Helping the Homeless Man: Activities and Facilities of the Central Registry for Homeless Single Men

Helping the Homeless Man: Activities and Facilities of the Central Registry for Homeless Single Men, approximately 1933-1934

Overview of the Collection

Title: Helping the Homeless Man: Activities and Facilities of the Central Registry for Homeless Single Men
Dates: approximately 1933-1934 (inclusive)
19331934
Quantity: 18 photographic prints (1 box)
Collection Number: PH0608
Summary: Photographs of Salvation Army shelters operating in Seattle, Washington, during the Great Depression.
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 of Visual Materials Curator is required to view original photographs. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Seattle Salvation Army was founded in 1887 and during the Depression operated shelters for homeless men at 213 ½ Second Avenue South, the former United States Immigration Building, and at 117 ½ Main Street. Because of Seattle's position as a gateway city to the Pacific and Alaska, the men who visited the shelters came from all over the United States and even from foreign nations.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

During the early 1930s, while the United States endured the Great Depression, many people became homeless. Some government agencies and private charities tried to help the homeless by providing food, shelter, and employment. These shelters were known by several names such as emergency shelters, flophouses, Hoover's hotels, and recreation halls.

When men entered the shelters, they were registered, fed, cleaned and examined, and provided with clean nightclothes and a bed for the night. If the men needed medical attention, they were sent to a hospital. In the morning, their newly fumigated and sterilized clothes were returned. They were served breakfast and either sent on their way or asked to do some work in the shelter. Sometimes a shelter had an employment agency that located jobs for the men.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The photographs in this collection show three of the shelters that were set up by the Salvation Army to help the homeless men in Seattle during the Great Depression. Interior views of the shelters show double-deck beds, the shower facilities, and some of the areas in the shelters where the men could find employment, such as a tailor shop, a shoe repair shop, and a wood yard operation.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, publication and use. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Maria Ovalles and Jocelyn Spicer, 2002.

Condition Note: Because the album had come apart, the album pages were separated and put into protective folders.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
1	1	Title page: Helping the Homeless Man, Activities and Facilities of the Central Registry for Homeless Single Men 213 1/2 2nd Ave S. Headquarters
1	2-3	Shelter #1, 213 1/2 Second Avenue South, Seattle Caption on page 3: This shelter (#1) is located at 213 1/2 Second Avenue South.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	4-5	Shelter #2, formerly the United States Immigration Building, Seattle Caption on page 5: This shelter (#2) secured free rent. This building is formerly the United States Immigration Building. The total capacity is 700.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	6-7	Shelter #3, 117 1/2 Main Street, Seattle Caption on page 7: This shelter (#3) is located at 117 1/2 Main Street. The total capacity is 500 men. It has 83 double-deck beds on each of the three floors.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	8-9	Shelter #2, dormitory Caption on page 9: The dormitory is located at Shelter #2, at the old United States Immigration Building.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	10-11	Double-deck beds Caption on page 11 The double-deck beds have one 20 pound felt mattress, two white sheets, and one four pound wool blanket.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	12-13	Woodyard at Railroad Avenue and King Street Caption on page 13: Woodyard at Railroad Avenue and King Street. The minimum hours per week is eight hours. It was opened by the Salvation Army and taken over by the Community Fund. Sixty-five men work there per day. Railroad Avenue was renamed Alaskan Way in 1936.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	14-15	Receiving ward Caption on page 15: The receiving ward has a capacity of forty-five beds.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	16-17	Check room at headquarters Caption on page 17: The check room at headquarters during one peak period have checked per day 180 pieces of package. The check room contain[s] a daily average of 3,000 pieces of luggage.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	18-19	Shelter #1, tailor shop Caption on page 19: The principal [sic] items of repair in the tailor shop, located at shelter #1, 213 1/2 Second Avenue Shop [sic], is sewing on buttons, and patching and repairing clothes.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	20-21	Shelter #1, laundry rooms Caption on page 21: The laundry rooms located at shelter #1, 213 1/2 Second Avenue Shouth, furnish hot water, soap, and drying room facilities.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	22-23	Shelter #1, sterilizer Caption on page 23: The sterilizer, at 213 1/2 Second Avenue South, is a steam pressure vat. The cost of this sterilizer is $300.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	24-25	Shelter #1, shower room Caption on page 25: The shower room is located at shelter #1, 213 1/2 Second Avenue South.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	26-27	Shelter #1, shoe repair shop Caption on page 27: The shoe repair shop at 213 1/2 Second Avenue South, half-sole shoes and fix heels. No new shoes are issued as long as the old ones could be repaired.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	28-29	Occupational charts Caption on page 29: The occupational chart shows the percentage of trades and professions.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	30-31	Shelter #1, recreation room Caption on page 31: The recreation room is located at 213 1/2 Second Avenue South. Programs and entertainment are arranged regularly during the winter months. The Salvation Army held services and prayer meetings in the recreation rooms.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	32-33	Number Two Corps Auditorium Caption on page 33: The Number Two Corps Auditorium is located at the Salvation Army chapel.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	34-35	First-aid cabinet Caption on page 35: The first-aid cabinet is for emergency needs.	between 1933 and 1934?
1	36-37	Harborview Hospital Caption on page 37: Harborview Hospital.	between 1933 and 1934?

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