Overview of the Collection
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Repository Name:
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Museum of History &
Industry
Sophie Frye Bass
Library
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org
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Collection Number:
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1955.970.500
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Creator:
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McCurdy,
H. W. (Horace Winslow), 1899-
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Title:
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H.W. McCurdy
Collection on the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co.
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Dates:
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1900-1945 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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7 boxes
6 linear feet
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Languages:
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Collection materials are in
English.
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Summary:
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Photographs of various projects
undertaken by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, including
shipbuilding, bridges, dams, and buildings, plus scrapbooks of clippings, and
blueprints
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Location of Collection:
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13b.3.3-5
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Historical Note
Founded in 1889, the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company was
destined to become one of Seattle's most important companies. Whether under the
title Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company or Lockheed Shipbuilding and
Construction Company, their hand can be seen in most major construction sites
in the Pacific Northwest including Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Idaho,
Oregon and California. In addition, they are responsible for many ships,
including some of the Washington State ferries and many naval vessels during
and after World War II.
Some of the highlights in the history of this company include:
- 1909-1910
- Hydraulic Dredges construct Harbor Island, the largest
man-made island for thirty-five years--second now only to Treasure Island in
San Francisco. Harbor Island was the site of the company since the
thirties.
- 1924
- The Dexter Horton Building was constructed in Seattle. At
fourteen stories, it was the largest reinforced concrete building in the United
States west of Chicago.
- 1927
- A steel cantilever bridge was constructed over the Snake
River at Twin Falls, Idaho.
- 1939
- Construction began on the Lake Washington Floating
Bridge.
- WWII
- WWII provided a boom in contracts for the company with the
Navy. In conjunction with their Canadian affiliate, the British Columbia Bridge
and Dredging Company, they constructed Naval bases in Alaska at Sitka, Dutch
Harbor and Kodiak. In addition the BCB & D built a Point of Embarkation at
Prince Rupert for the Army.
Eighty-two ships were constructed for the Navy
as well, with a record fifteen (five of three different types) ships being
delivered in one day.
- 1959
- Company purchased by Lockheed.
More recent projects include the Grand Coulee Dam, much of the
Interstate 5 bridges and roadways through Seattle, and the San Fernando Tunnel
in California. They have continued to build ships ranging from dredges, tugs
and ferries to mine sweepers, ice breakers and guided missile frigates, mostly
for the Navy, Coast Guard and the states of Washington and Alaska.
Biographical Note
The collection was assembled by Horace Winslow ("H.W.") McCurdy
(1899-1989). McCurdy was an engineer who began working for the Puget Sound
Bridge and Dredging Company in about 1922. He became president and general
manager of the company in 1931.
Content Description
This collection consists almost entirely of photographs taken to
document various construction and shipbuilding projects undertaken by the Puget
Sound Bridge and Dredging Company in the Pacific Northwest, including bridges,
dams, dredging, and building construction. Some notable projects represented in
the collection include the Lake Washington floating bridge, the University of
Washington stadium, and the Dexter Horton Building, all in Seattle. Two albums
of photos document warships built during World War II. The collection also
includes scrapbooks of relevant newspaper clippings and blueprints.
Arrangement
Photographs are arranged by project, and many contract numbers are
noted. Project files are roughly chronological.
Administrative Information
Custodial History The collection was assembled and maintained by H.W. McCurdy before it
was donated to MOHAI.
Acquisition Information The collection was donated by H.W. McCurdy in 1955.
Separated Materials These materials are part of a large donation by H.W. McCurdy that also
includes a large number of maritime artifacts, family photographs (1986.27),
and Native American photographs, mainly of Makah Indians (1955.970.470). The
artifacts are cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI's Collections
Department.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access The collection is open to the public by appointment.
