Edward K. Morse Collection, 1925-1930s

Collection

Identifier: PCA 462

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains the two albums described above as well as 2-16mm films.

One film is of a trip on the Alameda from Ketchikan to Skagway. The film includes footage of canneries and buildings such as Quadra (N.W. Fisheries Co., Boca De Quadra, Alaska), Metlakatla Commercial Co., Alaska Pacific Salmon Corporation (APSC) Sunny Point Cannery in Ketchikan, and Superior Packing Co. in Tenakee Inlet. Also included are views of fish traps, the Taku and Mendenhall glaciers, Auk Lake, the AJ Mine, the Pullen House, and a Native market. The second film is unrelated to Alaska.

The collection also includes two other items: A few frames of microfilm from the National Archives containing documents showing John E. Thwaites on the payroll as postal clerk and a DVD entitled John E. Thwaites and the Ice Worm; Commemorating Gold Rush Days; Valdez, Alaska 2003 copyright 2003 J. Pennelope Goforth.

Dates

1925-1930s

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for viewing.

Conditions Governing Use

Request for permission to reproduce material from the collection should be discussed with the Librarian.

Historical

Dr. Edward K. Morse, a resident of Maine, and great-nephew of photographer, John E. Thwaites, assembled the large album of photos and ephemera during a trip on the S.S. Northwestern in 1930-1931; photos of family scenes were taken by him with a small camera. The bulk of the photos were by John E. Thwaites. The album also contains menus and Alaska Steamship Co. photographs.

Isabelle Thwaites, wife of John Thwaites, probably assembled the small album in ca. 1925. “Alaskan Photos. Taken, for the most part, By Lady Ysobel [Isabelle] – herself”[information taken from inside cover of photo album]

Extent

2 Volumes : 2 albums- black and white photographs ; 2-16mm films-silent, black and white ; Microfilm ; DVD

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Dr. Edward K. Morse donated the collection in 2003, Acc. no. 2003-042. The donation was facilitated by Pennelope Goforth, of Anchorage, who uncovered the albums when she was researching her biography of John E. Thwaites, Sailing the Mail.

Processing Information

The albums are in good condition but some silvering has been noted. The films are nitrate. One film has been transferred to DVD format. The second film is unrelated to Alaska and has not been reformatted.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Finding aid for the Edward K. Morse Collection, 1925-1930s
Status: In Progress
Author: Processed by: Gladi Kulp 6/2006 ; Updated by: Jacki Swearingen, 11/2012 ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston
Date: 2019 June
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: Undetermined
Script of description: Code for undetermined script
Language of description note: English