Guide to the Frank S. Matsura Photographs 1907-1913
PC 35

Summary Information

Repository
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Creator
Matsura, Frank S.
Title
Frank S. Matsura Photographs
ID
PC 35
Date [inclusive]
1907-1913
Extent
1886.0 items.
General Physical Description note
2 linear feet of shelf space.
Language
English
Abstract
Photographic prints depicting pioneer life in Okanogan County, Washington, including scenes of work and entertainment.

Preferred Citation note

[Item Description]. PC 35, Frank S. Matsura Photographs. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biographical/Historical note

Frank S. Matsura arrived in the United States from Japan in 1905, settling briefly in Seattle before crossing the Cascades to take a job at the Elliot Hotel in Conconully, Washington, as a handyman. In 1907 he moved to Okanogan, Washington, and opened a photography studio, which he operated until his death from tuberculosis in 1913 at the age of 32. Judge William C. Brown served as administrator of Matsura's effects and gained custody of his photographs. As one of Matsura's closest friends, Judge Brown recognized the historical importance of the photographs in his custody

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Scope and Contents note

The photographs have been sorted into subject groupings and roughly organized into six series. Series I. People includes individual and group portaits, children, Judge William Compton Brown's animals, athletics, Indians, and horsemen; Series II. Places consists of photographs of the Columbia River and cities in Washington State such as, Conconully, Fort Okanogan, Malott, Okanogan, Omak, and Riverside; Series III. Things includes automobiles, homesteads and ranches, horse-drawn vehicles, houses, and orchards; Series IV. Activities includes scenes of farming, irrigation projects in Okanogan, construction of the Conconully Dam and the Elgin Canyon Road; Series V. Scrapbook includes mounted prints; and Series VI. Oversize consists of photographs of athletic groups.

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Arrangement note

The photographs have been sorted into subject groupings and roughly organized into six series. Series I. People Series II. Places; Series III; Series IV. Activities; Series V. Scrapbook includes mounted prints; and Series VI. Oversize.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries © 1981

http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The Frank S. Matsura photographs were received by the Washington State University Library in the early 1960's as part of the papers of William Compton Brown.

Existence and Location of Copies note

See the Frank Matsura Digital Collection: http://content.wsulibs.wsu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/matsura

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Related Materials

Separated Materials note

The photographs were separated from Judge Brown's papers, Cage 196

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Digital Collections. waps.
  • Historical Photograph Collections. waps.

Genre(s)

  • Cityscapes--Washington (State)--Okanogan--20th century. gmgpc waps
  • Group portraits -- Washington (State)--20th century. gmgpc waps.
  • Portraits--Washington (State)--20th century. gmgpc waps.
  • Progress photographs -- Washington (State)--20th century. gmgpc waps.
  • Scrapbooks--Washington (State)--20th century. gmgpc waps.

Geographic Name(s)

  • Okanogan County (Wash.)--Portraits.

Personal Name(s)

  • Brown, William Compton, 1869-1963--Portraits
  • Matsura, Frank, d. 1913--Photographs
  • Matsura, Frank, d. 1913--Portraits

Subject(s)

  • Japanese Americans
  • Pacific Northwest History
  • Photographs
  • Scrapbooks
  • Washington (State)

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General note

Frank Matsura in his studio

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Collection Inventory

Series 1: People 
Box Folder

Frank Matsura   100.0 items.

 1 1

W. C. Brown   7.0 items.

 1 2

W. C. Brown's animals   9.0 items.

 1 3

Portraits   157.0 items.

 1 4

Families   49.0 items.

 1 5

Couples   20.0 items.

 1 6

Children   71.0 items.

 1 7

Group portraits   104.0 items.

 1 8

Music groups   10.0 items.

 1 9

Outing groups   13.0 items.

 1 10

School groups   20.0 items.

 1 11

Athletics   45.0 items.

 1 12

Horsemen and horsewomen   59.0 items.

 1 13

Indians   8.0 items.

 1 14

"Short shots" (multiple image negatives) 
Box Folder

Men   68.0 items.

 1 15

Women   100.0 items.

 1 16

Children   65.0 items.

 1 17

Groups   28.0 items.

 1 18

Couples, athletic groups and other   109.0 items.

 1 19

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Series 2: Places 
Box Folder

Columbia River   2.0 items.

 1 20

Conconully, WA   10.0 items.

 1 21

Fort Okanogan   7.0 items.

 1 22

Malott, WA   3.0 items.

 1 23

Okanogan, WA   50.0 items.

 1 24

Okanogan Auditorium   9.0 items.

 1 25

Okanogan fair and parades   17.0 items.

 2 26

Okanogan high bridge   8.0 items.

 2 27

Okanogan countryside   40.0 items.

 2 28

Omak, WA   12.0 items.

 2 29

Riverside, WA   4.0 items.

 2 30

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Series 3: Things 
Box Folder

Automobiles   18.0 items.

 2 31

Blacksmith, tack shop   2.0 items.

 2 32

Building interiors   7.0 items.

 2 33

Farm animals   11.0 items.

 2 34

Farms   9.0 items.

 2 35

Homesteads and ranches   54.0 items.

 2 36

Horse-drawn vehicles   41.0 items.

 2 37

Hotels   16.0 items.

 2 38

Houses   15.0 items.

 2 39

Orchards   55.0 items.

 2 40

Steamboats   9.0 items.

 2 41

Street scenes and buildings   16.0 items.

 2 42

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Series 4: Activities 
Box Folder

Hunting and fishing   14.0 items.

 2 43

Farm land development   13.0 items.

 2 44

Okanogan Irrigation project   10.0 items.

 2 45

Harvest   4.0 items.

 2 46

Construction of GNRR into Okanogan   16.0 items.

 2 47

Construction of Conconully Dam   69.0 items.

 2 48

Elgin Canyon Road construction   19.0 items.

 2 49

Construction scenes   23.0 items.

 2 50

Mining   3.0 items.

 2 51

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Series 5: Scrapbook 
Box Folder

Scrapbook of mounted prints   350.0 items.

 2 52

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Series 6: Oversize 
Box Folder

Athletic groups   7.0 items.

 2 53

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Series 7: Recent (2001) Japanese materials 
Box Folder

Photographs and printed materials by Tatsuo Karihara relating to Matsura, including recent photographs from vantage points used by Matsura. 

 2 53

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