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Digital Collections & Exhibits

Digitized materials such as photographs, maps, newspapers, posters, reports and other media selected from Special Collections' holdings.

Digital Collections

The following is a list of digital collections exclusive to the UW Libraries Special Collections Division.

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	19th Century Actors and Theater Photographs Over 600 photographs including cartes-de-visite and cabinet card studio portraits of entertainers, actors, and actresses who performed on the American stage in the mid- to late 1800s. Many are posed in costume and represent characters from popular theatrical productions of the time.
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	Alaska, Western Canada and United States Collection Images documenting Alaska and Western Canada, primarily the provinces of Yukon Territory and British Columbia depicting scenes of the Gold Rush of 1898, city street scenes, Eskimo and Native Americans of the region, hunting and fishing, and transportation.
	Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Photographs Photographs of the 1909 fair held on the grounds of the University of Washington, depicting buildings, grounds, entertainment and exotic attractions.
	American Indians of the Pacific Northwest Introductory essays, 2300 original photographs and 1500 pages of textual sources about the Northwest Coast and Plateau Indian cultures constitute an award-winning project developed for the Library of Congress' American Memory in partnership with the Museum of History and Industry and the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture.
	Architecture of the Pacific Northwest Selected architectural drawings representing regionally significant architects and designers spanning the period from the 1880’s into the 1980's. This collection showcases design and working drawings of important examples of both historic and more contemporary residential, commercial, and public buildings in the Puget Sound region.
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	Albert H. Barnes Photographs of Western Washington, ca. 1895-1920 Turn of the 20th century photographs documenting the landscape, people, and cities and towns of Western Washington.
	William F. Boyd Photograph Album of Seattle and Washington State, ca. 1888-1893 Photographs of early Seattle, particularly scenes of the aftermath of the Great Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889, and Washington state, ca. 1888-1893.
	Boyd and Braas Photographs of Seattle and Washington State, 1888-1893 Photographs ca. 1888-1893 of early Seattle, especially the waterfront and street scenes, Madrona and Leschi parks, Native American hop pickers, and portraits of Seattle pioneers.
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	Centralia Massacre and the Industrial Workers of the World Collection, 1912-1932 A selection of items drawn from the Seattle office of the Industrial Workers of the World labor organization. Includes pamphlets, leaflets and correspondence documenting the I.W.W.'s involvement in the Centralia Massacre of 1919 and general publications from the national I.W.W. organization.
	Robert Henry Chandless Photographs of China, 1898-1908 Items from the Robert Henry Chandless Collection of images from China, 1898-1908. They depict images of the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, glimpses of diplomatic and commercial life during that time period, and the early wool industry in Tientson.
	Civil War Letters Collection A selection of original Civil War correspondence between soldiers from the battlefields and their family members and friends on the homefront. These letters describe firsthand accounts of battle, reflections on the nature of war and its profound effect on those involved - both on those at the front lines and loved ones who remained anxiously at home.
	Civil Works Administration Photographs of King County, 1933-1934 Images showing work projects in King County, Washington established under the auspices of the Civil Works Administration in 1933-34. Through such relief programs, Franklin Delano Roosevelt attempted to provide recovery for millions of Americans suffering from unemployment as a result of the Great Depression.
	John N. Cobb Photographs of the Fishing Industry, ca. 1897-1917 Images ca. 1897-1917 of salmon and other local fisheries, whaling activities, clamming and oystering industries along the Pacific Coast and Alaska.
	Asahel Curtis Photo Company Photographs Photographs taken from the 1850s until 1940 depicting activities in Washington State, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska and the Klondike.
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	Phyllis Dearborn and Robert Massar Photographs of Pacific Northwest Architecture, 1943-1963 Iimages chosen from a group of approximately 6000 photographic prints representing the work of some of the most well known architects in the Pacific Northwest. Photographed by the partnership of Dearborn-Massar.
	Decorated and Decorative Paper Collection Examples of decorated and decorative papers such as Western marbled paper, paste paper, and Dutch gilt paper produced between the 17th and 19th centuries, from Europe, primarily Germany, France and Italy.
