Edwin S. Keith Photograph Collection, ca. 1898 – 1936
Scope and Contents
This hand-made photograph album titled “Nome, 1900” was made by Vivian Leeterman or Leederman and given to Keith in 1900. The photographs are from Nome, ca. 1898 to 1900, with the exception of one image of the Chilkoot Pass and a formal portrait of Mr. Keith dated 1936. Scenes of Nome’s 1900 flood, Nome ‘sourdoughs’ and several beach mining images are included. The collection includes a few Hegg photographs and several from Hammond Photo on Steadman Ave., Nome.
Dates
- ca. 1898-1936
EAD
PCA0366Conditions Governing Access
The photos may be viewed, however they may not be photocopied.
Conditions Governing Use
Request for permission to publish or reproduce material from the collection should be discussed with the Librarian.
Biographical
Edwin Spear Keith was born December 5, 1872 in Hamilton, New York and traveled over the Chilkoot Trail to Dawson in 1898. He spent three years in Alaska, in Ruby, Kotzebue and Nome. During those three years he travelled to Seattle to buy supplies needed in Nome. After buying the supplies, he had $3.00 left over, with which he bought newspapers (all the same date) at 3 cents apiece. When he returned to Nome he sold them as fast as he could hand them over – at $1.00 a piece. He said he was the first newsboy in Nome.
While in Nome between 1899-1901 he worked as a storekeeper for Thornton and Keith (1900) and also weighed gold dust. He returned to the Seattle area in 1901, married Miss Ada Violet Fimple in 1928, and died on June 26, 1946.
Extent
1 Volumes : 1 album (21 photographs, black and white) ; 2 loose photographs (black and white)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Mrs. Ada F. Keith of Port Angeles, Washington donated the collection in 1995 (Accession 1995-049).
Processing Information
The photographs in this collection are numbered. An item-level inventory is available. See Master Files for artifacts transferred to the Alaska State Museum. A published pamphlet received with the collection, The Alaska Cook Book and Map, Mining Laws... and Useful Hints (1898) was placed in Alaskana Collection (TX 715.A38 1898).
- Title
- Edwin S. Keith Photograph Collection, ca. 1898 – 1936
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Processed by: Kay Shelton, India Spartz Dec. 1995 ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston 2019 June ; Inventory added by: Sandy Johnston
- Date
- 2020 April
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Alaska State Library - Historical Collections Finding Aids Repository
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)
asl.historical@alaska.gov