See letters, photographs and other ephemera from two of Seattle's early families.
A Nootka Woman
In 1906, Edward S. Curtis received funding from J.P. Morgan to begin work on "The North American Indian," a twenty volume set of photographs and text documenting Native American tribes throughout the western United States. The eleventh volume, featuring the Nootka, Clayoquot and Haida tribes, was published in 1916.
Identifier: spl_nai_11_384
Date: 1915
View this itemOrion and Narcissa Denny home, ca. 1890
Orion was the son of Arthur and Mary Denny and first white male born in Seattle. He served as president of the Denny Clay Company. In the 1890 City Directory, Orion Denny is listed at 1108 Seneca on the NW corner of Boren and Seneca. When his wife, Narcissa, died in 1900 her obituary mentioned that the couple at lived at the 1108 Seneca address for several years. In 1905, Denny constructed a larger mansion designed by Bebb & Mendel on the same street corner (which then went by the address 1204 Boren). It's possible that the home shown here is the home where Denny lived from approximately 1890-1905 before the newer mansion was constructed. The Bebb and Mendel mansion was torn down in 1972.
Identifier: spl_lj_055
Date: 1890?
View this item"Monterey" gunboat in Port Orchard dry dock, ca. 1896
The Port Orchard Dry Dock mentioned in the caption is likely the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Identifier: spl_lj_067
Date: 1896?
View this itemStetson and Post Mill, ca. 1896
Transcribed from back of photograph: "Stetson + Post's Mill, Seattle."
Identifier: spl_lj_062
Date: 1896?
View this itemOlive Tower, June 1957
Seattle; Wash. Olive Tower Apts. 1600 block Boren
Identifier: spl_wl_apt_00048
Date: 1957-06
View this itemLetter from Arthur Goodwin to L.R. Bowen regarding his article on the St. Louis market, November 3, 1927
Letter from Arthur Goodwin to L.R. Bowen, Chief Engineer of Bridges and Buildings in St. Louis, expressing admiration for Bowen's work on the St. Louis Municipal Retail Market. Goodwin requests permission to use Bowen's article on the St. Louis Market is his book 'Markets: Public and Private, Their Establishment, Operation and Management.'
Identifier: spl_sh_00074
Date: 1927-11-04
View this itemDr. and Dorothea Bickford, Joe and Ollie, Alice Fowler, Emma Reynolds, Lillian Fowler, Florence Wiltsie and husband, Marilyn Wiltsie, ca. 1930
Dr. Ernest L. Bickford was the brother of Arthur Bickford, husband of Clara Latimer Bickford. Clara Latimer Bickford was the daughter of Alexander and Sarah Latimer and sister of Alice Latimer Fowler and Emma Latimer Reynolds. Lillian Fowler was the daughter of Alice Latimer Fowler and her husband Charles Fowler. Ernest and his wife Dorothea Bickford lived in Seattle for 40 years before his death in 1936. Their home, likely where the photograph was taken, was located on Mercer Island for much of that time. Transcribed from back of photograph: ""Dr. Bickford + Wife Dorothea, Joe + Ollie, Aunt Alice Fowler, Aunt Emma Reynolds, Lillian Fowler, Florence Wiltsie + husband [Lee Wiltsie]. Little girl is Marilyn Wiltsie. Bickford Home.""
Identifier: spl_lj_054
Date: 1935?
View this itemLatimer Hill, ca. 1906
Transcribed from back of photograph: "About 1906. Taken by Henry Ritchie. Latimer Hill." Location of Latimer Hill unknown. Possibly located in Illinois where members of the Latimer Family resided prior to arriving in Seattle.
Identifier: spl_lj_059
Date: 1906?
View this itemCharlie Reynolds, ca. 1880
Charles Reynolds was the husband of Emma Chesney Latimer Reynolds, daughter of Alexander and Sarah Latimer and sister to Narcissa Latimer. Charles and Emma married in 1886 in Minnesota. The photograph was taken by T. Ordemann in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The 1890 Seattle City Directory lists Charles as a boarder at 1108 Seneca St., the home of Narcissa and Orion Denny.
Identifier: spl_lj_049
Date: 1880?
View this itemUnknown woman in Abington, Illinois, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by C.H. Smith in Abingdon, Illinois.
Identifier: spl_lj_023
Date: 1880?
View this item