Frank La Roche was born in Philadelphia in June 20, 1853. His parents, Aaron and Anna La Roche, of French and German ancestry, were among the first settlers of that area. He was educated in the schools of Philadelphia and at age 17 took a position in a photographic studio. After two years of study and practice, he engaged in business at Quaker City and in 1872 went to Mauch Chunk, PA to pursue a general photographic business and to take views of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Around 1873, La Roche moved with his family to Florida where he continued as a commercial photographer. It was in St. Augustine, Florida, that he took the longest time exposure on record - of one of the oldest extant buildings in the U.S., a Catholic church. He is said to have exposed a plate at 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon of the next day.
In 1876, he was engaged by Harper Bros. of New York City to travel the South Sea islands in search of illustrations, but on arrival in Honolulu his partner was taken sick and the trip was abandoned. Returning to the States, La Roche then opened a gallery in Salt Lake City and in 1878 was employed by the United State government to make 78 negatives of the transit of Mercury and 23 similar negatives for the French government. In the spring of 1888, he opened a gallery in Des Moines, Iowa and in competition at the state fair he secured six out of seven prizes for excellence in workmanship.
In July 1889, he came to Seattle bringing with him the necessary equipment for a first class gallery. Arriving just after the fire, he found the city in ashes, but at once he opened a gallery on 2nd Ave, subsequently moving to the top floor of the Downs Block and to other locations. He specialized in Alaska and Puget Sound scenery and high-class portrait photography.
During the years 1890 to 1902 and especially during the Gold Rush period, he made many trips to Alaska and the Yukon Territory to make photographs of Alaska scenery, mining camps and the trail. Each trip would have brought him back to Seattle to do developing and printing from a portable body of glass negatives. He sold mounted prints but preferred to reach a larger audience through his six part album entitled
La Roche was also commissioned by the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition at Seattle in 1909 to take official photographs, and he was awarded gold medals for his pictures.
He was married in Seattle to Miss Ida M. Crary. He maintained his Seattle studio for 25 years after which he moved to Skagit County. When he retired, he passed on the business to his son, Frank La Roche Jr., who had assisted him in the studio as well as on the trails in Alaska.
The collection is arranged in two series: the first series contains views of Seattle, Everett, Washington, California, British Columbia, logging, portraits, ships, Native Americans of Puget Sound; the second series represents Alaska and gold rush activities in the Klondike.
Selections from the collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Additional items can be viewed in the Native American Microfiche Collection (NA 891-938).
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
La Roche items 1007, 1008, 1009, 1011, 1030, 1050a were transferred out of McAlplin and Lamb Photograph Collection.
Processed by Kate Norgon, February 2021.
Photographs taken in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. British Columbia photographs were taken on the route of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Same image on verso of Item 8 (La Roche 2139).
Item 11 (La Roche 2160) on verso.
Same image on verso of Item 10 (La Roche 2159).
Same image on verso of Item 6 (La Roche 2149).
Item 9 (La Roche 2157) on verso.
Glacier House was built as a meal and rest stop near Rogers Pass along the Canadian Pacific Railway. The station got its name from the Great Glacier, which at the time was a mile away from the station. In the background of image is Cheops Mountain.
Copy of Item 4 (La Roche 2146) on verso.
Item 28 on verso.
Copy of Item 1 (La Roche 2143 1/2) on verso.
Item on verso of Item 5 (La Roche 2147).
Copy of Item 3 on verso (La Roche 2145).
Item located on verso of Item 2 (La Roche 2144).
Item 27 (La Roche 284) on verso.
Item 21 (La Roche 278) on verso of Item 14 (La Roche 285).
Item 16 (La Roche 1205) on verso of Item 15 (La Roche 1204).
Item 31 (La Roche 1210a) on verso.
Item 25 (La Roche 288) on verso.
Item 36 (La Roche 293) on verso.
Item 29 (La Roche 284 1/2) on verso.
Item located on verso of Item 14 (La Roche 285).
