WAUPartridgeWilliamHPHColl322.xmlGuide to the William H. Partridge Alaska Photographs 1880-1939Partridge (William H.) Alaska PhotographsSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2010 (Last modified: 9/19/2025)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0322Partridge, W. H. (William Henry), 1858-1939William H. Partridge Alaska photographs1880-1939109 photographic prints, 2 empty albums (2 boxes) ; 8.5 x 5.25 in.Collection materials are in English.Photographs taken by William H. Partridge of a trip on the steamshipAnconup the southeastern Alaskan coast in 1887, as well as photographs in Washington; Oregon; and Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada; of a Northern Pacific Railroad survey crew; a portrait of Partridge; and photographs of his paintings

Born in 1858 in West Virginia, William Partridge was already listed as a photographer in a Boston business directory in 1878. He was soon joined by his older brother Edward, working with their father at A. C. Partridge & Sons. By 1884, William and Edward had moved to Portland, where they established their own studio. In September of that year they exhibited a series of photographs made at night by electric light. Both Edward and William Partridge traveled to Alaska and brought back photographs, William in 1886 and Edward in 1887. Then in 1887, shortly after marrying Emma Abell, daughter of the Portland photographer Frank Abell, William moved back to Boston. Both Edward's and William's Alaska and Oregon views sold briskly on the east coast, and many of their Pacific Northwest boudoir cards found today include a Boston imprint. William continued his studio in Boston for many years, from 1886 until 1914. After his career in photography, he became involved in real estate., as well as becoming an artist. He died in Wellesley in 1939.

Arranged in 14 series.

WashingtonOregonAlaskaFort Wrangell and Wrangell Narrows, AlaskaJuneau and vicinity, AlaskaKillisnoo, AlaskaMuir Glacier, AlaskaSitka, Alaska and vicinityTaku Inlet, AlaskaTreadwell Gold Mine, Douglas Island, AlaskaNanaimo, British Columbia, CanadaNorthern Pacific Railroad SurveyMiscellaneous PhotographsAlbums and Catalogs

This collection contains photographs, referred to as "Boudoir Cards" probably made on one trip, on the steamship Ancon up the southeastern Alaskan coast with stops in Fort Wrangell, Juneau, Killisnoo and Sitka. There are several photographs of the ship and the scenery, as well as a few shots featuring passengers and Tlingit people. These photographs are from Partridge's "Catalogue of Alaska Views." The collection also includes two boudoir card photograph albums of "Alaska Souvenir Photographs", each containing a list of the photographs. There are also photographs taken in Washington; Oregon; Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada; and of a Northern Pacific Railroad survey crew.

Introduced in the 1880s, the " boudoir " card size (5.5 x 8.5 inches) slightly larger than the "cabinet" card size (4.5 x 7 inches). It was originally produced for marketing purposes. A boudoir card consisted of a photograph mounted on a cardboard mount. It usually cost more than the smaller sized cabinet cards. This collection contains two empty boudoir card photograph albums.

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Request at UW

Selected images can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of the Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

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

Source: 3 photographs, Joan Perkal Books, 1980.

Source: 65 photographs, 1 album cover, 1 document, Barbara Day, 2013.

Processed by Erin O'Brien, Megan Peacock, and Marion Brown, 2008: photographs added by Arlene G. Cohen, 2023.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Alaska--PhotographsJuneau (Alaska)--PhotographsSitka (Alaska)--PhotographsWashington--PhotographsOregon--PhotographsIndians of Indians of North America--Alaska--PhotographsTlingit Indians--PhotographsPhotographsAlaskaPhotographsBoudoir card photographs

 

WashingtonStarbuck Junction1/11Valley and train depot in Starbuck Junction, Columbia County, Washington Territory (Partridge 5591)1887 Ellensburg1/11aView of Ellensburg with ice pond in the foreground (Partridge 5832-A)between 1884 and 18871/11bView of Ellensburg (Partridge 5832-B)between 1884 and 18871/11cSeveral men, children and a horsecart lined up in front of the Geddis Building, corner of Fourth and Pearl St. (Partridge 5772)between 1888 and 18891/11dWood two-story building housing a Dry Goods and Groceries store with a "Grand Clearance Sale for 60 Days" banner (Partridge 5774)between 1884 and 1889Yakima1/21eYakima River looking east with railroad tracks on the right (Partridge 5788)between 1884 and 18871/21fBirds-eye view of Yakima (Partridge 233)between 1884 and 1887Oregon1/21gOneonta Falls on the Columbia River in Multnomah County, Oregon (Partridge 5232)between 1884 and 18871/21hSeveral buildings in Pilot Rock, Umatilla County, Oregon (Partridge 6604) between 1884 and 1887Alaska1/32Chilkat, Alaska, viewed from the water (Partridge 7591)between 1886 and 1887

Written on front of photograph: Chilcoot from the Anchorage.

