Archives West Finding Aid
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Elbridge W. Merrill photographs, circa 1895-circa 1915
Overview of the Collection
- Photographer
- Merrill, Elbridge Warren, 1870-1929
- Title
- Elbridge W. Merrill photographs
- Dates
- circa 1895-circa 1915 (inclusive)18951920
- Quantity
- 62 photographic prints
- Collection Number
- PH0325
- Summary
- Photographs of scenic Southeastern Alaska including the town of Sitka and various scenes of Tlingit Indian life and customs, and of the Sitka Industrial Training School, circa 1900-1915
- 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
-
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Elbridge Merrill was born near Boston in 1870. After a difficult childhood including the deaths of his father, younger brother, and then stepfather, Merrill emerged with an interest in photography that he was able to parlay into a career by 1895. Along with many others hearing the news of the Klondike gold rush, he set out for Alaska, arriving in Sitka in 1898. By 1900, he had established a photography business, principally trading in images of Sitka and its surroundings. Merrill viewed himself as an artist, and it was reflected in his compositions, his technical skill, and his indifference toward business practices. In addition to artistic shots of the natural world that he was engrossed by, he supported himself through commercial work. His photographs were published in magazines and used in advertising, and he was commissioned to photograph groups by families and organizations, most notably the Sitka Industrial Training School and the National Park Service. Merrill was especially captivated by the Tlingit people and their culture, often choosing them as photographic subjects and also collecting cultural artifacts. He organized the repair and placement of totem poles that returned to Sitka after traveling for expositions; he participated in their installation in Indian River Park along with Tlingit craftsmen. Merrill was also the first custodian of the Sitka National Historical Park. He developed pneumonia in October of 1929, to which he shortly succumbed.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Several series of photographic prints, mainly taken in Southeastern Alaska, many depicting the natural surroundings, including mountains around Sitka, Sitka Harbor, and Sitka National Historical Park. Also series of group photos, including students at the Sitka Industrial Training School, and Tlingit art and cultural events. Other series depict buildings and other settlement areas of Sitka.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Items previously known as Merrill U-24 and Merrill 77 removed from collection because they were not taken by Merrill.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format
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
Sitka, AlaskaReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/1 | 1 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/1 | 2 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/1 | 3 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/1 | 4 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/1 | 5 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
box:oversize | |||
KVXC1 | 6 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
Buildings |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/2 | 7 |
Sitka Trading Co. viewed from across a lawn, Sitka,
Alaska
The Sitka Trading Co. was originally a Russian trading post
and the location of Merrill's first shop and studio.
|
circa 1900-circa 1915 |
1/2 | 8 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/2 | 9 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/2 | 10 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/2 | 11 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/2 | 12 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/2 | 13 | circa 1906 | |
1/2 | 14 |
Russian block house viewed from alternate
side
Written on verso: Block-house fort at Sitka to protect early
Russians from Indians.
|
circa 1900-circa 1915 |
People and Portraits |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/3 | 15 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/3 | 16 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/3 | 17 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/3 | 18 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/3 | 19 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/4 | 20 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/4 | 21 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/4 | 22 |
Native American couple in front of a
house
The woman was possibly a student of the Industrial Training
School depicted in the group in items 23 and 25.
|
circa 1900-circa 1915 |
Sitka Industrial Training SchoolReturn to Top
The Sitka Industrial Training School began as a Presbyterian mission school, founded in 1878 by John G. Brady. By about 1884, it had become a place where Native American, mainly Tlingit, boys could learn trades such as carpentry, machine work, carving, and cobbling. The school was opened to girls as well, with courses to teach them domestic skills. In 1906, the school began to offer secondary instruction in English, writing, and math, which was not easily available to Native American students previously.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Portraits |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/5 | 23 |
Teacher with young Tlingit women in school uniforms on
the steps of a building, Sitka, Alaska
The first two rows of girls are holding guitars and
mandolins, indicating that this might be a musical group or class.
|
circa 1900-circa 1915 |
1/5 | 24 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/5 | 25 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/5 | 26 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
box:oversize | |||
KVXC1 | 27 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
Activities |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/6 | 28 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/6 | 29 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/6 | 30 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
box:oversize | |||
KVXC1 | 31 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
Cottage Community
A mission-sponsored community of Training School graduates was
established on the edge of the mission property, near the Sitka National
Historical Park. Loans were provided to residents wishing to build homes and
begin families, and in return the mission required the community to adhere to
the moral standards that it specified, including avoiding "heathen" festivities
and customs, abstaining from alcohol, and providing their children with a
school education.
|
|||
box:oversize | item | ||
KVXC1 | 32 | circa 1900-circa 1915 |
Native CultureReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Canoes |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/7 | 33 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/7 | 34 | 1904 | |
1/7 | 35 | 1904 | |
1/7 | 36 | circa 1911 | |
Art and Artifacts |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/7 | 37 | Tlingit lying-in-state display with casket and body
laid out covered in chilkat blanket, surrounded by valuable possessions
including carved headpieces and staffs, woven hats, button blankets and other
textiles |
circa 1900-circa 1915 |
1/7 | 38 | 1901 | |
1/7 | 39 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/7 | 40 | circa 1900-circa 1915 |
Natural ScenesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/8 | 41 | circa 1900-1915 | |
1/8 | 42 | circa 1900-1915 | |
Sitka National Historical Park
Sitka National Historical Park was originally the site of a
Tlingit fort, set aside for public use in 1890 by President Benjamin Harrison.
From 1903-1905, a collection of totem poles used in expositions in St. Louis
and Portland, Oregon were collected for display in the park. Merrill, with the
help of Native craftsmen, was chiefly responsible for organizing the
restoration and placement of the totem poles. The park was designated a
national monument in 1910, and Merrill was named the first official
custodian.
|
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/8 | 43 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/8 | 44 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/8 | 45 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/8 | 46 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
box:oversize | |||
KVXC1 | 47 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
Box/Folder | |||
1/8 | 48 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/8 | 49 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/8 | 50 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
Mountains |
|||
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/9 | 51 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/9 | 52 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/9 | 53 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/9 | 54-55 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/9 | 56 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/9 | 57 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/9 | 58 | circa 1900-circa 1915 | |
1/9 | 59 | circa 1900-circa 1915 |
Photographs Probably Not By MerrillReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/10 | 60 |
Snag in stream with classical building visible in
background
Photo is probably taken in northeastern U.S. Previously
attributed to Merrill, but there are no identifying marks or features.
|
undated |
1/10 | 61 |
Man in rowboat along shore of stream
Photo is probably taken in northeastern U.S. Previously
attributed to Merrill, but there are no identifying marks or features.
|
undated |
1/10 | 62 |
View of waterfront with Baranof Castle at left side and
St. Michael's Cathedral in center, Sitka, Alaska
Photo could not have been taken by Merrill even though his
name is embossed into the photograph because the Baranof Castle burned down
several years before he arrived in Sitka
|
circa 1880s-1894 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Photographers--Alaska--Sitka
- Tlingit Indians
Personal Names
- Merrill, Elbridge Warren, 1870-1929--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Sitka Training School (Sitka, Alaska)--Photographs
- St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral (Sitka, Alaska)--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Baranof Castle State Historic Site (Sitka, Alaska)--Photographs
- Sitka (Alaska)--Photographs
- Sitka National Historical Park (Sitka, Alaska)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographic prints
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)