Founded in 1910 as the Seattle Suitcase, Trunk and Bag Manufacturing Co., Skyway Luggage Co. has been an innovated suitcase company, including introducting the first commercially successfull wheeled luggage to the United States. Still operating out of Kent, Washington, as of 2024, Skyway was run by Henry Louis Kotkins (1912-2002), son of the company founder, for decades. Kotkins was an avid mariner, who spent much of his time on the family's boats.

This portrait of Kotkins from 1975 captaining the Diamond Head was taken by photographer Josef Scaylea. Scaylea (1913-2004) worked for 35 years as chief photographer for the Seattle Times, winning over 1000 awards for his photographs highlighting the scenery and people in the Pacific Northwest. He donated a collection of his photographs and photography equipment to MOHAI in 1993.

Handwritten on image: Josef Scaylea.
Handwritten on verso: 6-75. [Industrialist?] Skyway Luggage Co. owner. Henry Kotkins, Captain of the Diamond Head, by Josef Scaylea.

Caption information source: "Suitcase tycoon Henry Kotkins dies at age 90 in Portugal" by Candace Heckman, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 13, 2002.