The Custer-Lewis Collection
In late 2000, the Renton History Museum was the recipient of a bequest from Charles L. Custer, a lifetime Renton resident. This bequest included a large collection of late 19th and early 20th Century materials, including objects, photographs, and ephemera. The donor was a descendent of two well-known Renton families, the Custer and Lewis families. Possessions of both families were present in the collection, thus it was named the Custer-Lewis Collection.

The Custer-Lewis Collection is sizable and nearly doubles the museum’s primary collection. Because of its size, its cataloging has not yet been finished. The photographs in the collection depict many former Renton residents and places in Renton and the surrounding area. Because of their exceptional value to the museum and its researchers, the 1000+ photographs from the collection were the first items to be cataloged. Since that time, staff, interns, and volunteers have cataloged other portions of the collection. Though there is still much work to be done, the Custer-Lewis Collection is already proving to be a valuable resource to the museum through research and exhibits.

Recent Acquisitions
The Renton History Museum is excited to announce the donation of 49 glass plates. These negatives date to the early 1900s and show businesses and residences in Renton. Though a few of the negatives are damaged, they are wonderful images and we are working with an archival photographic expert in order to have prints and copy negatives made. Because of the negatives’ fragile nature and age, the costs of this project are likely to exceed what the museum budget can handle. If you are interested in making a donation in order to help curate this wonderful collection of early 1900s Renton images, please contact the museum at 425.255.2330 or email us.

If you are interested in becoming a Collections Volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator for details.