Maps and Atlases Collection
Preview up to 100 items from this collection below. See maps and atlases depicting the changing landscape of Seattle and other areas in the Pacific Northwest. Take a look at our historic map resources page to browse maps by location.
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Map of the City of Seattle, Washington Territory, Showing Its Additions and the Walla Walla Rail Road, 1875
Map depicting land claims of many of Seattle's founders such as Denny, Bell and Yesler.
Identifier: spl_maps_2467399
Date: 1875
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Industrial, Commercial, and Residential Map, 1926
Map depicting industrial, commercial and residential zones along with parks and cemetaries. Also marked are areas predominently populated by African Americans, Japanese, Chinese and Italians.
Identifier: spl_maps_2479649
Date: 1926
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Juneau, Alaska harbor and the Gastineau Channel looking NW, ca. 1899
In 1880, gold was discovered at Silver Bow Basin by Richard Harris and Joe Juneau. The gold discovery led to the development of the nearby town of Juneau.
Identifier: spl_ap_00068
Date: 1899?
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Map Part of the Island of Hawaii Sandwich Islands shewing the craters and eruptions of May and June 1840, 1841
This map exhibits the two remarkable volcanic mountains visited by the Expedition, with their numerous craters, together with the great eruption of 1840, and the track of the party to and from the crater of Mku-weo-weo, on the top of Mauna Loa.
Identifier: spl_maps_367358_03
Date: 1841
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Emilie Schwabacher Interview, July 9, 1987
Emilie Bloch Schwabacher (1903-2000) was an active member of Seattle’s charitable community and a member of one of Seattle’s early families. She was born in San Francisco and attended Mills College, earning a master of arts degree in education. She married Morton Leo Schwabacher (1902-1977) in 1931 and the couple had one daughter together. Emilie was dedicated to many social causes including the Settlement House which helped struggling families in Central Seattle. In 1948, she joined the board of Children's Orthopedic Hospital, where she remained for 25 years. Her husband, Morton, was the president of Schwabacher Hardware Company, a company that his grandfather and his grandfather’s brothers first opened in Seattle in 1869.
Identifier: spl_ds_eschwabacker_01
Date: 1987-07-09
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Unknown woman in New York, ca. 1880
Photograph taken by C. Hayden in New York City.
Identifier: spl_lj_026
Date: 1880?
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Roland Trafton Interview, 1986
Roland Trafton (1920-2005) was CEO of Safeco Corporation and a leading figure in local philanthropic efforts. Trafton was born in Venice, California and his family moved to Washington when he was young. He attended the University of Washington, leaving during World War II to serve in the Army Air Corps. Upon his return to the University after the war, he earned his law degree. Trafton married his wife Rose Marie in 1943 and together the couple had five children. In 1952, Trafton began working at Safeco where he held a number of positions before becoming CEO in 1979. During his time with the company he created the Safeco Art Collection which became home to works from many Pacific Northwest artists. Trafton retired from Safeco in 1979. He was heavily involved in charitable projects, fundraising for many local organizations such as the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Art Museum, Children’s Hospital and the 5th Avenue Theatre. His interests also extended to the outdoors where he was an experienced mountaineer and marathon runner.
Identifier: spl_ds_rtrafton_01
Date: 1986
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Margaret Baillargeon Interview, August 27, 1987
Margaret Sheldon Ames Baillargeon (1898-1991) was a patron of the Seattle arts and served as a patron of many organizations. She served as president of the Cornish Foundation and as president of the Seattle Tennis Club board. Margaret’s stepfather, Edward Ames founded the Ames Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in 1916. Her husband, John Baillargeon worked in a variety of roles in Seattle’s lumber and shipbuilding industry, serving as secretary-treasurer of the C.D. Stimson Company, president of the J.A. Baillargeon Company, the Stimson Mill Company and the Ames Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.
Identifier: spl_ds_mbaillargeon_01_01
Date: 1987-08-27
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Victor Steinbrueck Interview, 1984
Victor Steinbrueck (1911-1985) was a prominent Seattle architect, noted for his leadership in preserving public outdoor space and historic areas such as Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. Steinbrueck was born in Mandan, North Dakota and his family moved to Seattle in 1913. His father worked as a machinist and was active in local labor unions and his mother was a teacher. Steinbrueck graduated from the University of Washington with his bachelor's degree in architecture in 1935. During the 1930s, Steinbrueck worked for the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, creating artwork depicting federal projects and life in CCC camps. He later produced multiple books featuring sketches of Seattle scenes. Between 1935 and 1937, he began working with private Seattle architectural firms before starting his own practice in 1938. One of his first major jobs was helping to design the Yesler Terrace Housing Project. During World War II, Steinbrueck served in the Army before returning to Seattle in 1946 and joining the University of Washington architecture faculty. In 1950, Steinbrueck married his first wife, Elaine Worden and the couple eventually had four children together. After divorcing Elaine, he married his second wife, Marjorie Da Silva in 1964. Steinbrueck’s architectural designs ranged from creating private family residences to contributing to the design of the Space Needle for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. During the 1960s and 1970s, Steinbrueck led campaigns to help protect and preserve Seattle’s historic buildings which were being threatened by urban development plans. His leadership resulted in the creation of the Pioneer Square Historic District in 1970 and the Pike Place Market Historic District in 1971. Steinbrueck continually advocated for the importance of including thoughtful public spaces in Seattle’s urban landscape. He helped push for a public plaza to be included in the Westlake Center development and also helped to design several public parks including the area that now bears his name at Pike Place Market.
Identifier: spl_ds_vsteinbrueck_01; spl_ds_vsteinbrueck_02
Date: 1984-10-15; 1984-11-17; 1984-11-19
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John Leffler Interview, January 28, 1986
John C. Leffler (1900-1987) was the dean of St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle from 1951 to 1971 and played a vital role in its transformation into a thriving institution. Leffler was born in Northridge, New York and attended Wesleyan University and the Divinity School of the Paciifc in Berkeley. In 1929 he was officially ordained as a priest and was posted in California. When World War II struck and Japanese Americans were interned, Leffler was a vocal opponent to the policy. When Leffler arrived in Seattle in 1951, St. Mark’s was in a state of disrepair after foreclosing and being used as an anti-aircraft training location in World War II. Leffler helped reestablish the church, overseeing the development of a robust musical program and growing the congregation significantly. During his time as pastor, Leffler supported a wide range of social causes including civil and women’s rights and advocated against a number of issues including McCarthyism and the Vietnam War.
Identifier: spl_ds_jleffler_01
Date: 1986-01-28
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