Album with 39 Early Original Gelatin Photographs of Fairbanks, Showing St. Matthew’s Church and Hospital, the Launch of the “Koyukuk” River Steamer, City Streets, Interior of a Building Decorated for the “Floral Ball,” Firefighters and their Horse-Driven Cart, “Fireman Cook” with Pet Bears, Pioneer J. [Schuster?], “Sale Cup” of the Fairbanks Gun Club, &c. Ca. 1900s – 1920

Oblong Octavo album ca. 15x20 cm (5 ¾ x 7 ¾ in). 50 card stock leaves. With 39 mounted and loosely inserted gelatin silver photos from ca. 9,5x12 cm (3 ¾ x 4 ¾ in) to ca. 8x6,5 cm (3 ¼ x 2 ½ in). About twenty photos with period faded pencil manuscript captions on the mounts; one photo with a period ink caption on the mount. White ink note “Fairbanks, Alaska, March 17, 1920” on verso of the last leaf. Period brown full pebbled cloth album; paper label of the “Heinn Specialty Co., Badger Albums” on the inner side of the rear cover. Binding rubbed on extremities, both covers with minor cracks, a few photos mildly faded or with mild silvering, one photo was possibly previously removed, but overall a very good album of strong interesting photos.

Interesting collection of lively vernacular photographs illustrating life in Fairbanks, Alaska, in the early 20th century. The faint pencil captions identify about twenty photos, including a view of the original log building of St. Matthew’s church (constructed in 1904 and burned in 1947). The other photos show the launch of the “Koyukuk” river steamer of the “Northern Navigation Co.” (with a visible boat’s sign), the streets of Fairbanks with the buildings of the “Northern Commercial Co.,” post office, “Telephone Office,” the interior of a building prepared for the “Floral Ball,” &c. Several images portray local firefighters operating their horse-driven cart (in summer) or sled (in winter), “Fireman Cook” with his pet bears, a group of ladies posing with a quilt they apparently made, wood choppers, cart drivers, a pioneer J. [Schuster?] and his family, a woman posing on the bank of the Chena River, and others. An interesting photo with the ink caption shows the 1908 “Sale Cup” – a trophy to the winners of the annual shooting competition organized by the Fairbanks Gun Club and sponsored by the local jeweller, J.L. Sale. The caption lists the competition winners: “Pennington/ Menzies/ Buckley/ Hingston Skip.” Overall an interesting collection of early original photos of Fairbanks.

A list of captions: Decorations – Floral Ball, 1904-1905; Launch of Koyukuk, 1905; St. Matthew’s church & hospital, 1905; […?], 1904-1905; Launching Koyukuk – just before cutting ropes; A Blossom in Alaska’s forrest [sic!]; On the bank of the Chena River, strs. roadstead to Fairbanks; All to the wood, Pike the [kid?]; In the shadow of Alaska forrest; […?] shadow; Four friends; The sweetest flower of all; Anything but […?]; The Fireman Cook and his pets; […?] team No. 1 & their [driver?]; What Alaska’s cool will produce – grown in Fairbanks by J. [Schuster?]; An Alaskan house in Fairbanks; An Alaskan garden in Fairbanks – house by J. [Schuster?]; [J. Schuster?], Alaskan pioneer & family; Alaska is not all snow [& fir?].

The ink caption: Sale Cup, Presented to F.C.C. by J.L. Sale, 1908, Won by Pennington/ Menzies/ Buckley/ Hingston Skip.