Staging of Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition emblem with live models, 1909

• Main Author: Nowell, Frank H., 1864-1950
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909 : Seattle; Wash.) Artists' models Emblems; Yukon; Pacific; Alaska
• Online Access: http://cdm16786.contentdm.oclc.org:80/cdm/ref/collection/imlsmohai/id/8828

The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE) was a world's fair held in Seattle in 1909, publicizing the development of the Pacific Northwest. The fairgrounds became the campus of the University of Washington. The official AYPE emblem was designed by Adelaide Hanscom Leeson (1876-1932). One of the many published APYE guides explained the emblem in detail: "The figure on the right under the fir tree represents the Pacific Slope, holding in her hand a train of cars, typifying Commerce by land. That on the left, shaded by the dwarf tree of Japan, represents the Orient, controlling Commerce by sea. In the center, with a background of the Northern Lights, is the figure representing Alaska, bearing a double-handful of gold nuggets, signifying the untold wealth of the North, meeting half way the commerce of the East and West, and supplying the wealth for both." In this photograph, three models stage the AYPE emblem using props and a painted backdrop. Frank H. Nowell (1864-1950) was the official photographer of the AYPE, and his photographs were displayed at the fair and used in many official publications. Caption information source: Seattle and the Pacific Northwest: Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, and A.-Y.-P. Hotel and Commercial Guide, (Seattle, Wash.: Seattle Pub. Co., 1909). 1 glass negative: b&w; 8 x 10 in.