Photographs of Alaska by Frank La Roche, approximately 1892

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Summary

Abstract:
This collection consists of photographs of Alaska taken ca. 1892 by Frank La Roche, depicting Alaskan nature scenes, views of town life (mainly in Sitka and Wrangell), and some Alaskan Natives. This collection provides insight into the Alaskan environment just before the Klondike Gold Rush.
Extent:
1.47 Linear Feet (54 photographs in 1 box; prints 23 x 17 cm. (9 x 6.5 in.) )
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

Photographs of Alaska by Frank La Roche. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of photographs of Alaska taken ca. 1892 by Frank La Roche, depicting Alaskan nature scenes, views of town life, and some Alaskan Natives. This collection provides insight into the Alaskan environment just before the Klondike Gold Rush.

This collection is particularly strong in images of Muir Glacier and the cities of Sitka and Wrangell. In addition to images of these places, the collection includes images of Alaskan Natives; Alaskan Native totem poles; Killisnoo, Alaska; the Native American community of Kasaan, Alaska; the steamboat Star Queen; various glaciers; and Treadmill Mill and Mine at Douglas Island.

Biographical / historical:

Frank La Roche (1853-1936) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the age of seventeen, he was employed at a photographic studio and learned the trade for two years. In 1872, La Roche left for Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, to start a general commercial photography business. From 1876 to 1878, La Roche had a variety of commissions, including making negatives of the planet Mercury for the United States and French governments. His workmanship was recognized in the form of six prizes at the Iowa State Fair in 1888. In 1889, he traveled to Seattle, Washington, just after the Great Seattle Fire and opened a photo gallery. La Roche took trips through Alaska and Canada, specializing in scenic and industrial photography. Perhaps his most intensive project was photographing the Klondike Gold Rush, which lasted from ca. 1897-1899. La Roche moved his studio to Sedro-Wooley, Washington, in 1914. He retired in 1928, passing the business to his son. He died in Sedro-Wooley in 1936 at the age of eighty-two.

Acquisition information:
This collection was purchased from Shorey's Bookstore (Seattle, Washington) on July 25, 1956.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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

Terms of access:

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 Alaska by Frank La Roche. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2129
reference@huntington.org
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