Ferd Brady photographs, 1907-1940

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Brady, Ferdinand
Title
Ferd Brady photographs
Dates
1907-1940 (inclusive)
1907-1911 (bulk)
1930-1940 (bulk)
Quantity
.5 linear feet
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0077brady (collection)
Summary
The collection primarily consists of photographs and negatives of Native American related activities in the area near La Conner, Washington, the Swinomish reservation, and Coupeville, Washington, circa 1930.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Ferdinand Brady was born on March 27, 1880 in Benton County, Oregon and educated in Philomath, approximately five miles west of Corvallis. In 1901, Brady moved to Marysville, Washington, where he worked in a shingle mill for a short time. While in Marysville, he became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Woods who operated a local photography studio. The Woods taught Brady the photography business and eventually sold him their studio upon their retirement. Brady worked as a photographer in Marysville from 1907 until 1911 when he relocated his business to Everett, Washington. From 1911 through 1923, Brady, working under contract with the Federal Government, photographed many images of the Tulalip Indians.

Around 1924, Brady moved to Anacortes and began working with photographer George W. Bower. The two collaborated as "Bower and Brady" until March 1926 when Brady purchased the Anacortes Photo Studio from Helen Iverson and Anna Buell. Ferdinand Brady became an active member of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce and the City Council and his images were used in promotion of the town and local businesses. At the time of Ferd Brady's retirement in 1952, Wallie Funk purchased Brady's collection of prints and negatives. Ferd Brady passed away on May 20, 1967 at Kings Garden Nursing Home in Seattle. Wallie Funk donated Ferd Brady's images to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in 2003.

*Information within this description taken from a biography by Theresa L. Trebon, Continuum History and Research.*

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Ferd Brady Photographs document the Swinomish Indians and the area surrounding their reservation near La Conner, Washington and Coupeville, Washington from 1910 to 1944. Ferd Brady was a local photographer who lived in Everett and then Anacortes, Washington at the time these photographs were taken.

Although the bulk of the collection is photographic, there are a small number of textual materials. They consist of a short biography of Ferd Brady written by Theresa L. Trebon of Continuum History and Research, the original descriptions of the images, and pictures of those who participated in the original identification.

The majority of the images date from 1930s and 1940s. They include images of the 1930 Puget Sound Indian Fair in La Connor and canoe racing at the 1930 Water Carnival in Coupeville. The collection also contains images of a military funeral held at the Swinomish Reservation and photographs of the Washington Egg and Poultry Co-operative processing plant in Oak Harbor. Included is one photograph taken by Theresa L. Trebon.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Ferd Brady Photographs, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The Ferd Brady photographs are organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:

  • Series I: Research Material, 2002
  • Series II: Images, 1910-2002, undated

Custodial History

Wallie Funk purchased Ferd Brady's collection of negatives and prints following Brady's retirement announcement in 1952. Wallie Funk donated the Ferd Brady Photographs along with his own papers to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in 2003.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Wallie Funk.

Separated Materials

Related Materials

The Anacortes Museum houses over two thousand additional Ferd Brady images among materials donated by Wallie Funk.

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I:  Research Material, 2002 Return to Top

Materials generated by Theresa L. Trebon who researched Ferd Brady and held a photograph identification meeting with Swinomish elders in order to accurately identify individuals and events photographed by Brady.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Biography
 2002
1/2
Photographs and original notes from identification meeting
 2002

Series II:  Images, 1910-2002 and undated Return to Top

To view item-level description of images in the Ferd Brady photographs, follow this hyperlink to the photo catalog on the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies' website.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Community life -- Washington (State) -- Coupeville -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Community life -- Washington (State) -- La Conner -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Community life -- Washington (State) -- Swinomish Indian Reservation -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Indians of North America -- British Columbia -- Social life and customs -- History -- Sources.
  • Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America -- Canoe racing -- 1921-1930 -- History -- Sources.
  • Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America -- Social life and customs -- 1921-1930 -- History -- Sources.
  • Indians of North America -- Washington (State) -- Fidalgo Island -- Social life and customs -- History -- Sources.
  • Indians of North America -- Washington (State) -- Puget Sound area -- Social life and customs -- History -- Sources.
  • Indians of North America -- Washington (State) -- Skagit Valley -- Social life and customs -- History -- Sources.
  • Indians of North America -- Washington (State) -- Whidbey Island -- Social life and customs -- History -- Sources.
  • Photographers -- Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.
  • Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation, Wash. -- Funeral customs and rites -- History -- Sources.

Personal Names

  • Brady, Ferdinand -- Archives (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Coupeville (Wash.) -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Fidalgo Island (Wash.) -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • La Conner (Wash.) -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Oak Harbor (Wash.) -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Skagit Valley (Wash.) -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Swinomish Indian Reservation (Wash.) -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Whidbey Island (Wash.) -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.
  • Whidbey Island (Wash.) -- History -- Sources -- Photographs.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Trebon, Theresa. (creator)

Finding aid prepared by David Boyd
2004

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