Photographs depicting mining operations,
Native Alaskans and other scenes in Alaska between 1898 and 1908; regrading
operations and the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle in 1909; the St.
Louis, Missouri World's Fair in 1904 and depictions of other western U.S.
towns. Also includes publications about Alaska, papers and ephemera.
Repository:
Museum of History &
Industry Sophie Frye Bass
Library
Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Otto D. Goetze was born in Missouri in 1871 to a German immigrant
family of twelve children. Goetze left Missouri as a young man, moving to Walla
Walla, Washington, then to Oregon and later to Seattle. Goetze went to Alaska
around 1898 as the Gold Rush began and established a photography studio in
Nome. Though he returned to the mainland at least once during this time-- to
photograph the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904--Goetze remained in Alaska
photographing Gold Rush activity and Alaska natives until approximately
1908.
Goetze then moved back to Seattle, where he was proprietor of the
Alaska Photo Studio from 1909 to 1912. Goetze got married in 1911 and had a
daughter, Dorothy, in 1912. In 1914, the family moved to a farm in Cedar
Valley. Goetze sold the farm in the 1930s as a consequence of financial
difficulties related to the Depression; afterwards Goetze may have moved to
Monroe, Washington.
Content Description
The collection consists of 92 black and white photographic prints, 319
photographic postcards, a photograph album, a few publications and some papers.
The photographs consist largely of images taken in Alaska between
approximately 1899 and 1908. The majority of these were taken in Nome and
depict miners, mining operations and native Inupiaq and Indian people, as well
as dog teams, Nome streets and steamships in Nome Harbor. Other Alaska images
depict native totem poles and scenes in Wrangell and in Fort Davis, the U.S.
Army outpost near Nome. A smaller number of photographs depict the 1909
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle; others document the 1909 regrading
of 3rd Avenue in Seattle, including images of the old Washington Hotel.
The album includes similar images of Alaska and Seattle, as well as
photographs of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and images of towns in
California, Missouri, Utah, Texas and Colorado.
The majority of the photographic postcards consists of images taken at
the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle, including images of
A.Y.P.E. buildings, grounds, parades, events and native peoples on exhibit.
The collection includes two illustrated books by Goetze about his
Alaska experience, a book about the Klondike by photographer Frank La Roche, a
book about Alaska published in anticipation of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific
Exposition, and Alaska Steamship menus.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available :
A selection of the photographic postcards of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific
Exposition is available at
King County Snapshots
.
Restrictions on Access :
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
Restrictions on Use :
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in
the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research,
publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI
before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation :
O.D. Goetze Photographs and Other Material, Museum of History &
Industry, Seattle
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Series: Photographs, circa 1898-1913
Subseries: Alaska, 1898-1909
Subseries: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, 1909
Subseries: Regrade of 3rd Avenue, Seattle, Washington,
1909
Subseries: Miscellaneous Seattle and other towns, circa
1909-1913
Series: Photo Album
Series: Photographic postcards
Subseries: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, 1909
Subseries: Seattle, 1909-1910 and undated
Subseries: Miscellaneous, 1898-1908 and undated
Series: Other material, 1897-1909 and undated
Acquisition Information :
Donated by Dorothy Ellis, O.D. Goetze's daughter, in 1995
Detailed Description of the Collection
Photographs , 1898-1913 and undated
Notes in quotation marks represent writing transcribed from the
front of the photograph.
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Alaska
All photographs are dated 1898-1909 unless a more specific
date is given.
