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W.E. Priestly's Views of Alaska Photograph Album, 1909
Overview of the Collection
- Photographer
- Priestly, W. E
- Title
- W.E. Priestly's Views of Alaska Photograph Album
- Dates
- 1909 (inclusive)19091909
- Quantity
- 92 prints photographic prints in 1 album and 1 folder (1 box) ; various sizes
- Collection Number
- PH0373
- Summary
- Photographs documenting W.E. Priestly's journey by boat and dog team from Dawson to Seward, 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
-
Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Born in Sheffield, England in 1882, Priestly came to the United States shortly after the turn of the century and thereafter kept a home base in Seattle, WA. He was in San Francisco during the great fire and earthquake of 1906, spent three winters in Alaska, and two years mining in California. From the latter half of 1909 until 1930, Priestly served as a representative for Hitt Fireworks Company located just south of Columbia City, Seattle. He traveled as a Hitt representative to Canada, Alaska, China and other locations. During the trip depicted in the album, it is possible Priestly was conducting business for Hitt. In 1912, Priestly started a business manufacturing and selling and importing fireworks. He established factories in China, Japan, Formosa, and the Philippines. At the time of his death in 1947, Priestly was considered an authority on China, was trustee of the China Club, and editor of their monthly publication,Chung Hua.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
In 1896, the Klondike Gold Rush started in the Yukon Territory, Canada, with the discovery of gold in Bonanza Creek on the Klondike River. Transportation to Dawson, originally a native summer fishing camp, was limited to steamboat, dogsled, and horseback. But the gold rush quickly transformed the town. By 1898, Dawson was the largest Canadian city west of Winnipeg, with 40,000 residents. When the news of gold in Nome, Alaska, people started to leave Dawson in large numbers. By 1902, the population of Dawson was less than 5,000.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The album consists of photographs of Alaska taken by Priestly from Dawson, Yukon Territory down the Yukon River to Kaltag and then by dog team to Seward, Alaska on the coast in early 1909. Images depict Native and non-Native settlements, cemeteries, dogsleds, and scenic views of towns and landscapes. The album appears to follow a popular route to Dawson, but the order in which the images appear in the album do not always adhere to geographical order of the route and the original notes written on photos may be incorrect. The album was created by J.E. Thwaites, who was a photographer based in Alaska.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Handwritten on inside cover: "Views taken by W.E. Priestly while on a trip from Dawson Y.T. down the Yukon River to Kaltag. Thence alone by dog team to Seward, Alaska on the coast. Early part of 1909. [Signed below] J.E. Thwaites.
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
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Album | item | ||
| 1 | 1 | Priestly dressed in parka with snowy landscape in background at Kokrines | 1909 |
| 1 | 2 | Blank
Photograph missing when album was acquired.
Handwritten on album page: "Surrey stake, Yukon Boundary."
|
undated |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/1 | 3 | Priestly standing next to international boundary marker near Yukon River | 1909 |
| Album | |||
| 1 | 4 | Two men at the Copper King mine in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 5 | Native men skinning moose at river's edge in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 6 | Railroad tracks for tramway around Whitehorse Rapids, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 7 | Native men cleaning fish near Whitehorse, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 8 | View across Thirty-Mile River, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 9-11 | River at Miles Canyon, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 12 | Priestly in parka with three dogs, Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 13 | View of Dawson, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 14 | Cabins and Catholic Hospital in Dawson, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 15 | A dredger in Bonanza Creek, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/1 | 16 | Fort Yukon along the river | 1909 |
| Album | |||
| 1 | 17 | Blank
Photo missing when collection was acquired.
Handwritten on album page: "Fort Yukon Dogs."
|
undated |
| 1 | 18 | Fort Gibbon on the Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 19 | Rampart fishing village, viewed from the Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 20 | View of Rampart, on the Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 21 | Native man in canoe near Nulato, Yukon River
Handwritten on image: "Native River. Nulato. Y.R."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 22 | Two men with dog teams near Nulato, Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 23 | Native woman, Nonadelan Kozukasron, standing in front of tent near Nulato, Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 24 | Hellgate on Upper Yukon River, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 25 | Eagle's Nest Rock on viewed across Upper Yukon River, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 26 | Sunset on upper Yukon River, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| 1 | 27 | Blank
Handwritten on album page: "Susitna Station?"
|
1909 |
| 1 | 28 | Seven native men on a beach, lower Yukon River, Alaska
Handwritten on image: "Eskimos, Paimute. Lower Yukon. Alaska"
|
1909 |
| 1 | 29 | Group of Natives and a white man on a beach, lower Yukon River, Alaska
Handwritten on image: "Natives. Russian Mission. Lower Yukon. Good Bye to Bishop."
