Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, 1903-1909

Overview of the Collection

Title
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
Dates
1903-1909 (inclusive)
1909 (bulk)
Quantity
77 photographic copies of originals (1 box) ; 8 x 10
Collection Number
PH0172
Summary
Photographs of University of Washington buildings and the grounds and buildings of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Seattle, Washington
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

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the Friends of the Library.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

John and Frederick Olmsted, son and stepson of Frederick Law Olmsted, and prominent landscape architects in their own right, designed much of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition grounds. Their original plans included an abundance of permanent shrubbery. In the end, the dwindling AYPE funds caused the stately shrubbery to be replaced with a proliferation of annual flowers. The Olmsted design had a lasting influence on the University of Washington campus: the central portion of the grounds was oriented along a major axis which opened upon a vista of Mount Rainier. Secondary axes bisected the Rainier axis at forty-degree angles and provided views of Lake Union and Lake Washington.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of photographic copies of photographs held by the Frederick Law Olmsted Historic Site in Brookline, Massachusetts. Photographs depict University of Washington buildings, and landscape and construction work on the AYPE grounds designed by the Olmsted Brothers. The collection contains photographs by Frank H. Nowell, P.R. Jones, J. F. Dawson, and E. Benson, as well as other photographers.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

This collection is made up of copies of photographs held by the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site and is for reference use only. Reproduction and use rights must be obtained from the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged into series by photographer

Acquisition Information

Source: Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site via Norm Johnston, received in 1984.

Processing Note

Processed by Marion Brown; processing completed in 2008.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Frank H. Nowell photographsReturn to Top

The x number after the description refers to Nowell's numbering system.

Container(s) Description Dates
Puget Plaza
Box/Folder item
1/1 1-3
Construction of Puget Plaza (x 485, x667, x775)
March 1909
Court of Honor and Cascades
Box/Folder item
1/1 4-9
Views of the Court of Honor and the Cascades (x923, x629, x296, x369)
1909
Buildings
Box/Folder item
1/1 10-11
Forestry Building (x1012, x826)
1909
1/1 12-13
Agriculture Building (x197, x43?)
circa 1908
1/1 14
Construction of Palace of Fine Arts
circa 1908
1/1 15
Construction of Auditorium
circa 1908
1/1 16
Office of H. J. Koehler
August 17, 1909
Gardens and grounds
Box/Folder item
1/1 17-23
Garden and grounds (x2143, x2141, x2173, x2149, x2138, x380)
1909
1/1 24
Rustic Bridge (x702)
1909
Outside the Exposition
Box/Folder item
1/1 25
Fifteenth Avenue fence (x3390)
1909
1/1 26
Lake Washington
1909

P. R. Jones photographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
University of Washington Campus
Box/Folder item
1/2 27-30
Panorama from center of the Grand Stand
June 3, 1903
1/2 31
Panorama from point opposite steps at stone building
June 3, 1903
1/2 32-33
Science hall
June 3, 1903
1/2 34-35
Women's dormitory
June 3, 1903
1/2 36
Men's dormitory
June 3, 1903
1/2 37
State Building
June 3, 1903
1/2 38
University viewed from Columbus Avenue
June 3, 1903
1/2 39
Power House
June 3, 1903
1/2 40
Observatory
June 3, 1903

J. F. Dawson photographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/3 41-44
AYPE grounds and construction
1907
1/3 45-46
AYPE grounds and construction
1908

"H. J. K." photographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
AYPE grounds and gardens
Box/Folder item
1/4 47
Looking up Rainier Avenue
1909
1/4 48-49
Rainier Vista
September 1909
1/4 50-53
Grounds and gardens
August 1909
1/4 54-57
Grounds and gardens
September 1909
1/4 58
Temple of Music and rose garden
September 1909
Pay Streak
Box/Folder item
1/4 59
Outside the Eskimo Village
August 21, 1909

E. Benson photographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/5 60
Cascade Court
September 22, 1909
1/5 61
Washington Circle
September 1909
1/5 62-63
Rainier Vista
September 1909
1/5 64-65
Gardens
September 1909

"H. H. B." photographs Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/6 66
Music Pavilion and Rainier Gardens
June 1909

"L.M." photographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/7 67
Construction of the Cascades
1908

Unknown photographerReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/8 68-72
Construction of AYPE buildings
circa 1909
1/8 73-75
AYPE buildings
circa 1909
1/8 76
Geyser Basin
June 30, 1909
1/8 77
Man working on grounds
circa 1909

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Exhibitions--Washington (State)--Seattle--Design and construction--Photographs
  • Universities and colleges--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909 : Seattle, Wash.)--Buildings--Photographs
  • Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909 : Seattle, Wash.)--Design and construction--Photographs
  • Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909 : Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
  • University of Washington--Buildings--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (Brookline, Mass.)
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Photographs
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Exhibitions--Design and construction--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints
  • Photographs

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Dawson, James F. (James Frederick), 1874-1941 (photographer)
    • Nowell, Frank H., 1864-1950 (photographer)
    Corporate Names
    • Olmsted Archives (Brookline, Mass.) (creator)