Lawrence Denny Lindsley (1878-1974), was the grandson of Seattle founder and entrepreneur, David T. Denny, and is best known for his work as a Pacific Northwest photographer. Lindsley grew up with the same adventuresome spirit and love of the outdoors as many of his Denny family elders. He was a prolific journal writer for nearly all of his adult life. At about age 17, he began working summers in the family’s mine holdings in the Gold Creek Valley on the Kittitas County side of Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. Due to his youth and diligence in working the family mine holdings, he was lovingly referred to as the “Gold Creek Kid” by relatives.

A charter member of the Seattle Mountaineers Club, Lindsley was also a miner and early day explorer of the Cascades. He was drawn to the mountains and cultivated a love of nature by learning all he could about native plants and wildlife. As a young man, he began using photography to capture the drama of nature. He went to work for the old Romans Photography studio in Seattle, bought by Asahel Curtis in 1910, and later assisted Ashael’s brother, Edward Curtis, in developing gold tone negatives depicting Native Americans in the famous “Indians of North America” series.

During his long life, “Silent Lawrie” became known for his many beautiful images of Mt. Rainier, the Lake Chelan region, the coastal community of La Push, Washington, and Snoqualmie Pass, among other areas. His lanternslide lectures became a favorite among members of Washington State garden clubs.

Lawrence Denny Lindsley’s lifetime of contributions to Pacific Northwest history began with the summer of 1897, one of the first years he worked at the Esther Mines in the Gold Creek area of Snoqualmie Pass. “The Gold Creek Kid” will be one chapter in a book-length biography/autobiography. Lindsley’s professional career spanned nearly eight decades. Born in early Seattle, he also lived in Lake Chelan for a few years as before setting up permanent residence in Seattle’s Wallingford District, where he remained for over fifty years.

The journals Lindsley kept offer a uniquely personal view of early Washington State due to his keen observation and entertaining, light-hearted wit. During an era when most explorers were not inclined to write anything except brief letters to family and friends, his extensive and sensitive recordings and interpretations of people, nature, and day-to-day events, often following a day of grinding physical labor, are precious to Pacific Northwest history. Lawrence Lindsley’s words have inspired me to create a book, supplemented with historical overviews and explanatory footnotes, that will reveal previously untold details of early Washington State history, as seen through the eyes of one who experienced it firsthand.

Contact: Chery Kinnick, alpsong@centurytel.net