|
1909 |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/1 | 30 | Russian Mission, Lower Yukon | 1909 |
| Album | |||
| 1 | 31 | Holy Cross Roman Catholic Mission, Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 32 | Jessy's Road House, Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 33 | Beach and town, Circle City, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 34 | Aerial view over the Yukon River Flats | 1909 |
| 1 | 35 | Priestly and his dog team | 1909 |
| 1 | 36 | Priestly on his boat with two stretched skins. Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 37 | Eagle, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 38 | Fort Selkirk, Yukon Territory | 1909 |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/1 | 39 | Fishing village on Yukon River, Yukakaket, Alaska | 1909 |
| Album | |||
| 1 | 40 | Group of native women, children and dogs in Kokrines, Yukon River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 41 | Group of natives in front of log houses, Kokrines, Yukon River, Alaska
Handwritten on image: "Kokrines, 2nd week, Yukon River; Alaska's Gordon Bettles married a 'Princess' wife here."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 42 | Kokrines, Yukon River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 43 | Indian graveyard, Lower Yukon River | 1909 |
| 1 | 44 | Caribou herd
Handwritten on image: "Yuka River, Yukon River."
|
1909 |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/1 | 45 | Caribou herd, Koyokuk District, Alaska | 1909 |
| Album | |||
| 1 | 46 | Sunset over the Tanana Flats, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 47 | Tolovana Indian camp viewed from the Tanana River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 48 | Tolovana telegraph station, Tanana River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 49 | Native men watching a dog fight, Tanana River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 50-51 | Nenana Indian camp, Tanana River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 52 | Native family in front of tent, Nenana, Tanana River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 53 | Indian graveyard
Handwritten on image: "Koyokuk River, Yukon River."
|
1909 |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/1 | 54 | Caribou herd
Handwritten on image: "Yuka River, Yukon River."
|
1909 |
| Album | |||
| 1 | 55 | Happy River covered in snow, Alaska
Handwritten on image: "Happy River and Mount Distin."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 56 | Snow-covered mountains and Happy River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 57 | View of Happy River through trees, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 58 | Sled dogs and tent at Priestly's camp, Innoko Divide, Yukon | 1909 |
| 1 | 59 | Men and their dog team with supplies, Innoko Summit, Alaska
Handwritten on image: "Miners' Cache."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 60 | Men whipsawing logs, Innoko, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 61 | Dog sitting on a snowy field near Ophir City, Innoko, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 62 | Mining scene near Ophir Creek, Innoko, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 63 | Young boys with a puppy sled dog team, Innoko River, Alaska
Handwritten on image: "Alaska's future dog team."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 64 | Native woman with children and dogs, Innoko, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 65 | North fork of the Innoko River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 66 | SteamboatBen Huron the Innoko River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 67 | Men with dog team, Innoko, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 68 | Innoko, Kuskokwim Divide, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 69 | Dogs and log cabin settlement, Kuskokwim River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 70 | Chief Nikolai with dog team, Kuskokwim River, Alaska | 1909 |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/1 | 71 | Russian graveyard, Kuskokwim River, Alaska | 1909 |
| Album | |||
| 1 | 72 | Egypt mountain, South fork, Kuskokwim River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 73 | Squentna River and mountains, Alaska
"Squentna River" is alternatively spelled "Skwentna River."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 74 | Looking west through Squentna Canyon, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 75 | Trapper's cabin, Squentna River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 76-78 | Ice break-up, Yetna River, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 79 | Priestly's dog team on the Kuskokwim River, Alaska
Handwritten on image: "Afterwards eaten by him on Yetna River."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 80 |
Priestly next to a river
Handwritten on image: "Yours sincerely, W.E. Priestly."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 81 | Priestly with men and dog on a raft, Yetna River, Alaska
Handwritten on image: "Anderson and Stonebreaker."
|
1909 |
| 1 | 82 | Rainy Pass, Alaska Range | 1909 |
| Box/Folder | |||
| 1/1 | 83 | Group gathered at Susitna Station, Alaska | 1909 |
| Album | |||
| 1 | 84 | Group of natives in their camp, Susitna, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 85 | Settlement at Sunrise, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 86 | Six Mile River, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska | 1909 |
| 1 | 87 | Blank
Photo missing when collection was acquired.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 88 | People with caribou | 1909 |
| 1 | 89-90 | Ice floating on a river | 1909 |
| 1 | 91 | River valley and mountain range | 1909 |
| 1 | 92-95 | Mountain landscape | 1909 |
| 1 | 96 | River and mountain landscape | 1909 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Personal Names
- Priestly, W. E.--Photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Thwaites, John E. (John Edward), 1863-1940 (photographer)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
