• Visit
    • Museum Accessibility
    • Community Access
    • Group Visits and Tours
    • Programs
      • History Café
      • MOHAI Mercantile Literary Series
      • First Thursday
      • Denny Lecture
      • Al Young Educator of the Year
      • Everyday Heroes
    • MOHAI Mercantile
    • Gourmondo at MOHAI
  • Exhibits
  • Events
  • Collections and Research
    • Collections Search
    • Themed Collections
    • Research Library
    • Image Ordering
    • Donate an Artifact
    • Curator’s Fellowship
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Membership at MOHAI
    • Gift Memberships
    • Corporate Support
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • Self-Guided School Year Explorations
      • Creating Our Community
      • Cracking the History Code: Salish Stories
      • Cracking the History Code: Settling Around the Sound
      • Hands on History
      • Self-Guided Summer Field Trips
      • Homeschool Group
    • Portable Museum Program
    • Scholarships
    • Education FAQ
    • Primary Source Analysis
    • Online Curricula
    • Teen Programs
    • Idea Lab
    • Discovery Packs
    • Summer Camps
  • About
    • Annual Reports
    • The MOHAI Blog
    • Contact MOHAI
    • Opportunities
    • Leadership
    • Private Events
  • Donate
  • Tickets
  • Membership
HomeCollections and ResearchCollections Search

Collections Search

Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

Download lower resolution images directly from an item page. MOHAI offers high-resolution digital reproductions of photographs and other materials from our collections for personal and professional use.

We have many more items in our collections and not everything you see online is on view at the museum. We have additional materials online at the University of Washington’s Digital Collections.

MOHAI Statement on Harmful Content

Search by Collection

Not finding what you are looking for?
Ask the MOHAI Collections Staff

584 results for: Asian American

Share:
Image of Chinese dragon in parade for China Day, Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Seattle, 1909
Photograph

Chinese dragon in parade for China Day, Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Seattle, 1909

The China Day celebration took place on September 13, 1909, funded by Seattle's Chinese American community. A parade with a Chinese dragon, shown here, was a highlight of the festivities. Embossed on mount: Harwood.Caption information source: "Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle celebrates China Day and Montesano Day on September 13, 1909," by Phil Dougherty, HistoryLink.org Essay 8962.
ID Number:1974.5868.111
Date:1909
Image of Mr. Nagashima, Seattle, 1927
Photograph

Mr. Nagashima, Seattle, 1927

This portrait of a Mr. Nagashima is part of a collection from McBride and Anderson photographers. Born in 1863, Ella McBride began working in the photography field in 1909 when she managed the Edward Curtis Studio. She opened her own studio in 1917 with Wayne Albee. Albee moved to San Diego in 1925, and McBride continued to operate a studio…
ID Number:1974.5923.92
Date:1927
Image of Children saluting flag at Junior League Convalescent Home, Seattle, 1934
Photograph

Children saluting flag at Junior League Convalescent Home, Seattle, 1934

The Junior League of Seattle was formed in 1923 by a group of young women initially to support the Seattle Day Nursery. The Seattle League volunteered at Children's Orthopedic Hospital, Sacred Heart Orphanage, and other charities. They also established a convalescent home and orphanage at 4646 36th Avenue West.This photo is part of a collection from McBride and Anderson photographers.…
ID Number:1974.5923.269.2
Date:1934
Image of Group of schoolchildren at Port Blakely, 1925
Photograph

Group of schoolchildren at Port Blakely, 1925

From early in its history, Port Blakely had a strong immigrant population. The Port Blakely Mill, established by Captain William Renton in 1864, attracted many immigrant workers, and the Japanese and Scandinavian populations in particular began to increase in the 1890s. Many of these immigrants settled and began families on the island, and this heritage was reflected in the diversity…
ID Number:1977.6486.35
Date:1925
Image of Chinese Crew Making Horse Slings, Seattle, August 1899
Photograph

Chinese Crew Making Horse Slings, Seattle, August 1899

This photo shows Chinese crew members makes horse slings to lift horses onto ship headed for Philippine American War. Handwritten on photo: 500 Wilse Handwritten by photographer under photo in album: Chinese crew making horse slings
ID Number:1980.6967.40
Date:1899
Image of Goon Dip and family, circa 1910
Photograph

Goon Dip and family, circa 1910

Goon Dip (circa 1862-1933), one of the most influential Chinese people in the history of Washington state, worked his way up from poverty to become a wealthy merchant and successful labor contractor who provided employment in the canneries for hundreds of Chinese immigrants. He served as China’s honorary consul to Washington State and Alaska. He also built the Milwaukee Hotel…
ID Number:1982.4.1
Date:Circa 1910
Image of Mrs. E. Nishida, circa 1921
Photograph

Mrs. E. Nishida, circa 1921

People of Japanese ancestry have lived in Seattle since 1879. By 1900, they had become Seattle's largest minority group. Japanese immigrants were successful farmers, and they operated hotels and small shops. However, they were unable to own property or apply for citizenship due to discriminatory immigration laws. In this photo, taken around 1921, one of Seattle's young Japanese citizens poses…
ID Number:1983.10.1068.2
Date:Circa 1921
Image of Asian American strawberry picker, circa 1919
Photograph

Asian American strawberry picker, circa 1919

Many Asian immigrants in the Seattle and King County area were farmers. Before World War One, Japanese farmers were already supplying most of the region's population with vegetables, small fruits, and diary products. Starting in the 1920s, many immigrants from the Philippines worked as seasonal laborers at area farms.In this photo, taken in the Seattle area around 1919, an Asian-American…
ID Number:1983.10.1593.1
Date:Circa 1919
Image of Shozo Tsutakawa in front of the Japanese American Commission Company, Seattle, circa 1919
Photograph

Shozo Tsutakawa in front of the Japanese American Commission Company, Seattle, circa 1919

Shozo Tsutakawa (1877-1951) was a successful Japanese businessman who immigrated to the US around 1904 and started the Japanese American Commission Company, importing and exporting food and other goods to and from Japan. He was also president of the Japanese Commercial Club in Seattle. In 1919, Tsutakawa wrote an article in the Seattle Times about the huge growth in trade…
ID Number:1983.10.1617.1
Date:Circa 1919
Image of Shozo Tsutakawa in front of Japanese American Commission Company, circa 1919
Photograph

Shozo Tsutakawa in front of Japanese American Commission Company, circa 1919

Shozo Tsutakawa (1877-1951) was a successful Japanese businessman who immigrated to the US around 1904 and started the Japanese American Commission Company, importing and exporting food and other goods to and from Japan. He was also president of the Japanese Commercial Club in Seattle. In 1919, Tsutakawa wrote an article in the Seattle Times about the huge growth in trade…
ID Number:1983.10.1617.2
Date:Circa 1919
Previous 1 2 3 4 … 59 Next

Land Acknowledgement

MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109
Phone: 206 324 1126
  • Plan a Visit
  • Directions and Parking
  • Accessibility
  • Group Tours
  • About

Sign up to Receive our Newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright 2026, Museum of History & Industry. All Rights Reserved