Lawrence Denny Lindsley
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Denny Lindsley was an American
photographer and also worked as a miner, hunter, and guide. Lindsley was a grandson of Seattle
pioneer David Thomas Denny
(1832–1903), a member of the Denny Party
.
in Seattle, Washington
. His father, Edward L. Lindsley (1853–1933) came to Seattle via Panama in 1873. His mother, Abbie Lena Denny (August 29, 1858 – October 6, 1915) was born in her family’s log cabin home in Seattle. His parents married on May 4, 1876. Lindsley had five siblings: Mabel Madge Lindsley (September 24, 1879 – December 26, 1919), Sarah Winola Lindsley (July 16, 1881 – ?), Annie Irene Lindsley (December 1, 1882 – ?), Norman David Lindsley (January 2, 1884 – ?), and Harold Denny Lindsley (1887–1887). His parents built a home at 25 Mile Creek on Lake Chelan
in Washington.
Lindsley married his first wife, Pearl A. Miller, on September 20, 1918. They had one child, Abbie Lindsley, who was born and died in 1920. Pearl also died in 1920.
Lindsley married his second wife, Sarah Sonju, a photographer and coloring artist, on December 14, 1944. They worked out of a studio in their home until Sonju died in 1960. Lindsley continued to photograph into his 90s. He died in 1974 and is interred at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
.
at the intersection of Temperance (renamed to Queen Anne Avenue North) and Republican Streets, and later relocated to the city of Federal Way
. On June 6, 1889, just five weeks after this cabin was completed, he stood with one of his sisters on a hill overlooking Seattle and watched the city burn in the Great Fire
.
In 1895, Lindsley went to work in the Esther Mine, near Gold Creek, Kittitas County and later worked on the first road along Lake Keechelus
.
In 1903, he went to work as a photo processor and photographer for the W. P. Romans Photographic Company in Seattle. Lindsley owned part interest in the studio when it was bought by Asahel Curtis
in 1910. This association led him to work for Edward S. Curtis
, where Lindsley developed some of the color negatives (orotone
s), known as the “gold tones”, for Curtis’ famous “Indians of North America” series.
As an early-day explorer of the North Cascades, Lindsley became a charter member of the Mountaineers club
in 1907. He was honored in the June 1974 issue of the club’s newsletter, The Mountaineer, in the article “The Club Salutes Lawrence Denny Lindsley”.
Sometime between 1910 and 1914, Lindsley moved to Lake Chelan and lived on his parent’s land. During this time, he was employed by the Great Northern Railway to photograph Glacier National Park for the railroad’s tourist literature. In September 1916, Lindsley was hired by the Great Northern Railway as a guide for the party of author Mary Roberts Rinehart
through the Lake Chelan area. Lindsley figured prominently as “Silent Lawrie”, a character in her account of the expedition, in a Cosmopolitan magazine
article entitled, “A Pack Train in the Cascades,” and later in her 1918 novel, Tenting To-Night.
When Lindsley returned to Seattle in 1916 he resumed working in Edward Curtis’ studio. He continued his work at the Curtis Studio and his own landscape and nature photography throughout the 1920s, perfecting his technique of lantern slide photography.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photographer and also worked as a miner, hunter, and guide. Lindsley was a grandson of Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
pioneer David Thomas Denny
David Denny
David Thomas Denny was a member of the Denny Party, who are generally collectively credited as the founders of Seattle, Washington, USA. Though he ultimately underwent bankruptcy, he was a significant contributor to the shape of the city...
(1832–1903), a member of the Denny Party
Denny Party
The Denny Party is a group of white pioneers credited with founding Seattle, Washington because they settled at Alki Point on November 13, 1851.A wagon party headed by Arthur A. Denny left Cherry Grove, Illinois on April 10, 1851...
.
Personal life
He was born Lawrence Denny Lindsley in a cabin at the south end of Lake UnionLake Union
Lake Union is a freshwater lake entirely within the Seattle, Washington city limits.-Origins:A glacial lake, its basin was dug 12,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier, which also created Lake Washington and Seattle's Green, Bitter, and Haller Lakes.-Name:...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. His father, Edward L. Lindsley (1853–1933) came to Seattle via Panama in 1873. His mother, Abbie Lena Denny (August 29, 1858 – October 6, 1915) was born in her family’s log cabin home in Seattle. His parents married on May 4, 1876. Lindsley had five siblings: Mabel Madge Lindsley (September 24, 1879 – December 26, 1919), Sarah Winola Lindsley (July 16, 1881 – ?), Annie Irene Lindsley (December 1, 1882 – ?), Norman David Lindsley (January 2, 1884 – ?), and Harold Denny Lindsley (1887–1887). His parents built a home at 25 Mile Creek on Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan is a narrow, 55-mile-long lake in Chelan County, northern Washington state, U.S. It is the largest natural lake in Washington state...
in Washington.
