Photographs of Edward Schieffelin's Prospecting Trip in Alaska: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Michelle Sanchez.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Photo Archives
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2013
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Overview of the Collection

Title: Photographs of Edward Schieffelin's Prospecting Trip in Alaska
Dates: 1882-1883
Collection Number: photCL 264
Creator: Farciot, Charles O., photographer
Extent: 45 photographs in 1 album; album 24 x 30 cm. (9 x 12 in.)
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Photo Archives
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection of photographs taken by Charles O. Farciot documents Edward Schieffelin’s gold prospecting trip through Alaska via the Yukon River in 1882 and 1883. Views include many close portraits of Alaskan natives and their families; the towns of St. Michael, Nuklukayet, and Anvik; trading stations; Schieffelin and his dog sled team; and Fort Yukon missionaries interacting with Alaskan natives.
Language: English.
Note:
Finding aid last updated on October 16, 2014.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

Photographs of Edward Schieffelin's Prospecting Trip in Alaska. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of M.C. Erskine in 1925.

Biographical Note

Charles O. Farciot was born in Switzerland in 1840 and became a United States citizen in 1858. In the course of his life, Farciot learned enough to become a photographer and steamship engineer. After opening photography studios in Arizona, he met Edward Schieffelin, the founder of Tombstone, Arizona. Schieffelin, who was interested in searching for gold in the Yukon, took Farciot along as part of his gold prospecting party to Alaska in 1882. Discouraged by the harsh environment, Schieffelin left in 1883, but Farciot stayed behind to work as a steamship engineer on the Yukon River until at least 1886. Upon leaving Alaska, Farciot opened photograph studios in San Francisco.

Scope and Content

This album contains 45 photographs taken by Charles O. Farciot that document Edward Schieffelin's gold prospecting trip through Alaska via the Yukon River in 1882 and 1883. Views include many close portraits of Alaskan natives and their families; the towns of St. Michael, Nuklukayet, and Anvik; Fort Yukon; Fort Reliance; trading posts; Schieffelin and his dog sled team; and Fort Yukon missionaries interacting with Alaskan natives; various steamships, including the "New Racket"; the Yukon River; Alaskan native chieftains and shamans; a group of the only Caucasian men in St. Michael; and one view of an Inuit cemetery.
The photographs are mounted double-sided into an accordion fold book album. There are typeset captions, probably created by photographer Charles Farciot. Some refer to photographic exposure and timing.

Related materials in the Huntington Library

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Subjects

Schieffelin, Edward, 1847-1897 -- Photographs.
Dogsledding -- Photographs.
Indians of North America -- Alaska -- Photographs.
Missionaries -- Photographs.
Prospecting -- Photographs.
Shamans -- Photographs.
Steamboats -- Photographs.
Tanana Indians -- Photographs.
Inuit -- Photographs.
Alaska -- Photographs.
Fort Yukon (Alaska) -- Photographs.
Nushagak (Alaska) -- Photographs.
Saint Michael (Alaska) -- Photographs.
Saint Paul Island (Alaska) -- Photographs.
Yukon River (Yukon and Alaska) -- Photographs.

Forms/Genres

Photograph Albums.
Photographs.
Portraits.


Volume 1

Album (Photographs 1-45)

The album is digitized in the Huntington Digital Library.

Volume 1, Item 1

[Portrait of Edward Schieffelin, 1882]

Volume 1, Item 2

Steamer “New Racket” at the wharf of St. Michael, two hours before the departure for the Yukon River

Volume 1, Item 3

All the white men of San Michael and the Yukon River [Back row, left to right: John Waldron; John R. Forbes; Arthur Harper; Capt. Al Mayo; Capt. Charles Peterson; Joseph La Due; John Franklin; Fred Mercier. First two men at far left, back to front: John C. Smith; Moses Lurens. Three men at far right, left to right: A.S. Frederickson; Dr. W.E. Everette; Gregory Kokerine.]

Volume 1, Item 4

San Michael

Volume 1, Item 5

Wharf and rear of San Michael. Indian camping grounds, while they are waiting for the arrival of Steamer “St. Paul,” to assist unloading. June, 1884 [1883 is the correct year; Schieffelin left Alaska just before 1884.].

