New York City-born William Pigott (1860-1929) founded two of Seattle's major industrial enterprises, Seattle Steel Company and Seattle Car Manufacturing Company (later Pacific Car and Foundry Company, or PACCAR). Seattle Steel Company (later Bethlehem Steel Company and Birmingham Steel Company) began operations in 1905 on 55 acres of tide flats in Humphrey (later Youngstown and West Seattle). The steel and shipbuilding company became America's second-largest steel producer and largest shipbuilder until a decline in the American steel industry and other problems led to the company's bankruptcy in 2001.

This photo of workers at the Bethlehem Seattle Company factory was taken in 1957 by Seattle Times photographer Josef Scaylea (1913-2004). Scaylea worked for 35 years as chief photographer for the 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: Bethlehem Steel, West Seattle Plant 1957.

Caption information source: "Pigott, William (1860-1929)" by David Wilma, HistoryLink.org Essay 3177