The Seattle Athletic Club was a social club organized in 1893 around athletic pursuits. Designed by architect John Parkinson, the SAC's original four story building was on Cherry Street and Fourth Avenue in Pioneer Square. The SAC built a new five story building in 1903-1904 at First Avenue and Seneca Street. This organization is not related to the current Seattle Athletic Club opened in 1982 at 2020 Western Avenue.
In this image female SAC members pose in athletic attire with various Indian Clubs, equipment used for exercise; the man in front appears to be a coach or instructor. The SAC athletes competed against teams from the YMCA, University of Washington, Tacoma Athletic Club, Bellevue Athletic Club, and Arlington Club of Portland. Events were held in shot put, pole vault, football, bowling, gymnasium work, and boxing. The 1897 Seattle Times advertised a "Ladies' Smoker," which consisted of competitions in music, boxing, wrestling, flying ring work, slack wire walking, torch swinging, and juggling.
Caption on mount: Braas Photo
Caption information source: http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/4669 Caption information source: The Seattle Daily Times, May 25, 1897, page 8 Caption information source: Kehoe, Simon D. 1866. The Indian Club Exercise: With Explanatory Figures and Positions. Photographed from Life; Also, General Remarks on Physical Culture. Illustrated with Portraitures of Celebrated Athletes. New York: American News Company.
Physical Description: 1 photographic print mounted on cardboard: b&w ; 6.5 x 8.5 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.
