University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0323Dobbs, B. B. (Beverly Bennett)Beverly B. Dobbs
photographsapproximately
1900-19122 boxes (62 photographic prints and 1 album of 60
photographic prints)Collection materials are in
English.Photographs by
Beverly B. Dobbs documenting Nome, Alaska, including town scenes, high school
basketball teams, the gold mining industry and the Iñupiat peopleThe son of a farmer, Beverly Bennett Dobbs was born in 1868 near
Marshall, Missouri. At age 8, he moved with his parents to Lincoln, Neb., where
he learned photography. In 1888, Dobbs moved to Bellingham, Wash., and operated
a photography studio for 12 years, including a partnership in 1890-1891 with
F.F. Fleming under the name Dobbs & Fleming. He married Dorothy Sturgeon of
Bellingham in 1896, then moved to Nome, Alaska, in search of gold in 1900.
Dobbs continued to earn his living as a photographer, and by 1903, he had
formed a partnership with the photographer A.B. Kinne from San Francisco. The
Dobbs & Kinne studio in Nome offered photography services and photo
supplies. Dobbs photographed scenes in Nome and the Seward Peninsula and made
portraits of Eskimo people (Eskimos). He was awarded a gold medal at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World’s Fair) in 1904 for his Eskimo
photographs.
By about 1909, Dobbs had started Dobbs Alaska Moving Picture Co.,
making him one of the first to use motion picture film north of the Arctic
Circle. He made a name for himself as a filmmaker with Atop of the World in Motion (also called
Top of the World in Motion ), a collection of his
motion picture travelogues detailing the Alaska gold rush. By 1911, it is
probable that Dobbs was focusing only on his moving picture business; he no
longer had his photography supply store, and had sold his photography negatives
to the Lomen Brothers, who later issued some of his work under their name. By
1914, Dobbs had returned to Seattle and was managing the Dobbs Totem Film
Company. He is listed as the cinematographer for A
Romance of Seattle , a film shot in and around Seattle in 1919. In his
later years he specialized in developing motion picture films in his studio at
his home. During the 1930s, Dobbs photographed the fish processing operations
at Pacific American Fisheries (PAF) in the Fairhaven area of Bellingham. He
died at age 69 in 1937.
Arranged in 7 series.
- Album of Nome and Vicinity
- Nome, Alaska
- Gold Mining Around Nome
- Youth Basketball Teams in Nome, Alaska
- Alaska Native Domestic Scenes
- Iñupiat Men
- Iñupiat Women and Children
Photographs documenting gold-mining scenes, town views, youth
basketball teams, and Iñupiat culture in and around Nome, Alaska, in the early
years of the 20th century. There are also photographs depicting the activities
of the Pioneer Mining Company and the Hot Air Mining Company. All the
photographs were made by Beverly Dobbs, although some were later signed by the
Lomen Brothers.
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Album: Source, Michael Maslan, July 1992.
Photographic prints: Source unknown.
Processed by Linda Corets, 2004.
Revised by Stefanie Terasaki, 2015.
Title of some images revised to align with harmful language
guidelines. Revison completed by G. Mandarino, 2023.
Dobbs's work is featured prominently in E.S. Harrison
,
<emph render="italic"> Nome and Seward
Peninsula: History, Description, Biographies and Stories </emph>
(Seattle: E.S. Harrison, 1905).
