Photograph Album of the Cruise of the Revenue Cutter "Corwin" in Alaska, 1883
1881 and 1883
Title: Photograph Album of the Cruise of the Revenue Cutter "Corwin" in Alaska, 1883
Dates: 1881 and 1883
Collection Number: photCL 97
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 36 photos in 1 album; album 18 x 27 cm. (7 x 11 in.); 1 microfilm roll of copy negatives of the photos. See itemized list
under "Additional collection guides."
Repository:
Huntington Library. Photo Archives
Abstract: This personal album illustrates the sights and peoples experienced by the voyagers of the "Corwin." There are many views of
Inuit villages and inhabitants in Alaska and coastal Siberia, along with scenery and seascapes. All photographs are accompanied
by detailed, manuscript captions in ink by an unknown individual. Photographs depict Alaskan nature scenes and harbors; Inuit
people, dwellings and villages; and documentation of the fur trade in the nineteenth century. This collection primarily provides
insight into the USRC “Thomas Corwin"’s Arctic voyage in 1881. It is unclear if the photographs taken in 1883 are of a later
voyage.
The collection is particularly strong in images of fur trade expeditions and merchants, and Inuit people and dwellings.
Language of Material: English
Access is granted to qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact the Curator of Photographs at the Huntington
Library.
All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Photographs. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Huntington as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or
imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Photograph Album of the Cruise of the Revenue Cutter "Corwin" in Alaska, 1883. Huntington Library. Photo Archives
This collection was purchased from Shorey’s Bookstore (Seattle, Washington) in 1956.
Biography/Administrative History
Individual related to this collection: Michael A. Healy, 1839-1904,(not depicted in this collection) served with the "Thomas
Corwin" beginning in 1882; he rose to the position of captain in March of 1883. While in command of the "Corwin," Healy patrolled
the Arctic to prevent illegal sale of guns and alcohol to the Alaskan natives and to control illegal fur seal hunting. The
captain was also concerned for the well-being of the Alaskan natives, and ferried Siberian caribou over to help reestablish
the natives’ food supply since many seals and walruses were killed by white traders.
Scope and Content of Collection
The photographs of the Inuit inhabitants include portraits; views of homes and villages; and the killing and skinning of seals.
There are also views of non-Indian hunters and traders. The Inuit villages and dwellings illustrated are in Sitka, St. Michael,
King's Island, and locations in Siberia. There is one view of an "Eskimo" [i.e. Inuit] grave at an unidentified location.
The photograph album has the words "Scenes in Alaska and the Arctic Ocean. 1883" embossed on the cover. An ink manuscript
title page reads: "Cruise of the Revenue Cutter 'Corwin' 1881."
See also photCL 131 for related photographs concerning the "Corwin."
Body piercing
Corwin (Ship)
Fur trade--Alaska
Graves—Alaska
Indians of North America--Alaska
Inuit
Orthodox churches
Russian Orthodox
Sailing ships
Whaling
Healy, Michael A., 1839-1904
Alaska
Arctic Ocean
Bering Sea
Siberia (Russia)
Photograph Albums
Photographs
Marine photographs