William H. Case Alaska photographs

William H. Case Alaska photographs, circa 1908

Overview of the Collection

Photographer: Case, W. H. (William Howard), 1868-1920
Title: William H. Case Alaska photographs
Dates: circa 1908 (inclusive)
19031913
Quantity: 94 photographic prints (1 box) ; sizes vary
Collection Number: PH0300
Summary: Photographs of Alaska, including Native Americans, canning and fish processing facilities, mines, and miscellaneous scenic views
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: Access to original photographs restricted. Copy prints are available for viewing. Permission of curator required for viewing original prints. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

William Howard Case was born on April 19, 1868, in Marshalltown, Iowa, and lived most of his life in South Dakota and Oregon. He came to the Klondike during the 1898 Gold Rush and secured several claims in Atlin before opening the Case and Draper photography studio with Herbert Draper, in a tent in Skagway, Alaska. In 1901, they received a contract from the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad to photograph the scenery along the route of their railway and connecting steamboats. The partners later moved their business to a two-story building in Skagway on Broadway near 4th Avenue, where they also sold photographic supplies, Alaska Native handicrafts and game specimens. In 1907, the partnership dissolved. Draper kept the business in Skagway, now Draper & Co., while Case moved to Juneau and started a new photography studio there, taking pictures under the name WH Case. In Juneau, he had three children: Howard, Alice and Madge. He was active in the community as a Mason and a Shriner until he died there suddenly on July 16, 1920. His studio was reopened after his death by E. C. Adams.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This is a collection of the photographs taken by W.H. Case after he dissolved his partnership with Draper and opened his own studio in Juneau in 1907. The collection consists mostly of images of Native American Tlingit and Haida villages in Southeast Alaska. The rest of the images depict canning and fish processing facilities, mines, and miscellaneous scenic views (glaciers, etc.) in Southeast Alaska, circa 1908.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

See Native American Microfiche NA2452-2477.

Restrictions on Use

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

Preferred Citation

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: Mary Ellen Hagewood (item 76)

Processing Note

Processed by Ellie McDonnell, 2012. Processing completed by Susan Fitch, 2012.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Towns in AlaskaReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Copper City and Copper Mountain, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1	View of dock and buildings on shore, Copper City, Alaska (Case 365)	circa 1908
1/1	2a	Water view of Copper Mountain and buildings below, Copper Mountain, Alaska (Case 538)	circa 1908
1/1	2b	Postcard of water view of Copper Mountain and buildings below, Copper Mountain, Alaska (Case 390) Cropped image of 2a.	circa 1908
1/1	3	Hetta Mountains, opposite Copper Mountain (Case 161)	circa 1908
		Metlakatla, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/1	4	Interior of native church at Metlakatla, Alaska (Case 329)	1908
1/1	5	Exterior of native church at Metlakatla, Alaska (Case 330)	1908
1/1	6	Tsimshian Indian Mission named Metlakatla Christian Mission, at Metlakatla, Alaska (Case 331)	circa 1908
1/1	7	Scottish missionary Father William Duncan standing on stairs in the Metlakatla Christian mission in Metlakatla, Alaska (Case 332) Caption on photograph: Rev Wm Duncan founder of the native mission, Metlakatla, Alaska.	circa 1908
		Sulzer, Alaska and Jumbo Mine Jumbo Mine (also known as the Sulzer Mine) was a copper mine located at the foot of Mount Jumbo near the town of Sulzer, on Prince of Wales Island. It was developed by William Sulzer's Alaska Industrial Company in 1902 and was one of Alaska's largest producers of copper during its operations from 1907 to 1918.
Box/Folder	item
1/1	8a	Water view of Jumbo Mine near Sulzer, Alaska (Case 539)	circa 1908
1/1	8b	Postcard of water view of Jumbo Mine near Sulzer, Alaska (Case 361) Same image as 8a.	circa 1908
1/1	9a	Water view of buildings and dock in Sulzer, Alaska (Case 540)	circa 1908
1/1	9b	Postcard of water view of buildings and dock in Sulzer, Alaska (Case 375) Cropped image of 9a.	circa 1908
1/1	10a	Mill at Jumbo Mine near Sulzer, Alaska (Case 542)	circa 1908
1/1	10b	Postcard of mill at Jumbo Mine near Sulzer, Alaska (Case 391) Same image as 10a.	circa 1908
		Tonka, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/1	11 - 12	View of Tonka, Alaska, from water (Case 337)	1908
		Wrangell, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/1	13	View of Wrangell village, port, and boats from water (Case 242)	1908
1/1	14	Bird's-eye view of Wrangell, Alaska (Case 243) A similar photo by Case (Case 254) resides in the John N. Cobb Photograph Collection PH Coll 418.	June 9, 1908
1/1	15	Wrangell Narrows (Case 335)	1908
1/1	16	Wrangell Narrows near Petersburg, Alaska (Case 336)	1908
1/1	17	Bird's-eye view of Wrangell, Alaska (Case 2386)	1908
1/1	18	People standing in front of F Matheson general store in Wrangell, Alaska	June 9, 1908