Volume 1, Item 6

Rear view of San Michael [Fred Mercier (left) and unidentified man with camera and tripod]

Volume 1, Item 7

Upper Yukon Indians. Esquimaux [Esquimo]

Volume 1, Item 8

The oldest Chamon [Shaman], or Medicine Man, in Northern sound

Volume 1, Item 9

Nuchigak [Nushagak] chief

Volume 1, Item 10

Mission Indians

Volume 1, Item 11

Tananah Indian squaw returning from a hunt

Volume 1, Item 12

Keokuck [probably Koyukuk] Chamon [Shaman] or Medicine Man [Name is “Red Shirt”]

Volume 1, Item 13

Ivan, Chief of the Tananah Indians

Volume 1, Item 14

[Number skipped]

Volume 1, Item 15

The Black Showman [Shaman?] of the Tananah

Volume 1, Item 16

Sinate, Chief of Fort Yukon Indians

Volume 1, Item 17

Indians cutting fire-wood for Steamer, two miles from Fort Yukon

Volume 1, Item 18

The remains of Fort Yukon. Rev. Dr. Sims, Missionary. Harper, trader for the Alaska Com. Co. [1883]

Volume 1, Item 19

Charlie, chief of what is known as Charlie’s Band; 1600 miles up the Yukon River

Volume 1, Item 20

Tananah Indians [Kheeltat, his son, and Deshaddy]

Volume 1, Item 21

Rv. [Reverend] Dr. Sims preaching to the Indians at Fort Reliance, Aug. 18, 1883.

Volume 1, Item 22

First appearance of winter—short days. View taken at 12 M. [midnight], 60 seconds exposure, rapid dry plates

Volume 1, Item 23

First appearance of winter—short days. View taken at 12 M. [midnight], 60 seconds exposure, rapid dry plates [Variant of photograph 22]

Volume 1, Item 24

Winter. Ed. Schieffelin feeding his dogs.

Volume 1, Item 25

Ed. Schieffelin starting on a prospecting tour

Volume 1, Item 26

Winter, Nuklakahyet [Nuklukayet]

Volume 1, Item 27

Winter, Nuklakahyet [Nuklukayet]

Volume 1, Item 28

Winter fish trap on the Yukon

Volume 1, Item 29

House constructed by the Schieffelin party at Nuklakyat [Nuklukayet], 950 miles above the mouth of the Yukon River

Volume 1, Item 30

Indian cemetery. Indians on snow shoes

Volume 1, Item 31

Steamer Yukon in a slough while the ice is passing down the river

Volume 1, Item 32

Spring. Steamers St. Michael, Yukon, and New Racket

Volume 1, Item 33

Tananah Indians in canoes, as seen from a distance, coming down to trade at Nuklakahyet [Nuklukayet] in the spring.

Volume 1, Item 34

Five minutes later [Variant of photograph 33]

Volume 1, Item 35

Indians landed [Variant of photograph 34]

Volume 1, Item 36

Steam launch built by Chas. [Charles] O. Farciot, 1000 miles above the mouth of the Yukon

Volume 1, Item 37

Nuklakahyet trading station [Alaskan natives standing in front of building]

Volume 1, Item 38

Fort Yukon Indians

Volume 1, Item 39

Island of St. Paul

Volume 1, Item 40

In winter quarters after a trip of 2500 miles in Bydarkee [Bidarka], or Indian skin boat

Volume 1, Item 41

Portage of 150 miles, from the Behring [Bering] Sea across the mountains, to the Yukon River. Started from the Signal Service Office at San Michael Feb. 3, 36° below zero

Volume 1, Item 42

Traveling with dogs, without snow-shoes

Volume 1, Item 43

Fifty degrees below zero. The only photo ever taken on a trip of this kind. [Men with dogs and sled]

Volume 1, Item 44

Antwick [Anvik] trading station

Volume 1, Item 45

House almost buried in the snow, only the roof appearing, the home of four families. Looking down the Yukon from the village of Antwick [Anvik].