1/33Peril Straits (Partridge 7731)between 1886 and 1887 1/33aDavidson Glacier viewed from the water (Partridge 7958)between 1886 and 1887 1/33bAuk Glacier viewed from the water (Partridge 7917)between 1886 and 18871/33cAlaskan indigenous people rowing in two traditional canoes (Partridge 7541)between 1886 and 18871/43dView from the water of people sitting on a porch, possibly of the Chilkat salmon cannerybetween 1886 and 18871/43e[item number not used]1/43f Men on beach and in canoes next to pier (Partridge 7891)between 1886 and 18871/44Steamship Ancon at dock in Sitka, Alaska (Partridge 7764)between 1886 and 1887 1/45Passengers aboard ship, possibly the Ancon (Partridge 7949)between 1886 and 1887 1/46Ornate interior of ship (Partridge 7816)between 1886 and 1887 1/57Steamship Ancon in Salmon Bay (Partridge 7988)between 1886 and 1887 1/58View from the water of the Chilkat salmon cannery, the steamship Ancon and people in small boats (Partridge 7953)between 1886 and 18871/58a Steamship in Salmon Bay with a rowboat full of people in the foreground who are possibly the passengers of the steamship (Partridge 7913)between 1886 and 18871/58bView from the water of Loring, Alaska, a fishing village, with several buildings on the shore and probably the steamship Ancon in the background (Partridge 7992)between 1886 and 1887Fort Wrangell and Wrangell Narrows, Alaska1/69Two Tlingit totem poles in front of some cedar homes (Partridge 7316) 1887 1/69aTwo Tlingit totem poles in front of some cedar homes (Partridge 7315)1887

Item 9 was taken from a slightly different vantage point.

1/610Tlingit Indian graves with totem carvings on top (Partridge 7740) 1887 1/611Three people seated around a flag-covered coffin inside Tlingit house, with blankets and carvings displayed near coffin (Partridge 7903)between 1886 and 1887 1/612Tlingit canoe, American flag on stern, carrying large group of people near Fort Wrangell, Alaska (Partridge 7905)between 1886 and 1887 1/713Wooden buildings along the waterfront at Fort Wrangell (Partridge 7948)between 1886 and 1887

Written on photograph: Barracks and warehouses, Ft. Wrangle [sic].

1/713aWooden buildings along a muddy roadbetween 1886 and 18871/713b-13dView from the water of Wrangell Narrows (Partridge 7950, 7950a, and 7950c)between 1886 and 1887Juneau and vicinity, Alaska1/814Harbor with a ship at the dock (Partridge 7328)1887 1/815Juneau seen from the harbor (Partridge 7504)1887

A duplicate photograph has a title glued on the photograph: 7329 Juneau from the Beach. Written on duplicate photograph: 7594.

1/815aView of Juneau from the harbor with several boats in water (Partridge 7952)1887 1/816Tlingit village at Juneau (Partridge 7551) 1887

Title on front: Indian Village at Jeauno [sic].

1/917View of Juneau looking down toward the water (Partridge 7758)1887 1/917aView of Juneau looking down toward the water (Partridge 7801)between 1886 and 1887

Same view as Ph.Coll.322.17 taken from a different angle

1/917bSmall buildings, tents and canoes along shoreline (Partridge 7319)1887

Caption on photo: Indian Huts near Juneau.

1/917cWaterfall near Juneau (Partridge 7589)between 1886 and 1887

Listed on Partridge's catalogue of photos as: Johnson's Water Power, Juneau.

1/917dNorris Glacier near Juneau (Partridge 7735)between 1886 and 1887Killisnoo, Alaska1/1018View of Killisnoo harbor, town and steamship Ancon at pier (Partridge 7723)between 1886 and 1887 1/1019Tlingit village shown from the harbor with dwelllings and canoes near a building with the initials N.W.T.C. on the front (Partridge 7724)between 1886 and 1887

The building is probably the North West Trading Co.

Muir Glacier, Alaska1/1120View of Muir Glacier from the water at 10 :00 PM (Partridge 7595)1887 1/1121 a-bClose-up view of Muir Glacier from the water (Partridge 7773a and 7773b)between 1886 and 1887 1/1122Small boat in front of the Muir Glacier (Partridge 7727)between 1886 and 1887 1/1122aClose-up view of glacial ice with some ice floating in the water (Partridge 7804)between 1886 and 1887

Caption on photo: Muir Glacier.

1/1122bClose-up view of large glacial ice pack floating in the water (Partridge 7967)between 1886 and 1887

Caption on photo: Muir Glacier.

