University of Washington Campus Photographs

1914 Campus Day showing students eating

These photographs reflect University of Washington campus history from the time the Territorial University was established in the Central Business District of Seattle in 1861 to later days when the campus was transferred to its present location. The cornerstone of the university was laid in downtown Seattle on May 20, 1861 and six months later classes began with about 30 students. In 1894 the cornerstone was removed and transferred to the site of the new university campus on Union Bay. The collection traces the growth of the university through, among other things, the buildings as they were first erected on campus. Represented are images of Denny Hall, which is probably the most photographed building on the campus, Parrington Hall, Suzzallo Library, the Liberal Arts Quad, and the Health Sciences complex. Student life is reflected in various organizations and activities. These include "Campus Days" which was instituted in 1904 and continued until 1934, student athletics, clubs and graduation ceremonies. The images also reflect the development of colleges and academic departments on the UW campus.

About the Database

This database was produced as part of the Crossing Organizational Boundaries IMLS Grant. The results of this grant project are also showcased on the King County Snapshots web site. The information for the University of Washington Campus Collection was researched and prepared by the IMLS Grant, UW Libraries Special Collections Division, and Cataloging staff in 2002-2003. The images were scanned in grayscale using a Microtek Scanmaker 9600L and saved in .jpg format. Some manipulation of the images was done to present the clearest possible digital image. The scanned images were then linked with descriptive data using the UW CONTENTdm program. The original collection resides in the UW Libraries Special Collections Division as the University of Washington Campus Collection.