1898-1909
Box
1
1995.38.5: Three gold miners pulling their
supply sled on the trail, Nome
1
1995.38.6: Mining dredge being built near
mouth of Glacier Creek, Nome
1906
1
1995.38.7: Miners standing on dump at
Submarine Beach, Nome
"Workings of Valiere and Olsen Paystreak claim, Submarine
Beach Line, Nome, Alaska"
1
1995.38.8: Flume of Seward ditch on Hobson
Creek, Nome
1
1995.38.9: Miners from the Wild Goose Co.
sluicing for gold at Dry Creek, Nome
1
1995.38.10: Miners from Dimos & Co.
standing on dump near boiler house at mining operation on Center Creek, Nome
1908 April
1
1995.38.11: Union Mining Company boiler
house and tailings dump on Flat Creek, Nome
1908 May 3
1
1995.38.12: Buildings at Hurrah quartz
mine, Solomon
1
1995.38.13: Pedestrians and wagons on Front
Street, showing Goetze's photo studio in foreground, Nome
1
1995.38.14.1: Inupiaq carver Happy Jack and
his wife in fur parkas
1
1995.38.14.2: Inupiaq group having breakfast
in front of boat and tent on sandspit, Nome
1
1995.38.14.3: Inupiaq group having breakfast
in front of tents on sandspit, Nome
1
1995.38.14.4: Inupiaqs in umiaks under bridge
at start of race on Snake River, Nome
1908 August 15
1
1995.38.14.5: Inupiaq woman wearing fur parka
holding child
1
1995.38.14.6: Siberian native fisherman on
beach with kayak and drying fish
Huey (photographer)
1
1995.38.14.7: Yuit women and children at
water's edge, Koliutschit, Siberia
1
1995.38.14.8: Inupiaqs in fur parkas with
dog, Nome
1
1995.38.14.9: Inupiaq man in fur parka
dancing, Nome
1
1995.38.14.10: Young Inupiaq woman wearing fur
parka
"Miss Effie Bell of Eskimos, Nome, Alaska "
1
1995.38.14.11-14.14: Young Inupiaq woman in fur
parka
1
1995.38.15: Panorama of Nome in three
panels
1
1995.38.16.1; 16.3; 16.6-7: Front Street, Nome
1
1995.38.16.2: Fort Davis in deep snow, Nome
1
1995.38.16.4: Bird's eye view of Nome
1
1995.38.16.5: People standing in front of
Nome post office near sled carrying mail
1907 March 15
1
1995.38.16.8: Deep snow and ice on buildings
on Kester Avenue, Nome, Alaska
1
1995.38.17.1: House covered in snow
A.L. Bell
Photo (photographer)
1
1995.38.17.2: Boats and tents on beach at
west end of Nome
1900 July 25
1
1995.38.17.3, 1995.38.17.4: Damaged buildings on sandspit
after storm
1900 Sept
1
1995.38.17.5: Waterfront, Nome
1
1995.38.17.6: Tents on sandspit near town
1
1995.38.17.7: Mining operations on Third
Beach, Nome
1906 June
1
1995.38.17.8: Mining operations along Third
Beach with slag dump, Nome
1907 May
1
1995.38.17.9: Man on beach near breakers with
steamship Northwestern in harbor, Nome
1908 August 10
1
1995.38.17.10: Clouds over water, Nome
1
1995.38.17.11: Men with horse drawn wagons and
freight on beach Nome
1900 October 22
1
1995.38.17.12: Breakers with ships in
distance, Nome
1
1995.38.18: Man outside Alaska Photo
Company building, Nome
"O.D. Goetze Photo Gallery, Nome, Alaska"
1
1995.38.19.1: Interior of Catholic Church at
Christmas time, Nome
1902
1
1995.38.19.2: Men with shovels working on
railroad tacks
"Seward railroad on Nome River, Alaska"
1
1995.38.19.3: Drawing of woman being lifted
ashore by a hook through her bloomers
"Landing the Merry Widow in Nome, Alaska"
1
1995.38.19.4: Survey team on Penny River,
Nome
"Sutton's ditch on Penny R[iver] looking downst[ream], Nome,
Alaska"
1905 August 8
1
1995.38.19.5: Men with mule teams along Nome
River
"Teamsters on the Pioneer ditch, Nome River"
1
1995.38.19.6: Men with shovels along Pioneer
ditch on Nome River
1
1995.38.19.7: Carl Albertson of Norway ski
jumping with spectators looking on, Nome
2
1995.38.20.1: Klondike Mill Company lumber
operations with town in background
2
1995.38.20.2: Peaks and glacier near Thomas
Bay
2
1995.38.20.3: Sidewheeler steamship in Dutch
Harbor
1900
2
1995.38.21.1: People in canoe, buildings and
totem poles in background, Wrangell
2
1995.38.21.2: Chilkat Indian in dancing
costume, Wrangell
1899 March 6
2
1995.38.22.1: Composite group photo of
members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Nome, Alaska
"Nome Aerie No. 75. F.O.E."
