See letters, photographs and other ephemera from two of Seattle's early families.
Unknown man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by M.M. Durnam in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Identifier: spl_lj_036
Date: 1880?
View this itemUnknown girl, ca. 1865
Tintype portrait of unidentified girl.
Identifier: spl_lj_017
Date: 1865?
View this itemR.H. letter to "Friend Latimer," October 8, 1874
Letter written to Alexander Latimer, from a friend who recently moved away from Minnesota (where Latimer also lived) to Eldridge, Kansas. The friend describes his health, the weather and agricultural matters along with his disappointment in the low church attendance of his community.
Identifier: spl_lj_005
Date: 1874-02-08
View this itemWaterfront at foot of Union St., ca. 1896
Transcribed from photograph: "Waterfront at Foot of Spring Street, Seattle." Location appears to be closer to the base of Union St. Vulcan Iron Works (located between University and Union Streets) appears at the left with the Arlington Hotel (located at 1215 1st Ave.) behind it. The Arlington Dock and Golden Rule Bazaar appear at the right.
Identifier: spl_lj_064
Date: 1896?
View this itemUnknown man, ca. 1865
Tintype portrait of unidentified man.
Identifier: spl_lj_014
Date: 1865?
View this itemFlorence Wiltsie, Alice Fowler and Anita at Money Creek Park, 1920
Transcribed from photograph: "1920. Florence Wiltsie, Alice Fowler and Anita at Money Creek Park on Miller River, near Seattle." Eliza Alice Latimer Fowler was the sister of Narcissa Latimer Denny. Her daughter, Alice Anita Fowler, was born in 1890. The identity of the child in the photograph is unknown.
Identifier: spl_lj_066
Date: 1920
View this itemEugene Wright Interview, April and May 1988
Eugene Wright (1913-2002) . Wright was born in Seattle and attended TT Minor Elementary and Broadway High School. Wright earned his law degree from the University of Washington in 1937 and joined his father’s law firm following graduation. He married his wife, Esther Ladley, in 1938 and the couple had two children. During World War II, Wright joined the army and served as a Colonel in the South Pacific, leading Nisei soldiers. Wright was honored with multiple awards during his time in the service including the Bronze Star. Following the war, Wright remained a member of the U.S. Army reserve for twenty years. Upon his return to Seattle, he resumed his law career. In 1948, Wright began serving as a temporary Municipal Court Judge and in 1954 he was appointed to the King County Superior Court where he stayed for 12 years. In 1966, Wright left the court to become vice president of Pacific National Bank. Wright returned to the bench i 1969 when President Nixon appointed him to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, a position that he held until his death in 2002. Wright was active in his local church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, and enjoyed gardening.
Identifier: spl_ds_ewright_01
Date: 1988-04-18; 1988-04-19; 1988-05-10
View this itemChildren of Sarah Jane Latimer Dawdy, ca. 1920
Sarah Jane Latimer Dawdy (1847-1915) was the daughter of Alexander Latimer and his second wife, Julia Ann Hart (1819-1850). She married John W. Dowdy on March 25, 1868 in Knox, Illinois. They had three children, Drennan Latimer Dawdy, Norval Dawdy and Daisy E. Dawdy. Location and exact date of the photograph are unknown.
Identifier: spl_lj_070
Date: 1920?
View this itemJeanette Williams Interview, May 1988
Jeanette Williams (1914-2008) was a Seattle native who spent 20 years serving on the Seattle City Council. Williams attended Mercer Grade School and Queen Anne High School. She was a skilled violinist and attended Cornish School of Music, the University of Washington and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Before embarking on her political career, Williams played for the Chicago Philharmonic and formed a quartet that went by the name Swinging Strings. In 1962, Williams became the first woman to chair the King County Democrats. In 1969, she won a seat on the Seattle City Council, championing the creation of Magnuson Park and programming for senior citizens. During her tenure on the council, Williams introduced legislation to protect gay, lesbian and transgender citizens from discrimination in employment and housing. She was also instrumental in obtaining funding for construction of the West Seattle bridge helped the city to acquire Kubota Garden as a park. She remained on the council until 1989.
Identifier: spl_ds_jwilliams_01_01
Date: 1988-05
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