Native Villages in AlaskaReturn to Top

Villages are identified here with commonly-used spellings. Photographer's spelling variations appear innotes and captions.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Dry Pass
Box/Folder	item
½	19a	Native graves and entrance to the Dry Pass, Alaska (Case 172-N)	circa 1908
½	19b	Postcard of native graves and entrance to the Dry Pass, Alaska (Case 384) Same image as 19a.	circa 1908
		Howkan, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
½	20	Haida totem poles and buildings at Howkan village, Long Island, Alaska (Case 167-N) Caption on photo: How-kan Alaska.	circa 1908
½	21	Haida totem poles at Howkan village, Long Island, Alaska (Case 169-N) Caption on photo: Native town. How-kan, Alaska.	circa 1908
		Klawock, Alaska This town is currently known as Klawock. Klawak was a variation used circa 1890-1910, and no longer in use.
Box/Folder	item
½	22	View of native village of Klawock, Alaska, from water (Case 160-N) Caption on photo: Native village, Kla-wak, Alaska.	circa 1908
½	23	View of water and islands at Klawock, Alaska (Case 541) Caption on photo: View at Kla-wak, Alaska.	circa 1908
		Klinkwan, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
½	24	Haida totem poles, buildings, and church at old Klinkwan, Alaska (Case 166-N) Caption on photo: Totems at old Kling-wan.	circa 1908
½	25a	Haida totems and church, Klinkwan, Alaska (Case 175-N) Caption on photo: Native totems and church, Kling-wan Alaska.	circa 1908
½	25b	Postcard of Haida totems and church, Klinkwan native village, Alaska (Case 383) Same image as 25a. Caption on photo: Old totems and church Kling-wan Alaska.	circa 1908
½	26a	Haida bear totem and buildings at Klinkwan, Alaska (Case 170-N) Caption on photo: Totem at Kling-wan, Alaska.	circa 1908
½	26b	Post-card of close-up of Haida bear totem at Klinkwan, Alaska (Case 380) Cropped version of 26a. Caption on photo: Bear totem Kling-wan, Alaska.	circa 1908
½	27	Close-up of Haida bear totem at Klinkwan, Alaska (Case 173-N) Caption on photo: Bear totem Kling-wan, Alaska.	circa 1908
½	28a	View of Klinkwan native village from the water, Klakas Inlet, Alaska (Case 165-N) Caption on photo: Kling-wan native village, Klakas Inlet, Alaska.	circa 1908
½	28b	Postcard of view of Klinkwan native village from the water, Klakas Inlet, Alaska. (Case 382) Same image as 28a. Caption on photo: Native village, Kling-wan, Alaska.	circa 1908
		Shakan, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
½	29a	Water view of Tlingit town Shakan, Alaska (Case 161-N) Caption on photo: Native town Sha-kan, Alaska.	circa 1908
½	29b	Postcard of water view of Tlingit town Shakan, Alaska. (Case 381) Same image as 29a. Caption on photo: Native town Sha-kan, Alaska.	circa 1908
		Sukkwan, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
½	30a	Old Sukkwan native village and totem poles, on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, Alaska (Case 168-N) Caption on photo: Old Suk-kwan native village. Suk-Kwan Narrows, Alaska.	Circa 1908
½	30b	Postcard of old Sukkwan village and totem poles, on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, Alaska (Case 367) Same image as 30a. Caption on photo: Old Suck-kwan native village, west coast Prince of Wales Is. Alaska.	circa 1908
½	31	Totem poles, Prince of Wales Island (Case 177-N)	circa 1908
		Tuxekan, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
½	32a	View of boat, buildings, and totems at old Tuxekan native village, Alaska, from water (Case 163-N)	circa 1908
½	32b	Postcard of boat, buildings, and totems at old Tuxekan native village, Alaska, from water (Case 379) Same image as 32a.	circa 1908
½	33a	View of Old Tuxekan native village from water (Case 174-N)	circa 1908
½	33b	Postcard of view of old Tuxekan village from water (Case 366) Same image as 33a.	circa 1908
½	34a	Grave of Skah-owa, the Fire-eating Medicine Man, at Tuxekan, Alaska (Case 171-N)	circa 1908
½	34b	Postcard of grave of Skah-owa, the Fire-eating Medicine Man, at Tuxekan, Alaska (Case 364) Same image as 34a.	circa 1908
½	35, 36	Tlingit grave totems at old Tuxekan village, (Case 162-N, 164-N)	circa 1908
½	37	Totems at old Tuxekan village, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska (Case 176)	circa 1908

