Biographical Note Scope and Content Historical Background Processing Info InventorySubject Terms |
1895-1897 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Creator: | Braas, George H. , photographer |
| Title: | George H. Braas Mountaineers Society photographs |
| Date Span: | 1895-1897 |
| Quantity: | 33 photographic prints (1 box) |
| PH Collection No.: | 631 |
| Location: | K0187 |
| Languages: | Collection materials are in English. |
| Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. |
George H. Braas operated a photography studio in several downtown Seattle locations from 1890-1916. Until 1893, he partnered with William F. Boyd, and from 1895-1896 he partnered with Morton S. McClaire.
The collection contains George H. Braas's photographs of Mountaineers Society excursions to Mt. Rainier. They include scenes of valleys and waterfalls of the Nisqually and Paradise Rivers, the Cowlitz and Nisqually Glaciers, the Tatoosh Mountains, Mt. Adams, and groups of climbers.
The Mountaineers Society was founded in 1906, based on the shared vision of Seattle businessman W. Montelius Price and renowned Seattle photographer Asahel Curtis. Early members included Bertha Landes (later to become mayor of Seattle), various members of the Curtis family, and Edmond S. Meany, history professor at the University of Washington, who was the Mountaineers' president for over 25 years. Women were an important part of the society from the club's earliest days; in fact, by 1907, half of the 151 registered members were women. Many of the photographs in this collection were made by female Mountaineers.
As a Mountaineer, one could expect not only to climb mountains, but also to ski, hike, explore, or become involved in conservation work. The Mountaineers even had their own theatrical society, the Mountaineers Players.
The highlight of a Mountaineer's year was the society's annual summer outing. These generally went on for two or three weeks and involved climbs both major and minor as well as nature walks. Summer outings were held until 1980, when they were discontinued due to the havoc that a large group of campers could wreak on their beloved wilderness.
Today's Mountaineers Society offers even more in the way of activities, including singles events and climbing trips to foreign countries. The club's mission, however, remains the same: "To be the premier Northwest outdoor recreation club, dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and protection of natural areas."
Sources:
The collection was transferred from the Mountaineers Photograph Album, Collection 341, in 2003.
Processed by Shannon Lynch and Sarah Nelson, March, 2004.
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