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Dobbs, B. B. (Beverly Bennett)Pioneer Mining CompanyHot Air Mining CompanyEskimo--Alaska--PhotographsEskimo--Alaska--Social life and customsGold mines and mining--Alaska--Nome--PhotographsGold mines and mining--Alaska--PhotographsGold rushes--Alaska--Nome--PhotographsGold rushes--Alaska--PhotographsBasketball players--Alaska--Nome--PhotographsBasketball teams--Alaska--Nome--PhotographsAlaska--Gold discoveriesNome (Alaska)--PhotographsNome (Alaska)--Gold discoveriesPhotographsAlaskaCity and Town LifeExpeditions and AdventureMines and Mineral ResourcesNative Americans
Album of Nome and Vicinity11Two men with
$100,000 ready for shipment, Pioneer Co.'s Office, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 22 Owners of the
Hot Air Mine with $80,000 ready for shipmentapproximately 1900-1912 33 Sailing ship
and the midnight sunJune 21, 1906 44Two Iñupiat men
sitting beneath a umiak turned on its side, next to a beached kayakapproximately 1900-1912 55 Men gathered on
train at Banner Station, the most northerly rail station in the
worldapproximately 1900-1912 66People on Sunday
excursion in open rail car on Wild Goose Railroad, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 77Gold miners at
Pioneer Mining Company mine no. 5, Anvilapproximately 1900-1912 88Ground sluicing
at Pioneer Mining Company mine no. 6, Anvilapproximately 1900-1912 99Gold miners at
Pioneer Mining Company mine no. 1, below Anvilapproximately 1900-1912 1010 Pioneer Mining
Compnay operation at Discovery, Anvilapproximately 1900-1912 1111 The largest
gold nugget found at Anvil in Alaska on Sept. 29, 1901approximately 1900-1912 1212Settlement along
shore at Teller, Alaskaapproximately 1900-1912 1313Pioneer Mining Company operation at
mine no. 2, at Anvilapproximately 1900-1912 1414 Pioneer Mining
Company operation at mine no. 1, above Anvilapproximately 1900-1912 1515Yupik people
from East Cape in boat on Snake River, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 1616 Iñupiat girls
known as Eged'lena and Keak'kona, Alaskabetween 1901 and 1911 Same photograph as Item 108.
Egalana / Egedlena / Florence Keok (1886-1937). Egalana was born
in Kingegan July 1886. Her brother was Netxite. Egalana was educated by W. T.
and Ellen Lopp. She married the successful reindeer herder Keok (1879-1918)
about 1904. Their children were: Anousuk / Anowsuk / Fay (1905-1918), Annakok /
Alma (1908-1931), Tayokanna / Charles (1911-1918), Illayok / Ellayok Sheldon
Jackson (1914-1961?), Ouokluk Lester (1916-1918), Puaruk (1918-1918). Egalana
lost her husband and four of her six children in the influenza pandemic in
Kingegan in November 1918. In 1921, she had a daughter Rebecca Keok (1921-1998)
[father unknown] and in 1933 she adopted a baby Alma (1933-1934). Egalana
inherited Keok’s large reindeer herd, which she managed with her son Sheldon.
She was a well-respected “needleworker” and “skin sewer.” She was hired in 1926
by Aarnout Castel to make clothing for the 1926 Detroit Arctic Expedition.
Egalana’s death was recorded in The Nome Nugget, May 5, 1937: “Mrs. Florence
Keok, a long time and highly respected native resident of Nome.” References:
U.S. Census records; Newspapers.com; Nagozruk's Report of Deaths and Living,
U.S. Public School, Wales, Alaska, November 1918, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
1908-1934, Record Group 75, M2150, pages 1220-1229, National Archives,
Identifier number 231817243. Written by Deborah Tear Haynes, 2/2024.
