Browse photographs from the Paul Dorpat Collection which documents the history of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. At this time, a small sampling of images has been digitized while the collection is actively being processed.
Three Pass By, ca. 1924
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_48
Date: 1924
View this itemWallingford at Stone Way N. and Bridge Way N., April 27, 2004
Photograph shows businesses in the Stoneway Center business park on Stone Way N at Bridge Way N.
Identifier: spl_dor_00037
Date: 2004-04-27
View this itemPacific Ave. looking north from S. 14th St., Tacoma, ca. 1900s
Signs for the National Bank of Commerce, Olympic Hotel and Vienna Cafe appear on the right. The tower of City Hall can be seen at the end of the street to the left.
Identifier: spl_dor_gpn_re_00208
Date: 1900; 1901; 1902; 1903, 1904; 1905; 1906; 1907; 1908; 1909
View this itemSeattle Home Savings Building drawing, ca. 1923-1924
Architectural drawing of Home Savings Building by architect Louis Svarz, built at what is now 1520 4th Avenue. This drawing is possibly for the building's remodel which occurred in 1924. The building, originally constructed in 1907, was first called the American Hotel.
Identifier: spl_dor_gpn_re_00141
Date: 1923; 1924
View this itemPerformers on stage, ca. 1910s
Performers in military uniforms onstage for unidentified performance. Location is presumed to be Seattle.
Identifier: spl_dor_gpn_re_00161
Date: 1910; 1911; 1912; 1913; 1914; 1915; 1916; 1917; 1918; 1919
View this itemFleet of battleships outlined in lights at night, Seattle, ca. 1908
Image possibly shows the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet battleships visiting Seattle. The fleet arrived in Seattle on May 23, 1908. Published in Seattle Now & Then column on February 10, 1985.
Identifier: spl_dor_gpn_re_00200
Date: 1908
View this itemMadison Park, August 1996
Madison Park Beach overlooking Lake Washington, with view of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge (also known as the 520 Bridge) in the distance and partial view of the park's bathhouse.
Identifier: spl_dor_00015
Date: 1996-08
View this itemHouses amongst trees and fields and farmland, ca. 1900s
Location is unknown, possibly Washington State.
Identifier: spl_dor_gpn_re_00191
Date: 1900; 1901; 1902; 1903, 1904; 1905; 1906; 1907; 1908; 1909
View this itemLake Washington, Mercer Island, and Mt. Rainier, ca. 1910s
View southeast from around the Leschi neighborhood in Seattle towards Lake Washington, with Mercer Island, parts of Bellevue, Seward Park, and Mt. Rainier visible. See spl_dor_gpn_re_00027 for detailed view of buildings. The roofs of the Leschi Park Pavilion and Boathouse can be seen along the waterfront.
Identifier: spl_dor_gpn_re_00026
Date: 1910; 1911; 1912; 1913; 1914; 1915; 1916; 1917; 1918; 1919
View this itemFraternal Organization of Eagles parade on 2nd Ave. north from Pike St., August 13, 1908
Signs for Hotel Irving, The Sheridan, The Fair, McCarthy Dry Goods Co., WMBC (Wilson's Modern Business College) and Seattle Art Company can be seen along the way. The Standard Furniture Company building appears on the left at the curve in the street and the New Washington Hotel and Moore Theatre appear in the distance on the right. Banners saying "Welcome Home F.O.E." [Fraternal Organization of Eagles] can be seen hanging above the street.
Identifier: spl_dor_gpn_re_00109
Date: 1908-09-13
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