WAUAndersonHerculesPHColl1611.xmlGuide to the Hercules F. Anderson Photograph Collection approximately 1948-2011Anderson (Hercules F.) Photograph CollectionSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2020 (Last modified: 6/8/2020)
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH1611Anderson (Family : Anderson, Hercules F., 1921-1974)Hercules F. Anderson family photograph collectionapproximately 1948-201133 photographic prints and 9 negatives (1 box and 9 envelopes)Collection materials are in English.Photographs and ephemera related to Hercules F. Anderson including Hull & Anderson construction projects, the Hull & Anderson truck and lumber yard, and the Anderson family and friends

Hercules Franklin Anderson (1921-1974) was born in August 1921 in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated from West Virginia State College and attended the University of Washington. In 1946, he married Fumi Nakayama in Seattle, Washington and between 1947 and 1953, they had four children: Hercules F. Anderson, Jr., James W. Anderson III, Hans Anderson and Harold L. Anderson.

Anderson was an African-American real estate developer, as well as building contractor and partner in the Hull & Anderson, Inc. , construction company between 1946 and 1955. Among the construction projects they worked on were the John Rohrer house, designed by Rohrer, a professor of Architecture at the University of Washington; and Ben-Mar Apartments, designed Benjamin F. McAdoo, Jr., an African-American architect.

In 1956, he left the construction field and became President of the Angelus Funeral Home. By 1958, he was the owner and funeral director of the Angelus Funeral Home.

During his career, Anderson was active in community groups such as the East Madison Commercial Club, a unit of the Urban League in the 1940s and 1950s. He unsuccessfully ran for the 37th District State Representative in 1954. He died in February 1974.

Photographs of Hull and Anderson construction projects including the building of homes. Also included is an image of the Hull and Anderson truck and lumber yard, photographs of the Anderson family and political ephemera from Hercules Anderson's political campaign for State Representative in 1954.

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Status of creator's copyrights is unknown. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use. Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Source: Fairlook Antiques: four photographs 2016; collection of clippings, photographs and ephemera 2018; and 16 prints, 5 negatives.

Processed by Arlene G. Cohen, January 2019.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Anderson, Hercules F., 1921-1974--ArchivesAnderson family--PhotographsAnderson, Hercules F., 1921-1974--PhotographsHull, Harold L. (Harold Legrand), 1923---PhotographsHull & Anderson, Inc.--PhotographsAfrican American families--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsReal estate developers--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsConstruction industry--Washington (State)--Seattle--Employees--PhotographsAfrican American construction workers--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsApartment houses--Washington (State)--Seattle--Design and construction--PhotographsDwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsSeattle (Wash.)--PhotographsPhotographsNegatives (Photographs)Records (Documents)WillsBaker, GilAnderson, Hercules F. 1921-1974--PhotographsAnderson, Hercules F. 1921-1974--Family--PhotographsHull and Anderson, IncHull, Harold L.--PhotographsMadison Valley (Seattle, Wash.)--PhotographsApartment houses--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsAfrican American construction workers--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsAfrican AmericansBusinesses and CorporationsArchitecturePolitical CampaignsSeattle

 

Professional life11Hercules F. Anderson on right and Harold L. Hull on left, co-owners of Hull and Anderson, Inc., General Contractors standing in front of an almost completed homebetween 1948 and 1950? 12Hercules F. Anderson and Harold L. Hull standing in front of an almost completed two story home with a body of water in the background between 1948 and 1950? 13Hull and Anderson, Inc.. construction site near 21st Ave and East Madison, Seattle, showing a close up of their trailer, with a woman and possibly Anderson children nearby. between 1950 and 1955?

Scanned from negative

 14a-bHull and Anderson, Inc.. construction site near 21st Ave and East Madison, Seattle, showing the trailer, with a woman and probably two of the Anderson children standing beside it. between 1950 and 1955?

A Coca-cola sign is on the wall of the building behind the trailer.

Image 4b scanned from negative.

 15a-bHull and Anderson, Inc.. construction site near 21st Ave and East Madison, Seattle photographed from a distance showing their trailer, a Coca-Cola sign on a building and the Mardi Gras Tavern in the background between 1950 and 1955?

The Mardi Gras Tavern was located at 21st. Ave and East Madison St., Seattle

Image 5b scanned from negative.

