Edward de Groff Photographs, approximately 1886-1890

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
de Groff, Edward
Title
Edward de Groff Photographs
Dates
approximately 1886-1890 (inclusive)
Quantity
61 photographic prints (1 box) ; 8.5" x 5.5"
Collection Number
PH0317
Summary
Photographs of Sitka, Fort Wrangell, Juneau and various Native American villages in the vicinity by Edward de Groff, circa 1896-1890.
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

Edward de Groff was born in 1860 at Staten Island, New York. He first came to Sitka in 1880, and later managed the Northwest Trading Company post at Killisnoo, Alaska. By 1881, de Groff was transferred to Harrisburg, Alaska (now Juneau, Alaska) to manage the company store there. He was later appointed the first postmaster of Harrisburg (Juneau) and deputy recorder of the Harris Mining District. In 1882, he returned to Killisnoo, and by January of 1886, had purchased the Northwest Trading Company store in Sitka. Edward de Groff began taking photographs of Sitka in 1886. His hobby turned into a profitable venture as he sold the photographs at the Northwest Trading Company store in Sitka until 1890. In addition to being a prominent Sitka merchant and photographer, de Groff also served as Commissioner for 1893 Alaska to the Chicago Columbian Exposition, U.S. Commissioner to Sitka, and was president of the Chichagoff Gold Mining Company.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection includes boudoir style photographs of Sitka, Killisnoo, Fort Wrangell, Howkan, Juneau and various Native American villages in the Alaskan vicinity.

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

Processing Note

Processed by Grant Barber 2013; Libby Hopfauf 2014; processing completed 2014.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Sitka, AlaskaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1 circa 1886-1890
1/1 2 circa 1886-1890
1/1 3 circa 1886-1890
1/1 4 circa 1886-1890
½ 5
View of village and Mt. Vostovia from the USS Pinta, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 224)
Pintawas a Navy screw tug that patrolled Alaskan waters during the 1880s to protect the seal fisheries. On October 17, 1889,Pintareturned to Sitka, her home port.
circa 1889
½ 6
View of the Indian River Canyon from the USS Pinta, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 222)
Pintawas a Navy screw tug that patrolled Alaskan waters during the 1880s to protect the seal fisheries. On October 17, 1889,Pintareturned to Sitka, her home port.
circa 1888
½ 7
Tlingit Indian town, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 19)
Note on verso: Summer 1897 when the Governor's Executive Office building was being reshingled. Old Russian town in right hand, middle distance.
circa 1887
½ 8 circa 1886-1890
1/3 9 circa 1886-1890
1/3 10 circa 1888
1/3 11 circa 1886-1890
1/3 12
View of buildings in town, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 21)
Printed on mat: Mt. Edgecombe, Sitka, Alaska.
circa 1886-1890
1/3 13
View of Sitka Bay, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 775)
St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral can be seen on the right from across the water.
circa 1886-1890
1/3 14 circa 1886-1890
1/4 15 circa 1886-1890
1/4 16 circa 1886-1890
1/4 17 circa 1886-1890
1/4 18
St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 20)
Printed on mat: Greek Church, (Side View) Sitka, Alaska
circa 1888
1/5 19
Sealing shipsSan Diegoand Lauranext to dock in Sitka Bay, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 67)
Printed on mat: "San Diego" and "Laura" Sealers, Sitka Alaska.
circa 1886-1890
1/5 20 circa 1886-1890
1/5 21 circa 1886
1/5 22
Group of men and women dancing in a field. Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 233)
Printed on mat: Dancing on The Green Sitka, Alaska.Note on verso: Taken in Summer of 1886.
circa 1886
1/5 23 circa 1886-1890
1/6 24 circa 1886-1890
1/6 25
Religious procession through snow covered street, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 76)
Printed on mat: Religious Procession, Graeco-Russian, Sitka, Alaska.
circa 1886-1890
1/6 26 circa 1886-1890
1/6 27 circa 1886-1890
1/6 28
Tlingit wood carvings, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 34)
Printed on mat: Thlingit Carvings in Wood, Sitka, Alaska.
circa 1888
1/6 29
Tlingit bone carvings, Sitka, Alaska (de Groff 39)
Printed on mat: Thlingit Carvings in Bone, Sitka, Alaska.
circa 1888

Fort Wrangell, AlaskaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/9 39
U. S. Army post hospital (building on right), Fort Wrangell, Alaska (de Groff 23)
Printed on mat: Indian Training School, Sitka, Alaska. [This is incorrect.]
circa 1886-1890
1/9 40
Group of boys, Fort Wrangell Tlingit Industrial School, Fort Wrangell, Alaska (de Groff, 30)
Printed on mat: Group of Boys and Girls, Training School, Fort Wrangle. [There are no girls in the photo.]
circa 1886-1890
1/9 41 circa 1886-1890
1/9 42 circa 1886-1890

Other Scenic Views in AlaskaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/11 47
Group of men in and next to moored boats, Shakan Village, Kosciusko Island, Alaska (de Groff 121)
Nellie Martinboat on left.Printed on mat: Chigan, Alaska.Shakan was previously spelled "Chican".
circa 1886-1890
1/11 48
Hamilton Mill, Shakan Village, Kosciusko Island, Alaska (de Groff 41)
Printed on mat: Saw Mill, Chigan, Alaska.Shakan was previously spelled "Chican".
circa 1886-1890
1/11 49 circa 1886-1890
1/11 50 circa 1886-1890
1/12 51 circa 1886-1890
1/12 52 circa 1886-1890
1/12 53 circa 1886-1890
1/12 54 circa 1888
1/13 55 circa 1886-1890
1/13 56 circa 1886-1890
1/13 57 circa 1886-1890

Shaman and Other Tlingit MenReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/14 58 circa 1886-1890
1/14 59
Shaman standing, holding man in kneeling position (de Groff 523)
Printed on mat: Witchcraft. Shaman Tying witch.
circa 1886-1890
1/14 60
Shaman in mask kneeling over man covered in blanket (de Groff 526)
Printed on mat: Witchcraft. Shaman and Sick Man (Hydah).
circa 1886-1890
1/14 61
Tlingit Shaman kneeling over man covered in blanket (de Groff 527)
Printed on mat: Witchcraft. Shaman and Sick Man (Thlingit).
circa 1886-1890

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)