1717Pioneer Mining
Co. hydraulic mining on Snow Gulchapproximately 1900-1912 1818Hydraulic mining
operation on hillsideapproximately 1900-1912 1919Greatest
hydraulic mine in Alaska, Hot Air Mining Company, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 2020Hot Air Mining
Company's 350-ft. wide pay-streakapproximately 1900-1912 2121Miners preparing
for clean up on Hot Air mine, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 2222 Looking down
Snow Gulch showing glacier benches in distanceapproximately 1900-1912 2323 Hydraulic
mining at full force at Hot Air mine, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 2424Pioneer Mining
Company operation at Noa Rock Creekapproximately 1900-1912 2525Pioneer Mining
Company's prospecting drill, with head of Dexter showing sugar claim in
distanceapproximately 1900-1912 2626 Pioneer Mining
Company hydraulic mining operation on [Dexter Creek?]approximately 1900-1912 2727aIñupiat men in
umiaks (skin boats)approximately 1900-1912 2727bPanoramic view
of Nome1902 2727cReindeer
grazingapproximately 1900-1912 2828 Front Street,
looking east, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 2929Front Street,
looking west, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 3030 Second Street,
Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 3131Overview of Nome
from Lane's Derrickapproximately
1903 3232 General offices
of the Pioneer Mining Companyapproximately 1900-1912 3333Iñupiat berry
pickers, Nomeapproximately 1900-19123434Young Iñupiat
pair in front of dwellingapproximately 1900-1912 3535Road House
Saloon, Bluff City, Alaskaapproximately 1900-1912 3636Unalaska
community and bayapproximately 1900-1912 3737Dutch
Harborapproximately 1900-1912 38[Blank
page]3939Wreck of the
Siesta and Teaser near shoreapproximately 1900-1912 4040 Iñupiat camp
along sand spit, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 4141a Men with baby
walrusapproximately 1900-1912 4141bWalruses on
beach, near Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 4242aS.S. Nome City in ice packapproximately 1900-1912 4242b Hunters
preparing to haul away walrusapproximately 1900-1912 4343aDiomede
Islandsapproximately 1900-1912 4343bWalrus hunters
from S.S. Nome Cityapproximately 1900-1912 4444a-bCape Prince of
Walesapproximately 1900-1912 4545a Iñupiat mother
standing on beach, with a small child and carrying a baby on her
backapproximately 1900-1912 4545b Sunset in
winter, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 4545c Iñupiat boys,
Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 4646a-dSusan R.
Bernardi and Kingikmiut children, including Quont'nuk and Menadelook, at U.S.
government school, Cape Prince of Walesbetween 1901 and 1906 4747a-dRussian miners
establishing trading post, St. Lawrence Bay, Siberiaapproximately 1900-1912 4848Sunset on Snake
River, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912 Nome, Alaska2/149Nome Arctic
Railroad Depotapproximately 1900-1912 2/150American
Independence Day celebrationapproximately July 4,
1901-1910 2/151Crowded
streetapproximately 1900-1912 2/151aPeople gathered
on street with building on fireapproximately 1901-19032/152Assay Office at
Miners and Merchants Bankapproximately 1900-1912 2/153Men leaving for
Teller from Lane's Derrickapproximately 1900-1912 2/154-55Men rowing boat
in surfapproximately 1900-1912 Dobbs's signature removed from photograph and replaced with
"Lomen Bros."
2/156Scotty Allen and
his dog teamapproximately 1900-1912 2/157U.S. Mail dog
teamapproximately 1900-1912 2/158Steamer
Ohioapproximately 1900-1912 Gold Mining Around Nome2/259Mine no. 1 and
Anvil Cityapproximately 1900-1912 2/260Men mining at
no. 5, Anvil Cityapproximately 1900-1912 2/261Men mining at
Dexter Creekapproximately 1900-1912 2/262Miner on pile of
dirtapproximately 1900-1912 2/263Third Beach Line
at Little Creek, near Nome1906 2/264Panorama of
Third Beach Line at Little Creek, near Nome1906 Youth Basketball Teams in Nome,
Alaska2/365YMCA boys
basketball teamapproximately
1907 2/366-67YMCA boys
basketball teamapproximately 1900-1912 2/368Boys basketball
teamapproximately 1900-1912 2/369Nome High School
boys basketball team, 1907-1908 championsapproximately
1908 2/370Nome High School
girls basketball team, 1905-1906 championsapproximately
1906 Alaska Native Domestic Scenes2/471Iñupiat
settlement with tents and umiaks (skin-covered boats) on land spitapproximately 1900-1912 2/472Iñupiat woman
and child sitting next to umiak upturned on beachapproximately 1900-1912 2/473Alaska Native
woman cooking on beachapproximately 1900-1912 2/474 Iñupiat berry
pickers, three women and one boy, standing in street with pails full of
berries, Nome, Alaskabetween 1903 and 1906 2/475Alaska Natives
sitting under a fish drying rackapproximately 1900-1912 2/476Naukan Yupik
people from East Cape in boat on Snake River, Nomeapproximately 1900-1912Same as 323.15
2/477Alaska Native
graves set on pilings in tundraapproximately 1900-1912 Iñupiat Men2/578 Iñupiat ivory
carver Angokwazhuk (Happy Jack) wearing fur parka with pieced hem1903 Angokwazhuk (Angohwazhuk, Happy Jack) (about 1870-1918) was born
about 1870 in the village of Ayasayuk, Cape Nome to Anyayak (mother) and
Anatawanuk (father). Angokwazhuk is known as one of the most accomplished ivory
carvers working in Nome in the early 1900s. He died in the 1918 pandemic.
