WAUNomeAlaskaAlbumPHColl1213.xml Guide to the Nome, Alaska Photograph Album 1898-1913 Alaska (Nome) Photograph Album Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2016 (Last modified: 7/9/2025)
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH1213 Nome, Alaska photograph album 1898-1913 0.5 cubic feet (1 box containing 1 album with 192 photographic prints) Collection materials are in English. Photographs of Alaska including Nome, Teller, Council and Barrow

Nome is a town in western Alaska that was established during the gold rush. After initial reports of gold in 1898, the population of previously uninhabited Nome soared to 10,000 people by 1900. It continued to be a thriving town throughout the gold rush period and remains today one of Alaska's larger towns. The communities of Teller and Council were also founded as a result of the gold rush, but experienced less economic success. Teller today has a population of about 300 people, while Council has been abandoned. Barrow is the northernmost city in the United States of America. Barrow has been populated by the Inupiaq people of Alaska for centuries.

Photographs are described in order of their arrangement in album.

Album contains images of Alaskan wildlife, individual and group portraits of Native Alaskans and early settlers, landscapes, buildings, totem poles, boats, and waterfronts in the towns of Barrow, Council, Nome, and Teller. Also features images of daily activities including military exercises, mining, boating, and dog sledding. Includes photographs taken in San Francisco, CA, and Victoria, BC. Identified photographers include Barnett (first name unknown), Arthur L. Bell, Beverly B. Dobbs, Otto D. Goetze, the Lomen Brothers, Frank H. Nowell, and Joseph Seiner.

View selections from the collection in digital format

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.

Request at UW

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

Source: Michael Maslan, 2005.

Processed by Grant Barber 2014; Ellen York, 2015.

Accessioned as PH2005-050.

Title of some images revised to align with harmful language guidelines. Revison completed by G. Mandarino, June 2023

 Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Dobbs, B. B. (Beverly Bennett) Goetze, O. D. (Otto Daniel) Lomen, Carl J Nowell, Frank H., 1864-1950 Lomen Bros Alaska--Photographs Barrow, Point (Alaska)--Photographs Council (Alaska)--Photographs Nome (Alaska)--Photographs Teller (Alaska)--Photographs San Francisco (Calif.)--Photographs Victoria (B.C.)--Photographs Animals--Alaska--Photographs Alaska Natives--Photographs Photographs Photograph albums Photographs Alaska

 

1 1 Display of trophy walrus heads on side of boat (Lomen 770) approximately 1899-1902 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Same photograph in Lomen Brothers Photographs collection. Also similar to photograph in Arthur Churchill Warner Photographs Collection PH Coll 273. Same scene (boat with walruses) but shot from a different angle.

 1 2a Alaskan tundra with sun in the middle of the horizon approximately 1906-1913 1 2b Iñupiat man standing, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 2c Snow covered tree branches approximately 1906-1913 1 3 People picnicking on Kings Mountain at midnight near Nome, Alaska June 20, 1909 Arthur L. Bell

Caption on photo: Picnic Partys at Kings Mountain. Midnight, June 20th 09. 10 miles from Nome, Alaska.

 1 4a Reindeer herd with mountains in the background at Teller, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 4b Alaska Native men wearing packs dragging dead seals in the snow, Alaska between 1906 and 1913 Barnett 1 5 Intake structure on Divining Creek at Hot Air Ditch Mine owned by Kimball & Gilmore, Nome, Alaska (Nowell 4976) July 13, 1906 Frank H. Nowell; Nome, Alaska

Caption on photo: Intake on Divining Creek of Hot Air Ditch owned by Kimball & Gilmore. July 13th 1906.

 1 6a Dogs in a log pen approximately 1906-1913

Caption on photo: Please come in - we can't come out. 113.

 1 6b Dog team pulling a sled stacked with logs approximately 1906-1913 1 6c Man standing on sled with dog team approximately 1906-1913 1 7 Hobson Creek and entrance to Miocene Tunnel, Nome, Alaska approximately 1910 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Caption on photo: Hobson Creek Entrance to Miocene Tunnel. Nome Precinct, Alaska.

 1 8 Seascape north of Cape Lisburne, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 Joseph Seiner

Duplicate of photo 55a. Caption on photo: Midnight sun north of Cape Lisburne, Alaska.

1 9 Group of people posed on hillside 1906-1913 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska 1 10a Old burn pile with house and mountains in background approximately 1906-1913 1 10b View of camp from a distance 1906-1913 1 10c View of homestead from a distance 1906-1913 1 11 Exterior view of the Seiffert Flats building, Nome, Alaska October 27, 1906 Frank H. Nowell; Nome, Alaska

Caption on photo: Seiffert Flats. Nome, Alaska. Oct. 27th 1906.

