Photographer and mountaineer William Oscar Amsden (March 26, 1862-December 1942) was born in Wisconsin, although his family soon moved to Groton, South Dakota. Around 1880 he left home for the Klondike to work as a photographer. He was part of the Seattle Photo Company in 1890 along with Chester B. Walsworth (the office was located at 15 Shorey Blk). He was also part of Valentine V. Lowe's expedition team that ascended Mt. Baker in 1891. Through the years he worked for the B.W. Kitburn Stereoscopic Company, as one of the photographers for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, as a photographer covering the Boer War, the Paris Exhibition and Edward VII's coronation. After his marriage the family moved between New York and California, with Amsden working in his own studios or for others. He died in Mt Kisco, New York.
These photographs by William O. Amsden document the ascent of Mt. Baker led by Valentine V. Lowe in 1891. The expedition party included eight men. Alongside Amsden and V. Lowe were Henry Lowe, Ed. Whitstruck, Percival J. Parris, G. W. Smith, Tom Scatbo, and Hobert Clark. They ascended via Glacier Creek or the north fork of the Nooksak. This was the second ascent of Mt. Baker after the climb by Edmund T. Colman and four other men in 1868. Lowe's expedition was the first to take photographs with a camera on the top of the mountain.
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Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.
Source: Primary Sources, March 25, 2019.
Processed by Maureen Hogan, 2020.
Written on photo: No. 101 Mt. Baker Series. Mountain from Camp Baker.
Written on photo: No. 103 Mt. Baker Series. Mountain from Timber-Line.
Written on photo: No. 104 Mt. Baker Series. Group on Summit.
Written on photo: No. 105 Mt. Baker Series. Looking west from summit.
Written on photo: No. 106 Mt. Baker Series. "The Sisters" taken from the summit of Baker.
Written on photo: No. 107 Mt. Baker Series. 50 x 75 ft. 1500 ft below summit.
Written on photo: No. 108 Mt. Baker Series. Looking North from Summit.
Written on photo: No. 109 Mt. Baker Series. Looking west from base of dome.
Written on photo: No. 110 Mt. Baker Series. Snow storm, Camp Baker.
Written on photo: No. 112 Mt. Baker Series. Mount Baker from Glacier Creek.
Written on photo: No. 113 Mt. Baker Series. Mount Baker from Nooksachk [sic] River.
Written on photo: No. 117 Mt. Baker Series. Mountain from Glacier Creek.
Written on portfolio: Scenic Mt. Baker.