Guide to Harlan Thomas Architectural Work Photograph Collection
circa 1910-1940

Biographical Note

Harlan Thomas was born in Des Moines, Iowa on January 10, 1870. His father, a Civil War Veteran, moved the family to Fort Collins, Colorado, when Harlan was nine years old. He enrolled in Colorado State College in 1885 and became interested in architecture, although his father's death in 1886 forced him to withdraw after only one year of study. Between 1886 and 1891, Thomas worked as a carpenter and draftsman, eventually re-enrolling in Colorado State in 1891. By the time he graduated in 1894 he had already designed two buildings for Colorado State University's campus and a home addition for Franklin Avery, a prominent Fort Collins businessman. After graduation, Thomas opened an architectural office before moving to Europe with his new wife, Edith Partridge, in 1895.

Thomas worked in Denver and traveled extensively between 1896 and 1906, finally moving to Seattle in 1906. Over the next 43 years, Thomas contributed numerous architectural works to the Pacific Northwest. His projects include: the Chelsea Hotel, the Sorrento Hotel, the Queen Anne Seattle Public Library, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Building, the Rhodes Department Store (now known as the Arcade Plaza Building), the first Harborview Hospital building, Bagley Hall at the University of Washington, Laurelhurst Church and the Sand Point Community United Methodist Church. In addition, he designed several high schools, including one in Enumclaw, Washington, the Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen, Washington, and the Masonic Temple and high school in Juneau, Alaska.

From 1926 until 1940 Thomas was a Professor of Architecture and Director of the School of Architecture at the University of Washington, Seattle. In 1940 he became the Director Emeritus of the School of Architecture at the University of Washington. Thomas retired from practice in 1949 and devoted his time to water-color painting, a skill he had practiced throughout his career. In 1951, he exhibited a number of his watercolor sketches at the University of Washington Henry Art Gallery. On September 4, 1953, Harlan Thomas died at the age of 83 at his home on 3015 West Market Street.

Scope and Content

The collection includes photographs of architectural works by Harlan Thomas. Photographs of architectural renderings and floor plans are included as well. Images depict commercial, medical, residential, educational, and religious structures, as well as three portraits of Harlan Thomas and one group photograph.

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.

Acquisition Info

Gift of Karen Gordon, Urban Conservation Project, Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle; received February 28, 1994.

Gift of Ed Baar (?): items 394.2-3.

Processing Info

Processed by Liam McDonnell, 2005, and Megan Peacock, 2006; processing completed in 2006

Inventory

Folder

Item

Date

Portraits

1

1

Harlan Thomas

undated

Photographer: S. Walters Studio

2-3

Harlan Thomas

September 1921

4

Group portrait of first excursion party at Alaska-British Columbia boundary monument

September 16, 1917

Harlan Thomas is in the third row, eleventh person from the left.

Folder

Item

Date

Architectural works

Arranged alphabetically by project.

2

5

Aluminum Research Laboratories, New Kensington, Pennsylvania

undated

6

Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute chemistry lab, Brooklyn, New York

undated

7-9

W.A. Broom Residence, Woodway Park

undated

Photographer: Rounds & Roaf Commercial Photo Studio, Seattle, Washington

10

Chelsea Hotel, Seattle, Washington

undated

11

Cobb Building elevators, Seattle, Washington

1937

3

12

Cornell University, Baker Chemistry Lab, Ithaca, New York

undated

13

De Wolfe Building, Seattle, Washington

undated

Photographer: Pierson Photo Co. Commercial Photographer

Pen and ink illustration of building facade.

Note on verso reads: "Design by Kenneth Anderson (went with Disney)"

14

Paul Feldenheimer storefront, Portland, Oregon

1937

Note on verso attributes architecture to McLelland & Jones.

15

Foster residence, Seattle, Washington

undated

Harborview Hospital of King County, Seattle, Washington

4

16

Three quarter profile view of building exterior

circa 1930

17-18

View of hospital from across the street

circa 1930

Photographer: Kenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington

19-20

Lobby

1930

Photographer: Kenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington

21

Photograph of drawing of hospital

undated

Photographer: Depue, Morgan & Co., Inc., Seattle, Washington

22-23

Photograph of architectural model

undated

Photographer: Walter P. Miller Commercial Photographer, Seattle, Washington

24-29

Photograph of architectural model

undated

High Schools

5

30

Enumclaw and Aberdeen, Washington, and Juneau, Alaska, High Schools

undated

31-35

Photograph of architectural plans of proposed site plot, building and floor plans of Juneau High School, Juneau, Alaska

March 28, 1927

6

36

Artist rendering and proposed floor plans of Laurelhurst Community Church, Seattle, Washington

circa April 27, 1937

Note on back reads: "St. Stephen's Church, 4805 NE 45th."

