Guide to the James G. McCurdy Photographs 1892-1910

Overview of the Collection

	Repository Name:		Museum of History & Industry Sophie Frye Bass Library 2700 24th Avenue East Seattle, WA 98112 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org
	Collection Number:		1955.970.420
	Creator:		McCurdy, James G., 1872-1942
	Title:		James G. McCurdy Photographs
	Dates:		1892-1910 (inclusive)
	Quantity:		223 photographs
	Languages:		Collection materials are in English.
	Summary:		Photographs of Native Americans (almost all Makah people), ships, and logging taken by or collected by James G. McCurdy
	Location of Collection:		4B.2.2 and 4B.3.3 (negatives) 2B.4.2 (modern prints)

Biographical Note

James G. McCurdy was born in Port Townsend in 1872. His father, William McCurdy, came to the Northwest as a ship's carpenter and then worked as a master builder in Port Townsend. The McCurdys moved to Neah Bay when William was appointed Government Superintendent of Construction at the Makah Indian Reservation.

James G. McCurdy therefore spent several years of his childhood at Neah Bay, which he recalls in Indian Days at Neah Bay. The family left when James's mother Johanna became seriously ill (and later died). McCurdy did not return until many years later when he was a young man. At that time, he took photographs of Makah people, included several people whom he was close to as a child. In addition to Indian Days at Neah Bay, McCurdy also wrote By Juan de Fuca Strait, a history of the entrance to Puget Sound.

McCurdy went on to become the president of First National Bank in Port Townsend. Both his son Horace Winslow McCurdy and his grandson, also named James G. McCurdy, ran the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company.

Content Description

The collection contains Pacific Northwest photographs taken by James G. McCurdy; it also includes a few photographs that McCurdy collected. The majority of the photographs depict ships in the Port Townsend area. There is also an extensive series of photographs of Native Americans. Most of these are photographs of the Makah people taken at Neah Bay (a few were taken in the Port Townsend area). In addition to these two series, the collection also includes a few photographs related to logging.

Arrangement

Arranged in three series:

Makah Photographs
Ship Photographs
Logging Photographs

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated by H.W. McCurdy in 1955.

Processing Note

Some cracked and broken negatives have been conserved.

Separated Materials

These materials are part of a donation that also included a number of artifacts. These artifacts are cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI’s Collections Department.

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Modern copy prints available for viewing.

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

James G. McCurdy Photographs, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Related Information

Bibliography

McCurdy, James G. By Juan de Fuca's Strait: Pioneering Along the Northwestern Edge of the Continent . Portland: Metropolitan Press, 1937.

McCurdy, James G. Indian Days at Neah Bay, ed. Gordon Newell. Seattle: Superior Publishing Company, 1961.

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

McCurdy, James G., 1872-1942.

Neah Bay (Wash.)

Port Townsend (Wash.)

Logging -- Washington (State) -- Photographs

Makah Indians

Shipping -- West (U.S.) -- Photographs

Glass Negatives

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

	Native American Photographs 57 photographs glass plate negatives unless otherwise noted Photographs mainly depict Makah people at Neah Bay. Also includes some photographs of Native Americans in the Port Townsend area.