 1 12 Crowd watching the All Alaska sweepstakes dog mushing race April 1911

The All Alaska sweepstakes dog mushing race is the oldest organized dog mushing race in the world, beginning in 1908. It begins in Nome and finishes in the small community of Candle. Caption on photo: All-Alaska Sweep-Stake's dog race. Nome, Alaska. 1911. 729.

 1 13 Collapsed wooden dock covered in snow, Nome, Alaska January 1907 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Caption on photo: The effect of the ice pack. Nome Dock. Jan, 1907.

 1 14a Dog team resting in the snow, Norton Sound, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 14b Snowy mound and spruce trees, Norton Sound, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 14c Snowy spruce trees, Norton Sound, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Caption on photo: Norton Sound, Alaska. 128.

 1 15 Two companies of soldiers on skis lined up in the snow in Fort Davis, Alaska (Lomen 373) March 31, 1913 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Caption on photo: "Inspection and Muster." Co.'s "E" and "F" 30th Inf. U.S.A. Fort Davis, Alaska. March 31st, 1913.

 1 16a Scattered people on a snowy burm approximately 1906-1913 1 16b Man standing outside of Mark's Hotel, Council, Alaska approximately 1906

Mark's Hotel was built in response to a population boom in Council during the gold rush. Caption on photo: Marks Hotel, Council, Alaska.

 1 16c Exterior of Holy Cross Hospital, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906

The Holy Cross Hospital in Nome was founded in 1902 and closed shortly thereafter in 1918. It was then converted into an apartment and office building.

 1 17 Judges, officers, and track officials at the All Alaska sweepstakes posed outside, Nome, Alaska April 20, 1913 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Caption on photo: Judges, officers, and track officials. 6th All Alaska Sweepstakes. Nome, Alaska, 1913.

 1 18a-c Logging scenes, Norton Sound, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Caption on photo 18a: In the pine country - Norton Sound. 125.

 1 19 Crowd watching a dogsled team finish the All Alaska sweepstakes race, town buildings in background, Nome, Alaska April 1913 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Similar to photo 21. Caption on photo: The Winners. Finish, Bowen and Delzene entry, 6th All Alaska Sweepstakes, Nome, Alaska, 1913. Distance: 408 miles. Time: 75 hours, 42 mi. 27 sec. - Fay Delzene, driver.

 1 20a-b Seascapes with ships visible approximately 1906-1913 1 20c Studio portrait of a seated man wearing a suit approximately 1906-1913 1 21 Crowd watching a dogsled team finish the All Alaska sweepstakes race, town buildings visible in background, Nome, Alaska April 1913 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Similar to photo 19. Caption on photo: Winners Second Place. Finish Johnson entry 6th All Alaska Sweepstakes. Nome, Alaska, 1913. John Johnson, driver.

 1 22a Waterfront in Teller, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Caption on photo: Teller, Alaska and water front.

 1 22b Mining scene with man and horses, Teller, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Caption on photo: Mining on Sunset Creek, Teller, Alaska. 139.

 1 22c Crowd gathered outside of Lumber Storage Commission buildings, Teller, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 23 Men in military uniforms posed outside of a building in the snow approximately 1906-1913

Similar to photo 25.

 1 24 Blank page (unknown photos removed before acquisition) undated 1 25 Men in military uniforms posed outside of a building in the snow approximately 1906-1913

Similar to photo 23.

 1 26a Large snow pile shaped like a house with dog laying down outside, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Caption on photo: Snow House. Nome, Alaska. 138.

 1 26b Dog team at a great distance with glacier behind approximately 1906-1913 1 26c-d Men and dog team approximately 1906-1913

Photos are vignetted in an oval.

 1 27 5th annual All Alaska sweepstakes dog mushing race results and tracking table, Nome, Alaska April 4, 1912 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska 1 28 Crowd watching Fourth of July parade through the main street, Lomen Brothers photo studio visible, Nome, Alaska July 4, 1911 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Caption on photo: Fourth of July Parade, Nome, Alaska, 1911. Sailors from U.S.R.C. "Bear" passing reviewing stand.

 1 29 Studio portrait of Queen Ellen on a settee, Nome, Alaska 1911-1912 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

Winner of the beauty pageant accompanying the All Alaska sweepstakes dog race. Caption on photo: Queen Ellen of Aksala, Nome, Alaska, 1911-'12.

