William O. Amsden "Scenic Mt. Baker" Photographs, June-July 1891

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Amsden, W. O. (William Oscar)
Title
William O. Amsden "Scenic Mt. Baker" Photographs
Dates
June-July 1891 (inclusive)
Quantity
12 photographs and front of album cover (1 folder)
Collection Number
PH1607
Summary
Photographs by William O. Amsden documenting the ascent of Mt. Baker led by Valentine V. Lowe in 1891
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

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Photographer and mountaineer William Oscar Amsden (March 26, 1862-December 1942) was born in Wisconsin, although his family soon moved to Groton, South Dakota. Around 1880 he left home for the Klondike to work as a photographer. He was part of the Seattle Photo Company in 1890 along with Chester B. Walsworth (the office was located at 15 Shorey Blk). He was also part of Valentine V. Lowe's expedition team that ascended Mt. Baker in 1891. Through the years he worked for the B.W. Kitburn Stereoscopic Company, as one of the photographers for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, as a photographer covering the Boer War, the Paris Exhibition and Edward VII's coronation. After his marriage the family moved between New York and California, with Amsden working in his own studios or for others. He died in Mt Kisco, New York.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

These photographs by William O. Amsden document the ascent of Mt. Baker led by Valentine V. Lowe in 1891. The expedition party included eight men. Alongside Amsden and V. Lowe were Henry Lowe, Ed. Whitstruck, Percival J. Parris, G. W. Smith, Tom Scatbo, and Hobert Clark. They ascended via Glacier Creek or the north fork of the Nooksak. This was the second ascent of Mt. Baker after the climb by Edmund T. Colman and four other men in 1868. Lowe's expedition was the first to take photographs with a camera on the top of the mountain.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Primary Sources, March 25, 2019.

Processing Note

Processed by Maureen Hogan, 2020.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 1 View of Mt. Baker with group of men on the snow field below
Written on photo: No. 101 Mt. Baker Series. Mountain from Camp Baker.
June-July 1891
1 2 Three men with alpenstocks amongst trees in front of Mt. Baker
Written on photo: No. 103 Mt. Baker Series. Mountain from Timber-Line.
June-July 1891
1 3 Six men waving flag and hats on summit of Mt. Baker
Written on photo: No. 104 Mt. Baker Series. Group on Summit.
July 3, 1891
1 4 View of the mountain from the summit
Written on photo: No. 105 Mt. Baker Series. Looking west from summit.
June-July 1891
1 5 View of mountain peaks from the summit
Written on photo: No. 106 Mt. Baker Series. "The Sisters" taken from the summit of Baker.
June-July 1891
1 6 Photograph of crater on mountain
Written on photo: No. 107 Mt. Baker Series. 50 x 75 ft. 1500 ft below summit.
June-July 1891
1 7 Six men on mountain slope
Written on photo: No. 108 Mt. Baker Series. Looking North from Summit.
June-July 1891
1 8 Snow-covered peak
Written on photo: No. 109 Mt. Baker Series. Looking west from base of dome.
June-July 1891
1 9 Six men standing under snow-covered trees in front of Mt. Baker
Written on photo: No. 110 Mt. Baker Series. Snow storm, Camp Baker.
July 5, 1891
1 10 Two men with alpenstocks standing on rocky creek bank
Written on photo: No. 112 Mt. Baker Series. Mount Baker from Glacier Creek.
June-July 1891
1 11 Nooksack River with Mt. Baker in the background
Written on photo: No. 113 Mt. Baker Series. Mount Baker from Nooksachk [sic] River.
June-July 1891
1 12 Rocky terrain at Glacier Creek with Mt. Baker in the background
Written on photo: No. 117 Mt. Baker Series. Mountain from Glacier Creek.
June-July 1891
1 13 Portfolio Cover
Written on portfolio: Scenic Mt. Baker.
1891?

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Mountaineers--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount--Photographers
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Amsden, W. O. (William Oscar)--Archives

Geographical Names

  • Baker, Mount (Wash.)--Photographs