1/1122cView from the top of Muir Glacier (Partridge 7805)between 1886 and 18871/1223Group in boat in front of Muir Glacier (Partridge 7968)between 1886 and 1887 1/1224Group of tourists posing by an iceberg on Muir Glacier (Partridge 7964)between 1886 and 1887 1/1225People on top of Muir Glacier (Partridge 7965)between 1886 and 1887 1/1226Two men walking on the top of Muir Glacier with mountains in the distance (Partridge 7966)between 1886 and 1887 1/1226aSteamship Ancon in front of Muir Glacier (Partridge 7768A)between 1886 and 1887Sitka, Alaska and vicinityRussian fort2/127Russian fort (Partridge 7813)between 1886 and 1887

Written on verso: The Russian blockhouse in left foreground is 5-sided. To its right is the 'Castle' (the Russian governor’s house) above; Custom House below. To the left of post is the barracks, used by Russian, then American troops, which later became a jail.

Cattle2/128Cattle on a beach (Partridge 7670)between 1886 and 1887

Caption on photo: A Study of Cattle at Sitka

St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church

St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral, constructed between 1844 and 1848, is the principal representative of Russian religious and cultural influence in the 19th century in North America.

2/129St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church (Partridge 7603)between 1886 and 1887 2/129aSt. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church viewed from across beach (Partridge 76[illegible])18872/130Street view of St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church (Partridge 7935)between 1886 and 1887 2/130aReligious painting behind a large standing candelabra (possibly a vigil lamp) in St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church (Partridge 7675)between 1886 and 1887

Printed on front of photograph: Greek Church, Sitka

2/130bInterior of St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church, showing nave with icon screens and closed sanctuary doors (Partridge 7672)1887

Printed on front of photograph: Greek Church, Sitka

2/130cClose-up of sanctuary doors and a massive chandelier inside St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church (Partridge 7673)1887

Printed on front of photograph: Royal Doors, Greek Church, Sitka

Sitka Village and harbor2/231View of Sitka village and harbor from the Baranof Castle on a clear day (Partridge 7147)between 1886 and 1887 2/232View of Sitka village and harbor from the Baranof Castle with a cloudy sky obscuring the mountains in the background (Partridge 7817)between 1886 and 18872/232aView of Sitka village and harbor from the Baranof Castle with a cloudy sky obscuring the mountains in the background (Partridge 7932)between 1886 and 1887

Taken from a slightly different angle item 32.

2/233Small islands within the harborbetween 1886 and 1887 2/233aSmall islands within harbor (Partridge 7984)between 1886 and 1887

Appears to be a duplicate of Ph.Coll.322.33, with different exposure and cropping, and different photo studio address.

2/334a-b Sitka Harbor from the Baranof Castle with steamer docked at wharf and old Russian American Company fur warehouse at right (Partridge 7341)between 1886 and 1887

Item 34a is mounted on a card with address: Opposite the Post Office, Portland, Oregon. Item 34b is slightly cropped and mounted on a card with the address: 2832 Washington St., Boston.

2/335Sitka Harbor and islands (Partridge 7971)between 1886 and 1887

Similar view as Item 35, with the addition of several schooner moored together.

2/335aSitka Harbor with the steamship Olympiancoming into the harbor (Partridge 7930)between 1886 and 18872/335bPier at Sitka Harbor viewed from the water, with a steamship coming into the harbor (Partridge 7766)between 1886 and 1887Tlingit village, mission and Sitka Industrial Training School for Indian Children2/436 Tlingit settlement seen from Castle Hill, looking northwest (Partridge 7346) 1886

The photograph shows Tlingit dwellings along the shore, Governor's executive office buildings in the foreground, the Russian Fort [blockhouse] in the center, and a cannery.

Caption: Indian Ranche [sic] Sitka Alaska.

Written on verso: Prior to 1887

2/437View of town from the Indian mission (Partridge 7608)between 1886 and 1887

Written on front of photograph: Sitka from the Mission

2/438View of Sitka Industrial Training School (Partridge 7604) 1887

The Sitka Industrial Training School was renamed several times prior to 1887. Former names included: the Sheldon Jackson Institute (1881); the Industrial Home for Boys (1882); and the Sitka Training School for Indian Children (1885).

2/439View of Sitka Industrial Training School with pupils on the front lawn (Partridge 7936)1887 2/540Tlingit students posing on porch of Sitka Industrial Training School (Partridge 7666)1887

Printed on front of photograph: Sitka Home Mission

2/541Tlingit students pose with teachers on the porch of Sitka Industrial Training School (Partridge 7982)between 1886 and 1887

Written on back of photograph: Alaska, Sitka Indian Training School; Man with hat Sheldon Jackson??