	Lauren R. Donaldson Collection of South Pacific Radiological Surveys, 1946-1964 A sampling of personal logs, photo albums, ephemera, and papers from the radiological surveys undertaken after atmospheric nuclear weapons testing conducted by the United States in the South Pacific between 1946 and 1964.
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	Early Advertising of the West, 1867-1918 Print advertisements published in local magazines, city directories, and theater pamphlets from 1867 to 1918. Themed groupings include health care and hygiene products, liquor, tobacco, machinery, manufacturing, transportation, fashion, food and household goods and local tourism.
	Early Washington Maps Maps offering rich insight to 300 years of Pacific Northwest history. Users may zoom in and out of an image to view more detail or work with a full resolution version after downloading the MrSID® viewer. These items are hosted by Washington State University and not available in searches on this website. http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/holland/masc/xmaps.html
	Everett Massacre of 1916 Collection Items documenting labor's perspective on the events of the 1916 Everett Massacre. The materials are drawn from the Seattle Union Record and the writings of Anna Louise Strong, among others.
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	Fashion Plate Collection Fashion plates from the 19th and early 20th centuries of women's and men's costume. Drawn from the some of the leading fashion journals of the time, they depict styles and dress from the Empire (1806-1813), Georgian (1806-1836), Regency (1811-1820), Romantic (1825-1850), Victorian (1837-1859), Late Victorian (1860-1900) and Edwardian (1901-1915) periods.
	Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) Photographs of King County, 1933-1935 Images documenting the Federal Emergency Relief Administration program in King County, Washington, 1933-35. This was one of the first relief operations organized under Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal designed to provide state assistance for the unemployed who suffered under the Great Depression.
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	Grand Coulee Dam Construction, 1933-1942 Documentation using photographs and pamphlets of the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, built during 1933 to 1942 as part of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project for the development of the Columbia River for waterpower, irrigation, and flood control. Includes a look at the recommendations for and against building the dam, images of land clearing activities by the Public Works Administration, and the dam construction itself.
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	Harriman Alaska Expedition of 1899 Photographs from 1899 of Edward Harriman's scientific expedition to Alaska, including images of Alaskan Native Americans and their villages, scenic views of the coastline, glaciers and Alaskan towns.
	Eric A. Hegg Photographs of Alaska and the Klondike, 1897-1901 Photographs from 1897-1901 documenting the Klondike and Alaska gold rushes, including depictions of frontier life in Skagway and Nome, Alaska and Dawson, Yukon Territory.
	Wilhelm Hester Photographs Photographs ca. 1893-1906 of Puget Sound sailing vessels and ships' crews, the Alaska Gold Rush in Nome and vicinity in 1900, images of logging activities in Washington state, and San Francisco's Chinatown.
	Historical BookArts Collection A teaching tool featuring a sampling of materials held in the Special Collections Division focusing on the history of the book and medieval manuscripts from the 11th to the 19th century. The digital collection is comprised of images of binding, printing, papermaking and illustration examples and techniques.
	Historical Children's Literature Collection This database chronicles by example the history of educational practice and reading, and the changing perceptions of gender, race and class and the role of religion in teaching. Both European and American books from the 18th to the 20th c. are represented in this collection.
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	Industries and Occupations Photographs Iimages, primarily from the 1880s to the 1940s, in an ever-growing digital collection of photographs documenting the workers of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
	International Collections Database Images of views from Asia and South America with special emphasis on China, India, Japan and other southeast Asian countries. Included are photographs and photographic postcards taken between the 1870s- 1930s.
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	Henry M. Jackson Collection Photographs of the political career and personal life of Henry M. Jackson. He began his Congressional career in 1941, first as a representative and then as a senator during a period that spanned 43 years and nine presidents. Jackson was a strong player in foreign and defense policies, as well as domestic energy and environmental policies, serving as a member on the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, the Armed Services Committee, the Governmental Affairs Committee, and chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
	Jewish Archives Collection Photographs dating from the mid 1800s to present day, that relate to Jewish life and history in the Pacific Northwest, as well as nationally and internationally. Represented here are only a selection of the thousands of images in the Washington State Jewish Archives Photograph Collection.
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	H. Ambrose Kiehl Photograph Collection A selection of photographs from the H. Ambrose Kiehl Photograph Collection taken between 1890 and 1917. The photographs are typical of those found in many family albums of that period and illustrate everyday family life at the turn of the century.
