Edward S. Curtis Digital Collection
Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. Photographer Edward S. Curtis devoted two decades to making “The North American Indian,” an early 20th century photography and text project studying Western tribes.
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, February 2, 1951
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing the production of his birthday portrait. He writes "It was the first time in eight years I had been to the studio; some of the girls threatened to kiss me - think of that - at my age." Curtis also writes about the distribution of the photographs to Seattle newspapers and others who have sent him written requests. He says that he has been delayed in responding to some of these requests due to the fact that the letters were lost while he was in a period of poor health and he has only recently uncovered them. He asks for Leitch's help in making sure the autographed photographs are properly distributed and adds that one should be sent to the Seattle Public Library as well.
Identifier: spl_esc_022
Date: 1951-02-02
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Building at Occidental Ave. S. and S. Washington St., September 25, 1980
Northwest corner of Occidental Ave. S. and S. Washington St. shows the building previously known as the four-story Interurban Hotel until 1949 when it was damaged by an earthquake and partially collapsed. The Del Mar Building can be seen on the far left.
Identifier: spl_dor_00027
Date: 1980-09-25
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Canadian ships lighted at Piers 90 and 91, August 9, 1964
Identifier: spl_dor_00044
Date: 1964-08-09
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, April 10, 1951
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch enclosing a previously unmailed letter of several pages. In his letter, Curtis describes how he came to be associated with the Harriman Expedition while helping guide some of the men associated with the group on a climb of Mount Rainier. He confirms he was the youngest man on the expedition and the only member still alive. He also describes meeting George Bird Grinnell and later joining him during his trips to the Blackfoot tribe to witness the Sun Dance. Curtis writes that he began taking pictures among the tribes of the Puget Sound two years prior to the expedition. He notes with pride that some of these photos won the grand prize in the National Photographic Exhibition. Curtis describes his first meeting with J.P. Morgan and how he agreed to take on the work of "The North American Indian" with no reimbursement for his work. He explains that up until his meeting with Morgan, he only intended to make photographs with descriptive titles but Morgan decided there should also be a text to accompany the photographs. Curtis writes "When it was decided that there should be a complete text with the pictures the question was as to who should write it. Mr. Morgan decided that question without delay. In making decisions he spoke to me directly you are the one to write the text, you know the Indian and how they live and what they are thinking." Curtis also describes how he had the help of Seattle Times owner Joe Blethen to travel to Arizona and New Mexico where he studied the Hopi tribe.
Identifier: spl_esc_025
Date: 1951-04-10
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View north along 2nd Ave. from the 11th floor of the Exchange Building, January 21, 1982
Built in 1930, the Exchange Building is located on 2nd Ave. View north shows several downtown buildings, Elliot Bay, and the Space Needle.
Identifier: spl_dor_00051
Date: 1982-01-21
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Japanese Tea Garden, Arboretum, June 11, 1967
Pond at the Seattle Japanese Garden (opened in 1960) located in the Washington Park Arboretum
Identifier: spl_dor_00042
Date: 1967-06-11
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Bungalow Magazine, v. 1, no. 2, Sept. 1912
George W. and Martha E. Trimble home at 3814 E John St, Seattle, WA 98112 featured on pages 7-16. Walter J. and Augusta A. Levenhagen home at 2736 32nd Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98144 featured on pages 35-37.
Identifier: spl_bm_531811_1912_1_2
Date: 1912-09
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Invitation from the Hawaii Commission of the Department of the Interior to the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition to an event at the Washington State Building, August 26, 1909
Printed invitation card to the event to be held at 8:30. Dancing is noted as part of the event.
Identifier: mohai_ayp_2006.3.46.14
Date: 1909-08-26
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, March 1, 1950
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch, explaining he was delayed in sending a response to her last letter due to the fact that he misplaced her address. He writes about continuing his work on "The Lure of Gold" and expresses excitement that he has been excited to join an expedition of the Pan-American Scientific Research Association to the Amazon. The expedition will travel down the Pacific Coast, through the Panama Canal and south to Brazil. He adds that there will be a doctor that accompanies the expedition so he will be in good medical care throughout the journey.
Identifier: spl_esc_015
Date: 1950-03-01
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Road and logging truck, Cedar River Watershed, November 23, 1982
Truck transporting several logs on a snowy road in the Cedar River Watershed, Washington, heading in the direction of a snowy hill.
Identifier: spl_dor_00013
Date: 1982-11-23
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