Vintage Photograph Collection

The Whatcom Museum Photo Archives maintains a Vintage Photograph Collection that includes images from area photographers such as Clyde Banks, Asahel Curtis, Edward Curtis, Beverly Dobbs, O. E. Garland, J. B. Hann, E. A. and P. L. Hegg, Fred and Henry Jukes, H. R. Stenton and Webster & Pierce.

The donations are organized according to subject. A listing of subject categories is available at the Archives.

Go to a sampling of Vintage Portraits.

President Theodore Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet President Theodore Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet in Bellingham Bay. Parade down Holly Street, May 22, 1908. Photograph by H. R. Stenton.
White City Amusement Park White City Amusement Park, Silver Beach, Lake Whatcom, Bellingham, WA. Postcard picture. White City existed 1906-1919.
White City Amusement Park White City Amusement Park, Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Picnic, July 21, 1916. Photograph by J. W. Sandison.
Carmen Runestrand riding the dragon Carmen Runestrand riding the dragon, Bellingham Tulip Festival Parade. Bellingham Publishing Co. parade float. May 1924. photographer unknown.
Fairhaven Hotel, near completion, 1890 Fairhaven Hotel, near completion, 1890. 12th and Harris, Fairhaven, WA (now a part of Bellingham, WA) photographer unknown. The hotel, which hosted Mark Twain in 1895, was ultimately damaged in a 1953 fire, and demolished in 1956. x.914
Onffrey's Fleet in Pleasant Bay #9133 Onffrey’s Fleet in Pleasant Bay, photograph by O. E. Garland. Floating canneries were canning was done on-board. Anchored at Pleasant Bay, part of Chuckanut Bay, Whatcom County, Washington, 1903. #9133
Hal Maltby in Stanley Steamer, 1903 Hal Maltby in Stanley Steamer, 1903, the first motorized vehicle in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington. Photographer unknown. x.905
New Whatcom City Hall, 1893 New Whatcom City Hall, 1893, with Long & Merritt construction crews applying finishing touches to cornice work. The building, designed by architect Alfred Lee, is now the Whatcom Museum of History & Art. Photographer unknown. 1970.139.7
Roth Mansion, shortly before its destruction, 1956 Roth Mansion, shortly before its destruction, 1956, Bellingham, WA, photograph by Galen Biery. The house was built by pioneer Henry Roeder (photograph in Vintage Portraits) in 1898.
Princess Sophia at Citizen’s Dock, c. 1916 Princess Sophia at Citizen’s Dock, c. 1916, photograph by Clyde Banks. Citizen's Dock was Bellingham’s steamship terminal from 1913 to 1937. 1983.17.2
View of Whatcom, 1883 View of Whatcom, 1883, with original Whatcom County Courthouse on E Street, left foreground, built in 1858, the first brick building in Washington Territory. Phelps & Van Wyck Building, left center, on C Street and Thirteenth (West Holly). Sehome is in the distance. photographer unknown. x.7435.
Colony Mill, Whatcom Creek, c. 1883 Colony Mill, Whatcom Creek, c. 1883. photographer unknown. x.3885a
Joe Galbraith dons an overcoat and steps into "Betsy," a Model T driven by Hugh Diehl Joe Galbraith dons an overcoat and steps into "Betsy," a Model T driven by Hugh Diehl during the final leg of the 1911 Mt. Baker Marathon.
Lummi Dancers, 1920s Lummi Dancers, 1920s. photographer unknown. Sandison #3890.
Davenport-Engberg Symphony Orchestra, with Madame Engberg, conductor Davenport-Engberg Symphony Orchestra, with Madame Engberg, conductor (photograph in Vintage Portraits); Maud Powell, soloist. Bellingham, WA. January 24, 1913.

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Vintage Portraits

Phoebe Goodell Judson (1831-1926) Phoebe Goodell Judson (1831-1926), and her spinning wheel, with her Great-Great Granddaughter Phoebe Bolster (later Townley). The spinning wheel is on display at the Whatcom Museum of History & Art. Photograph taken in the Victor Roeder home, photographer unknown. 1951.30.18.
Captain Henry A. Roeder (1824-1902) Captain Henry A. Roeder (1824-1902), Roeder and Russell V. Peabody were the first two settlers in Bellingham, WA.
Elizabeth Austin Roeder (1826-1897) Elizabeth Austin Roeder (1826-1897), wife of Captain Henry A. Roeder.
Captain Henry A. Roeder Captain Henry A. Roeder as a young man. Note the earrings! c. 1850s. #3882.
Madame Mary Davenport-Engberg (1881-1951) Madame Mary Davenport-Engberg (1881-1951), first woman conductor in the United States. She conducted the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra and was a musical instructor at the Bellingham State Normal School. Dress is hand-made silk Battenburg, foundation of imported satin. 1907. Photographer unknown.
Edward Eldridge (1828-1892) Edward Eldridge (1828-1892), early pioneer settler of Whatcom. n.d., photograph by E. A. Hegg.
Teresa Lappin Eldridge (1832-1911) Teresa Lappin Eldridge (1832-1911), early pioneer settler of Whatcom, first white woman on Bellingham Bay. n.d. photographer unknown.
Isabella Eldridge (later Edens) (1852-1911) Isabella Eldridge (later Edens) (1852-1911), early Whatcom County schoolteacher, daughter of Edward and Teresa Eldridge. n.d. Photographer unknown.
Ella Higginson (186- -1940) Ella Higginson (186- -1940), Poet Laureate of Washington State. Photograph by W. Jackson, Tacoma.
Frank Hillaire, Lummi Tribal Elder Frank Hillaire, Lummi Tribal Elder, photograph by P. L. Hegg. x.2646

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