	Clark Kinsey Photographs of the Lumber Industry and the Pacific Northwest, ca. 1910-1945 Images by commercial photographer Clark Kinsey documenting the logging and milling camps and other forest related activities in Washington State, ca. 1910-1945.
	Darius Kinsey Photographs of Logging, 1890-1933 Images from the period 1890-1939, documenting the logging industry in Washington State. Includes images of loggers and logging camps, skid roads, donkey engines, loading operations, logging trucks and railroads.
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	Frank La Roche Photographs, ca. 1888-1910 Photographs ca. 1888-1910 depicting scenes of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, Seattle, Washington state, Alaska, western United States, and Canada.
	Labor Archives Digital Resources Portal The Labor Archives of Washington State has hundreds of photographs and digitized documents showing workers, industrial settings, strikes and union activities, civil rights campaigns, and more. This portal highlights items from those collections.
	Lake Union Improvement Company Photograph Album, ca. 1891 Photographs ca. 1891 of Seattle by Frank La Roche, including views of the Elliot Bay waterfront, Lake Union, Lake Washington, and downtown Seattle street scenes.
	James Patrick Lee Photographs of Seattle, ca. 1904-1940 Photographs of Seattle, ca. 1904-1940, depicting regrading projects, municipal services, and local neighborhood architecture, as well as scenes from the Great Depression including "Hooverville" and labor rallies of the unemployed.
	Lawrence Denny Lindsley Photographs of Washington State, ca. 1875-1971 Images representing the landscape and nature photography of Lawrence Denny Lindsley, including photographs of scenes around Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountains, the Pacific Ocean beaches on the Olympic Peninsula, Eastern Washington and the Grand Coulee region.
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	McKenney and Hall Indian Tribes of North America Text and hand colored lithographs from: The history of the Indian tribes of North America, with biographical sketches and anecdotes of the principal chiefs. Embellished with one hundred and twenty portraits, from the Indian gallery in the Department of war, at Washington. By Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall. Philadelphia, E. C. Biddle, 1836-1844.
	William E. Meed Photographs of the Yukon Territory, ca. 1898-1907 Photographs, ca. 1898-1907, of scenes in the Yukon Territory, Canada, and portions of Alaska and British Columbia during the Klondike gold rush.
	Menus Collection A selection of historical menus and other graphic materials from restaurants and dining facilities in the Pacific Northwest from 1889 to 2003 including the Space Needle Restaurant, Ivar's Acres of Clams, the Dog House, and cruises aboard the Alaska and Pacific Steam Ship Lines.
	Modern Photographers Collection Images from the work of nationally and internationally renowned local photographers Art Hupy, Ernest Kassowitz, Kyo Koike, Frank Kunishige, Mary Randlett, Don Wallen and others. These photographers were active in the Pacific Northwest community from the late 1920's to the present.
	The Mountaineers Collection, 1907-1951 A selection of photographic albums and text documenting the Mountaineers official annual outings undertaken by club members from 1907-1951, primarily on the Olympic Peninsula, in Mount Rainier National Park and on Glacier Peak. The images depict camping and climbing activities, equipment and pack horses, portraits of members, and a variety of splendid scenic views of the Northwest.
	Moving Image Collection One to four minute film clips from home movies, industrial films, documentaries, news footage, and art films dating from 1915 to the 21st Century.
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	Napoleonic Period Collection of Political Caricatures Satirical prints, or caricatures, from the Napoleonic Period, all giving political commentary on events of the period. Fifty of the prints were created by French artists, and thirty-three by English artists.
	Frank H. Nowell Photographs of Alaska, 1901-1909 Photographs by Frank Nowell documentating scenery, towns, businesses, mining activities, Native Americans, and Eskimos in the vicinity of Nome, Alaska from 1901-1909.
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	Pacific Northwest Historical Documents Database formerly called the Washington State Pioneer Life Database A collection of writings, diaries, letters, and reminiscences drawn from various sources within the Special Collections Division collections that recount the early settlement of Washington in the 19th century, the establishment of homesteads and towns and the hardships faced by many of the early pioneers.