 16Construction of the Ben-Mar Apartments, a nine unit apartment complex at 315 23rd Ave., Seattle, designed by Benjamin F. McAdoo, Jr. , and built by Hull and Anderson Construction, Inc.1950

The apartment complex was financed through a U.S. Federal Housing Administration-insured financing program designed to make better housing available to racial minorities. The Ben-Mar Apartments was one of the earliest apartment buildings in Seattle to be openly free of racial and religious discrimination. Benjamin F. McAdoo, Jr., was the first African-American architect to operate a long-term architectural practice in Washington state.

Gil Baker, Seattle 17 Piles of lumber on the ground on the 2700 block of East Cherry St., Seattle, with several automobiles and a truck in the backgroundAugust 11, 1950

Jassen's Grocery Store at 2722 East Cherry St., Seattle, is seen in the background.

Gil Baker, Seattle 18-10Single family dwelling homes in the process of being constructed, with the Hull and Anderson sign displayed in front of the homesbetween 1950 and 1955Gil Baker, Seattle 111Real estate flyer for the sale of the Rohrer house on 122 37th Ave. East, Seattle, built in 1949 by Hull and Anderson 2011

The Rohrer House became a "Home of the Month," in the June 1954 issue of McCall's Magazine.

 112Two-story wooden house at 115 14th Ave. South, Seattle, with the Hull and Anderson sign on the house and their truck parked in front, where they were probably doing repairs or remodelingbetween 1950 and 1955?

The sign on the building indicates "Home of The Old Rocking Chair Club, Inc., a jazz club established in 1946.

Written in pencil on photocopy is the address and note: Most known jazz joint.

Photocopy of photograph.

 Personal life213Portrait of Hercules F. Anderson 1957?J.M Amano, Seattle 214-15 Hercules F. Anderson, his wife, children and other people1956?Gil Baker 216Hercules F. Anderson and family celebrating the 1st Birthday, probably of their youngest son1955 ?Gil Baker 217 Hercules F. Anderson and a Japanese man sitting by a plaque commerating Deception Pass in Washingtonbetween 1950 and 1960 218Family outing to Deception Pass Resort in Washington, showing Hercules F. Anderson and his wife with a young child, and another man and woman with a young childbetween 1949 and 1956?

Deception Pass Resort appears on a sign in front of a building.

 219Family outing to Deception Pass, Washington showing Mrs. Anderson and another woman, with two young childrenbetween 1949 and 1956? 220Probably two of the Anderson's sons with an adult all holding fishing polesbetween 1953-1960? 221Mrs. Anderson and a man standing by a Cadillac automobile1953?

Scanned from negative.

 222 Anderson family and others in a parkbetween 1956 and 1958?

Scanned from negative.

 223Mrs. Anderson with Japanese woman standing near Paradise Inn, Mount Rainier National Parkbetween 1950 and 1960

Scanned from negative.

 224Hercules F. Anderson and two women standing probably in Mount Rainier National Park, Washingtonbetween 1950 and 1960

Scanned from negative.

 225Anderson family and Japanese women at the beach between 1950 and 1960

Written in pencil on verso: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, 1435 - 22, PR 5847, Hughes, 19th and E. Union

Scanned from negative.

 226Anderson family and Japanese women at the beach between 1950 and 1960

Scanned from negative.

227Hercules F. Anderson, his wife and four sons1961? 228Son of Hercules F. Anderson wearing a Roosevelt High School sweater and carrying a school megaphonebetween 1963 and 1969? 229High school graduation portrait of Hercules F. Anderson's oldest son.

Sticker on the portrait indicating Class of 64.

Ted Gatz, Seattle, Washington1964? 230Son of Hercules F. Anderson on a motorcyclebetween 1964 to 1973? 231Son of Hercules F. Anderson with a womanbetween 1964 to 1973? 232Son of Hercules F. Anderson standing in front of a 1964 Dodge Sportsman wagonbetween 1964 to 1973? 233Possibly the Anderson family home on 1861 East Spruce, Seattle, Washington1951?

Scanned from negative.

 Ephemera234Last Will and Testament of Hercules F. AndersonApril 28, 1953235a-bHercules Anderson's political campaign card for the 37th District State Representative1954

35a is front and 35b is the verso of the handout.

236Seattle Public Schools Progress Report for James W. Anderson in Kindergarten1956237Seattle Public Schools Progress Report for James W. Anderson in 1st Grade1957238Seattle Public Schools Quarterly Report for Hercules Anderson in Intermediate Pre-adjustment 1957