Photographs of Nome, Alaska

Photographs of Nome, Alaska, approximately 1900

Overview of the Collection

Title: Photographs of Nome, Alaska
Dates: approximately 1900 (inclusive)
19001900
Quantity: 6 photographic prints (1 folder) ; 3.5 x 3.5 in.
Collection Number: PH1239
Summary: Buildings, people and waterfront of Nome, Alaska.
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 is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages: English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

For centuries Inupiaq people lived in Nome, Alaska before Russian fur traders and whalers created a settlement in nearby St. Michael in the 18th century. In 1898 gold was found at Anvil Creek and by the following year the population had grown to 10,000 people. More gold was found along the Nome coast and more people moved to the city, doubling the population by 1909. To accommodate the growth, tent cities were constructed on the beaches to hold the prospective gold miners. By the 1920s Nome's population had decreased considerably partly due to storms and fires such as the September 1934 fire that destroyed most of the business district.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Businesses, buildings, Fourth of July celebration and passengers and freight arriving in Nome, Alaska.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Photographs were transferred from the Alaska subject files, 2014.

Processed by Stefanie Terasaki, 2014; Processing completed in 2014.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

BusinessesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
1	1	Bank of Cape Nome	1900?
1	2	Horse drawn carts in front of the North American Transportation and Trading Company building	1900?
1	3	Men standing outside Commerical and Transportation Company building Sign on building reads: S.J. Heron M.g.r. Ticket Office S.S. Nelson and Cleveland sails for Seattle. E.G.McMicken Gen. AGT. Lumber in any quantity, Roslyn Coal by sack or ton. Samuel J. Heron was working as a miner in 1900 after moving from Seattle the previous year. He was born in Indiana circa 1856. Edgar G. McMicken was a passenger on the S.S. Cleveland from Seattle to Nome 1900?. He later moved to San Francisco with his wife circa 1910 where he worked as a clerk for a steamship company.	1900?

People and EventsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
1	4	July 4th celebration at the Olympia theater	1900?
1	5	Men on beach with boats unloading supplies and luggage	1900?
1	6	Passengers and freight from arriving SS Tacoma from Victoria, B.C. and Olympia, Washington	1900?

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