 1 30a-b Totem poles in front of buildings approximately 1898-1908 Otto D. Goetze; Nome, Alaska

Caption on photo 30b: O.D. Goetze

 1 31 Exterior view of Arctic Brotherhood Hall, Council, Alaska approximately 1900 Lomen Brothers; Nome, Alaska

The Arctic Brotherhood is a fraternal organization founded by Alaskan goldminers in the interest of brotherhood. The Council chapter was organized in 1900, but abandoned shortly thereafter as most of Council's population left to look for gold in Nome, Alaska. Caption on photo: Arctic Brotherhood Hall, Council, Alaska.

 1 32a-b Totem poles in front of buildings approximately 1898-1908 Otto D. Goetze; Nome, Alaska 1 33 Studio portrait of Iñupiat woman Nowadluk Nora Ootenna wearing fur parka, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Photographer is probably B.B. Dobbs.

 1 34a-c Posed groups of people approximately 1906-1913 1 35a Two couples posed outside approximately 1906-1913 1 35b Two couples smiling approximately 1906-1913 1 36 Blank page undated 1 37a Man and dogsled in front of large snowpile approximately 1906-1913 1 37b Man and dogteam going over large snowpile approximately 1906-1913 1 38 Blank page undated 1 39 Men in suits posed in front of water approximately 1906-1913 1 41a Dog team pulling cart on train tracks, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Page damaged (unknown photograph cut out of album before acquisition).

 1 41b Group posed with dogs outside of a house approximately 1906-1913

Page damaged (unknown photograph cut out of album before acquisition).

 1 42a-l Various studio portraits approximately 1906-1913

Page damaged (unknown photograph cut out of album before acquisition).

 1 43a-e Various full-body portraits taken outside approximately 1906-1913 1 44 Blank page undated 1 45a-c Posed group portraits shot outside approximately 1906-1913

Photo 45a is a duplicate of photo 53a.

 1 46 Blank page undated 1 47a Men at a well approximately 1906-1913 1 47b Couples in fur coats posed outside, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 47c Man in basket of dogsled with team approximately 1906-1913 1 48 Blank page undated 1 49a-h Various groups posed outside, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 50 Blank page undated 1 51a-j Various groups posed outside, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 52 Blank page undated 1 53a Group posed in front of a snowy burm approximately 1906-1913

Duplicate of photo 45a.

 1 53b Large dog team in front of log buildings, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 53c Large crowd at an event, some standing on a stage in fur parkas, US Life Saving Station visible in background, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 54 Blank page 1 55a Seascape north of Cape Lisburne, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 Joseph Seiner

Duplicate of photo 8. Caption on photo: Midnight Sun North of Cape Lisburne, Alaska.

1 55b-c Iñupiat men hauling boat onto shore with harpooned seal in water, Barrow, Alaska between 1906 and 1913?

Identical photographs, image reversed on 55c.

 1 56a Alaska Natives posed outside of a wooden building, Alaska between 1906 and 1913 1 56b Alaska Natives posing onboard a commercial boat, Alaska between 1906 and 1913 1 57a Seascape approximately 1906-1913 1 57b Men standing on the tundra as an Iñupiat man skins a reindeer approximately 1906-1913 1 57c Iñupiat couple with dogs outside house between 1906 and 1913? 1 58a Iñupiat men bringing a harpooned seal onto shore, Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska between 1906 and 1913?

Caption on photo: Sealing - Prince of Wales, Alaska.

 1 58b Alaska Native women and children posing outdoors, Alaska between 1906 and 1913 1 59a Reindeer herd grazing approximately 1906-1913 1 59b View of hills over water approximately 1906-1913 1 59c Animal hide tent with fish-drying rack and dogs, Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 60a Alaska Native family, Alaska between 1906 and 1913

Caption on photo: Alaskan Eskimo.

 1 60b Reindeer herd grazing approximately 1906-1913 1 61a Reindeer herd at Cape Thompson, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Page damaged (unknown photos cut out of album before acquisition).

 1 61b Iñupiat family outside of a house, Barrow, Alaska between 1906 and 1913?

Page damaged (unknown photos cut out of album before acquisition).

 1 61c Iñupiat women wearing fur parkas onboard a ship, Barrow, Alaska between 1906 and 1913

Page damaged (unknown photos cut out of album before acquisition).

 1 62 Iñupiat skin boats on rack, Barrow, Alaska between 1906 and 1913

Page damaged (unknown photos cut out of album before acquisition). Caption on photo: Oomiak frames - Eskimo skin boats.

1 63a Schoolhouse in Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Caption on photo: Most northernly school on Western Hemisphere, Barrow, Alaska.

 1 63b Siberian deer sleds, Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 63c Men holding a goat on a boat approximately 1906-1913 1 64a Men standing on a large snow pile, Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 64b Group of men posed outside, Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 64c Skin boat loaded on a dogsled, Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 65a Group of men in a tent, one man sits with a human skull balanced on his knee, Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 65b Iñupiat man with dogs at camp, Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 1 65c Dirt igloo in Barrow, Alaska approximately 1906-1913

Caption on photo: Eskimo igloo at Barrow, Alaska.

