Victor B. Scheffer photographs, 1918-1976

Scheffer made this photograph of the drawing by Ada Willoughby (circa late 1800s) in the 1930s.

Scheffer made this photographic copy of the original photograph by Clara L. Minard.

Scheffer made this photographic copy of a Clara L. Minard photograph (circa late 1800s).

Scheffer made this photographic copy of the photograph by Clara L. Minard (circa late 1800s).

Figure 1: male. Figure 2: female.

Photographic copy from Steller's De Bestiis Marinis , 1751.

Figure 1: male. Figure 2: female with pup.

Photographic copy from Steller's De Bestiis Marinis , 1751.

Caption: Elliott lived in Government House, which was built during his tour of duty in 1872. Thanks to the cold, clean air of the Bering Sea, the house was still standing a century later, though converted to other uses.

Photographic copy from Henry W. Elliott's The Pribilov Group, or Seal Islands, of Alaska, 1873.

Caption: Elliott labeled this sketch 'The Interior of Lukah's Barrabakie.' One of the Russian-Aleut figures is evidently Mrs. Luka Mandrigan, age 53. Barrabakies, or barrabaras, were dugouts insulated with sod. The remains of many such habitations are common on the islands of the Bering Sea.

Photographic copy from Henry W. Elliott's The Pribilov Group, or Seal Islands, of Alaska, 1873.

Caption: A fur seal harem sketched by Elliott on 14 June 1872, shortly before the peak of the breeding season. The harem bull or beachmaster takes a commanding position from which he can monitor the movements of his harem of a dozen or so cows. Other cows are yet to arrive on land from their winter migration at sea.

Photographic copy from Henry W. Elliott's The Pribilov Group, or Seal Islands, of Alaska, 1873.

Caption: We can suppose that Elliott put himself in this sketch which he labeled 'Seal Breath Fog.' On 10 October 1872, he was moving slowly through the masses which typically congregate on the 'Reef Parade-ground' in late summer, shortly before they all leave on migration.

Photographic copy from Henry W. Elliott's The Pribilov Group, or Seal Islands, of Alaska, 1873.

Caption: A driving or 'pickup' of bachelor seals destined for the killing fields of English Bay, 10 June 1872. Change their clothing, and the sealers could be those of today. The bachelor seals habitually sleep in a group outside the rookeries, or breeding grounds.

Photographic copy from Henry W. Elliott's The Pribilov Group, or Seal Islands, of Alaska, 1873.

Caption: A Fourth of July clubbing scene. A dozen sealers were killing animals selected for the quality of their pelts, while skinners (at left) were beginning their back-breaking task. Hundreds of other seals (at right) were destined to pass in review before the clubbers.

Photographic copy from Henry W. Elliott's The Pribilov Group, or Seal Islands, of Alaska, 1873.

"Told that the Great War had ended, children gathered in small neighborhood groups to celebrate."