Fred Carlyon photographs, circa 1899

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Carlyon, Fred W
Title
Fred Carlyon photographs
Dates
circa 1899 (inclusive)
Quantity
32 photographic prints (2 boxes) ; various sizes
Collection Number
PH0299
Summary
Photographs of Tlingit natives in ritual dance costumes and locations in Southeast Alaska and Canada including boundary area that was in dispute
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

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The photographs were made during the period of the Klondike Gold Rush (roughly 1896-1900) and the ensuing boundary dispute between the United States and Canada. After the United States had purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, the boundary line between British Columbia and the Alaska Panhandle was established, at least from the US perspective, in accordance with Russian maps of the time. However, these maps were not entirely accurate, and because no official survey had been conducted, the issue was ignored until gold was discovered in the Klondike and the hordes of prospectors pouring into the region highlighted the need for a resolution to the problem. For instance, one point of contention was that prospectors were establishing settlements on land the Canadians considered to be within Canada. In 1903, the matter was settled by a tribunal of three Americans, two Canadians, and one British jurist, Lord Alverstone, who voted in favor of the Americans, thereby resolving the dispute.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Fred W. Carlyon was born June 6, 1865, in Union Grove, Wisconsin. After settling in Olympia, Washington, in 1883, Carlyon moved to Wrangell, Alaska, where he operated a jewlery/watchmaking shop from 1898 to 1906. He practiced photography as a hobby and probably to earn extra money. He was primarily active in the Stikine River District, B.C, and Wrangell, Alaska. After living on a ranch near Yelm, Washington, following his return from Alaska, he settled permanently in Olympia in 1923. There he developed a number of properties, including a racetrack and the Carlyon Beach Resort. Fred Carlyon died on March 3, 1956, in Olympia.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains photographs depicting Tlingit natives in ritual dance costumes, as well as views of Sitka, Skagway, Wrangell, and Icy Bay in Southeast Alaska and Glenora, British Columbia, and scenes along the Stikine River one of which is the disputed boundary line on the Stikine River.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor; :London Public Library, 2007 13 photographs x photos from London public library; 1 photo transferred from Alaska localities file; 18 from original unknown source.

Processing Note

Processed by Gene Polhamus, 2002; revised by Marion Brown, 2008.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/3 9 July 19, 1899
1/3 10 circa 1899
1/3 11 circa 1899
1/3 12a
City Brewery, Juneau (Carlyon 436)
Formerly the Northern Light Presbyterian Church. Matted photograph with caption written on photograph.
circa 1899
box-folder:oversize
2/1 12b
City Brewery, Juneau (Carlyon 436)
Formerly the Northern Light Presbyterian Church. Matted photograph with caption written on photograph.
circa 1899
Box/Folder
1/4 13 circa 1899
1/4 14 circa 1899
box-folder:oversize
2/2 15 circa 1899
Box/Folder
1/4 16 circa 1899
1/5 17a circa 1899
box-folder:oversize
2/2 17b
Wrangell, Alaska viewed from Mount Dewey (Carlyon 257)
Matted photograph with caption written on photograph.
circa 1899
Box/Folder
1/5 18 circa 1899
1/5 19 circa 1899
box-folder:oversize
2/3 20 circa 1899
2/3 21 circa 1899
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/6 22 circa 1899
box-folder:oversize
2/4 23 circa 1899
2/4 24 ca. 1899
2/4 25 circa 1899
2/5 26 circa 1899
Box/Folder
1/6 27a July 3, 1899
box-folder:oversize
2/5 27b
Scene at Glenora, B.C., showing railroad grade (Carlyon 224)
Matted photograph with caption written on photograph.
July 3, 1899
2/5 28 circa 1899
2/5 29 October 3, 1899

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Tlingit Indians--Costume--Alaska--Photographs
  • Totem poles--Alaska--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Carlyon, Fred W

Geographical Names

  • Alaska Panhandle (Alaska)--Photographs
  • Wrangell (Alaska)--Photographs