	Description		Dates
	.1: Nu-cha-nulth carver Atlieu and wife at Neah Bay		circa 1900
	5x7
	.2: Nu-cha-nulth carver Atlieu carving mask at Neah Bay		circa 1900
	5x7
	.3: Makah craftsman Lord Byron making bow and arrows		circa 1900
	broken ; 5x7
	.4: Anthony Wispoo carving miniature canoe at Neah Bay		circa 1900
	broken ; 5x7
	.5: Makah chief’s burial house		circa 1900
	5x7
	.6: Canoes in Neah Bay		circa 1900
	4x5
	.7: Totem poles		circa 1900
	broken ; 4.75x6.5
	.8: Makah woman		circa 1900
	4.25x6.5
	.9		undated
	Missing
	.10: Interior of Makah house		circa 1900
	broken ; 4x5
	.11: Makah woman standing on beach		circa 1900
	broken ; 4x5
	.12: Makah woman in front of tents		circa 1900
	broken ; 4.25x6.5
	.13: Quedesa, Makah woman who worked in McCurdy household in 1870s		circa 1900
	broken ; 4.25x6.5
	.14: Makah woman making basket		circa 1900
	4x5
	.15: Makah baskets		undated
	4x5
	.16: Frank Parker (also known as Lighthouse Jack) at or near Neah Bay		circa 1900
	4x5
	.17: Group of Makah people on beach		circa 1900
	4.25x6.5
	.18		undated
	Missing
	.19		undated
	Missing
	.20: Makah woman making basket on beach		circa 1900
	4x5
	.21: Makah people and canoe on beach		circa 1900
	4.25x6.5
	.22: Makah people on beach		circa 1900
	4.25x6.5
	.23: Makah woman drying fish		circa 1900
	5x7
	.24: Makah woman		circa 1900
	4x5
	.25: Ooati and her daughter Susy Ides weaving baskets at Neah Bay		circa 1900
	5x7
	.26: Hattie Hayte with her daughter and a puppy at Neah Bay		circa 1900
	4x5
	.27: Launching a canoe in Port Townsend		undated
	5x8
	.28: Camp on Port Townsend beach		undated
	5x8
	.29: Makah canoe at Point Wilson (Port Townsend)		undated
	5x7
	.30: Makah woman cleaning halibut		circa 1900
	broken ; 5x7
	.31: Makah man making canoe		circa 1900
	4x5
	.32: Tug towing Makah canoe to whaling grounds off Cape Flattery		undated
	5x7 H.H. Morrison ( photographer)
	.33: Canoe and whale		undated
	copy negative ; 4x7 Asahel Curtis ( photographer)
	.34: Makah children by canoe		circa 1900
	broken ; 5x7
	.35: Makah people in canoe		circa 1900
	4x5
	.36: 3 loaded canoes off shore		circa 1900
	4x5
	.37: Makah man making canoe		circa 1900
	4x5
	.38: Makah man in front of tent at Point Hudson		undated
	4x5
	.39: Women digging clams		undated
	copy negative ; 3.25x5
	.40: Women digging clams		undated
	glass positive ; 4.25x6.5
	.41		undated
	missing
	.42: Makah women washing clothes, Neah Bay		circa 1900
	5x7
	.506: Native American man, child, and boat on beach		undated
	4x5
	.507: 2 mast Makah canoes with 4 people on board		circa 1900
	4x5
	.508: Beached canoe with sails up		undated
	4x5
	.509: Canoe races		undated
	4x5
	.510: Canoe races		undated
	4x5
	.511: Native American man with rifle in front of tent		undated
	4x5
	.512: Native American man in canoe		undated
	4x5
	.513: Canoe landing on beach		undated
	4x5
	.514: Houses, canoe, and beach		undated
	4x5
	.546: Native American women selling baskets to white women in Port Townsend		undated
	4x5
	.553: Native American women selling baskets to white women in Port Townsend		undated
	4.25x6.5
	.554: Native American man in blanket raising ax on beach		undated
	4.25x6.5
	.555: Native American people, canoes, and cookfire on beach		undated
	4.25x6.5
	.556: Native American woman cooking and child eating		undated
	4.25x6.5
	.557: Native American camp on beach; steamer and 2 sailing ships in background		undated
	4.25x6.5