 1 66a Iñupiat men wearing parkas posed with white men in military dress, Barrow, Alaska between 1906 and 1913 1 66b Sea ice approximately 1906-1913 1 67 View of a ship's crows nest and rigging approximately 1906-1913 1 68a Iñupiat people posed on a boat approximately 1906-1913 1 68b Group of Iñupiat people on a boat approximately 1906-1913 1 68c Alaska Native woman and children seated outside a tent, Alaska between 1906 and 1913 1 69 People posed in the doorway of a house approximately 1906-1913 1 70a Mining equipment in the snow approximately 1906-1913 1 70b Alaska Natives with reindeer, Alaska between 1906 and 1913 1 70c Log houses in the snow approximately 1906-1913 1 70d Snowy camp from a distance approximately 1906-1913 1 71a-b Men sitting around a table in a cabin approximately 1906-1913 1 72a Alaska Native children and adults, Alaska between 1906 and 1913 1 72b Horses dragging logging sledges through the snow approximately 1906-1913

Associated with photo 72c.

 1 72c Horse team hitched to a logging sledge approximately 1906-1913

Associated with photo 72b.

 1 73 Blank page undated 1 74a Panorama of small town on the tundra approximately 1906-1913

Panorama continued on next page, photo 75a.

 1 74b City street view approximately 1906-1913 1 74c Young women posed in front of a hill approximately 1906-1913 1 74d Panorama of a town with a small mountain behind approximately 1906-1913

Panorama continued on next page, photo 75d. Caption on photo: Poto.

 1 75a Panorama of a small town on the tundra approximately 1906-1913

Panorama begun on previous page, photo 75a.

 1 75b Two couples and a baby on the deck of a ship approximately 1906-1913 1 75c Two women in bathing costumes on the beach approximately 1910 1 75d Panorama of a town with a small mountain behind approximately 1906-1913

Panorama begun on previous page, photo 75d.

 1 76a-b Studio portraits of a young woman approximately 1906-1913

Features the same woman as photos 77a-b.

 1 77a-b Studio portraits of a young woman approximately 1906-1913

Features the same woman as photos 76a-b.

 1 78a-f Various family portraits shot outside approximately 1906-1913

Size of buildings and plants visible suggest that it is unlikely these photos were taken in Alaska.

 1 79-83 Blank page undated 1 84a Large group of children posed on the steps of a school approximately 1906-1913 1 84b Large crowd in the stands of a stadium approximately 1906-1913

Photo is torn in several places, very faded.

 1 85 Blank page undated 1 86a Two couples posed on the steps of a house approximately 1906-1913

Photo is very faded.

 1 86b Men posed outside of a house approximately 1906-1913 1 87a-d Young woman posed in various outside locations approximately 1906-1913 1 88 View of the Bering Sea after a storm, Nome, Alaska (Dobbs 836) approximately 1906-1913 Beverly B. Dobbs

Photo is toned blue. Caption on photo: Behring Sea, after a storm at Nome.

 1 89 Sea scene with rescue boats, Nome, Alaska approximately 1906-1913 Beverly B. Dobbs

Photo is toned blue. Caption on photo: Nome life saving crew making for disabled Greyhound.

 1 90a Women in fur parkas posed on a bridge approximately 1906-1913

Similar to photo 90e.

 1 90b Women and children in a horse and buggy approximately 1906-1913 1 90c Woman and children posed outside approximately 1906-1913 1 90d Group of young people posed in a yard approximately 1906-1913 1 90e Group laughing on a bridge approximately 1906-1913

Similar to photo 90a.

 1 91 The Shriners of British Columbia inaugural group posed on the steps of the Parliament of Victoria, Victoria, BC approximately 1902 1 92a Women posed in a garden approximately 1906-1913

Similar to photo 92c.

 1 92b Man standing on frozen lake approximately 1906-1913 1 92c Women seated near to a hammock hung from pillars approximately 1906-1913

Similar to photo 92a.

 1 92d Women in a field of sunflowers approximately 1906-1913 1 92e View of a town with harbor visible in the background approximately 1906-1913 1 92f Roosevelt's Great White Fleet parade on the streets of San Francisco, California May 7, 1908

Caption on photo: San Francisco, May 7, 08. Van Ness Ave. Atlantic Fleet.

 1 93 Boy with a basket on Steadman Avenue of Nome, Alaska (Nowell 5386) March 30, 1907 Frank H. Nowell

Caption on photo: Steadman Ave. Nome, Alaska, Mar. 30th 1907.