Edward S. Curtis Digital Collection
Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. Photographer Edward S. Curtis devoted two decades to making “The North American Indian,” an early 20th century photography and text project studying Western tribes.
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Letter from Carlson & Borrough, Inc. to Arthur Goodwin with their bid for replacing lights, November 17, 1927
Letter from Carlson & Borrough, Inc. regarding the cost of installation for lights above farmers stalls in Pike Place Market.
Identifier: spl_sh_00042
Date: 1927-11-17
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, May 8, 1951
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing a visit from Lillian Smart of the Seattle Historical Society to his home in Los Angeles. Curtis writes that Smart attempted to rush him out to a recording studio so he could make a recording of Pacific Coast history but he protested, saying he need more time to gather his thoughts. Curtis wonders if he offended Smart by refusing to do the initial recording. He states that he hasn't heard back from the Historical Society after letting them know he completed a script for the recording and was now ready to go to the studio.
Identifier: spl_esc_026
Date: 1951-05-08
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Aerial photograph of Pike Place Market looking north
Aerial photograph of Pike Place Market facing north. The viaduct and waterfront piers can be seen on the left side of the photo.
Identifier: spl_sh_00011
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, January 27, 1951
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing the new photograph he plans to have made of himself on his 83rd birthday. He writes that he would like to see the new photographed published in the Seattle newspapers and is receiving many requests for autographed photos from organizations such as the University of Washington and the Seattle Historical Society.
Identifier: spl_esc_021
Date: 1951-01-27
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, August 16, 1949
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing his further work on "The Lure of Gold." He writes about the overwhelming nature of covering 200 years of history, describing the notebooks he has filled with his research. Curtis states "Why any one of my age should attempt such a task is beyond my understanding."
Identifier: spl_esc_013
Date: 1949-08-16
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, November 4, 1949
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing his progress on "The Lure of Gold." He notes that publishing firm has expressed interest in publishing the work but he had to let them know it would be at least two years before he would be able to complete it. Curtis writes "For one of my age, that's looking far ahead."
Identifier: spl_esc_014
Date: 1949-11-04
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, December 29, 1950
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch repeating some of the news shared in his letter of December 17, 1950. He discusses his poor health leading to the necessary step of stopping his work on "The Lure of Gold" before moving on to recounting the Christmas holiday. He adds that he has decided to have a new picture taken of himself on his 83rd birthday to replace the one taken many decades ago that was used to promote "The North American Indian." Curtis writes "I hope you will be pleased with the Birth Day picture. Knowing my age you may be surprised."
Identifier: spl_esc_020
Date: 1950-12-29
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, January 2, 1949
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch describing his progress in compiling materials to send and noting that his health is further improved. He promises he has not forgotten her request for a picture of him but the photo he thought to send looked to similar to Bill Cody and may cause confusion. Curtis describes spending time in New York with Cody and says they were sometimes called the "Cody Twins." He notes that this confusion was a common occurrence.
Identifier: spl_esc_007
Date: 1949-01-02
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, July 11, 1949
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch, apologizing for his slow response and explaining he is deep in his work on "The Lure of Gold." He writes that the size of the project is overwhelming and he is ""praying that I will live long enough to finish the job." Curtis discusses his climbs of Mount Rainier and his friendship with Ella McBride. He notes that she was one of the few women to summit the mountain unassisted and describes her as "my star helper" both in climbs of Mount Rainier and later, as an assistant in his photography studio. He writes that she lived with the Curtis family and was like a second mother to his daughters.
Identifier: spl_esc_012
Date: 1949-07-11
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Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, November 17, 1950
Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch, discussing his journey with Ella McBride and the Mazamas to the summit of Mount Rainier. He shares that it was on a similar guided tour of Rainier that he met the men who would later invite him to join the Harriman Expedition to Alaska as the photographer. Curtis encourages Leitch to review the volumes describing the Expedition so that she may see the photographs he took of the journey. He adds that his daughter Billy has been forced to return from Australia prematurely due to the sudden ill health of her husband.
Identifier: spl_esc_018
Date: 1950-11-17
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