Item 32 (La Roche 1211 1/2) on verso.
Item 33 (La Roche 1223) on verso of Item 23.
Item 46 (La Roche 1213) on verso of Item 24.
Item located on verso of Item 18 (La Roche 282).
Item 41 (La Roche 286) on verso.
Item located on verso of Item 13 (La Roche 273).
Item located on verso of Item 7 (La Roche 2148).
Item located on verso of Item 20 (La Roche 281).
Item 45 (La Roche 280 1/2) on verso of Item 30 (La Roche 279) in Box 1, Folder 4.
Item 31 (La Roche 1210a) located on verso of Item 17 (La Roche 1203) in Box 1, Folder 2.
Item 32 (La Roche 1211 ½) located on verso of Item 22 (La Roche 1209) in Box 1, Folder 3.
Item 33 (La Roche 1223) located on verso of Item 23 (La Roche 277) in Box 1, Folder 3.
Item 42 (La Roche 287) on verso of Item 34 (La Roche 292).
Item 39 (La Roche 291) on verso.
Item located on verso of item 19 (La Roche 283).
Item 44 (La Roche 280) on verso of Item 37 (La Roche 290).
Item 43 (La Roche 1208) on verso of Item 38 (La Roche 1217).
Item 39 (La Roche 291) located on verso of Item 35 (La Roche 289).
Item 47 (La Roche 1219) on verso of item 40.
Item located on verso of Item 26 (La Roche 294).
Item located on verso of Item 34 (La Roche 292).
Item located on verso of Item 38 (La Roche 1217).
Item located on verso of Item 37 (La Roche 290).
Item 45 (La Roche 280 ½) located on verso of Item 30 (La Roche 279) in Box 1, Folder 4.
Item 46 (La Roche 1213) located on verso of Item 24 (La Roche 1215) in Box 1, Folder 3.
Item located on verso of Item 40 (La Roche 1218).
Written below image: 17 to the quart.
Postcard addressed to Mrs. C.B. Scott, 3528 Carr Place, Fremont, Seattle, Wash. Written on back of postcard: Say this is a quiet place. No more nights till 2. PX: Don't smile. J.H.L c/o Taylor's Hotel, Anacortes.
Located at Canyon of the Stillaguamish. Tunnel #5 in foreground. Passenger train visible in the distance, near east portal of Tunnel #4.
Diameter of logs noted as 60 inches, 72 inches, and 57 inches, respectively.
Written below image: 72 people on top.
Item 118 (La Roche 578) on verso.
Timber was used for construction of the Washington Building at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
Photographs depict Everett townsite during real estate speculation period.
Written on verso: View of present Pier 1 looking west; nailworks dock.
Includes Denny, South School, Olympic, T.T. Minor, Central, Mercer, Columbia, Rainier, and the Offices of the Board of Education.
Portrait of Chief Seattle taken by E.M. Sammis, copied by La Roche.
Written below image: The Queen, the "Pride of the Pacific."
Another image mounted on same mat. Other image by L. W.
Taber taken in 1890 of the steamer
Written below image: First treasure boat from the Klondike in '98.
Item located on verso of Item 81 (La Roche 545).
Written below image: The Venice of America.
Cruiser
3-part panorama.
Written below Item 129: 606 Second Street.
Rainier Hotel located between 5th Ave. and 6th Ave., Marion St. and Columbia St. King County Courthouse in background at 7th Ave. between Terrace St. and Alder St.
Temporary exhibition building, known as "The Mineral Palace," was constructed to display manufacturers goods as part of a celebration in commemoration of the completion of the Great Northern Railroad.
Frederick A. McDonald's residence was built in 1890 at 5722 East Green Lake Way N.
Halftone print from publication advertising Green Lake neighborhood. Printed above image: Green Lake is a suburb of fine homes.
Halftone print from publication advertising Green Lake neighborhood. Printed above image: Green Lake will be the driving park and boating resort of Seattle. Printed below image: Green Lake is within the city limits.
Copy of photograph taken by E. M. Sammis.