Lindsley married his first wife, Pearl A. Miller, on September 20, 1918. They had one child, Abbie Lindsley, who was born and died in 1920. Pearl also died in 1920.
Lindsley married his second wife, Sarah Sonju, a photographer and coloring artist, on December 14, 1944. They worked out of a studio in their home until Sonju died in 1960. Lindsley continued to photograph into his 90s. He died in 1974 and is interred at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park originated in 1885. It is located on both sides of Aurora Avenue in Seattle, Washington, and occupies roughly . It is the largest cemetery in Seattle.-History:...
.
Working life
In the spring of 1889, at the age of 11, Lindsley helped with the construction of his father's log cabin, known as the Denny Cabin. This cabin was built at the foot of Queen Anne HillQueen Anne, Seattle, Washington
Queen Anne Hill is a neighborhood and geographic feature in Seattle, Washington, northwest of downtown. The neighborhood sits on the highest named hill in the city, with a maximum elevation of . It covers an area of , and has a population of about 28,000...
at the intersection of Temperance (renamed to Queen Anne Avenue North) and Republican Streets, and later relocated to the city of Federal Way
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
. On June 6, 1889, just five weeks after this cabin was completed, he stood with one of his sisters on a hill overlooking Seattle and watched the city burn in the Great Fire
Great Seattle Fire
The Great Seattle Fire was a fire that destroyed the entire central business district of Seattle, Washington, USA, on June 6, 1889.-Early Seattle:In the fall of 1851, the Denny Party arrived at Alki Point in what is now the state of Washington...
.
In 1895, Lindsley went to work in the Esther Mine, near Gold Creek, Kittitas County and later worked on the first road along Lake Keechelus
Keechelus Lake
Keechelus Lake is a lake and reservoir in Washington state, USA. It is the source of the Yakima River. Keechelus Lake is the western lake of the three large lakes near Interstate 90 and north of the Yakima River in the Cascade Range, the other two being Kachess Lake and Cle Elum Lake...
.
In 1903, he went to work as a photo processor and photographer for the W. P. Romans Photographic Company in Seattle. Lindsley owned part interest in the studio when it was bought by Asahel Curtis
Asahel Curtis
Asahel Curtis was a Pacific Northwest photographer.-Birth:Asahel Curtis was born in 1874 in Minnesota to Johnson Asahel Curtis , a reverend; and Ellen Sheriff .-Parents and siblings:...
in 1910. This association led him to work for Edward S. Curtis
Edward S. Curtis
Edward Sheriff Curtis was a photographer of the American West and of Native American peoples.-Early life:...
, where Lindsley developed some of the color negatives (orotone
Orotone
An Orotone or gold tone is one of many types of photographic print which can be made from a negative. An orotone photograph is created by printing a positive on a glass plate precoated with a silver gelatin emulsion. Following exposure and development, the emulsion is coated with banana oil...
s), known as the “gold tones”, for Curtis’ famous “Indians of North America” series.
As an early-day explorer of the North Cascades, Lindsley became a charter member of the Mountaineers club
The Mountaineers (Pacific NW)
The Mountaineers is an outdoor recreation, education, and conservation group based in Seattle, Washington and is the third largest group of its kind in the country. Its central Program Center located in Seattle's Magnuson Park is complete with education facilities for all aspects of the alpine...
in 1907. He was honored in the June 1974 issue of the club’s newsletter, The Mountaineer, in the article “The Club Salutes Lawrence Denny Lindsley”.
Sometime between 1910 and 1914, Lindsley moved to Lake Chelan and lived on his parent’s land. During this time, he was employed by the Great Northern Railway to photograph Glacier National Park for the railroad’s tourist literature. In September 1916, Lindsley was hired by the Great Northern Railway as a guide for the party of author Mary Roberts Rinehart
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Mary Roberts Rinehart was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie. She is considered the source of the phrase "The butler did it", although she did not actually use the phrase. She is considered to have invented the "Had-I-But-Known" school of mystery writing...
through the Lake Chelan area. Lindsley figured prominently as “Silent Lawrie”, a character in her account of the expedition, in a Cosmopolitan magazine
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
article entitled, “A Pack Train in the Cascades,” and later in her 1918 novel, Tenting To-Night.
When Lindsley returned to Seattle in 1916 he resumed working in Edward Curtis’ studio. He continued his work at the Curtis Studio and his own landscape and nature photography throughout the 1920s, perfecting his technique of lantern slide photography.
External links
- University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – Lawrence Denny Lindsley Photographs Over 400 images representing the landscape and nature photography of Lawrence Denny Lindsley, including photographs of scenes around Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountains, the Pacific Ocean beaches on the Olympic Peninsula, Eastern Washington and the Grand Coulee region.
- University of Washington Libraries – Lindsley, Lawrence Denny, Papers, 1870-1973