Restrictions on Use The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in
the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research,
publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI
before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation H.W. McCurdy Collection on the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co.,
Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Subjects
| Puget Sound
Bridge and Dredging Co. |
| Photographic
prints |
| Bridges -- Design and
Construction -- Photographs |
| Dams -- Design and
Construction -- Photographs |
| Shipbuilding -- Washington
(State) -- Photographs |
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Photographs
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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Headquarters, offices and yards /
McCurdy portrait
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People
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"How We Did It,"
album
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1900-1909 |
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Carson City office
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before 1942 |
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Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC
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1908 |
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Puyallup River Bridge
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1911 |
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King County Courthouse
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1915 |
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Frank
Nowell
(
photographer)
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University of Washington Naval
Air Station
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1918 |
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Frank
Nowell
(
photographer)
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University of Washington stadium
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1920 |
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Asahel
Curtis
(
photographer)
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University of Washington stadium
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1920 |
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Asahel
Curtis
(
photographer)
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University of Washington stadium
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1920 |
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Asahel
Curtis
(
photographer)
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University of Washington stadium
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1920 |
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Asahel
Curtis
(
photographer)
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University of Washington stadium
Washington vs. Dartmouth
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1920 Nov 27 |
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Asahel
Curtis
(
photographer)
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Dredge PUGET SOUND
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circa 1924 |
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Garza Dam, Texas
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1924-1925 |
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Garza Dam, Texas
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1924-1925 |
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North Coast Railroad -- Columbia
River Bridge
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Estacada Dam (album)
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1910-1911 |
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Lilly's Cont. (album)
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1910 |
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Washington Iron Works (album)
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1910 |
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Jordan River Dam (album)
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1912-1913 |
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Jordan River Dam
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Temple of Justice
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Temple of Justice (album)
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Seattle School District No. 1
warehouse & shop building (album)
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Pasco-Kennewick Bridge
Gravenslund
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Texas dam
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Diversion dam, Texas
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1922-1923 |
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Panoramas
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Falls Creek Dam, (album)
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1922-1923 |
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Clinton Court Apartments, Walla
Walla
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1922-1927 |
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Arnold
McFaden
(
photographer)
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Washington Iron Works
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1923 |
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Dexter Horton Building
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1922 |
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Dexter Horton Building (album)
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1922 |
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Dexter Horton Building
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Wilsonian Apartment Hotel
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1923 |
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High Bridge, PNW Traction,
Bellingham
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Pacific S.S. Terminal
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1924 |
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Wishkah River Bridge, Aberdeen
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1924-1925 |
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Anderson
(
photographer)
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Garza Dam, Dallas, Texas
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1924 |
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Meridian Avenue Bridge, Puyallup
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1925 |
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Transmission towers, Henderson
Bay, Tacoma
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1925 |
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Chehalis River Bridge, Aberdeen
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1926 |
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Anderson
(
photographer)
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Bridge of the Gods, Wauna toll
bridge near Hood River, OR
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Little Hoquiam Bascule
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1926 |
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Dredge GENERAL WOLFE, Quebec
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circa 1927 |
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Edwards
(
photographer)
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San Juan Pulp Mill, Bellingham
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1926 |
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Georgia Hotel, Vancouver, BC
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1926 |
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Bullen
(
photographer)
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Pacific Coast Paper Mills,
Bellingham
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Sandison
(
photographer)
Jukes
(
photographer)
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Twin Lakes Bridge, Idaho
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circa 1927 |
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Gateway Bridge, Brownsville,
Texas,
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1928 |
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Simpson Avenue Bridge, Hoquiam
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1927-1928 |
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Brewster Toll Bridge, Okanogan
Co.
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1928 |
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Simmer
(
photographer)
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Fisher Body Co. Seawall, Duwamish
Waterway
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1929 |
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14th Avenue South Bridge, Seattle
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1929-1931 |
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Centralia Power Plant, Yelm
(album)
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circa 1930 |
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Centralia Power Plant, Yelm
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circa 1930 |
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Pennock Island
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1931 |
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Alask Fisher
Studio
(
photographer)
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Seward, Alaska dredging
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1931 |
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Wenatchee River Bridge
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1932 |
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Christmas dinner on VICTORIA at
Sitka
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1939 |
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Santa Monica breakwater
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1933 |
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San Joaquin River dredging
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1932 |
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SS NORTHWESTERN
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1940 |
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Columbia River rock renewal
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Lake Washington pontoon bridge
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1939 |
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Simmer
(
photographer)
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Lake Washington pontoon bridge
(album)
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1939 |
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Alaskan air bases
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1940-1942 |
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Longview, Wash.
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1943 |
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Misc. bridges -- statewide
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Misc. bridges
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Burned dredge SEATTLE, OLYMPIAN
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Dredges -- misc.
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Dredge TACOMA
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1912-1921 |
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Dredge PORTLAND
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Chuckanut Bay fill
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Sandison
(
photographer)
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Mausoleums and cemeteries
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Columbia River Bridge (negatives)
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Misc. negatives
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Warship launches/christenings
(album)
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1944-1945 |
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Warship launches/christenings
(album)
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1942-1944 |
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Oversize photographs
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3 photographs Christening of the Tom McCurdy II,
S.S. Alaska, unidentified Tacoma ship
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Scrapbooks
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Description
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Scrapbook of newspaper clippings
-- bridges & canals
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Scrapbook of newspaper clippings
-- waterways
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Scrapbook of newspaper clippings
-- canals, waterways, dredging
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Scrapbook of newspaper clippings
-- Lake Washington Bridge, Unit # 4
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Scrapbook of newspaper clippings
-- Alaska Air Bases from August 31, 1939
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Blueprints
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Description
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Blueprints of East waterway and
Canal waterway
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1897-1900 |
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Blueprints of other waterways
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