Guide to the William P. Romans Alaska Building Photographs
1904

Scope and Content

The collection consists of thirteen photographs of the Alaska Building construction, 1903-1904.

All of the photographs were taken by William P. Romans, a Seattle photographer in partnership with photographer Asahel Curtis in the early 1900s.

Arrangement

Photographs are arranged chronologically.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open to the public.

Historical Background

After the disastrous fire of 1889, Seattle's tallest building and first steel-framed skyscraper was constructed. The Alaska Building, built from 1903 to 1904 at the southeast corner of 2nd Avenue and Cherry Street, rose fourteen stories high. Earmes & Young, a St. Louis architectural firm, with assistance from Seattle architects Saunders & Lawton, designed the building. The Alaska Building remained the tallest building in Seattle until the eighteen-story Hoge Building (located at 705 2nd Avenue) was completed in 1911.

Custodial History

The photographs were transferred from the Seattle photographs file, 2004.

Acquisition Info

Gift of Robert Dunn, 1989.

Processing Info

Processed by Jill M. Dalager, 2004.

Inventory

Folder

Item

Date

1

1

Construction workers and horses working in the excavation for the foundation

May 23, 1904

2

2

Construction workers and horses beginning to install steel beams in foundation

June 7, 1904

3

3

Construction workers and horses installing steel beams in foundation

June 14, 1904

4

4

Construction workers laying boards on first floor

June 21, 1904

5

5

Construction work on second and third floor wall beams

June 28, 1904

6

6

Steel beam frame construction up to sixth floor

July 19, 1904

7

7

Steel beam frame construction up to eighth floor

July 26, 1904

8

8

Steel beam frame construction up to eleventh floor

Aug. 2, 1904

9

9

Decorative brick and concrete facade on first floor

Aug. 9, 1904

10

10

Steel frame construction of Alaska Building seen from roof of building next door

Aug. 15, 1904

11

11

Steel beam construction up to fifteenth floor, decorative brick and concrete work up to second floor

Aug. 17, 1904

12

12

Steel beam construction up to fifteenth floor, decorative brick and concrete work up to sixth floor

Aug. 29, 1094

13

13

Exterior brick walls with wooden scaffolding

Sept. 5, 1904

Subject Terms

Organizations:

Earmes and Young.

Saunders and Lawton.

Subjects:

Building--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs.

Historic buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs.

Geographic Names:

Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Photographs.

Genre Headings:

Architectural photographs.