37

William O. McKay Co. Lincoln Sales & Service Garage

undated

38

Artist rendering of Masonic Temple, Juneau, Alaska

undated

Photographer: Depue, Morgan & Co., Inc., Seattle, Washington

39

Mt. Rainier Lodge, Longmire, Washington

undated

Photographer: Asahel Curtis, Seattle, Washington

40

Artist rendering of the Queen Anne Library, Seattle, Washington

undated

Photographer: Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Washington

Rhodes Department Store, Seattle, Washington

7

41

Artist rendering of exterior

undated

"Arcade Plaza Bldg. (known as Rhodes Department Store), Second & Union."

42

Exterior with department store sign

undated

Photographer: Kenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington

43

View of interior, shoe department in foreground

undated

Photographer: Kenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington

44

Jewelry and accessory departments

undated

Photographer: Kenneth S. Brown, Seattle, Washington

45

Royal Dutch Bakery

undated

46

Artist rendering of Sand Point Community Church, Seattle, Washington

undated

"Designed by Donald P. Thomas."

47

Seventh Church of Christ Scientist, Seattle, Washington

undated

Photographer: Depue, Morgan & Co., Inc., Seattle, Washington

48

Artist rendering of lodge, plot layout and floorplan for Snoqualmie Hot Springs, Snoqualmie, Washington

undated

Photographer: Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Washington

"Located on Middle Fork of Snoqualmie River and Burnt Boot Creek."

8

49-53

Sorrento Hotel floor plans

undated

9

54

Sprouse Reitz Co. storefront, Portland, Oregon

undated

Completed November, 1935. Material used was Orebraloy Aluminum with polished, satin and lacquered finishes. The contractor for the project was Allen V. Moore. "Store front consisting of push bars, kick plates, cast aluminum plaques and letters, horizontal and vertical bars (louvres and glass setting furnished by others): installed complete - $650.00 (Price as of November, 1936)."

55

University of West Virginia Chemistry Laboratory, Morgantown, West Virginia.

undated

"Downdraft table hoods, table tops, sinks, and wall shelves of Alberene Stone."

56

Artist rendering of proposed University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, Washington

undated

University of Washington Chemistry - Pharmacy Building, Seattle, Washington

Now called Bagley Hall.

10

57

Artist rendering

February 21, 1939

"Bagley Hall. Construction Cost: $1,154,000.000. 35 general laboratories, 60 research laboratories and offices, stock room, library, study hall, auditorium (300 seats), Lecture Hall (150 seats), 3 smaller lecture halls. Fireproof construction: 190 x 250: 4 floors and basements."

58

Exterior of hall with Drumheller fountain in front of building

undated

Photographer: Roger Dudley, Commercial Photographer, Seattle, Washington

59-60

Exterior of hall

undated

Photographer: Roger Dudley, Commercial Photographer, Seattle, Washington

61

Weatherwax High School, Aberdeen, Washington

undated

62

Yale University, Sterling Laboratory of Chemistry, New Haven, Connecticut

undated

" Table tops, reagent shelving and hoods of Alberene Stone."

Unidentified projects

11

63-64

Backside of residence and pool.

undated

65-66

Front and rear view of courthouse and jail.

undated

67

View of Seattle, Washington, street and buildings at intersection with University Street

October 9, 1911

68

Pen and ink rendering of a two-towered building, possibly a hotel

undated

69

View of interior stone stairs with wrought iron railing

undated

Photographer: Rounds & Roaf Commercial Photo Studio, Seattle, Washington

"Whitcomb interior."

70

View of lake and surrounding brush-covered landscape

undated

Photographer: Webster & Stevens, Seattle, Washington

Subject Terms

Personal Names:

Thomas, Harlan, 1870-1953--Photographs.

Subjects:

Architects--United States--20th century.

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

College facilities--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs.

College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs.

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

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

Genre Headings:

Photographic prints.

Photographs.