See letters, photographs and other ephemera from two of Seattle's early families.
Navarez in the strait
Parker McAllister, born in 1903 in Massachusetts, was a Seattle Times artist from 1924 to 1965. McAllister started his career as an illustrator at 14 for a Spokane publication; he joined the art staff at the Seattle Times in 1920. His first Sunday magazine cover was a poster-type illustration celebrating the University of Washington crew races in spring 1924. During McAllister's career, he created illustrations depicting “local color” events and situations now routinely handled by photographers. As the technology improved, he expanded his repertoire - he illustrated articles, drew covers for special sections and the weekly Seattle Sunday Times Magazine, and drew diagrams, comics, cartoons, and portraits for the Times’ editorial page. In 1956, an exhibition of his watercolor and oil paintings of Pacific Northwest scenes and historical incidents - including some paintings from the “Discovery of the Pacific Northwest” series - were exhibited at the Washington State Historical Society Museum in Tacoma. He was also a member of the Puget Sound Group of Men Painters. McAllister retired from the Seattle Times in 1965; he passed away in Arizona in 1970.
Identifier: spl_art_291985_16.150
Date: 1955
View this itemEnvelope to Mrs. A. [Sarah] Latimer, December 8, 1891
Empty envelope addressed to Sarah Latimer. Sarah was the wife of Alexander Latimer and mother to five daughters: Narcissa Leonora Latimer Denny (1851-1900), Eliza Alice Latimer Fowler (1856-1934), Harriet Ellen Latimer Stephens (1859-1938), Clara Latimer Bickford (1861-1934), and Emma Chesney Latimer Reynolds (1864-1946). The letter was postmarked from Minnesota. The town is difficult to read but is likely Winnebago City where Sarah Latimer was living at the time.
Identifier: spl_lj_010
Date: 1891-12-08
View this itemUnknown man in Galesburg, Illinois, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by Thomas Harrison in Galesburg, Illinois.
Identifier: spl_lj_050
Date: 1880?
View this itemUnknown man in Council Grove, Kansas, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by George A. McMillan in Council Grove, Kansas.
Identifier: spl_lj_040
Date: 1885?
View this itemNarcissa Latimer letter to Alice Latimer, February 17, 1888
Narcissa Leonora (Nora) Latimer Denny was the daughter of Alexander and Sarah Latimer. She had four sisters: Eliza Alice Latimer Fowler (1856-1934), Harriet Ellen Latimer Stephens (1859-1938), Clara Latimer Bickford (1861-1934), and Emma Chesney Latimer Reynolds (1864-1946). Narcissa married Orion Denny on April 1, 1889. The letter is addressed to Alice and discusses attending the wedding of George and Leanna, the birth of their sister Harriet's child, and her plans to take a break from teaching to take music classes. The letter was postmarked from Abingdon, Illinois.
Identifier: spl_lj_006
Date: 1888-02-17
View this itemUnknown man in Hamburg, Illinois, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by Rifenburg & Co. studio in Hamburg, Iowa.
Identifier: spl_lj_021
Date: 1880?
View this itemJames Smith Latimer [?], ca. 1840
A note attached to original photograph identifies the child as James Smith Latimer. James Smith Latimer (1836-1893) was the son of Alexander Latimer and his first wife, Eunice Jane Guthrie. Given that James was born in 1836, a photo showing him at this age would have been taken around 1840. The photograph, however, appears to come from a later period, making it unclear if he is actually the child in the photograph.
Identifier: spl_lj_052
Date: 1840?
View this itemEnvelope addressed to Sarah Latimer, September 23, 1892
Empty envelope addressed to Sarah Latimer. Sarah was the wife of Alexander Latimer and mother to five daughters: Narcissa Leonora Latimer Denny (1851-1900), Eliza Alice Latimer Fowler (1856-1934), Harriet Ellen Latimer Stephens (1859-1938), Clara Latimer Bickford (1861-1934), and Emma Chesney Latimer Reynolds (1864-1946). The envelope was postmarked from Seattle.
Identifier: spl_lj_011
Date: 1892-09-23
View this itemUnknown man in Abington, Illinois, 1879
Photograph taken by William Johnston in Abingdon, Illinois.
Identifier: spl_lj_025
Date: 1879
View this itemUnknown man in Burlington, Iowa, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by S.T. Bryan in Burlington, Iowa.
Identifier: spl_lj_022
Date: 1880?
View this item