Reference: Dorothy Jean Ray, “Happy Jack and Guy Kakarook: Their Art and Their
Heritage,” pp. 19-33, Suzi Jones (editor), Eskimo Drawings, Anchorage:
Anchorage Museum of Art and History, 2003. Submitted by Deborah Tear Haynes,
3/2022.
2/579Young Iñupiat
man in summer parka (Dobbs 119)1903 2/580Iñupiat man in
summer parka holding bundled cord (Dobbs 351)1905 2/581Portrait of
Iñupiat man John Anguluk, Alaskaapproximately 1901-1911 John Anguluk (1879-1930/39) married Martha Anguluk
(1874/82-1946). They had one daughter Veronica Anguluk Van Loock
(1901/1903-1960). In the 1930 U.S. Census, he was listed as a trapper living in
the Aleutian Islands. Reference: Ancestry.com U.S. Census records and family
trees. Submitted by Deborah Tear Haynes, 3/2022.
2/582Portrait of Iñupiat man with tonsured hair wearing fur
parka, alaska between 1901 and 1911 2/583Alaska Native
man wearing rain gear and holding model of umiakapproximately 1900-1912 2/584Iñupiat boys
skinning reindeer near Penny River, Alaskabetween 1903 and 1913 Lomen Bros. signature on lower left corner of photograph.
2/585-86Alaska Native
men hunting walruses with riflesapproximately 1900-1912 Lomen Bros. signature on lower left corner of photograph.
2/587Walruses on ice
floe, near Nomeapproximately 1900-1912Lomen Bros. signature on lower left corner of photograph.
Iñupiat Women and ChildrenNowadluk Nora Ootenna (1883/85-1918) [Norwadluk; Nowadlook;
Nawadlook; Nawadluk; Noadkuk; Noadoadlok; Newarluk] was born in Kingegan about
1883-1885 to Eungnuk (1841-1918) (Eungknook, Enuquenuh) and Weakaseuk
(1834-1918) (Weokrseok). Her known siblings were Ongualuk (Stella Adlooat
Kaingnizinia) (1888-1941) and James Keok (1879/1880-1918). Nowadluk "Nora" and
her cousin Nowadluk "Alice" attended school and worked for the educators Ellen
and W. T. Lopp. Ellen Lopp gave the cousins the names Nora and Alice, because
they shared the same Inupiaq name. In August 1900, in a double wedding with her
cousin, Nowadluk married George Ootenna (1878-1971) a successful reindeer
herder. They did not have children, however, sometime after 1910 they adopted a
daughter Isabel. Nowadluk was an active member of the church, taught Sunday
school, and was the subject of several Christian missionary articles about her
exemplary home. Nowadluk was also a popular subject of the Nome commercial
photographers, marketing her as an "Eskimo Belle" wearing her atigi (fancy fur
parka). Nowadluk died in the 1918 pandemic in Kingegan, along with her parents,
her brother James Keok, four of his children, her brother-in-law Adlooat and
his baby. References: Smith, Kathleen Lopp and Smith, Verbeck, Ice Window,
Letters from a Bering Strait Village: 1892-1902, Fairbanks: University of
Alaska Press, 2001.; The American Missionary, vol. 68, 1914, An Arctic Journey
to Dedicate Thornton Memorial Church, by Rev. Philip E. Bauer, of Nome, Alaska,
p. 477.; Nagozruk's Report of Deaths and Living, U.S. Public School, Wales,
Alaska, November 1918, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1908-1934, Record Group 75,
M2150, pages 1220-1229, National Archives, Identifier number 231817243.
