Archives West Finding Aid
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Sternwheeler Philip B. Low photograph album, circa 1898
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Sternwheeler Philip B. Low photograph album
- Dates
- circa 1898 (inclusive)18931903
- Quantity
-
.06 cubic feet (1 folder)
9 photographic prints in 1 album - Collection Number
- PH0038
- Summary
- Photographs taken on board the Yukon sternwheeler by Philip B. Low and of natives on shore at St. Michael, Alaska during a trip along the Yukon River
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access to original album requires permission of the Visual Materials Curator. All images have been digitized, and photocopies are available for use.
- Languages
- English
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
Gold was discovered in the Yukon Territory in 1896. The news of the discovery reached the United States in 1897, causing the Klondike Gold Rush, a stampede of gold-seekers to the west coast to begin the journey to the gold fields of the Yukon River Valley. The shortest and most arduous route to the gold fields was by boat along the coast of southeast Alaska to Skagway, then on land over Chilkoot Pass or over the White Pass to the upper Yukon River at Whitehorse. An easier but less direct route to the gold fields was to travel by ship around the coast of Alaska to the lower Yukon River, continuing the river journey inland on a sternwheeler. Sternwheelers are paddlewheel-driven boats designed for travel on inland rivers. During the Klondike Gold Rush sternwheelers were often built at a shipyard in Seattle, Victoria, Portland, or Vancouver, and shipped and reassembled at the river site.
In the spring of 1898, the sternwheeler Philip B. Low began the journey to the interior gold fields at the mouth of the lower Yukon River at St. Michael, Alaska. The shipmaster for the 1898 sailing was Henry Bailey and the crew probably consisted of seven to fifteen men. Huskies were uses as sled dogs to haul supplies and often accompanied miners to the gold fields.
St. Michael was a popular trading post and supply depot for miners traveling to the Yukon Valley gold fields. The Yup'ik, native people from coastal western Alaska, lived in the surrounding villages near St. Michael and used the trading post to trade their goods for western supplies.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs taken on board the Yukon sternwheeler Philip B. Low and of natives on shore at St. Michael, Alaska during a trip along the Yukon River.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Views the collection in digital format.
Photocopies of the original photographs are available for viewing.
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Page | item | ||
1 | 1 |
View of bridge at river
Cover of album
Cyanotype
|
circa 1898 |
2 | 2 |
Portrait of a woman "Helen"
Cyanotype
Text on page: July 1898. Taken on board the Yukon River Boat "Philip B. Low" at St. Michaels, Alaska, 90 miles f[r]om the Yukon River.
|
circa 1898 |
3 | 3 | Possibly Shipmaster Henry Bailey with officer and crew members on deck of ship | circa 1898 |
4 | 4 | Steamship | circa 1898 |
5 | 5 | Grouping of crew members and officers standing in field | circa 1898 |
6 | 6 |
Husky on board ship
Note: photograph torn
|
circa 1898 |
7 | 7 | Grouping of Native Alaskans on shore | circa 1898 |
8 | 8 | Native Alaskans in boat and canoes | circa 1898 |
9 | 9 | Native Alaskans at tent entrance | circa 1898 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)