The Harold Schmidtke Collection

You are cordially invited to see portions of this collection through December 31. We are pleased to present this exceptional seasonal exhibit on Harbor history.

Those who knew Harold Schmidtke understood his passion for Grays Harbor life. A well-known Harbor contractor, Polson Board Member, Museum Pioneer of the Year, and Daily World Citizen of the Year, Schmidtke was an avid collector of historic Grays Harbor-related ephemera, photos, bottles, and other artifacts. Harold himself was a font of area history and has been deeply missed by area historians and researchers.

After his death in 2009, his children graciously decided to gift his vast photographic and archival collection to the Polson. Widely regarded as one of the most broadly comprehensive of private Grays Harbor history collections, the Schmidtke Collection is a significant addition to the Polson’s already extensive research holdings. Although nothing has been cataloged yet, museum staff and volunteers began the long process with an inventory of how many items are in the collection. The numbers alone are impressive: 4,739 original photographic prints; 2,056 negatives; 712 maps; 2,015 miscellaneous and ephemera items (business cards, letterheads, books, etc.); plus 5,686 copy prints — a grand total of 15,208 items!

Although full scanning, identification, and cataloging in the museum's computer database will likely take several years, Schmidtke was quite organized with his own manual filing system which means that researchers can already utilize some of the collection.

The Polson is honored to house Schmidtke’s lifework as a local historian and to celebrate this substantial addition has opened the small exhibit now to showcase highlights from the collection. Photographs, maps, books and other Grays Harbor ephemera dating as far back as the 1890s will be exhibited. The exhibit covers places and topics county-wide and is meant to introduce visitors to the collection. The exhibit will run through the end of 2011.

Come and enjoy.

1910s Hoquiam Splash