Guide to A Day With a Forest Industry Photograph Album
June 15, 1953

AIA attendees viewing woodfiber processing machinery, June 15, 1953. Special Collections, UW Libraries, UW26561z

Historical Background

The Simpson Logging Company was incorporated in 1895 by Sol Simpson with the backing of a group of investors. The Simpson Logging Company soon became one of the major businesses of Mason and Grays Harbor counties. By 1898, the company was operating eight logging camps, 80 miles of railroad, and had a daily production capacity of half a million board feet.

Sol Simpson, and Simpson Logging Company, were the first to use horsepower in logging, as well as mechanical "horsepower" at the logging site in the form of a "Walking Dudley" -- a donkey engine and large wheel on a moveable car used for mechanizing production. Sol Simpson was also one of the first to take the long-term view of the timber industry. Unlike other operators, he held on to his cutover land to harvest it again. He died in 1906 and after his death, his son-in-law, Mark Reed, and another businessman bought out the other shareholders of Simpson Logging Company.

The Simpson Logging Company, now the Simpson Investment Company, remains the oldest continuously operated forest products company in the Pacific Northwest and continues to be managed by the descendents of its original founder. During the 85th American Insitute of Architects (AIA) Annual Convention, held in Seattle, Washington, from June 15-19th, 1953, AIA attendees visited the Simpson Logging Company facility in Mason County.

Scope and Content

The album contains photographs documenting a 1953 visit to the Simpson Logging Company in Mason County made by people attending the American Institute of Architects Annual Meeting. The photographs document a tour of the Simpson Woodfiber plant, demonstrations of logging machinery, tree topping and felling, and a picnic. It includes a photograph of Hap Johnson, the world's champion tree topper, demonstrating his work.

Restrictions on Access

The collection is open to the public.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Preferred Citation

The required credit line for use of images from Special Collections is: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, [plus the negative number].

The negative number is provided with the image and is a letter + number combination such as UW13452; Hegg 1234; or NA1275. A typical credit line would be, University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, UW13452.

Custodial History

Album originally sent to Ray Alderson by T.F. Gleed, President, Simpson Logging Company, as a memento of the trip. Letter from T.F. Gleed to Ray Alderson is in the collection's case file.

Acquisition Info

Source: Wessel and Lieberman Booksellers, Seattle, Washington, September 2002.

Processing Info

Processed by Sayaka Ito; processing completed in October 2005.

Inventory

Album

Item

Date

1

1

Title page: "85th Annual AIA Convention field trip to Simpson Logging Company"

June 15, 1953

2

AIA attendees arriving at Simpson’s Woodfiber plant

June 15, 1953

3

Entering the Simpson Woodfiber plant managed by C.L. Walton

June 15, 1953

4

Viewing woodfiber processing machinery

June 15, 1953

5

Group watching woodfibers be extruded in sheets

June 15, 1953

6

Demonstration of a log barker machine at the Olympic Plant

June 15, 1953

7

Demonstration of the lathing process with fir logs

June 15, 1953

8

Line of people viewing processed boards

June 15, 1953

9

Picnicing at Camp Bull o’ the Woods on Mason Lake

June 15, 1953

10

Group standing on bank around Mason Lake

June 15, 1953

11-13

Crowd watching log rolling contest on Mason Lake

June 15, 1953

14

Tree planting crew in newly logged area with AIA attendees watching from a distance

June 15, 1953

15

Crowd of AIA attendees looking up, watching a tree topper

June 15, 1953

16

Timber topper cutting off top of a tree

June 15, 1953

17

AIA attendees applauding Hap Johnson, the world’s champion tree topper

June 15, 1953

18

Felling a 400 year old fir tree

June 15, 1953

19

AIA attendees at demonstration of forestry machinery

June 15, 1953

20

Trees being loaded onto logging trucks with a crowd in the background

June 15, 1953

21

AIA attendees listening to speaker

June 15, 1953

Subject Terms

Personal Names:

Johnson, Hap--Photographs.

Organizations:

American Institute of Architects.

Simpson Logging Company.

Geographic Names:

Mason County (Wash.)--Photographs.

Mason Lake (Wash.)--Photographs.

Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs.

Shelton (Wash.)--Photographs.

Subjects:

American Institute of Architects--Convention--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Forests and Forestry--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Industrial tours--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Logging--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Lumbering--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Tree felling--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Genre Headings:

Photograph Albums.