Photocopy of handwritten draft of inaugural address on Puget Sound National Bank letterhead, 1889, circa October-November

Collection contains three original items: a typescript draft of Ferry’s inaugural address as first state governor of Washington; an undated photograph of Ferry; and a program card for Ferry’s public memorial service. It also contains compiled research materials related to Ferry’s inauguration.

The typescript inaugural address is corrected in ink, circa October-November, 1889. The handwriting is believed to be Ferry’s, based on comparisons with examples of Ferry’s handwriting—specifically, photocopies of two handwritten draft versions of the same speech are included with the collection, as well as a handwritten letter from 1873. The speech was prepared in anticipation of the official proclamation of Washington’s statehood, and contains blanks for the date of statehood. The photograph is a portrait of Ferry, circa 1880, mounted on paper board in cabinet card format with “Moore Photographer, Seattle, W.T.” printed at the bottom of the card. The photographer is likely George N. Moore, who operated in Seattle from approximately 1872 to 1897. The program for Ferry’s public memorial service, held at Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle on October 25, 1895, is printed on a single-sided card.

In addition to the handwriting samples mentioned above, compiled research materials also include photocopies of the telegraph sent to Ferry announcing the signing of the proclamation by President Benjamin Harrison granting statehood and a photograph of the inauguration ceremony.