Same image located on verso of Item 224 (La Roche 1294).
Same image located on verso of Item 220 (La Roche 425).
Item 209 (La Roche 46) on verso.
Item 208 (La Roche 436) on verso.
Item 269 (La Roche 331) on verso.
Copy of Item 322 (La Roche 330) on verso.
Item located on verso of Item 205 (La Roche 435).
Item 209 (La Roche 46) located on verso of Item 204 (La Roche 434).
Item 245 (La Roche 1210 ½) on verso.
Item 237 (La Roche 430) on verso.
Item 246 (La Roche 1211) on verso.
Copy of Item 201a (La Roche 2b) on verso of Item 220 (La Roche 525).
Item 228 (La Roche 1292) on verso of Item 221 (La Roche 1295).
Item 231 (La Roche 1297) on verso.
Copy of Item 233 (La Roche 1298) on verso.
Item 200a (La Roche 2a) on verso.
Copy of photograph of Chief Seattle by E. M. Sammis on verso.
Item 240 (La Roche 1303) located on verso.
Item located on verso of Item 221 (La Roche 1295).
Same man pictured in Item 236 (La Roche 429), identified as Nez Perce.
Same man pictured in Item 236 (La Roche 429), identified as Nez Perce.
Same man pictured in Item 231 (La Roche 1297).
Item located on verso of Item 222 (La Roche 1290).
Same man pictured in Item 230 (La Roche 1296).
Copy of item located on verso of Item 223 (La Roche 1291).
One woman also pictured in Item 238 (La Roche 432).
Another of the women also pictured in Item 240 (La Roche 1303).
Man also pictured in Item 229 (La Roche 1299), identified as Umatilla. In this image, man identified as Nez Perce.
Item located on verso of Item 217 (La Roche 438).
Woman also pictured in Item 236 (La Roche 429).
Item 243 on verso.
Item 241a (La Roche 1302a) on verso.
Item located on verso of Item 227 (La Roche 1301).
Woman also pictured in Item 236 (La Roche 429).
Item located on verso of Item 239 (La Roche 1300).
Item located on verso of Item 238 (La Roche 432).
Item located on verso of Item 216 (La Roche 1307).
Same image on verso of Item 219 (La Roche 1210).
Royal Tracy Hawley II (1865-1923) was the son of Royal Tracy
Hawley and Lucy Case Reasoner Hawley. He earned his B.A. from the University of
Washington in 1889 and went on to work at the Seattle
Studio backdrop displays individuals as flowers and a gardener. Names listed from left to right: Frank Noble, Carree Noble, Blanche Rolf[?], Clarence Ward, Will Morris, Hattie[?] Proctor, Maud Ward, Otto Collins, Edith Blackman.
Albert J. Buhtz and Annie B. Wheeler married in 1898.
Maurice Roy Linell (1887-1940) married Anna Combs Nebergall(?) (1891-1990) in 1914.
Item located on verso of Item 206 (La Roche 433) in Box 2, Folder 6.
The steamer
Halftone print from
Printed below image: Alaska Indian Woman, 126 years old.
Red toned photograph.
Copy of halftone print from
Baranov Castle burned down in 1894.
U.S. Naval warehouse building with pier in center. Lincoln Street and St. Michael's Cathedral visible along right.
To the far left is the Marine Corps barracks built in 1892; to the right of that is the store built by Redd & Jack. St. Michael's Cathedral is in the background. Tlingit women selling native baskets and crafts along Lincoln Street at right.
Taku Glacier in background.
Written below Item 310 (La Roche 10020): Juneau, opposite the Treadwell Gold Mines, the largest gold mine in the world.
Located with Items 336-338, mounted on same mat.
Built in 1881, the church also served as Juneau's first public school beginning in the fall of 1885.
Juneau visible across the water to the extreme left.
After the Treadwell Mines opened in 1881, women came from nearby villages to sell baskets, beaded clothing, and other wares to the gold miners and tourists. The baskets for sale in this image are Tlingit in style.
