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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.

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769 results for: Smith, Albert J., Sr.

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Image of Lester Catlett and woman on stairs at a party, Seattle, July 16, 1944
Photograph

Lester Catlett and woman on stairs at a party, Seattle, July 16, 1944

A postal carrier during the week, Al Smith (1916-2008) spent weekends taking pictures for his photography business "On The Spot." His photographs tell the stories of the everyday people who shaped the dynamic character of Seattle, offering rare views into the city’s Black community, the Central Area neighborhood, and the local jazz scene.Here, Smith photographs Lester Catlett and an unidentified…
ID Number:2014.49.051.040.01
Date:1944
Image of Couple dancing, Seattle, circa 1945
Photograph

Couple dancing, Seattle, circa 1945

A postal carrier during the week, Al Smith (1916-2008) spent weekends taking pictures for his photography business "On The Spot." His photographs tell the stories of everyday people who shaped the dynamic character of Seattle, offering rare views into the city’s African American community, the Central Area neighborhood, and the local jazz scene. Here, Smith takes a candid shot of…
ID Number:2014.49.051.101.01
Date:Circa 1945
Image of Guests at a house party, circa 1945
Photograph

Guests at a house party, circa 1945

In addition to his Seattle jazz club images, photographer Al Smith took many photos of family, friends, and local people in the city's Black community. Here, Smith photographs a group of friends enjoying themselves at a house party.
ID Number:2014.49.051.011.01
Date:Circa 1945
Image of Marjorie Polk and Kathryn Polk wearing gowns, Seattle, circa 1940
Photograph

Marjorie Polk and Kathryn Polk wearing gowns, Seattle, circa 1940

This image of sisters Marjorie Evelyn (Polk) Sotero (1916-2005) and Kathryn Henrietta (Polk) Coleman (1916-2001), dressed in fancy gowns, was taken in Seattle at an unknown event. The sisters moved with their family from Montana to Tacoma sometime between 1920 and 1930. Marjorie (at right) worked as a hospital ward clerk and department store detective before joining the United States…
ID Number:2014.49.051.037.01
Date:Circa 1940
Image of Friends at a house party, Seattle, circa 1943
Photograph

Friends at a house party, Seattle, circa 1943

In addition to his Seattle jazz club images, photographer Al Smith took many photos of family and friends in the city's Black community. Here, Smith photographs a group of friends enjoying themselves at a house party.MOHAI’s 2022 Curator’s Fellow Brittney Frantece explored the photographs in the Al Smith Collection for how they demonstrate Black worldbuilding in Seattle. Looking at this…
ID Number:2014.49.051.111.02
Date:Circa 1943
Image of Guests at a house party, Seattle, circa 1940
Photograph

Guests at a house party, Seattle, circa 1940

This image of a group of people at house party was taken by Seattle photographer Albert J. "Al" Smith, Sr. (1916-2008). A postal carrier during the week, Al Smith spent weekends taking pictures for his photography business "On The Spot." His photographs tell the stories of everyday people who shaped the dynamic character of Seattle, offering rare views into the…
ID Number:2014.49.051.119.02
Date:Circa 1940
Image of Men marching in a Mardi Gras parade, Seattle, circa 1956
Photograph

Men marching in a Mardi Gras parade, Seattle, circa 1956

In addition to his Seattle jazz club images, photographer Al Smith took photos of events in the city’s black community. On this occasion, he photographed a parade group in the annual Mardi Gras, the African American summer festival that took place as part of Seattle’s International Festival, later Seafair. Here, the school groups the Bon Temps and the Le Premiers…
ID Number:2014.49.052.042
Date:Circa 1955
Image of Wedding party, Seattle, 1957
Photograph

Wedding party, Seattle, 1957

In addition to his jazz club images, photographer Al Smith took many photos of family, friends and other local people in their everyday lives. Here, Smith takes an informal photo of an unidentified wedding party. Stamped on verso: 6/1/57
ID Number:2014.49.052.072
Date:1957
Image of Football player Brennan King, Seattle, 1937
Photograph

Football player Brennan King, Seattle, 1937

Brennan King played football at Garfield High School and went on to star with the Renton Rams of the Northwest League and the Uptown Athletic Club of Seattle’s semi-pro Community League. In 1935, he won the new Al Rosenburg trophy as the most popular league player. The following year, he moved on to coach the Community League’s new, predominantly black…
ID Number:2014.49.052.077.0004
Date:1937
Image of Crowd at a football game, Seattle, circa 1937
Photograph

Crowd at a football game, Seattle, circa 1937

The Ubangi Blackhawks, a predominantly black semi-pro football team, played in Seattle’s Community League in the 1930s. In 1937, their winning streak led them to win the league championship. Here, a crowd watches the Ubangi Blackhawks play at Seattle’s Civic Stadium. Caption information source: BlackPast.org: Campbell, B. (2007, January 22) Ubangi Blackhawks. Retrieved from https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/ubangi-blackhawks/
ID Number:2014.49.052.077.0005
Date:Circa 1937
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