Canneries, Sawmills, and Smelting OperationsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Fish Egg Island, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/3	38	Linderberger's mild-cure and cold storage plant buildings, with boats and dock. Fish Egg Island, Alaska (Case 512)	circa 1908
1/3	39	Compressor room at Linderberger's mild cure and cold storage plant, Fish Egg Island, Alaska. (Case 515)	circa 1908
1/3	40	Men preparing salmon for cold storage, Fish Egg Island, Alaska. (Case 517)	circa 1908
		Fish traps
Box/Folder	item
1/3	41	Floating fish trap, Alaska (Case 399)	circa 1908
1/3	42	A.P.A. fish trap and boat, Ratz Harbor, Alaska (Case 400)	circa 1908
1/3	43	Fish commissioner inspecting floating trap. (Case 493)	circa 1908
		Hadley, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/3	44	Alaska Smelting and Refining Co. buildings and dock in Hadley, Alaska (Case 535)	circa 1908
		Hunter Bay, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/3	45	View of NWF Co. processing plant from water, Hunter Bay, Alaska (Case 376)	circa 1908
1/3	46	View of NWF Co. plant from water, Hunter Bay, Alaska (Case 386)	circa 1908
1/3	47a	NWF Co. plant and ship, from water, Hunter Bay, Alaska (Case 544)	circa 1908
1/3	47b	Postcard of NWF Co. plant and ship, from water, Hunter Bay, Alaska (Case 387) Same image as 47a.	circa 1908
1/3	48	N.W.F. Co.'s gas boatBarbaraand workers. Hunter Bay, Alaska (Case 513)	circa 1908
1/3	49	Fish bin at N.W.F. Co. Cannery, Hunter Bay, Alaska (Case 521)	circa 1908
1/3	50	An "iron chink" machine. N.W.F. Co. Cannery, Hunter Bay, Alaska. (Case 522) An "iron chink" is a machine that cuts fish. Before this machine came into use, Chinese laborers were primarily responsible for this task in many canneries, so the machine was named using a pejorative word for Chinese people, "chink."	circa 1908
		Kasaan, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/3	51	Gorman & Co. cannery and sawmill at Kasaan, Alaska (Case 321)	1908
1/3	52	Three men on a boatTakuin the water at Old Kasaan, Alaska (Case 328)	circa 1908
		Ketchikan, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/3	53	Fishing boat and construction of cold storage plant, New England Fish Co. in Ketchikan Alaska (Case 340)	1908
1/3	54	Construction of New England Fish Co. cold storage plant in Ketchikan Alaska (Case 341)	1908
1/3	55	Postcard view from water of New England Fish Co. plant, in Ketchikan, Alaska (Case 377)	circa 1908
1/3	56	Postcard view of Fidalgo Island Co. cannery and New England Fish Co. plant from the water in Ketchikan, Alaska (Case 378)	circa 1908
1/3	57	Cold storage room, New England Fish Co. plant in Ketchikan Alaska (Case 494)	circa 1908
1/3	58	Sharp freezer room, New England Fish Co. plant in Ketchikan Alaska (Case 495)	circa 1908
		Klawock, Alaska This town is currently known as Klawock. Klawak was a variation used circa 1890-1910, and no longer in use.
Box/Folder	item
1/3	59	Hanging nets and pallets of cans, inside N.P.T. & P. Co. cannery in Klawock, Alaska (Case 525) Caption on photo: Kla-wak, Alaska.	circa 1908
1/3	60	N.P.T. & P. Co. cannery buildings and dock in Klawak, Alaska (Case 524) Caption on photo: N.P.T. Co. cannery, Klawak, Alaska.	circa 1908
		Shakan, Alaska
Box/Folder	item
1/3	61	Sha-Kan Salmon Co. cannery buildings and dock in Shakan, Alaska (Case 528)	circa 1908
1/3	62	Postcard of Sha-kan Salmon Co. cannery and dock from water (Case 388)	circa 1908
1/3	63	Water view of Sha-Kan Salmon Co. cannery buildings, Shakan, Alaska (Case 531)	circa 1908
1/3	64	Interior of cooling room at Sha-Kan Salmon Co. Cannery in Shakan, Alaska (Case 529)	circa 1908
1/3	65a	Shakan Salmon Co. gas boat towing a scow of salmon in Shakan, Alaska (Case 547)	circa 1908
1/3	65b	Postcard of Sha-Kan Salmon Co. gas boat towing a scow of salmon in Shakan, Alaska (Case 385) Same image as 65a.	circa 1908