Same image located on verso of Item 207 (La Roche 437) in Box 2, Folder 6.
After the Treadwell Mines opened in 1881, women came from nearby villages to sell baskets, beaded clothing, and other wares to the gold miners and tourists. The baskets for sale in this image are Tlingit in style.
Item 330 (La Roche 226) is hand-colored.
Written on verso: Prof. Willoughby, a photographer of Juneau looking down a crevasse 200 feet deep at Muir Glacier.
Located with Items 313, 337, and 338, mounted on same mat.
Located with Items 313, 336, and 338, mounted on same mat.
Located with Items 313, 336, and 337, mounted on same mat.
The Ruby Sand Gold Mine was founded by W. M. Brook in 1896.
Halftone print from La Roche's book,
Printed below image: Klondike wagon loaded with provisions. An enterprising Dyea storekeeper had a dozen of these wagons which he rented for $1 an hour. An advance payment of $20 had to be made to secure the owner against unforeseen accidents and lapse of memory. As the original cost could not have been over $10, the security would seem to be ample and the investment profitable. Some of the animals used would not take first prize at a horse fair for beauty, but almost any old thing in the shape of a horse was in demand at from $200 to $300, and would earn $20 to $30 a day. On the right and left are Indians, while the frame building is the Indian headquarters and the home of their chief, Isaac.
Copy of Item 360 (La Roche 2010) on verso.
Tracks of White Pass & Yukon Railroad.
The White Pass Railroad took the place of the White Pass Trail. La Roche referred to White Pass Trail as Skagway Trail.
Halftone print from La Roche's book,
Printed below image: This is a small lake on the Skagway [sic] trail, about five miles out from Skagway [sic]. A rough roadway has been formed along its left hand shore, where pack trains may proceed with some ease in single file, Indian fashion. When one stops to think that fast freight is whirled across the continent from San Francisco to New York in fifteen days, and passengers cover the same ground in about five days, some idea of the slowness of travel in Alaska may be had. To go from Dyea to Dawson City, overland , eighteen days is considered "cannon ball" time, and only those who "travel light" can hope to do it. The supplies of a pack train must be allowed more than double this time.
7 miles north of Skagway.
7 miles north of Skagway.
15 miles north of Skagway.
The Chilkoot Trail was also called the Dyea Trail. La Roche referred to the Chilkoot Trail as the Dyea Trail. The Dyea River is now known as the Taiya River.
Copy of item located on verso of Item 349 (La Roche 2004).
Halftone print from La Roche's book,
Item located on verso of Item 356 (La Roche 2074).
Halftone print from La Roche's book,
Left to right: Irene Stanky, May Biggs, Maude Earl (being carried), Lulu Johnson, Mrs. Jack Sullivan.
About 6 miles north of Dyea.
South arm of the Saussure Glacier visible in background left.
About 10 miles north of Dyea.
Depicts Jack London and fellow travelers Jim Goodman, Fred Thompson, and Martin Tarwater.
Copy of item located on verso of Item 390 (La Roche 2048).
Halftone print from La Roche's book,
Halftone print from La Roche's book,
Printed below image: Fifty tons of provisions stored at Crater Lake. These have been freighted across the lake in the flat-bottomed canoe seen in the foreground, and now lie scattered about among the rocks awaiting transportation through the rocky defile leading onward from the right of the photograph, a distance of one and one-half miles, to Happy Camp. A word may be said here about food: Highly carbonaceous food should predominate, and alcoholic stimulants be avoided. One pound of tea is equal to seven pounds of coffee; three-quarters of an ounce of saccharine is equal to twenty-five pounds of sugar. All such matters should be carefully considered by the gold seeker who would lighten his burden.
Copy of Item 379 (La Roche 2033) on verso.
Women depicted are Irene Stanky, May Biggs, Maude Earl, Lulu Johnson, and Mrs. Jack Sullivan.
One Mile River now known as Lindeman Creek.
Woman pictured is possibly Violet Raymond, whom Prince Antone married in 1897.