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William A. Kelly Photograph Collection, ca. 1885-1904

 Collection
Identifier: PCA 427

Scope and Contents

The collection contains 90 images, most are black and white prints; a few are sepia. Many of the photos, though unsigned, are probably by Elbridge W. Merrill and depict the Sitka area, native culture, Sheldon Jackson Museum, the Sitka Industrial School, and scenic views, ca. 1885-1904. Non-Alaska photos include groups of people, some school children, and several unidentified portraits.

Dates

  • ca. 1885-1904

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for viewing; however, the photographs 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

William A. Kelly,a lawyer from Puxatawney, PA, is listed in the U.S. Bureau of Education report, Education in Alaska, 1898-1898, under “Employees and Teachers, Presbyterian Missions, Sitka.” From 1898-1903, Kelly was the Superintendent of Sitka Training School. In 1904 until 1907, he was Superintendent of Schools in the Southern District, which is probably southeast Alaska. An Alaska Life article purports that William A. Kelly was Judge Sheakley’s successor, ca. 1893 as James Sheakley was appointed Territorial Governor in 1893. (“The Law Came to Wrangell,” by Richard Suratt, Alaska Life, February 1945, p. 45-49). In 1905 the GPO published William A. Kelly and Frances H. Willard’s Grammar and Vocabulary of the Hlingit [Tlingit] Language of Southeastern Alaska.

Extent

90 Photographic Prints : 1 album + 23 photos

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from the William A. Kelly Estate via Thomas Brown, Osceola, IN, September 2001.

Existence and Location of Copies

Photographs digitized and available for viewing via Alaska's Digital Archives: 02, 04-05, 07, 09-14, 16, 18-20, 24, 26, 31, 37-41, 43, 45, 52, 54, 65, 67-68, 70-71

Related Materials

Some negatives may be found in the E.W. Merrill Photograph Collection, PCA 57.

Processing Information

The collection images were numbered. Photographs not in the album were sorted into Alaska and non-Alaska images and housed in Mylar. Album cover is fragile and may require conservation work.

Title
Finding aid for the William A. Kelly Photograph Collection, ca. 1885-1904
Status
In Progress
Author
Processed by: Gladi Kulp April 2002 ; 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

Repository Details

Part of the Alaska State Library - Historical Collections Finding Aids Repository

Contact:
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)