Lakes, rivers, and glaciersReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/4	66	Postcard of Glacier Lake, Stickene River (Case 370)	circa 1908
1/4	67	Postcard of icebergs in Glacier Lake, Stickene River (Case 373)	circa 1908
1/4	68	Postcard view of flower field, glaciers, and mountains in Stickene River (Case 372)	circa 1908
1/4	69	Postcard view of entrance to Knig Glacier, Stickene River, Alaska (Case 358)	circa 1908
1/4	70	Postcard view of Knig Glacier in Stickene River (Case 368)	circa 1908
1/4	71	Postcard view of Knig Glacier in Stickene River (Case 369)	circa 1908
1/4	72	Postcard of aerial closeup of Knig Glacier, Stickene River, Alaska (Case 374)	circa 1908
1/4	73	Postcard view of Popoff Glacier from Stickene River, Alaska (Case 357)	circa 1908
1/4	74	Sunset at Frederick Sound, Alaska (Case 198)	circa 1908
1/4	75	Postcard of sunset at Ernest Sound, Alaska (Case 389)	circa 1908
1/4	76	Snow-covered pilot house on LaunchFoxDec 30, 1908 (Case 351)	1908
1/4	77	P.C. Co. SteamersSpokaneandCottage Citynext to Taku Glacier in Taku Inlet, southeast of Juneau, Alaska (Case 430)	1910

Hunting camp in Big John Bay, AlaskaReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/5	78	Man in front of forest cabin with deer and fowl hanging outside, at Big John Bay near Petersburg, Alaska (Case 424) Caption on photo: Juneau sports in camp, Big Johns [sic] Bay, Alaska.	circa 1908

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