PH Coll 484.B1

Edwin Gardner Ames was a lumber company executive, banker, and political activist. Ames was born in East Machias, Maine, on July 2, 1856. Ames went to work for Pope & Talbot’s subsidiary, the Puget Mill Company at Port Gamble, Washington, in 1881. In 1888 he married Maud Walker, the niece of Edwin’s superior, Cyrus Walker, general manager of the Puget Mill Company and a Pope & Talbot stockholder. When Maud’s mother, Emma Walker, died in 1919, the couple inherited a fortune, which was administered as the Walker-Ames Company with Edwin Ames as president. Although Ames was very conservative politically, he supported reforms that benefited the timber industry. Ames led the successful 1911 effort to pass workers’ compensation legislation. Although Ames shunned political office himself, he was a key financial backer of conservative Republicans in state and local politics. In addition, Ames served on the board of directors of three large Seattle banks. He was also a major benefactor of the University of Washington. When his wife died in 1931, Ames moved to the Rainier Club and donated his Seattle house to the University to become the official residence of its president. Ames died in Seattle on November 20, 1935. His will created the Walker-Ames Foundation, a fund which finances numerous programs at the university.

• Subjects (LCSH): Ames, Edwin Gardner, 1856-1935; Lumber trade--Officials and employees--Washington (State)--Seattle--Portraits; Businessmen--Washington (State)--Seattle--Portraits; Men--Washington (State)--Seattle--Portraits; ;