Edwin Pierson was a Philadelphia native who came to Seattle around 1900. He worked as a commercial and aerial photographer and was the president of the Commercial Photographers Association in Seattle for some time. His studio was at 401 Bay Building, Seattle, Washington. Pierson died of a heart attack in 1930.
Arranged in 7 series.
The collection includes images of apartment buildings in Seattle photographed by Pierson and Co. Drawings of the layout of the buildings are on verso of four photographs. The collection also includes two aerial views of the Seattle waterfront.
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.
Transferred from the Seattle Subject file in Special Collections, 2012 and 2021.
Processed by: Stefanie Terasaki, 2013; processing completed 2013. Revised by Susan Fitch, 2021.
The large number of streetcar routes connecting the rest of Seattle to Capital Hill made it a prime destination for apartment renters and investors. By 1901 there was a streetcar running along Broadway named the City Park Line connecting the residences and small businesses in the neighborhood.
The Adrian Court apartments were built from 1903 to 1904 by architect Stephen Alston Jennings for Colonel George W. Mahoney and were located at 911-913 Summit Avenue and Madison Street, located where Swedish Hospital is today. It was the first solid concrete building erected in the Pacific Northwest.
Verso has drawing of building layout.
The Buckingham was built in 1905 and is located at 1220 Boylston Avenue. The building is now the Shannon Apartments.
The Chesterfield was built in 1914 and is located at 1804 East Republican Street.
The Coolidge apartments were located at 903-07 Boylston Ave.
Written on verso: John Davis and Co.
The Lorrimer was built in 1915 at 1914 E. Republican and holds seven living units.
Sign in window reads: For Rent John Davis and Co.
The St. Paul Apartment building is a mid-rise apartment located on Seneca and Summit Avenue. It was designed in 1901 by architects Spalding and Russel and was built in the same year by Edwin C. Burke. The original building had eighteen apartments with spacious rooms and loggias that included speaking tubes, electric bells and porches that exited into a large central courtyard.
The Denny Regrade area of Seattle between Stewart and Mercer Streets originally housed a large hill between 2nd and 5th Avenue, named Denny Hill and was removed in the early 20th century by Seattle engineer, Reginald Heber Thomson.
The Grant Apartments were located at 2020 5th Ave.
First Hill originally interested wealthy homeowners in the 1880s and by 1904 many investors had bought land to build apartments and boarding houses. By 1910 individual family homes were no longer a building priority.
The Old Colony building was built in 1909 at 615 Boren Avenue and was used as a hotel and apartment complex. It was built for E.B. Burwell of the Seattle Hardware Company by Frank P. Allen, known for his work with the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. The Old Colony originally had 28 units and was known for its upscale luxurious environment.
Verso has drawing of building layout.
The San Marco building is located at 1205-1209 Spring Street Seattle, WA, was completed October 1905 and had 118 rooms.
The Queen Anne neighborhood was a prime location for the quickly growing number of apartments due to its proximity to downtown Seattle and its multiple streetcar connections.
The Lorely Apartments were built in 1912 at 203 West Comstock Street.
Verso has drawing of building layout.
The Tanglewood apartments were built in 1914 at 1511 11th Avenue West.
Sign in window reads: For Rent John Davis and Co.
After 1909 and the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Seattle had expanded its public transportation to the University of Washington which had relocated away from downtown Seattle in 1891. This allowed for the expansion of the surrounding area and the increase in apartment buildings.
Located at 1315 East 47th Avenue.
Store front for Paysse Hardware Co. and Re-nu-it Cleaners and Tailors visible.
Located at 1303 E 41st Street which is now 1303 NE 41st St. (Southeast corner of 41st & Brooklyn in the University District).
Pencil drawing on verso.
Verso has drawing of building layout.
N-P Hotel in background at right. Also visible are Queen Hotel, Chicago Hotel, O. Kimura "Expert Watchmaker".
Written on verso: Side entrance the farm.
The Washington state Governor's mansion was built in 1908 by the firm of Russell and Babcok of Tacoma, Washington.