The Nowells were a mining family active on Douglas Island, Gold Creek, Sheep Creek, and at Berners Bay in the 1890’s and early 1900’s. Nowell Avenue in West Juneau is named for this family. Thomas S. Nowell was born in Massachusetts in 1832. He came to Alaska in 1885 and became one of the first mining men to settle in Juneau, joining his brothers George and Benjamin S. He was father to six sons including Willis and Frank.

Willis E. Nowell was an internationally known virtuoso violinist when he came to visit his father in Juneau at age 41. He abruptly switched careers and went into mining operations with his family. Later he entered the steamship business and was agent for the Alaska Steamship Company at Juneau for almost a quarter of a century. It should be noted he continued playing the violin delighting local audiences at special occasions throughout his time in Juneau.

Frank H. Nowell was first associated with mining on Douglas Island with his father around 1886. In 1900 he went to Nome to work for a mercantile company. It was in the Northwest region of Alaska that he turned to his hobby in photography and became a noted photographer. His photographic work forms a separate collection, PCA 48.

GENEALOGICAL NOTE

Key: --child \=spouse

--George Nowell ( ? –1909)

--Thomas S. Nowell (1833-1942) :

\=Lydia Hamm --Frederick D. Nowell --Willis E. Nowell (1859-1942) \=Frances Eletta Newton (1873- ? ) --Roger C. Nowell --Frances R. Nowell (1903-1929) \=Robert James Curry --Robert J. Curry, Jr. --Willis Everett Nowell, Jr. (1905-1980) \=Sarah Sjursen --J. Roger Nowell --Sylvia Nowell --Phillip Nowell --Frank H. Nowell (1864-1950) \=Elizabeth ‘Emma’ Helen Davis --Dorothy Nowell (ca.1898- ? ) \=”Doc” Helling --Raymond Helling --Arthur Nowell (1866-1904) --George M. Nowell \= ? Ames \=Harriet C. --Ethel Sims (adopted by Thomas S.)