2/542 Tlingit women selling salmonberries on the boardwalk outside the Sitka Trading Company on Lincoln Street (Partridge 7974)between 1886 and 1887 2/643Interior of Tlingit house with two men seated around the fire pit and two women in the background (Partridge 7812)1887 2/644Tlingit women on a boardwalk with a white woman holding baby in cradleboard (Partridge 7342)1887

Caption on photo: The Thlinket [sic] Indian.

2/645Display of Tlingit artifacts showing implements and ornamentsbetween 1886 and 1887 Indian River near Sitka, Alaska2/746Bend in the Indian River near Sitka, Alaska with people on a footbridge (Partridge 7821)between 1886 and 1887 2/746aIndian River near Sitka, Alaska showing a bridge in the distance (Partridge 7977)between 1886 and 18872/747Closeup of a large pine tree and a bridge over the Indian River (Partridge 7689)between 1886 and 1887

This is a close-up view of the scene in Item 48.

2/748Large pine tree and a footbridge bridge over the Indian River, with large rocks in foreground (Partridge 7690) 1887

Same as Items 46 and 47, from slightly different vantage point.

2/748aBridge over the Indian River and a walkway adjacent to the river (Partridge 7976)between 1886 and 18872/749Animal on a path through the forest by the Indian River (Partridge 7691)1887 2/749aWoman walking on a path adjacent to the Indian River (Partridge 7980b)between 1886 and 1887

Written on verso: Walk to Indian River (and a bit of the harbor).

2/749b Forested path near the Indian River (Partridge 7934)between 1886 and 1887Taku Inlet, Alaska2/850Large floating ice chunks (Partridge 7732)1887 2/851Two people in small boat in front of ice chunk (Partridge 7732-b)1887 2/852Steamship Ancon behind small iceberg (Partridge 7741)between 1886 and 1887

Written on verso: "Corona" June 24th, 1887!

Treadwell Gold Mine, Douglas Island, Alaska2/953Pier leading to gold mine (Partridge 7778)between 1886 and 1887

Printed on front of photograph: Treadwell's Gold Mine

2/953aView toward the beach from landslide area above Treadwell Mine (Partridge 7779)between 1886 and 18872/954Silhouettes of three miners seen from within a mine shaft (Partridge 7791)between 1886 and 1887 Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada2/955Several structures, many on stilts, on the shore of a low water river, probably Nanaimo River (Partridge 7752)between 1880 and 1890?

Written on verso: Nanaimo, B.C. Low water. Nanaimo B.C. on Vancouver Island across from Vancouver, c. 1880s.

2/955aBlock house at Nanaimo (Partridge 1744)1887Northern Pacific Railroad Survey

These photographs are copy prints from originals loaned to University of Washington Libraries Special Collections from Mrs. Pendleton Miller, 1989.

2/1056James McFadden and crew next to locomotive on trestlebetween 1886 and 1887 2/1057James McFadden and crew with equipment on Northern Pacific Railroad survey next to riverbetween 1886 and 1887 2/1058Tents and men in Northern Pacific Railroad survey campbetween 1886 and 1887 Miscellaneous Photographs2/1059Man wearing an apron and hat standing with a dog near a building with an obscured sign and wagon wheels strewn on ground (Partridge 5546)between 1886 and 18872/1060View of bridge across harbor with a town and wharf in the background (Partridge 4018)between 1886 and 1887?2/1061Men posing in front of canvas tents with equipment on tripods (Partridge 234)between 1886 and 1887?2/1162Portrait of William H. Partridge as an older manbetween 1910 to 1939?Hastings Studio, 13 Spring St., Watertown, Mass

Written on verso: William H. Partridge uncle of L.P. Smith.

2/1163Photograph of original painting by William H. Partridge of two camels, possibly in Egypt1927

Written on verso: Original painting by Wm. H. Partridge around 1926. Original of this is in the RPH things. Sold painting $200-300 1990's.

2/1164Photograph of painting Autumn by William H. Partridge1930William H. Pierce & Co., 632 Washington St. Boston, Mass

Written on note attached to photograph: Included in the Tercentenary Exhibition of Art by Artist Members, Boston Art Club. June 2 to June 25, 1930.

Albums and Catalogs2/1265"Alaska Souvenir Photographs"1887?

This is an empty boudoir card size photograph album with a printed "Catalogue of Alaska Views" affixed to the album identifying some of the photographs. Fifteen of the boudoir size card photographs were originally contained in the boudoir size card photograph album.

1/2466"Alaska Souvenir Photographs"1887?

This is an empty boudoir card size photograph album with a printed "Catalogue of Alaska Views" affixed to the album identifying some of the photographs..

This album is similar to item 65 except the title on the front is printed differently, and the album does not have any interior flaps.

1/2467Catalogue of Oregon and Washington Territory Views along the line of the O. R. and N. Co. published by the Partridge Photo Company1887?

Listing of photographs by photographer's number and short description.