	Ship Photographs 160 photographs4x5 glass plate negatives unless otherwise noted
	Description		Dates
	.489: Bark with windmill		undated
	cracked
	.490: Three mast bark		undated
	.491: Two mast schooner		undated
	.492: People on board Kennorma		undated
	.493: Shipwreck at Point Wilson		undated
	.494: Sailing ship Minnie A. Caine		undated
	.495: Cloud Best		undated
	broken
	.496: Shipwreck		undated
	.497: Deck of ship, possibly Minnie A. Caine		undated
	.498: Balasore		undated
	.499: Ship in Port Townsend Bay		undated
	.500: Deck of ship, possibly Minnie A. Caine		undated
	.501: Deck of ship, possibly Minnie A. Caine		undated
	.502: Ship, possibly Minnie A. Caine		undated
	.503: Ship, possibly Minnie A. Caine		undated
	.504: Deck of ship, possibly Minnie A. Caine		undated
	.505: Bark with windmill		undated
	.515: Brig Tanner		undated
	.516: Tug Wanderer		undated
	5x7 Captain Morrison ( photographer)
	.517: Tug Wanderer		undated
	5x7 Captain Morrison ( photographer)
	.518: Tug Wanderer		undated
	5x7 Captain Morrison ( photographer)
	.519: Hull of bark Southern Chief on beach		undated
	4.25x6.5
	.520: Ludlow		undated
	5x7
	.521: Coast steamship		undated
	.522: Coast steamship Umatilla		undated
	.523: Coast steamship Umatilla		undated
	.524: Coast steamship Umatilla		undated
	.525: Coast steamship Umatilla		undated
	.526: Coast steamship Umatilla at West Point		undated
	.527: Sailing ship Minnie A. Caine		undated
	2 photographs
	.528: Coast steamship Umatilla		undated
	.529: Coast Steamship Umatilla		undated
	.530: Alaska steamer Jefferson under tow		undated
	5x7
	.531: Alaska steamer Jefferson at dock in Port Townsend		undated
	5x7
	.532: Alaska steamer Tacoma at Nome		undated
	.533: Alaska steamer Tacoma at Nome		undated
	.534: Alaska steamship Northwestern		undated
	scratched ; 5x7
	.535: English type turret ship Elm Branch		undated
	.536: English type turret ship Elm Branch		undated
	5x7
	.537: English type turret ship Elm Branch		undated
	5x7
	.538: Steamship Minnesota		undated
	5x7
	.539: Steamship Minnesota from a distance		undated
	5x7
	.540: Steamship Australia		undated
	.541: Steamship Australia at dock		undated
	.542: Steamship Indraedo		undated
	5x7
	.543: Steamship Indraedo		undated
	5x7
	.544: Steamship Indraedo		undated
	5x7
	.545: Steamship Wilhelmina		undated
	.547: Famous sound steamer North Pacific		undated
	.548: Message from steamer Pelican		undated
	.549: 3 mast steamer		undated
	glass positive ; 5x7
	.558: Sailing ship in Port Townsend		undated
	broken ; 5x7 Caption: “type of the large foreign ship which is fast giving way to the steamer as a carrier”
	.559: Japanese fishing boat		undated
	5x7
	.560: Sound steamer		undated
	.561: Sound steamer		undated
	.562: Sound steamer Skagit River (sternwheeler)		undated
	.563: Sound steamer Chippewa at a distance		undated
	5x7
	.564: Sound steamer Alice Gertrude		undated
	.565: Sound steamer Indianapolis		undated
	scratched
	.566: Sound steamer Waraleale (Weary Willy)		undated
	out of focus ; 5x7
	.567: Sound steamer Rosalie		undated
	.568: Sound steamer Rosalie with tug		undated
	.569: Sound steamer Flyer		undated
	out of focus
	.570: Sound steamer Flyer		undated
	5x7 H.H. Morrison ( photographer)
	.571: Sound steamer Persita		undated
	.572: Sound steamer Bellingham		undated
	H.H. Morrison ( photographer)
	.573: Sound steamer Bellingham		undated
	5x7
	.574: Launching of sound steamer Discovery		undated
	.575: River steamer Multnohmah		undated
	5x7 H.H. Morrison ( photographer)
	.576: Sound steamer Elk No. 1		undated
	5x7
	.578: Sailing ship		undated
	broken
	.580: Launching of schooner Elsie		undated
	broken
	.581: Ships moored in Port Townsend		undated
	4.5x5
	.582: Steamship Liberte		undated
	copy negative ; 5x7
	.583: Steamship Carpathia		1903
	copy negative ; 5x7
	.584: Steamship Independence		undated
	copy negative ; 5x7
	.585: Small 2 mast sailing ship at sea		undated
	5x7
	.586: Sailing ship deck loaded with lumber		undated
	5x7
	.587: Tug Tacomaat sea		undated
	5x7
	.588: Men working on ship		1910
	5x7
	.589: Sailing ships in harbor		1907
	5x7
	.590: 4 sailing ships		undated
	5x7
	.591: 2 sailing ships under tow (taken from third ship)		undated
	broken ; 5x7
	.592: Coast steamship Spokane		undated
	.593: Coast steamship Corona		undated
	.594: Coast steamship Corona		undated