	Pamphlets and Textual Documents Collection Documents, pamphlets, booklets, flyers, and other original material drawn from the Pacific Northwest Collection of pamphlets and books, the Theater program collection, and various textual ephemeral collections.
	Panorama Photographs Features images of Front St. Dawson around the time of the Klondike Gold Rush, sweeping city views of Seattle after the turn of the century and the memorable Mississippi flood of 1927. Other photographs feature group portraits, city scenes, and landscapes.
	Theodore E. Peiser Photographs of Washington State, ca. 1864-1910 Iimages taken by the pioneer photographer, Theodore Peiser, in the later part of the 19th century to about 1907. Among his subjects were images of troops preparing to embark from Fort Lawton to China in 1900, the Territorial University and early Seattle scenes.
	Lee Pickett Photographs of Washington State, 1909-1936 Photographs documenting scenes from Snohomish, King and Chelan Counties in Washington State from the early 1900s to the 1940s. These include the towns and people of Index, Gold Bar, Scenic, and Sultan. Contains images of local industries, such as the Heybrook Lumber Co. and Index Granite Works, as well as photos of the Great Northern Railway Company.
	Portraits Database An ongoing database of historical portraits of men and women well known in the Pacific Northwest region and also nationwide. These include among others architects, artists and writers, government officials and politicians, and historians and educators.
	Prior and Norris Vaudeville Troupe Photographs and Ephemera, 1886-1915 Photographs and ephemera relating to the career of Pat Prior and Effie Norris documenting their life on the road while performing on the American vaudeville circuits around the turn of the century, 1886-1915.
	Prosch Seattle Views Albums, ca. 1851-1906 Two photographic albums containing images collected and annotated by Thomas Prosch, one of Seattle's earliest pioneers. Images document the early history of Seattle and vicinity, ca. 1851-1906.
	Prosch Washington Views Album, ca. 1858-1903 Photographic album containing images collected and annotated by Thomas Prosch, one of Seattle's earliest pioneers. Images document scenes in Eastern Washington especially Chelan and vicinity, and Seattle's early history including the Seattle Fire of 1889. All ca. 1858-1903.
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	Rainier National Park Mountain-Glacier Wonderland Photograph Album, ca. 1925 Photographs from a ca. 1925 promotional album for Mount Rainier National Park depicting tourist facilities, scenic views of the mountain and surrounding parkland, and recreational activities including mountaineering.
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	Salmon in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Collection, 1890-1961 Several hundred photographs and 23 documents describing the place of salmon in the Pacific Northwest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the roots of the salmon crisis.
	Henry M. Sarvant Photographs of Washington State and the Yukon, 1892-1912 Photographs by photographer Henry Mason Sarvant depicting his climbing expeditions to Mt. Rainier and scenes of the vicinity from 1892-1912. Also included are images of his trip to the Klondike gold fields in 1897 documenting his journey over the Chilkoot Pass and subsequent mining activities in the vicinity of Dawson, Yukon Territory.
	J. Willis Sayre Collection of Theatrical Photographs Images collected by drama critic and theater promoter J. Willis Sayre. They consist of autographed portraits of actors, vaudeville performers, movie stills, singers, dancers, musicians, comedians and acrobats representing American theater history primarily from the 1890s and onward. Some are publicity stills from New York and East Coast photographers, others represent works by Pacific Northwest and West Coast artists.
	Seattle Photographs Ongoing database of historical photographs of Seattle with special emphasis on images depicting neighborhoods, recreational activities including baseball, "The Great Snow of 1916", theaters and transportation.
	Seattle Power and Water Supply Collection Historical photographs and pamphlets documenting the construction of hydroelectric power and water supply facilities built in Washington State from the late 1890s to the 1950s including the Snoqualmie Falls Power Plant, the Electron Plant, the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, and the Cedar River water supply system.
	Society and Culture Collection Historical images from Western United States and the Pacific Northwest region covering political and social topics such as women's issues, labor and government, and ethnic groups with special emphasis on the Japanese internment camps in the Northwest during World War II.
	South Asian Oral History Project The project represents one of the first attempts in the U.S. to record pan-South Asian immigrant experiences in the Pacific Northwest using the medium of oral history. These interviews reflect religious, linguistic, occupational and gender diversity and provide rich insight into changing experiences of South Asians in the Pacific Northwest.
