Browse photographs from the Paul Dorpat Collection which documents the history of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. At this time, a small sampling of images has been digitized while the collection is actively being processed.
Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, November 4, 1949
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing his progress on "The Lure of Gold." He notes that publishing firm has expressed interest in publishing the work but he had to let them know it would be at least two years before he would be able to complete it. Curtis writes "For one of my age, that's looking far ahead."
Identifier: spl_esc_014
Date: 1949-11-04
View this itemAerial view of Bellevue, WA, circa 1990s
Aerial view of Bellevue looking west and slightly north along NE 4th Ave. towards Lake Washington and Seattle. Bellevue Square (first opened in 1946 as Bellevue Shopping Square, and expanded in the 1980s), One Bellevue Center (constructed 1982-1983), the Hyatt Regency hotel (built 1989), Key Bank Building (built 1971), and other buildings can be seen.
Identifier: spl_dor_00021
Date: 1990?
View this itemR. Joseph Monsen Interview, October 1, 1986
R. Joseph Monsen (1931-) was an economics professor who began teaching at the University of Washington in the 1960s. Monson and his wife, Dr. Elaine Monsen, were well known art collectors, amassing collections of Asian Art, photography, and ceramics. Together, the couple established the Joseph and Elaine Monsen Photography Collection at the Henry Art Gallery in 1979.
Identifier: spl_ds_rmonsen_01
Date: 1986-10-01
View this itemLetter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, August 16, 1949
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing his further work on "The Lure of Gold." He writes about the overwhelming nature of covering 200 years of history, describing the notebooks he has filled with his research. Curtis states "Why any one of my age should attempt such a task is beyond my understanding."
Identifier: spl_esc_013
Date: 1949-08-16
View this itemJohn Ellis Interview, March 3, 1987
John Ellis (1928-) is a native Seattleite who was the head of Puget Sound Power and Light. Ellis attended John Muir Elementary School, Franklin High School and the University of Washington. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1950 and his law degree in 1953. Ellis became the vice president of Puget Power in 1970 and was promoted to the position of president in 1976. He retired from the company in 1992. Following his retirement he was heavily involved in Seattle’s baseball scene, serving as chairman and CEO of the Seattle Mariners and leading a campaign to fund a new baseball stadium.
Identifier: spl_ds_jellis_01
Date: 1987-03-03
View this itemLetter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, January 2, 1949
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing his progress in compiling materials to send and noting that his health is further improved. He promises he has not forgotten her request for a picture of him but the photo he thought to send looked to similar to Bill Cody and may cause confusion. Curtis describes spending time in New York with Cody and says they were sometimes called the "Cody Twins." He notes that this confusion was a common occurrence.
Identifier: spl_esc_007
Date: 1949-01-02
View this itemBuilding 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
View this itemGasworks and Lake Union from Queen Anne, July 3, 1961
View of Gasworks Park, the University District, Portage Bay, the University Bridge and Eastlake taken from Paul Dorpat's friend's porch in Queen Anne.
Identifier: spl_dor_00005
Date: 1961-07-03
View this itemMossy wood, Washington
Elizabeth Aline Colborne was born in Chamberlain, South Dakota. She studied at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and was a member of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors and was also a highly accomplished printmaker. She lived in Bellingham, WA and maintained a studio in New York City. She worked on the Public Works of Art Project for the state of Washington in the 1930's.
Identifier: spl_art_C671Mo
Date: 1934
View this itemJohn Rupp Interview, March 24, 1988
John Rupp (1913-1996) was a Seattle native and a prominent attorney, active in a variety of organizations. Rupp graduated from the University of Washington Law School in 1937 and joined his father’s firm McMicken Rupp & Schweppe. During World War II, Rupp served in the United States Navy and acted as an aide to the Commander of the North Pacific Fleet. Rupp was president of the Seattle Bar Association from 1956 to 1957 and served on the Washington State Transportation Board from 1957 to 1963. In 1962 Rupp became vice president and counsel for Pacific Northwest Bell. He acted as president of the Washington State Bar Association from 1966 to 1967. In 1989, Pacific Northwest Bell disbanded and Rupp joined the firm of Preston Gates & Ellis. Rupp was also an active member of the Washington State Board of Education, the Seattle Historical Society, the Seattle Yacht Club and the Seattle Municipal League.
Identifier: spl_ds_jrupp_01
Date: 1988-03-24
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