Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries
Romans Photographic Company Photographs
Romans, William P
PH0592
0.37 cubic feet
1 box containing 40 photographic prints
1900-1912
Photographs by a Seattle photography studio documenting buildings, ships, and people at the beginning of the 20th century
Collection materials are in English.
William P. Romans (1870-1954) was the proprietor and manager of Romans Photographic Company, a commercial photography studio based in Seattle, Washington at the turn of the 20th century. The studio was located at 52 Union Block from 1900 until 1905, when it was relocated to 625-627 Colman Building. Asahel Curtis (1874-1941), brother of Edward Curtis, worked for Romans Photographic Co. from 1907-1911, eventually becoming president and manager of the franchise. The copyright for many photographs from this period is credited to both Curtis and Romans, though the photographs in this collection are mainly attributed to Romans and the studio itself. In 1920, Romans Photographic Company became the Asahel Curtis Photo Co., and the studio operated under this name until Curtis's death in 1941.
The photographs in this collection were taken by Romans Photographic Company. Subjects include UW Campus Days from 1904 and 1905; ships and dockside conveyor belts, including the S.S. Athenian and the battleship Nebraska; early Seattle views of downtown and what is now the University District, circa 1902, 1907; the Perry Hotel and Hotel Washington; and construction of the Alaska building at the southwest corner of 2nd Avenue and Cherry Street in 1903 and 1904, Seattle's first steel-framed skyscraper.
Arranged in 5 series:
- Series 1, Seattle Street Views
- Series 2, Alaska Building Construction
- Series 3, Hotels
- Series 4, Ships and Dockyards
- Series 5, University of Washington Campus Day
Portions of this collection are available as part of the Library's digital collection. View the digital version of the collection.
No restrictions on access.
Request at UW
Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.
Photographs of the Alaska building were transferred from the Seattle photographs file, 2004. Photographs of the Perry Hotel were transferred from D-ICDB12546, 2026. Photographs of Seattle street views, ships, and UW Campus Day were transferred from the Early Photographers Collection (PH0334), 2026.
Photographs of the Alaska building construction were a gift of Robert Dunn, 1989.
Processed by Jill M. Dalager, 2004; 27 photographs added by Grace Landers, 2026.
Seattle
Historic buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
City and Town Life
Ships and Shipping
Seattle Street Views
Street view of people, horse drawn carts, and trolleys in front of the Alaska Building construction site on 2nd Avenue North of Cherry St., Seattle, Washington
1903
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1
Written on verso: 2nd Ave. north from Cherry, ca. 1902
Street view of trolley at intersection of 2nd Avenue looking North from Yesler Way, Seattle, Washington
1903
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Street view of people, horse carriages, and trolley on 1st Ave. north from University St., Seattle, Washington
1903
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The Arcade Building, built from 1901-1903, is visible on the left. The building occupied all of the 2nd Avenue westside street frontage between Union Street and Seneca Street and was a major downtown Seattle office and retail space in the first half of the 20th century.
Model Laundry carriage crossing Pike St. East from 3rd Ave., Seattle, Washington
1903
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1st Avenue looking north from Main Street, Seattle, Washington
1903
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1st Avenue from Seneca Street, Seattle, Washington
1902-1903
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Horses lined up with their drivers on Columbus Ave E. (now University Way) and 42nd, Seattle, Washington
1906-1907
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1
Written on verso: Wm Stanley + Co. car load of horses from Oregon 1906
From accompanying material: City of Brooklyn 1907 [in Seattle, Washington] My father John Luther Stanley on Snowball, white horse on right. Main Street - Columbus Ave and E 42 (next one west, Brooklyn Av). City of Brooklyn now University District. Columbus Av changed to University Way.
Alaska Building Construction
After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, Seattle's tallest building and first steel-framed skyscraper was constructed. The Alaska Building, built from 1903 to 1904 at the southeast corner of 2nd Avenue and Cherry Street, rose fourteen stories high. Eames & Young, a St. Louis architectural firm, with assistance from Seattle architects Saunders & Lawton, designed the building. The Alaska Building remained the tallest building in Seattle until the eighteen-story Hoge Building (located at 705 2nd Avenue) was completed in 1911.
