Herman Ruhe Collection, circa 1906-1909
Scope and Contents
The collection contains 12 glass plate negatives and 35 mounted photographs of Juneau, Sitka, Dyea, Skagway, the Chilkoot Trail, and the Yukon Territory. A 28-page, bound scrapbook published in 1909 by Winter and Pond contains 24 photogravure prints of Juneau and the surrounding area. The collection also contains a few of Ruhe’s manuscripts.
Dates
- circa 1906-1909
EAD
PCA0426Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for viewing, however, the photographs 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
Herman Ruhe was born in Germany in 1870 or 1871. He married Lizzie Stacey, of Omaha, Nebraska, in June 1896, and had three children: Ester Jane, Richard Melvin and Arthur James.
Arriving in Juneau in the early 1900’s, he opened the Juneau Painting and Decorating Co. at 205 Seward Street, next door to the Arthur Ferte Sign Co.. He and Arthur Ferte bacame friends and later, business partners. Ruhe was active in BPO Elks 420 in Juneau and a member of the Masonic Lodge.
According to the Seward Weekly Gateway, Ruhe visited Seward on March 17 and 31, 1906, where he considered relocating his business. On April 2, 1907, however, he was elected to the Juneau City Council, a position that lasted until April 1908. In 1909 he and Ferte moved to Ellensburg, Washington, and formed another partnership, the American Painting Co. Ruhe and Ferte moved back to Juneau in 1912 and stayed until 1914. Ruhe’s family remained in Ellensburg. It is possible that his business was located in Seward at some time during his stay in Alaska. Herman Ruhe died on September 14, 1941, in Ellensburg, Washington.
Extent
3 boxes (Box 1- Photographs Box 2- Documents Box 3- Glass Plate Negatives) : 35 mounted black and white photographs; 1 postcard; 1 album produced by Winter and Pond, photographers; 12 glass plate negatives; 3 documents and 4 business cards ; 1.2 linear ft.
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Robert and Gloria Barret, executors of the Ruhe estate donated the collection to the Alaska State Library. Herman Ruhe was a Juneau business owner and city councilman in Juneau in the early 1900’s. (Acc. No. 2002-19)
Existence and Location of Copies
Some photographs in this collection have been digitized and are available to view via Alaska's Digital Archives.
Processing Information
Fragile glass plate negatives are housed in the collection. Please handle carefully. Many of the photographs are duplicates of the Winter and Pond or Case and Draper collections and have been cross-referenced.
- Title
- Finding aid for the Herman Ruhe Collection, ca. 1906-1909
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by: Laura Wood April 2002 ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston 2019 June ; Inventory added by: Sandy Johnston, July 2020 ; Inventory Revised by: Sandy Johnston, April 2025 ; ArchivesSpace Inventory Revised by: Connie Hamann
- Date
- 2025 April
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
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