Duncan Cottage Photograph Collection, ca. 1857-1916
Scope and Contents
The collection includes 101 prints of Metlakatla, Alaska and B.C., William Duncan, the church, schoolhouse and other structures and the Tsimshian Indians who lived there at the time. Includes the signatures of the Tsimshians who moved from Metlakatla, B.C. to Metlakatla, Alaska.
Dates
- circa 1857-1916
EAD
PCA0043Conditions Governing Access
The photos may be viewed, however, the images may not be photocopied.
Conditions Governing Use
Requests for permission to publish material from the collection must be discussed with the Librarian. Photocopying does not constitute permission to publish.
Biographical Note
William Duncan (1832-1918), of Beverly, England, abandoned a promising career at age 22 to train as a missionary for the Church Missionary Society. After completing his studies at Highbury College in London, he was sent to Fort Simpson, British Columbia, to work with the Natives of that region. By 1859, he had established a schoolhouse where he taught reading, writing, counting and singing, in English, and religion in the native Tsimshian language.
In May, 1862, Duncan left Fort Simpson with 50 Tsimshians to escape the influence of white culture. They established a community at Metlakatla, British Columbia. In 1867, he and 800 others moved again, this time to Annette Island, Alaska, and created a New Metlakatla. Duncan Cottage was built for him in 1891.
William Duncan died August 30, 1918 and was buried next to the church in Metlakatla. [From The Devil and Mr. Duncan, by Peter Murray, 1985, and William Duncan, Founder and Developer of Alaska’s Christian Mission, by Edward Delor Kohlstedt, 1957.]
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 box) : 101 photographs
Language of Materials
English
Acquisition
The Duncan Cottage Museum in Metlakatla, Alaska, made the images available for the Historical Library to reproduce in 1976. The images were made from glass plates, which are the property of the church.
Processing Information
The photographs are numbered and a guide to the collection is available.
- Title
- Finding aid for the Duncan Cottage Photograph Collection, ca. 1857-1916
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by: Staff. Revised by: Staff, 10/24/2003. ArchivesSpace Finding Aid by: Freya Anderson, June 2019. Inventory Entered by: Connie Hamann
- Date
- 2020 October
- 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