	Stereocard Collection A selection of stereographic views from our archival collections. They consist primarily of landscape and documentary views. In some cases, both front and verso views of a stereograph have been presented.
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	Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collection Images and text documenting the infamous collapse in 1940 of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Also covers "Galloping Gertie's" creation, subsequent studies involving its aerodynamics, and finally the construction of a second bridge spanning the Narrows.
	John E. Thwaites Photographs of Alaska, 1905-1920 Photographs by John E. Thwaites, an amateur photographer, who recorded scenes in Southeastern Alaska while working as a federal mail service clerk from 1905 to about 1920. Images include the aftermath of Aleutian chain volcanic eruptions; maritime disasters including the famous 1910 Farallon shipwreck; Aleutian Natives and Eskimos, Alaska industries and small town daily life.
	Calvin F. Todd Photographs of Seattle, 1905-1930 Seattle images from 1905-1930, including the University of Washington campus, the waterfront, Denny Regrade activities, Pike Place Market, and apartment buildings.
	Tollman and Canaris Photographs of the Salmon Industry in Washington State, 1893-1897 Photographs, ca. 1897 depicting salmon fishing activities and some of the first salmon canning companies in Washington State along the Columbia River and in Skamania and Pacific Counties. Includes images of horse seining, fishermen tarring nets, fish wheels, and crabbing.
	Transportation Photographs An ongoing database of over historical photographs of transportation in the Pacific Northwest region and Western United States including ships, railroads, aviation, automobiles and other motor vehicles.
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	University of Washington Campus Photographs Photographs reflecting the early history of the University of Washington campus from its beginnings as the Territorial University through its establishment at its present site on the shores of Lake Washington. The database documents student activities, buildings, departments, and athletics.
	University of Washington Yearbooks and Documents This collection contains University of Washington student yearbooks from 1900 to 1994.
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	Oliver S. Van Olinda Photographs of Puget Sound, 1880s-1930s Photographs depicting early pioneer activities, industries and occupations, recreation, street scenes, Native Americans, and boat traffic on Vashon Island, Whidbey Island, and other Puget Sound communities from the 1880s to the 1930s. Photographed primarily by Oliver S. Van Olinda, a career newspaperman and resident of Vashon Island, Washington.
	Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection This database contains leaflets, posters and newspapers that were distributed on the University of Washington campus during the decades of the 1960s and 1970s. They reflect the social environment and political activities of the youth movement in Seattle during that period.
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	Alvin H. Waite Photographs of Tacoma and Washington State, 1892-1907 Images by photographer Alvin H. Waite from the turn of the century depicting panoramic scenes of Tacoma and his travels in Washington especially his mountaineering expeditions to Mount Rainier and vicinity.
	War Poster Collection A selection of images from the University of Washington Libraries' World War I and World II Poster Collection featuring propaganda posters and broadsides from the United States, Western Europe and the Axis powers.
	Arthur Churchill Warner Photographs of Washington State and Alaska, ca. 1884-1945 Images by the pioneer photographer A.C. Warner from the late 1800s and early 1900s of Seattle conventional street scenes, waterfront activity, city parks and regrading of downtown.
	Washington State Localities Photographs Photographs in an ever-growing database of historical images from Washington State including cities and towns, fortifications, public works, and national parks.
	Dwight Watson Photographs of Washington State, 1933-1943 Photographs taken by alpine enthusiast Dwight Watson of hiking and skiing expeditions in the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges of Washington State, ca. 1930s-1940s. Includes, among others, scenic images of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, and Mt. Adams.
	World and Regional Maps, 16th to 19th Centuries Color examples from the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Division's Rare Map Collection dating from the 16th to early 20th centuries spanning: the world, Western and Eastern Hemispheres, continents, countries and cities. This collection emphasizes North America, the Pacific Northwest, and exploration in this region from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
	WTO Seattle Collection A collection of interviews and images depicting the protests of the WTO ministerial meeting held in Seattle on November 29 - December 3, 1999. The collection illustrates the efforts to bring activists to Seattle as well as the diversity of the protests.