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Peterson & Brother photographs, approximately 1870-1889

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Peterson & Brother (Seattle, Wash.)
Title
Peterson & Brother photographs
Dates
approximately 1870-1889 (inclusive)
Quantity
46 photographic prints (1 box plus 1 folder) ; sizes vary
Collection Number
PH0284
Summary
Photographs of early Seattle waterfront, streets, buildings and people by photographers from a Norwegian-immigrant photography business
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

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

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Henry Peterson (1843-1911) was born in Lom, Norway. He moved to Chicago when he was 12 and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1876, he and his brother Lewis (1846-1934) arrived in Seattle to operate "The Seattle Photograph Gallery" (also briefly called the "Seattle Art Gallery"). Peterson & Bro. offered photographs of the Puget Sound, as well as being an established portrait business. At some point, the brothers also traveled up to Alaska to photograph the area. Peterson & Bro. remained a modestly successful business until it was wiped out in the great fire of 1889. Following the fire, Henry retired from photography. Many Peterson & Bro. photographs were later copied and reused by Asahel Curtis, Thomas W. Prosch, Thomas Peiser and other photographers.

Henry and his wife Mary along with his brother are buried together at Lake View Cemetery. A headstone bearing their names is posted on the Find A Grave website.

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Content Description

Original and copy photographs of early Seattle waterfront, streets and buildings, including the Territorial University. Also contains a number of portraits.

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Use of the Collection

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

Processing Note

Processed by Marion Brown, 2008; revised 2017.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Description: Front Street and Denny Hill, Seattle, WA (Peterson 1)
    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Item 1a
  • Description: Front Street and Denny Hill, Seattle, WA (Peterson 1)

    Modern enlargement of photograph

    Written on verso: Seattle from Madison Street north to Pine and Virginia. In the foreground is the hulk of the bark Windward, wrecked in 1875. The background is between Second and Third Avenues.9

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Item 1b
  • Description: Seattle seen from the waterfront (Peterson 2)

    Listed on the back are the names of the seven numbered buildings. Copy photo.

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Item 2
  • Description: Pike Street to Union Street, Seattle (Peterson 3)
    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Item 3
  • Description: Panorama of Seattle from 4th to waterfront

    Original prints of the panorama copied by Peiser 4a (1-2), noted on photo as Peiser 107 but the photo is not by Peiser. 4a(5) copy photo of original panorama which includes the text on the matt which identifies the buildings; 4a(3-4) same copy version as 4a(5) but in two parts.

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box:oversize XH2, Item 4a
  • Description: Left side of the panorama of Seattle from 4th to waterfront

    4b(1) original Peterson print of left side; 4b(2) copy of left side of panorama with Peterson Bro. studio label; 4b(3) copy photo of left side probably made by Asahel Curtis; 4b(4) copy photo of left side made by Curtis & Miller - it has a list of identified buildings on the back

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Item 4b (1-4)
  • Description: Right side of the panorama of Seattle from 4th to waterfront

    4c(1) copy of right side of panorama with Peterson Bro. studio label; 4c(2) right side; 4c(3)copy photo of right side probably made by Asahel Curtis

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/3, Item 4c (1-3)
  • Description: Schooners in Seattle Harbor (Peterson 5)

    Copy photo.

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 5
  • Description: Schooners with logs at Seattle waterfront (Peterson 6)
    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 6
  • Description: S.S. Dakota and Seattle waterfront (Peterson 7)

    Copy photo.

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 7
  • Description: Two part panorama of schooners and logs at Yesler's wharf as seen from the back of Peterson's studio with Magnolia Bluff in the distance and the wreck of the clipper bark Windward in the bay

    The Windward ran aground on Whidbey Island in December 1875. J.M. Colman bought it and had it towed to Seattle where he lived on it while he operated Yesler's Mill. The ship was buried when the tide flats were filled in. The Colman Building was built near where the ship is buried.

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box:oversize XH2, Item 8a-b
  • Description: Partial left side of panorama of schooners and logs at Yesler's wharf as seen from the back of Peterson's studio
    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 8c
  • Description: Ships and logs at Yesler's wharf, Seattle

    Copy photo

    Dates: 1878?
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 9
  • Description: First Avenue, north from Cherry Street, Seattle (Peterson 10)

    Copy photo by Asahel Curtis.

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 10a
  • Description: First Avenue, north from Cherry Street, Seattle (Peterson 10)

    Copy photo by Asahel Curtis. Caption on back identifies the numbered buildings.

    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 10b
  • Description: View down Front Street, Seattle

    Front Street was renamed 1st Avenue.

    Dates: 1875?
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 10c
  • Description: Seattle waterfront and town

    Copy photo

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 11
  • Description: View along Occidental Avenue or Commercial Street, Seattle
    Dates: circa 1880
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Item 12a
  • Description: View along Occidental Avenue or Commercial Street, Seattle

    Copy photo by Asahel Curtis

    Dates: circa 1880
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Item 12b
  • Description: View of Seattle buildings
    Dates: circa 1878-1879
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Item 13
  • Description: Large crowd gathered in front of Occidental Hotel, Seattle, for the visit of President Hayes (has been incorrectly identified as funeral for McKinley)
    Dates: 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Item 14
  • Description: View down First Street, Seattle
    1 : Stereocard
    Dates: circa 1870s
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Item 15
  • Description: Territorial University building, Washington
    Half of a Stereocard
    Dates: circa 1870s
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Item 16
  • Description: Waterfall in the mountains
    1 : Stereocard
    Dates: circa 1870s-1880s
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Item 17
  • Description: Portrait of woman and child
    Dates: circa 1877-1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/6, Item 18
  • Description: Portrait of three children, Clarence, Maud and Kate Ward
    Dates: 1877
    Container: Box/Folder 1/6, Item 19
  • Description: Portrait of woman and child, S.Belle Ward and Mable
    Dates: circa 1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/6, Item 20
  • Description: Portrait of two small children
    Dates: circa 1877-1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/6, Item 21
  • Description: Portrait of Major James R. Hayden

    Written on verso: We held office together in the '70's and '80's Clarence B. Bagley.

    Dates: circa 1877-1878
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Item 22
  • Description: Portrait of Clara McCarty

    Original is in PH 1510, Clara McCarty Wilt Collection.

    Dates: 1879
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Item 23
  • Description: Portrait of G. W. Massey

    Written on verso: Age 25 years. To my Mother. Received from my dear boy, December 12, 1882.

    Dates: circa 1882
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Item 24
  • Description: Portrait of a young man
    Dates: circa 1870s-1880s
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Item 25
  • Description: Portrait of Edward L. Lindsley

    Edward Lindsley was the father of Lawrence (Laurie) Lindsley a noted Washington photographer.

    Dates: 1875
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Item 26
  • Description: Portrait of Mrs. Frank Bird and her brother
    Dates: 1870s?
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Item 27

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Schooners--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
  • Waterfronts--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Wharves--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Peterson, Henry, 1843-1911--Archives
  • Peterson, Lewis, 1846-1934--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Peterson & Brother (Seattle, Wash.)--Archives
  • Seattle Photograph Gallery
  • University of Washington--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs
  • Washington Territory--Photographs


2008 (Last modified: 3/17/2025)

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