In 1858 one of Seattle's founders, Arthur A. Denny (1822-1899), successfully petitioned the Washington Territorial Legislature to select Seattle as the location for a new university. Seeing this as a chance to add to the city's potential and prestige, a site was chosen on Denny's Knoll that now houses the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The Territorial University of Washington opened in 1861, although the school initially struggled, closing three times due to funds shortage. In 1876 Washington successfully awarded its first graduate, Clara Antoinette (McCarty) Wilt (1858-1929), a bachelor's degree in science. The school grew along with the city, and when statehood was awarded to Washington in 1889, the Territorial University of Washington became the University of Washington. In 1895 the UW moved to its current campus on Lake Washington in what is now known as the University District neighborhood.
Eight women and five men are shown in this photograph of the 1898 graduating class.
Handwritten on verso: U. of W. Grad. class 1898; Miss Parsons.
Caption information source: "Clara McCarty becomes first person to graduate from the Territorial University (of Washington) in June 1876," by Greg Lange, HistoryLink.org Essay 222.
ID Number: SHS1514
Date: 1898
Physical Description: 1 photographic print mounted on cardboard: b&w ; 13 x 10.25 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
