See letters, photographs and other ephemera from two of Seattle's early families.
Unknown woman in Shenandoah, Iowa, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by W.H. Brewer in Shenandoah, Iowa.
Identifier: spl_lj_029
Date: 1880?
View this itemTraining dogs for Alaska outside 1108 Seneca St. home, ca. 1897
Transcribed from photograph: "Training dogs for Alaska. This in Seneca Street almost in front of our house. Where you see the fence and trees is Charlie's block. It is directly opposite our house on south side of Seneca St." In the 1890 City Directory, Orion Denny is listed at 1108 Seneca on the NW corner of Boren and Seneca. When his wife, Narcissa, died in 1900 her obituary mentioned that the couple at lived at the 1108 Seneca address for several years. In 1905, Denny constructed a larger mansion designed by Bebb & Mendel on the same street corner (which then went by the address 1204 Boren).
Identifier: spl_lj_065
Date: 1897?
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 itemUnknown man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by M.M. Durnam in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Identifier: spl_lj_036
Date: 1880?
View this itemNarcissa, Alice, Hattie, Clara and Emma Latimer, ca. 1880
Narcissa Latimer Denny was the daughter of Alexander and Sarah Latimer. She had four sisters: Eliza Alice Latimer Fowler (1856-1934), Harriet Ellen Latimer Stephens (1859-1938), Clara Latimer Bickford (1861-1934), and Emma Chesney Latimer Reynolds (1864-1946). The three women standing in the back are Emma, Narcissa and Clara. The two women sitting are Alice and Hattie.
Identifier: spl_lj_044
Date: 1880?
View this itemUnknown man in Waterloo, Iowa, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by H.S. & J.W. Hoot in Waterloo, Iowa.
Identifier: spl_lj_024
Date: 1880?
View this itemNative American baskets in home of Mabel Thompson, ca. 1900
Transcribed from back of photograph: "Part of Mabel's collection of Indian baskets. A corner in her room - photo by O.O.W. Denny. Mabel Thompson in Seattle." In the 1900 census, H.G. and Mabel Thompson are listed at 1108 Seneca St. (later 1204 Boren), the same address as Orion Denny. Mabel was the daughter of Orion Denny and Eva Flowers Coulter (who he married in 1874 and divorced a few years later). Mabel married Howard G. Thompson in 1894.
Identifier: spl_lj_060
Date: 1890?
View this itemWilliam and Elizabeth Weir letter to Johnathan and Alexander Latimer, June 29, 1853
Alexander was married to Sarah Chesney Latimer (his third wife) in 1850. The couple had five daughters: Narcissa Leonora Latimer Denny (1851-1900), Eliza Alice Latimer Fowler (1856-1934), Harriet Ellen Latimer Stephens (1859-1938), Clara Latimer Bickford (1861-1934), and Emma Chesney Latimer Reynolds (1864-1946). Elizabeth Latimer Weir was Alexander's sister and William Weir, his brother-in-law. The letter is addressed to Alexander and his brother Johnathan Latimer (1803-1866) and discusses the death of the Latimer's mother, Anne Dobbins Latimer (1776-1853), and the distribution of the estate. The letter also discusses agricultural crops, the growth of the railroad systems on the east coast and other family matters.
Identifier: spl_lj_001
Date: 1853-06-29
View this itemUnknown girl, ca. 1865
Tintype portrait of unidentified young girl.
Identifier: spl_lj_016
Date: 1865?
View this item