Lawrence E. Frey University of Washington Photographs, 1946-1977

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Frey, Lawrence E.
Title
Lawrence E. Frey University of Washington Photographs
Dates
1946-1977 (inclusive)
Quantity
35 photographic prints ; sizes vary
1 box
Collection Number
PH0556
Summary
Photographs of University of Washington, Seattle, campus, including construction of the Electrical Engineering Building, 1948-1949, and additions, 1968. Also includes images of the Hec Edmundson Pavilion, the Boeing Wind Tunnel, the Sylvan Theater, and machinery labs.
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

Selections from the collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Lawrence E. Frey worked for the Department of Electrical Engineering in the University of Washington's College of Engineering from approximately 1946 to 1980. He held several positions, including instrument machinist, electrical instrument repairman, and shops and instrument maker supervisor.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The original Electrical Engineering building was constructed in 1948-1949. A major remodel added the third and fourth floors in 1968. The building was demolished in 2000/2001 to make way for Phase 2 of the Electrical Engineering/Computer Science complex.

The Boeing Wind Tunnel was built in 1938 with the support of the Boeing Co. Boeing built its own wind tunnel at its facilities after World War II. The university's tunnel became known simply as the "Wind Tunnel," and in 1963 it was renamed the Kirsten Wind Tunnel.

Old Engineering Hall, where Lawrence Frey started working in 1946, was the Machinery Hall at the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition of 1909. It was replaced in the 1950s by the Mechanical Engineering Building.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains 36 photographic prints of the University of Washington campus during Lawrence E. Frey's years as an employee of the College of Engineering. The photographs are chiefly devoted to the construction and later renovation of the Electrical Engineering Building, including the D.C. machinery lab. Other campus buildings are depicted throughout, including the Hec Edmunson Pavilion, and the Boeing Wind Tunnel. Snowy scenes from two different winters, 1946 and 1968, are also included, as well as photographs of a remote-controlled car at an open house of the Electrical Engineering department.

Detailed handwritten notes appear on the verso of the photographs.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Lawrence E. Frey, March, 1998.

Processing Note

Processed by Kathleen Crosman, 2002, and Sarah Nelson, 2004.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1 View of Boeing Wind Tunnel with snow seen , UW campus
Written on verso: Picture taken from 2nd floor of old E.E [Electrical Engineering] building, which was "Machinery Hall" of AYP Exposition. Before E.E building work was started. This picture is before Student Union Bldg was built.
1946
1/1 2 Snowy view of Boeing Wind Tunnel seen from 2nd floor of Engineering Hall
Written on verso: My Dodge is to right of car in center foreground.
1946
1/1 3 Snowy road by Sylvan Theater 1946
1/1 4 Cars in parking lot during snowstorm
Written on verso: My old green Dodge on campus. It survived the war. One could walk from lower campus to 15th Ave., all the way through the military housing in foul weather.
1946
1/1 5 Snow-covered 1937 Dodge
Written on verso: The old green '37 Dodge by the World War dormitories on campus in 1946.
1946
1/2 6 Electrical Engineering Building pre-construction site
Written on verso: Preparing the building site for the Electrical Engineering building.
1948
1/2 7a-b Electrical Engineering Building pre-construction site
Written on verso: The long low bldg's are dormitories constructed during WWII. They were still in use. They were joined together. One could walk from lower campus to upper campus.
1948
1/2 8 Construction material arriving on Electrical Engineering Building site 1948
1/2 9-10 Pouring foundation of Electrical Engineering Building 1948
1/2 11-12 First floor construction of Electrical Engineering Building 1948-1949
1/2 13-14 Construction of upper floors of Electrical Engineering Building 1949
1/2 15 Interior of northwest exit of Electrical Engineering Building
Written on verso: Moving in time. The word was given to move into the Bldg.
1950
1/2 16 Hec Edmunson Pavilion, football stadium under construction, and Lake Washington, seen from roof of Electrical Engineering Building 1950
1/3 17 D.C. machinery lab 1952
1/3 18 Switchboard in D.C. motor lab 1957
1/3 19 D.C. machinery lab
Written on verso: Final phase - Sections 1 & 2 has been started to install the machines. This will complete all the machines for the D.C. Lab.
1957
1/3 20-21 133-cycle alternator
Written on verso: 133-cycle alternator originally driven by steam engine. It is now on display at Rocky Reach Museum in Eastern WA. The exciter is also at the Museum."
1970
1/3 22 D.C. machinery lab 1977
1/4 23-25 Radio controlled car
Written on versos of 23, 24: Electrified for 'Open House' Exhibit. Remote controlled beginning of solid state electronics. Drew much interest.
1965
1/5 26-27 Construction of third and fourth floor additions to Electrical Engineering Building 1968
1/5 28-30 Looking up from parking lot at construction of third and fourth floor additions to Electrical Engineering Building
Written on verso of 28 and 29: My Jeep Wagoneer is on the right.
1968
1/5 31 View of construction of third and fourth floor additions to Electrical Engineering Building from quad 1968
1/6 32 UW campus during snow fall December 1968
1/6 33 Civil Engineering Building during snow fall December 1968
1/6 34 Looking out window during snow fall
Written on verso: Looking from NE corner of Electrical Engineering to Mechanical Engineering.
Dec. 1968
1/6 35 View through the main entrance of Electrical Engineering at 1962 Jeep Wagoneer during snowstorm Dec. 1968

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Building construction--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • College buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Design and construction--Photographs
  • Snow--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • Electrical Engineering Building (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • University of Washington--Buildings--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Photographs