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This family business operated as a commercial,
portrait and fine art, photographic studio and was in continuous operation from
1903 to 1973. For 70 years, Jeffers’ Photographic Art Studio was THE studio of choice for anyone
visiting or living in Washington State's Capitol City, Olympia.
Today these beautiful and important photographs are in many permanent displays around the USA. on the
Washington State Capitol Campus ~
from the Governor’s Office to the Supreme Court; in corporate collections such
as Weyerhaeuser, IBM, Miller Brewing Company, and Boeing; and, in private collections
such as Geraldine Chaplin to Madonna; and, are esteemed in
numerous museum collections.
The subject matter is extensive. Hundreds of
images of the State Capitol Campus, including the construction of the Capitol
Campus buildings, political and governmental events and the people involved are
an important part of this valuable Photograph Collection.
LINK:
Jeffers Studio ~ Longer Version
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS OF JEFFERS STUDIO
JOSEPH
JEFFERS (1882-1924)
Joe Jeffers was an
artist-adventurer-businessman who witnessed and captured a Puget Sound as it
developed from wilderness to communities. Joe was a fascinating personality; a
man who lived a life full of adventure in the Jazz Age of the Pacific Northwest
region of the United States. His early logging
camps & railroading are beautiful PhotoArt documents as revered and artistic
as his friend and contemporary Darius Kinsey. He traveled the Southern
Sound on motorcycle and climbed the Olympic Mt. Ranges with heavy wooded boxes.
His early photos of the National Park's wilderness areas established its
grandeur in the eyes of the nation. But, the risks he took to get into
backcountry and bring back views of a natural world no human, Indian or White,
had ever seen before proved deadly and he was forever taken into the mountain in
1924 in his 40th year.
His body, never recovered, lies still within
its depths. Jeffers Glacier on the south side of Mt. Olympus is named in
his honor. Some of Joe's last photographs were brought back by his son,
Vibert, who was with him on his last trip and were sold through his friend and
contemporary, Asahel Curtis, in Curtis' Seattle photographic art studio.
LINK: Joe
Jeffers Photo Gallery
The Olympic Mountains ~ Jeffers' Glacier
The tragic death of celebrated PNW photographer Joe Jeffers
on Mt. Olympus in the famed Olympic Mountain Range of Washington State was
recorded in every major newspaper in the region at the time.
OPAL PRIGMORE JEFFERS (1854 - 1972)
Joe's wife, Opal Prigmore Jeffers, continued
to operate Jeffers Studio, this time alone, in the Fall of 1924 after his death.
And, despite a broken heart over her lost love, carried on the day to day,
determined to support her 2 young sons. Like many other women, Opal worked at her husband's side in the
family business that they established together and often was the Studio
photographer while her husband was 'on the road'. She also performed the tedious
darkroom work, and the artistic handtinting on the black &
white prints, and, of course did the general office accounting and scheduling.
Opal remarried in 1930 and took a supporting role as advisor after handing the
business over to her and Joe's eldest son, Vibert and his new wife, Wenzel
Cusack, in 1930.
VIBERT
JEFFERS (1905-1975)
LINK:
Vibert Jeffers Photo Gallery
Vibe grew up in the family photo studio. The photography
business was no different than most other small businesses ~ families lived and
worked together. Although he dreamed of leaving his hometown for the a life
of adventure on the high sea's...Vibert's life took another road when his father
died. His decision was prompted by family responsibility ~ as he was the one
holding the rope when his father, photographer Joe Jeffers, died on
photo-expedition in the rugged mountain cliffs, he felt doubly responsible for
his younger brother and mother as the eldest son.
Coming of age in the Roaring Twenties, Vibe sought to escape his
haunted past and see the world by sail. Although he had loftier
aspirations, Vibe returned to his birthplace from college in Seattle, married a local beauty and,
to our delight, went on to make a
major contribution to the art of the Pacific Northwest.
Much of his unique eye and style grew out of
professional studies at the film noire center in southern California where he
learned from the masters in Hollywood lighting and portraiture.
When "Vibe" retired in 1973 the Jeffers family
had left behind a legacy of approximately 250,000 negatives.
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