Construction workers and horses working in the excavation for the foundation
May 23, 1904
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2
Construction workers and horses beginning to install steel beams in foundation
June 7, 1904
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Construction workers and horses installing steel beams in foundation
June 14, 1904
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Construction workers laying boards on first floor
June 21, 1904
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Construction work on second and third floor wall beams
June 28, 1904
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Steel beam frame construction up to sixth floor
July 19, 1904
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Steel beam frame construction up to eighth floor
July 26, 1904
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Steel beam frame construction up to eleventh floor
Aug. 2, 1904
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Decorative brick and concrete facade on first floor
Aug. 9, 1904
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Steel frame construction of Alaska Building seen from roof of building next door
Aug. 15, 1904
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Steel beam construction up to fifteenth floor, decorative brick and concrete work up to second floor
Aug. 17, 1904
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3
Steel beam construction up to fifteenth floor, decorative brick and concrete work up to sixth floor
Aug. 29, 1904
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Exterior brick walls with wooden scaffolding
Sept. 5, 1904
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Hotels
Hotel Washington decorated with lights at night for Theodore Roosevelt's visit to Seattle
1903
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Caption on image: The Washington as illuminated during the stay of the president at this magnificent hostelry.
Front entrance of the Perry Hotel, Seattle, Washington
1907-1912
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Street view of the Perry Hotel, Seattle, Washington
1907-1912
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Guest lounge with greenery at the Perry Hotel with a young boy in the background, Seattle, Washington
1907-1912
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Guest lounge at the Perry Hotel, Seattle, Washington
1907-1912
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Room lined with desks at the Perry Hotel, Seattle, Washington
1907-1912
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Interior lounge at the Perry Hotel, Seattle, Washington
1907-1912
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Ships and Dockyards
Transport ship Athenian, probably near Seattle, Washington
1900
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5
Caption on photograph: Transport Athenean [sic] leaving for Nome & St. Micheal [sic], June 5, 1900. No. 266 by Romans, Seattle, WA.
Written on verso: Construction crew en route to build Fort Davis, Alaska (Nome)
The Athenian was built in 1881 by Aitkin & Mansel in Glasgow. From 1897 until 1904 the Athenian ran Pacific Coast service for the Canadian Pacific Company during the Klondike Gold Rush. Fort Davis was a U.S. Army post established in Nome, Alaska in 1900. Previously, the fort in St. Michael, build in 1897, was the main military post in the area.
Passengers on the Athenian, probably near Seattle, Washington
1900
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5
Caption on image: No. 264 by Romans. Employees Q.M. Dept. U.S.A. for Nome & St. Michael onboard S.S. Athenean [sic], June 5, 1900, Seattle, WA.
U.S. Battleship Nebraska off Vashon Island, Washington
1906
PH0592 Box 1
5
Collection includes three iterations of this photograph.
Copy 1:
Caption on mount: U.S. Battleship Nebraska on official trial, July 16, 1906, making 19.518 knots. Built by Moran Bros. Company, Seattle, Wash.
On verso: A letter from Robert Moran to Asahel Curtis inquiring about sending a copy to the Seattle Times for its photogravere section, dated October 31, 1935.
Copy 2:
Circular photograph, 2.75 inches in diameter.
Caption on photograph: Trial Trip U.S.S. Nebraska. Made in Seattle
Copy 3:
Photograph on a black mounting board.
Caption on photograph: No. 7390A Copyright 1906 by W.P. Romans
Copy negative exists: Curtis 7390A.
U.S. Battleship Nebraska off Vashon Island, Washington
1906
PH0592 Box 1
5
Scrapes and damage with surface loss along the left side of the photograph and mount. The damage does not impact the center of the photograph or obscure the ship.
Dock with conveyor belts by W.L. McCabe, Seattle, Washington
1900-1910
PH0592 Box 1
5
University of Washington Campus Day
Campus Day was an annual event at the University of Washington from 1904 to 1934. Students and faculty worked together to clear land and improve the campus, with a break for a communal meal.
People with shovels and axes on steps of Denny Hall for Campus Day, University of Washington
1904-1905
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People with shovels and axes on steps of Denny Hall for Campus Day, University of Washington
1904-1905
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Campus Days were held annually on the University of Washington campus from 1904 until 1934. The year 1904 is handwritten on the verso of this photograph, though one of the students is wearing a hat which reads "05." The photograph was probably taken at the 1904 or 1905 Campus Day.
University of Washington students at lunch outside Denny Hall, Campus Day, University of Washington, Seattle
1904-1905
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Probably taken during the 1904 or 1905 Campus Days. Written on verso: 1904
University of Washington students clearing plants during Campus Day, University of Washington, Seattle
1904-1905
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Probably taken during the 1904 or 1905 Campus Days. Written on verso: 1904?
University of Washington students clearing plants during Campus Day with Denny Hall in the background, University of Washington, Seattle
1904-1905
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Probably taken during the 1904 or 1905 Campus Days. Written on verso: 1904
Women seated on the steps of Clark Hall for Campus Day, University of Washington, Seattle
1904-1905
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