	.595: Deck of coast steamship Corona		undated
	.596: Coast steamship Walla Walla		undated
	.597: Coast steamship Walla Walla		undated
	.598: Coast steamship City of Pueblo		undated
	.599: Cost steamship City of Topeka (sunk)		undated
	.600: Coast steamship City of Topeka		undated
	.601: Coast steamship Spokane		undated
	5x7
	.602: Yacht Wideawake under sail		undated
	5x7
	.603: Yacht Bonita under sail		undated
	5x7
	.604: Yacht Bonita under sail		undated
	5x7
	.605: Yacht Bonita under sail		undated
	5x7
	.606: Yacht Lavita under sail		undated
	5x7
	.607: Yacht Lavita under sail		undated
	5x7
	.608: Yacht		undated
	5x7
	.609: U.S. revenue cutter Adams		undated
	.610: U.S. revenue cutter Adams		undated
	.611: U.S. revenue cutter Manning		undated
	H.H. Morrison ( photographer)
	.612: U.S. revenue cutter Manning		undated
	H.H. Morrison ( photographer)
	.613: U.S. revenue cutter Patterson		undated
	.614: U.S. revenue cutter Arcata		undated
	5x7
	.615: U.S. revenue cutter Peary		undated
	5x7
	.616: U.S. revenue cutter Mohican		undated
	.617: Lighthouse tender Heather		undated
	5x7
	.618: Lighthouse tender Columbine		undated
	5x7
	.619: U.S. revenue cutter Bear		undated
	.620: U.S. revenue cutter Corwan		undated
	broken
	.621: Lighthouse tender Manzanita		undated
	.622: Revenue cutter		undated
	.623: Revenue cutter		undated
	.624: Revenue cutter		undated
	5x7
	.625: 4 revenue cutters		undated
	5x8
	.626: Bark Latona		undated
	.627: Brig Tanner on beach		undated
	.628: 4 masted ship		undated
	.629: Ship Kennebec		undated
	.630: Umatilla		undated
	.631: Sailing ship Minnie A. Caine		undated
	.632: 2 sailing ships		undated
	.633: Minnie A. Caine aground on Smith Island		undated
	.634: Minnie A. Caine aground on Smith Island		undated
	.635: 2 barks anchored in Port Townsend Bay		1900
	.636: Early U.S. battleship Oregon		undated
	.637: Early U.S. battleship Yorktown		undated
	.638: Early U.S. battleship Iroquois		undated
	5x7
	.639: Early U.S. battleship Philadelphia in Port Townsend Bay		undated
	.640: Early U.S. battleship Philadelphia in Port Townsend Bay		undated
	.641: Deck of U.S. battleship Oregon		undated
	.642: Early U.S. battleship Iowa		undated
	5x7
	.643: Fleet of early U.S. battleships steaming into Port Townsend Bay		undated
	5x7
	.644: Coast steamship Queen		undated
	5x7
	.645: Coast steamship Queen		undated
	5x7
	.646: 4 mast sailing ship		undated
	copy negative ; 5x7
	.647: Fullrigger		undated
	5x7
	.648: Schooner Minnie A. Caine		undated
	5x7
	.649: Tug Sea Lion		undated
	5x7
	.650: Tug Sea Lion		undated
	5x7
	.651: Tug Sea Lion		undated
	.652: Tug Tacoma		undated
	.653: Tug Tacoma towing yacht		undated
	.654: Tug Bahada		undated
	5x7
	.655: Tug Bahada		undated
	5x7
	.656: Tugs Wylaada and Bahada traveling from Seattle to Port Townsend		undated
	5x7
	.657: Tugs Wylaada and Bahada traveling from Seattle to Port Townsend		undated
	5x7
	.658: Tug Tyee		undated
	.659: Tug Lorne after running under bowsprit of sailing ship		undated
	5x7
	.660: Tug		undated
	5x7
	.661: Tugs Sea Lion, Richard Holyoke, and Tyee at wharf		undated
	.662: Tug Pioneer		undated
	5x7
	.663: Tug Dolphin		undated
	5x7
	.664: Tug Dolphin		undated
	5x7
	.665: Tug Magic		undated
	5x7
	.666: Tug Magic		undated
	.667: Tug Magic		undated
	.668: Tug Wylaada		undated
	5x7
	.669: Tug Lorne		undated
	5x7
	.670: Tug Lorne		undated
	5x7
	.671: Tug Lorne		undated
	5x7
	.672: Tug Fearless		undated
	.673: Tug Pioneer		undated
	5x7

	Logging Photographs 6 glass plate negatives
	Description		Dates
	.488: Douglas Fir stand		undated
	5x7
	.550: Loggers and falling Douglas Fir		undated
	5x8
	.551: Loggers, oxen, and logs in forest		undated
	broken ; 5x8
	.552: Oxen and horses		undated
	5x8
	.557: Woman and fir tree with “29.75 ft. around” sign on Olympic Peninsula		undated
	5x8
	.579: Log jam on the Snohomish River at Snohomish		1892-1894
	5x8

Overview of the Collection

Repository Name:

Collection Number:

Creator:

Title:

Dates:

Quantity:

Languages:

Summary:

Location of Collection:

Biographical Note

Content Description

Arrangement

Administrative Information

Use of the Collection

Related Information

Subjects

Detailed Description of the Collection

Native American Photographs

Description

Dates

Ship Photographs

Description

Dates

Logging Photographs

Description

Dates