Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. Explore the early history of the Pike Place Market through letters, receipts, plans, rental agreements and other documents related to the market’s business.
Letter to Mrs. Tanable regarding her high light bill, December 11, 1928
Letter informing Mrs. Tanabe, a flower farmer, that her electricity usage is much higher than other vendors and the cost will have to be added to her rent if she continues to use such a disproportionately large amount.
Identifier: spl_sh_00059
Date: 1928-12-11
View this itemI.A. Caraco receipt for the Desimon Bros. & Co., October 19, 1935
I.A. Caraco's receipt for the purchase of grapes from the Desimone Brothers & Company Vegetable Growers. The back of the receipt promises 'We believe everything you bought of us today will give you entire satisfaction. If there is anything wrong about this transaction we stand in readiness at any and all times to cheerfully rectify the same.'
Identifier: spl_sh_00051
Date: 1935-10-18
View this itemCentral Seattle' booklet, July 1927
July issue of 'Central Seattle,' a monthly publication containing information on local businesses, property changes and development in central Seattle.
Identifier: spl_sh_00022
Date: 1927-07-01
View this itemLetter from Arthur Goodwin to P.B. Murray regarding an overdue rent payment, September 28, 1927
Letter from Arthur Goodwin to P.B. Murray of Murray Meat Market, stating that it has come to his attention that Murray believes he does not have to pay rent for the month of September. Goodwin states that Murray's rent is in fact due but they are allowing a 75 dollar discount for the month to account for the market stalls currently undergoing changes.
Identifier: spl_sh_00109
Date: 1927-09-26
View this itemGirl at window
Frank Asakichi Kunishige was born in Japan on June 5, 1878. He came to the United States via San Francisco in 1895. After graduating from the Illinois College of Photography, he opened a small photography studio in San Francisco. Kunishige moved to Seattle in 1917. In the same year, he married Gin Kunishige and began working in the studio of Edward S. Curtis where he became acquainted with Ella McBride who he worked for in later years. Kunishige was well known for his use of Pictorialism, a popular painterly style of photography. He developed his photographs on "textura tissue," a paper of his own creation, which allowed him to produce almost dreamlike prints. His work was featured nationally and internationally in exhibitions and publications such as Photo-Era and Seattle's Town Crier. In 1924, Kunishige became one of the founding members of the Seattle Camera Club, a group of local photographers including Kyo Koike, Yukio Morinaga, Iwao Matsushita and Fred Y. Ogasawara who gathered to share techniques and ideas, as well as their deep love of the medium. Although the group was initially solely Japanese, they soon welcomed more members including Ella McBride, their first female member. When World War II struck and the country's Japanese internment policy was put in place, Kunishige and his wife were forced to leave Seattle for Idaho where they were interned at the Minidoka camp. After their release, Kunishige spent two years working at a photography studio in Twin Falls, Idaho but eventually returned to Seattle due to his poor health. Frank Kunishige passed away on April 9, 1960.
Identifier: spl_art_367924_51
View this itemLetter from H.E. Carlson to Arthur Goodwin regarding improvements to the space near the Central Printing Company, November 26, 1927
Letter from H.E. Carlson to Arthur Goodwin describing the deteriorating surroundings around the Central Printing Company and asking for a reduction in rent so that they are able to stay in business.
Identifier: spl_sh_00134
Date: 1927-11-26
View this itemLetter from William Crowley to Arthur Goodwin inquiring about public markets, April 29, 1927
Letter from William Crowley to Arthur Goodwin asking after the progress of his book on public markets. Crowley also asks Goodwin about the average salary paid to vendors in public markets and inquires if he is aware of Japanese farmers who would be interested in selling their goods at markets in California.
Identifier: spl_sh_00043
Date: 1927-04-29
View this itemLetter from I.A. Caraco to Mr. Jack Shelton regarding his recent visit to Seattle,
Letter briefly discussing Jack Shelton's recent trip to Seattle written on letterhead for Pike Place Public Markets Incorporated. The letterhead lists the company officials and address information.
Identifier: spl_sh_00061
Date: 1935-10-29
View this itemMunicipal News v. 55, no. 11, Jun. 14, 1965
Identifier: spl_mn_818362_55_11
Date: 1965-06-14
View this itemLetter from Pacific Northwest Theatres, Inc. to Arthur Goodwin regarding the United Artists Theatre in Pike Place Market, February 26, 1927
Letter from Pacific Northwest Theatres, Inc. asking permission from Arthur Goodin to install a lighted sign for the United Artists Theatre (formerly known as the Liberty Theater) at Pike Place Market. The letter states that the sign will not only help the United Artists Theatre but other businesses as well because 'the sign will light up what is at the present time a rather desolate spot.'
Identifier: spl_sh_00115
Date: 1927-02-26
View this item