Preliminary Guide to the Edmond S. Meany Photograph Collection
circa 1880-1940

Biographical Note

Edmond Stephen Meany was born December 28, 1862 in East Saginaw, Michigan. He moved west with his family, arriving in Seattle in 1877. He started studying at the Territorial University of Washington, but his education was interrupted in 1880 by the sudden death of his father, Stephen E. Meany. Meany then moved with his mother and the rest of his family to California to stay with relatives. They returned to Seattle in 1882. By holding several jobs at once, Meany was able to support his family as well as put himself through school at the Territorial University. He graduated as valedictorian in the Class of 1885, with a bachelor's degree in science, and later obtained a master's degree in science in 1889.

One of the jobs at which Meany worked during this time was newspaper delivery. He soon worked his way up in the newspaper field to become editor and publisher for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. By 1890, Meany had started his own news service called the Washington State News Bureau, and had been hired as press agent to represent Washington state at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Meany served as a state legislator in the sessions of 1891 and 1893 and he initiated legislation setting aside 355 acres to be used for the new campus of the University of Washington, as well as a bill making tuition at the University free. In 1894, Meany became the University's first registrar while also holding positions as an instructor and as secretary to the Board of Regents. He became a full professor and head of the Department of History in 1897, teaching courses in Forestry, American History and Pacific Northwest History. By studying summers at the University of Wisconsin he earned a Master of Letters degree in 1901, completing a thesis on Chief Joseph. Meany was always a friend of the Indians, and over the years became very close to Chief Joseph especially. In 1907 he traveled with Edward S. Curtis to South Dakota to do research and conduct interviews with the Indians of that area. Part of the history of the Sioux Indians in Curtis' North American Indian was written by Meany. Meany was also instrumental in having the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition located on the University's campus in 1909. This led to the clearing of portions of the new campus for the construction of buildings, some of which would later be used by the University.

Meany's activities were diverse and numerous. He was secretary of the Young Naturalist's Society, Vice President of the American Forestry Association, President of the Washington State Forestry Association and president of the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Society. He was President of the Mountaineers from 1908 until his death in 1935, and was also founder and editor of the Washington Historical Quarterly. His specialty was Pacific Northwest history, especially Washington state history, on which he wrote several books and countless articles and speeches. Through his research and studies he became a collector of documents and photographs important to Pacific Northwest history. In 1929 he donated most of the rare and important documents which he had in his possession to the University of Washington Library.

The many honors that came to Meany during his lifetime attest to his great popularity. Mt. Meany in the Olympic Mountains and Meany Crest on Mount Rainier were named for him. The University Tower Hotel originally bore the name Hotel Edmond Meany and the University's auditorium and theatre were named for him in 1914--the first instance of a university building being named for a living person. In 1926 he was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the College of Puget Sound and in 1929 he was named Chevalier of the National Order of the French Legion of Honor. President Suzzallo called Meany "Keeper of Traditions," given the rituals and traditions, such as Campus Day or the giving of the Ephebic Oath, which he initiated and helped to maintain. Edmond S. Meany, the University's "Grand Old Man," died on April 22, 1935. He has, perhaps, been the University of Washington's most influential and beloved figure, for he gave so much of himself to the cause of a great university which he considered so very important.

Scope and Content

Collection includes 5 albums depicting Washington, British Columbia and Alaska native peoples and their environment, taken by Meany in 1902-1905. 1 album containing photographs of the Cascades. Loose photographs are portraits Edmond Meany and of family members and friends. See NA nos. 1133-1283 for Native American indexing.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Restrictions on Access

The collection is open to the public.

Inventory