Elbridge W. Merrill photographs

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

Custodial History

16 Sitka views were given to Professor Edmond Meany by E.W. Merrill.

Acquisition Information

Donor: Edmond Meany, 16 Sitka views, including Indians and Russian buildings.

Processing Note

Processed by Katie Burke, 2015; Processing completed 2015.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Sitka, AlaskaReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1	Sitka waterfront viewed from water with Sitka Industrial Training School at far right and Mt. Verstovia in background	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/1	2	View from near Sitka National Historical Park facing Crescent Bay, Dept. of Agriculture building on right side and Russian block house on left	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/1	3	View of Sitka shoreline from water, castle hill with Dept. of Agriculture building on right side and Mt. Verstovia in background	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/1	4	Cemetery with wooden crosses and fences and Mt. Verstovia in background, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/1	5	Boats at dock, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
box:oversize
KVXC1	6	Close-up of painted and metal religous icon of Madonna and child	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	Wooden building with bell tower and sign reading: Free reading room -- Come in -- You are welcome, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/2	9	St. Peter's-By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/2	10	View down street of wood-construction buildings with Mt. Verstovia in background, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/2	11	Men near overturned canoe in front of a picket fence and the Russian Bishop's house, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/2	12	House viewed from street level with several trees in front, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/2	13	Russian block house fort, Sitka, Alaska	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	Postcard photo of group of children in costumes, possibly at an Easter or May Day celebration	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/3	16	Three young men loading wood onto horse-pulled cart on snowy street near a house	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/3	17	Woman in fenced pen with deer and fawns	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/3	18	Four children in front of a house	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/3	19	Group of people on front steps of a house, possibly a family portrait	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/4	20	Large group of people on boat with table with food in center	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/4	21	Portrait of older woman in dark clothes and hat standing on a trail, possibly at Lover's Lane, Sitka, Alaska	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	Two Tlingit girls in matching dresses standing in front of white picket fence, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/5	25	Group of young Tlingit girls standing in front of picket fence	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/5	26	Group of young Tlingit girls arranged in front of picket fence	circa 1900-circa 1915
box:oversize
KVXC1	27	Group of young Tlingit men and women on front steps of building, students wearing matching uniforms and holding books, with male teacher in center, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
		Activities
Box/Folder	item
1/6	28	Teacher and students inside classroom, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/6	29	Group of Tlingit girls with teacher under a tree on a hillside near water, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/6	30	Large group of students with teacher on frozen lake, possibly Swan Lake, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
box:oversize
KVXC1	31	Students constructing frame of building, with inset of mission style furniture superimposed at bottom right, Sitka, Alaska	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	Group photo of cottage community members in front of Cottage Hall, with Cottage Band in back rows holding instruments and children in front row, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915

Native CultureReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Canoes
Box/Folder	item
1/7	33	Native dugout canoes and rowboats meeting steamship Philip F. Kelley, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/7	34	Seven Native dugout canoes adorned with American flags arrive for potlatch while men wait on dock, Sitka, Alaska	1904
1/7	35	Native Americans in full regalia for potlatch emerging from canoes adorned with American flags, Sitka, Alaska	1904
1/7	36	Painted dugout canoe sitting in grass in front of Sitka Trading Co. building, Sitka, Alaska	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	Large frog carving sitting on table with American flag in background, Sitka, Alaska	1901
1/7	39	Two Tlingit men, one wearing a chilkat blanket and the other wearing a woven shirt and holding a staff, standing in front of a house with decorative painting and sign reading: Annahootz: Head Chief of the Sitka Tribe, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/7	40	Deikeenaak'w, a Chichagof Island chief, wrapped in a button blanket, holding a rattle, seated in front of the American flag, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915

Natural ScenesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/8	41	Shore of body of water with overturned boat in foreground	circa 1900-1915
1/8	42	Campsite near shore of body of water	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	Lover's Lane, trail through canopy of trees	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/8	44	Tall, backlit, moss-covered tree known as "Witch Tree" towering over trail	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/8	45	View down path through trees and brush, possibly Lover's Lane	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/8	46	Snow covered trail through trees, possibly Lover's Lane	circa 1900-circa 1915
box:oversize
KVXC1	47	Forest scene with ferns in foreground and moss covered trees, possibly Sitka National Historical Park	circa 1900-circa 1915
Box/Folder
1/8	48	View along rocky shore of stream running through forest, possibly Indian River in Sitka National Historical Park, Baranof Island, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/8	49	Bend in stream through thick trees with forest reflection shown in water, possibly Indian River in Sitka National Historical Park, Baranof Island, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/8	50	View along shore of stream with trees and plants overhanging water line, possibly Indian River in Sitka National Historical Park, Baranof Island, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
		Mountains
Box/Folder	item
1/9	51	View of Mt. Edgecumbe from across Sitka Sound, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/9	52	View of Mt. Edgecumbe from rocky shore, Sitka	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/9	53	View of mountains looking south across Crescent Bay from Castle Hill, Presbyterian mission on island in foreground, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/9	54-55	Views of fog-covered mountains, possibly Pinnacle Mountains, across body of water with small islands, Baranof Island, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/9	56	Snow covered landscape at the Three Sisters Mountains, Sitka, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/9	57	View of snow-topped mountain from across body of water, Baranof Island, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/9	58	View of mountains reflected in body of water, possibly Pyramid Range, Baranof Island, Alaska	circa 1900-circa 1915
1/9	59	View from shore of islands or peninsula with mountains in background, Baranof Island, Alaska	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)

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