Submitted by Deborah Tear Haynes, 3/2022.
2/688 Iñupiat woman
Nowadluk Nora Ootenna dressed in fur parka, Alaska1907 2/689 Iñupiat woman
Nowadluk Nora Ootenna wearing kuspuk, Seward Peninsula, Alask1907 2/690 Iñupiat woman
Nowadluk Nora Ootenna with unbraided hairapproximately 1900-1912 2/691Studio portrait
of Iñupiat woman with chin tattoo wearing an elaborate fur parkaapproximately 1900-1912 2/692Studio portrait
of Iñupiat woman with chin tattoo wearing moose hide parka and seal bladder
boots, seated next to several coil baskets, Nome, Alaska1903 2/693Alaska Native
mother and childapproximately 1900-1912 2/694Iñupiat woman
named Wegaruk, carrying sleeping baby on her back, Alaska1905 2/695Iñupiat woman with chin tattoo wearing fur parka
carrying baby on her back, Alaska between 1903 and 1908 2/696-98Alaska Native
mother standing on beach with small child and carrying baby on her
backapproximately 1900-1912 2/699 [Russian?]
mother holding babyapproximately 1900-1912 2/7100"Eskimo Belles,
Nome"1903Dobbs's signature removed from photograph and replaced with
"Lomen Bros." Drawings added to backdrop. See also items 53 and 54.
2/7101-102 Four young
Iñupiat women including Nowadluk Nora Ootenna wearing fur parkas, Nome,
Alaska1903 Nowadluk Nora Ootenna second from left, possibly her cousin
Nowadluk Alice Stanley third from left.
2/7103Four young
Iñupiat women, including Nowadluk Nora Ootenna and possibly Nowadluk Alice
Stanley, Alaskabetween 1903 and 1908 2/7104Iñupiat child
with fur parka and hoodapproximately 1900-1912 2/7105Alaska Native
girl named Minnie approximately 1900-1912 2/7106-107Portrait of
young Iñupiat woman with braided hair and chin tattoosapproximately 1900-1912 2/7108Two Iñupiat
girls named Eged Lena and Keat Konaapproximately 1900-1912 Same photograph as Item 16 in album.
Egalana / Egedlena / Florence Keok (1886-1937). Egalana was born
in Kingegan July 1886. Her brother was Netxite. Egalana was educated by W. T.
and Ellen Lopp. She married the successful reindeer herder Keok (1879-1918)
about 1904. Their children were: Anousuk / Anowsuk / Fay (1905-1918), Annakok /
Alma (1908-1931), Tayokanna / Charles (1911-1918), Illayok / Ellayok Sheldon
Jackson (1914-1961?), Ouokluk Lester (1916-1918), Puaruk (1918-1918). Egalana
lost her husband and four of her six children in the influenza pandemic in
Kingegan in November 1918. In 1921, she had a daughter Rebecca Keok (1921-1998)
[father unknown] and in 1933 she adopted a baby Alma (1933-1934). Egalana
inherited Keok’s large reindeer herd, which she managed with her son Sheldon.
She was a well-respected “needleworker” and “skin sewer.” She was hired in 1926
by Aarnout Castel to make clothing for the 1926 Detroit Arctic Expedition.
Egalana’s death was recorded in The Nome Nugget, May 5, 1937: “Mrs. Florence
Keok, a long time and highly respected native resident of Nome.” References:
U.S. Census records; Newspapers.com; Nagozruk's Report of Deaths and Living,
U.S. Public School, Wales, Alaska, November 1918, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
1908-1934, Record Group 75, M2150, pages 1220-1229, National Archives,
Identifier number 231817243. Written by Deborah Tear Haynes, 2/2024.
2/7109Iñupiat
children, Nome, Alaskabetween 1901 and
19011