University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
PH0557
Hegg, Eric A., 1867-1948
August Hahn
Collection of Eric A. Hegg Photographs
ca. 1897-1898
25 photographic prints
Collection materials are in
English.
Photographs of
the Klondike Gold Rush, gold miners and Klondike towns taken by Eric A.
Hegg.
Eric A. Hegg was born in Bollnas, Sweden, in 1868 and came to America
with his parents when he was three years old, settling in Wisconsin. Hegg
studied art and photography (possibly as an apprentice to a local
photographer). At fifteen, he opened his own studio in Washburn, Wisconsin. At
the age of twenty-one, Hegg moved to the Puget Sound area, and by 1897, he
owned two photo studios in Bellingham Bay, Washington. In that year, he left
for the gold fields with a group of men from Bellingham Bay on the
Skagit Chief sternwheeler. Having arrived too late
in the season to get all the way to Dawson, Hegg stayed close to the coast,
photographing stampeders, first in Dyea, then with a second studio in Skagway.
With his brother Pete and several others he formed a party continuing on to the
Klondike, heading over Chilkoot Pass, successfully navigating through White
Horse Rapids, on to Lake LaBarge, Thirty Mile River, past Five Finger Rapids,
and arriving in Dawson in July, 1898. He later went to Nome and opened a studio
there, continuing to photograph the gold rush. Eric Hegg died in San Diego in
1955.
The discovery of gold in the Klondike in 1896
brought a stampede of hopeful gold seekers. Alaska was the gateway through
which most miners passed as the routes through Alaska were more accessible than
those through Canandian territory. Ships left San Francisco, Seattle, and Port
Townsend, among other ports, for the Alaska panhandle. From there one of the
most popular routes went from Dyea over the Chilkoot Pass. A longer but less
steep route began in Skagway and went over the White Pass. The Canadian
government required every prospector to carry in at least a one-year supply of
food, and a single miner's food and supplies might weigh several tons. Once
over the passes, gold seekers built boats to make the rest of the trip along
the Yukon. While the trip over the pass could be difficult, the trip downriver
was equally arduous, with early freezes and perilous rapids. The miners crossed
Lake Bennett and then proceeded down the Yukon to Dawson City, and on to seek
their fortune.
The collection contains photographs made by E. A. Hegg depicting
images of the Klondike Gold Rush in Alaska and Yukon Territory, ca. 1897-1898.
Most show miners, prospectors, and Klondikers on their way to the gold fields
or engaged in mining activities. Towns (such as Skagway and Dawson) also appear
in the photographs.
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Request at UW
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation or publication.
Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Donated by August Hahn, Jr., March 19, 1998.
Processed by Scott Rawlings and Jocelyn
Spicer.
Morgan, Murray.
One Man's Gold Rush: A Klondike Album (University of Washington Press, 1967).
Hahn, August
Hegg, Eric A., 1867-1948
Gold rushes--Alaska--Photographs
Gold rushes--Yukon--Klondike River Valley--Photographs
Gold miners--Yukon--Klondike River Valley--Photographs
Gold miners--Alaska--Photographs
Gold mines and mining--Yukon--Klondike River Valley--Photographs
Frontier and pioneer life--Yukon--Klondike River Valley--Photographs
Frontier and pioneer life--Alaska--Photographs
Dyea (Alaska)--Photographs
Skagway (Alaska)--Photographs
Dawson (Yukon)--Photographs
Alaska--Gold discoveries--Photographs
Klondike River Valley (Yukon)--Gold discoveries--Photographs
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Alaska
Photographs
Expeditions and Adventures
Mines and Mineral Resources
1/1
1
Dyea, Alaska (Hegg
51)
1/1
2
Dyea Trail (Hegg
101)
1898
1/1
3
Sheep Camp, Alaska
(Hegg 204)
Apr., 1898
1/2
4
Summit of Chilkoot
Pass (Hegg 208)
ca. 1898
This photograph is still attached to an album page. Photo 208 is
on the reverse side of photo 701.
1/2
5
Caribou Crossing
(Hegg 701)
This photograph is still attached to an album page. Photo 701 is
on the reverse side of photo 208.
1/3
6
Lake Lindeman
(Hegg 402)
June 1, 1898
1/3
7
Three men, woman,
and dog in a small boat, probably Bennett Lake or Lake Lindeman
Photograph on album page.
Attached to photo: Hon. L.A. Palmer, of this city, has lately
received word that his brother, George Palmer, was in the snow slide upon the
Chilkoot Pass a week or so ago, and that he escaped all right. The message came
from Mrs. George Palmer at Tacoma, saying he was safe and particulars would
follow in a letter. Mr. Palmer has for some years resided at Tacoma, but
formerly lived here.
1/4
8
Wharves at Skagway
(Hegg 164)
1/4
9
Ddogsled in
Skagway street, Alaska (Hegg 12)
1/5
10
Tagish Post,
Custom House (Hegg 704)
ca. 1898
1/5
11
Scows with sails
on Lake Marsh (Hegg 708)
June 6, 1898
1/6
12
Small boat
navigating White Horse Rapids (Hegg 712)
ca. 1898
1/6
13
Goods being dried
after a wreck on White Horse Rapids (Hegg 719)
1/7
14
Boats on Lake
LeBarge (Hegg 717)
ca. 1898
1/7
15
The steamer
Kalamazoo wrecked on the Thirty Mile River (Hegg
580)
ca. 1898
1/7
16
Five Finger Rapids
(Hegg 723)
1/8
17
Steamboat landing
at Dawson City
1/8
18
Main St. looking
north at Dawson (Hegg 741)
1898
1/9
19
Men with huskies,
Yukon (Hegg 570)
1/10
20
View at Grand Fork
looking up Bonanza Creek
1/10
21
View looking up
Eldorado from the Forks
1/10
22
Skookum Gulch
(Hegg 399)
1/10
23
Keith and Wilson
mine on French Hill (Hegg 3025)
1/10
24
Mining on French
Hill, rocking out gold
1/10
25
French Hill (Hegg
552)