 Photo: Ben Paris and three men behind lunch and cigar counters of Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation undated 1 1991.64.4 Photo: Two men seated and boy standing undated 1 1991.64.5 Photo: Sailboat and large yacht with about sixty people standing on deck 1940 1 1991.64.6 Photo: Man talking to girl at gathering undated 1 1991.64.7 Photo: Gander Club undated 1 1991.64.8 Postcard: Paris Bros. Billiard and Lunch Room, Auburn, Wash. undated 1 1991.64.9 Photo: 1940 Fishing Derby -- men in rowboats, West Seattle in background 1940 1 1991.64.10 Photo: 1940 Fishing Derby -- men in rowboats, people on dock at West Seattle Boat House 1940 1 1991.64.11 Photo: 1940 Fishing Derby contestants and spectators 1940 1 1991.64.12 Photo: Two men and two women on automobile near big tree circa 1915 1 1991.64.13 Photo: Emil Sick, D.K. McDonald, Ben Paris, and three unidentified men circa 1930s 1 1991.64.14 Photo: Unidentified man undated 1 1991.64.15 Photo: Six West Seattle baseball players and manager circa 1915 1 1991.64.16 Photo: Flowers inside entrance to Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation undated 1 1991.64.17 Photo: Ben Paris and five men putting money in large cup held by woman undated 1 1991.64.18 Photo: Ben Paris in yachting cap at radio microphone on dock at West Seattle Boat House during 1940 Fishing Derby 1940 1 1991.64.19 Photo: Interior of Ben Paris Billiard and Lunch Room, Auburn, Wash. undated 1 1991.64.20 Outdoor Sports Reporter and Washington Sportsman clippings 1937 1 1991.64.21 Newspaper clipping re: Ganders Club 1942 1 1991.64.22 War ration book issued to Paulla M. Paris 1943 1 1991.64.23 Ben Paris correspondence 1935-1939 1 1991.64.24 Newspaper clipping re: Ben Paris-Seattle Star Salt Water Derby 1935 1 1991.64.25 Newspaper clipping: Paulla Paris and other women in costumes posed on old cable car undated 1 1991.64.26 Newspaper clipping: Ed Bender, winner of fishing derby, with Ben Paris and winning fish undated 1 1991.64.30 Photo: West Seattle Baseball Club (Paris brothers, managers) circa 1914-1915 1 1991.64.31 Photo: Elliott Bay showing fishing derby boats with battleships in background 1940 1 1991.64.32-42 Photos: Snapshots of fishing derby scenes in Elliott Bay circa 1935 2 1991.64.27 Scrapbook: Newspaper clippings re: Ben Paris business and other activities 1917-1930s 2 1991.64.28 Scrapbook: Photos and newspaper clippings re: Florence Alma Conner 1914-1920 2 1991.64.29 Florence Alma Conner's diploma from Lincoln High School 1909 unboxed 1991.64.43 Hand-colored photo of Mount Rainier undated