University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0085Miller, J. L. (John Leonard)John Leonard Miller
photograph collectioncirca 1911-19781975-197817 photographic prints (1 box) ; various sizesCollection materials are in
English.Photographs of
John Leonard Miller, his wife Violet Miller and some of the people involved in
the Everett MassacreJohn (Jack) Leonard Miller was born on November 3, 1889 in Dayton,
Kentucky. At 12 he left home and traveled around the country hoboing and taking
odd jobs. He worked as a coal miner in Danville, Virginia and a harvester in
the Midwest. Because of his interest in worker's rights, Miller joined the
United Mine Workers while in Virginia. He joined the Socialist Party while he
was in Canada and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in 1916. He moved
to Seattle in early 1916 and was on board the Verona during the Everett
Massacre of November 1916. He married Violet Wilson in 1924. After settling
down Miller had a number of jobs and began writing. He continued to rally for
workers rights and upon his retirement took up lobbying for fair treatment of
senior citizens. In addition, he gave lectures and interviews regarding the
Everett Massacre, and wrote short stories. He died at age 96 in 1986 of a heart
ailment. He was the last living survivor of the Everett Massacre.
The Everett Massacre occurred on November 5, 1916 when two boatloads
of Industrial Workers of the World (otherwise known as "Wobblies") traveled
aboard two steamers Verona and Calista to Everett from Seattle to attend a free speech
demonstration. The workers' ships were met at the Everett docks by police,
armed citizens and hired guards. Shots were fired, killing two deputies and
five "Wobblies" who were passengers on the steamer Verona. The funeral for the massacre victims was held on
November 19, 1916 and was attended by thousands of Seattle citizens.
The collection consists of photographs of John Leonard Miller, his
wife Violet Miller and some of the people involved in the Everett Massacre.
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selections from the collection in digital format .
The collection is open to the public.
Request at UW
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication.
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details.
Donor: Nylene Schollhorn, John Miller's granddaughter, on October 7,
1986
Processed by Lindsae Long in 2006 and Marion Brown in 2007
The photographs were relocated from the John Leonard Miller Papers,
Accession No. 2240-002 in Special Collections, on November 25, 1986.
These materials form part of the John Leonard Miller Papers which are
described and indexed in the guide to the
John Leonard Miller Papers .
Miller, J. L. (John Leonard)--PhotographsLurie, JayIndustrial Workers of the WorldCommunity activists--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsEverett Massacre, Everett, Wash., 1916Labor union members--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsOlder people--Political activityOlder people--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsSocial reformers--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsVisual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Civic ActivismHome and FamilyLabor History
1/11Postcard of six men in studio, Vancouver
B.C.circa 1911-1919 "Noted desperados captured in Van. B.C."
1/12Group of trainmenundatedWalter P. Miller 1/13Hand colored photograph of John Leonard
Miller with donkeyundatedHart Studios 1/14Pallbearers with casket of an Everett
Massacre victim in front of Duggan the Undertaker Funeral HomeNovember 19, 1916 1/15The steamshipVeronaMarine Photo ShopundatedPhotograph from the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society
1/26John Leonard Miller and little girl
reading
Donkey DonkeyJay Lurie1975 1/27John Leonard Miller in hatJay LurieMarch 19781/28John Leonard Miller on steps
laughingJay LurieMarch 19781/29John Leonard Miller looking at
photographs with his wife, Violet and Shoshanna Luriecirca 1979 This photograph was used in the article "Jack and Violet" printed
inThe Seattle Times Pictorialon September 16, 1979.
1/210John Leonard Miller and Violet
walkingcirca 1979This photograph was used in the article "Jack and Violet" printed
inThe Seattle Times Pictorialon September 16, 1979.
1/211John Leonard Miller and Violet working a
loomcirca 1979This photograph was used in the article "Jack and Violet" printed
inThe Seattle Times Pictorialon September 16, 1979.
1/212John Leonard Miller speakingJay Lurieundated1/213John Leonard Miller with
microphoneundated1/214John Leonard Miller portraying an I.W.W.
speaker at the Bicentennial Pageant at the Seattle Center.Jay LurieSeptember 9, 1976 1/215John Leonard Miller holding a Seattle
First Citizen Award and a Retired Senior Volunteer Program AwardJanuary 27, 1975 1/316Family photographs on pianoJay LurieMarch 19781/317Objects whittled by H. P. Wilson before
1920Jay LurieundatedH. P. Wilson was Miller's father-in-law. Miller wrote a short
story about Wilson's whittlings and this photo accompanied it.