2
1995.38.22.2: Herd of reindeer near Nome
2
1995.38.22.3: Man and woman with dogsled and
dog team outside house, Nome
2
1995.38.22.4: Dog team and sled with musher
and passenger, Nome
2
1995.38.22.5: Pile of gold bars, sacks of
gold coins, and buckets of ore
"Miners and Merchants Bank, Nome, Alaska. $1,200,000- part
of Spring clean up"
1906
2
1995.38.22.6: Pile of gold bars
"Alaskan Banking and Safe Deposit Co. $1,000,000 part of
spring clean-up"
1906
2
1995.38.24.1: Barracks at Fort Davis, near
Nome
1900 September
2
1995.38.24.2: Men with seven dog teams four
miles out from shore transporting freight from steamship S.S. Corwin over ice
to Nome. S.S. Corwin in background at right.
1909 June 2
2
1995.38.24.3: Woman in fur parka with dog
team and sled
2
1995.38.24.4: Snow tunnel, Nome
2
1995.38.25: Steamship Oregon loading
passengers in Seattle with crowd on dock
1900
2
1995.38.26: Steamship Cleveland frozen in
ice, with men aboard, Nome
1901
2
1995.38.27: Steamship Umatilla, Nome
2
1995.38.28: Steamship President in Nome
harbor
2
1995.38.29: Men aboard river steamboat
Herman
Huey (photographer)
2
1995.38.30: Painting of rescue crew near
schooner
"Nome life crew and the schooner Greyhound which came ashore
during July storm, 1906, Nome, Alaska"
circa 1906
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
1909
Box
2
1995.38.32.1-32.4: "Miss Columbia," native of
Labrador, Canada
2
1995.38.32.5: Inuit with fur parka near skin
covered tent
2
1995.38.32.6: Composite of Alaska scenes with
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific logo
Regrade of 3rd Avenue, Seattle,
Washington
1909
Box
2
1995.38.33.1: Washington Hotel and house
2
1995.38.33.2; .33.3; 33.5: Men using high power hoses
"View of 3rd Avenue-regrading-looking west--Grant Smith and
Co. and Stillwell, Seattle"
2
1995.38.33.4: Men using high power hoses
"Regrading on 3rd Avenue, Holt and Jeffery, contractors,
Seattle"
2
1995.38.33.6: Men using high power hoses near
house and Washington Hotel
2
1995.38.33.7: Partially regraded area
2
1995.38.33.8: Washington Hotel atop hill
2
1995.38.33.9: Men with hoses near Washington
Hotel
2
1995.38.33.10: Steam engines near building
Miscellaneous Seattle and other
towns
These photographs are undated but believed to have been taken
after 1908, when Goetze returned to Washington from Alaska.
circa 1909-1913
Box
2
1995.38.34.1: Hotel Butler Annex, corner
Marion Street and 4th Avenue, with cars and horse drawn carriages
2
1995.38.34.2-3: Parade on 2nd Avenue
2
1995.38.34.4: Westlake Avenue with trolleys
and pedestrians, showing Hotel Plaza and Northern Bank and Trust Company
Building
2
1995.38.35.1: Camp on beach
2
1995.38.35.2: Path through trees
2
1995.38.35.3: People and parked cars outside
Cedar Valley Store and gas station
2
1995.38.35.4: Man and towing car outside Loop
service station, Edmonds
2
1995.38.35.5: People outside Keller's Corner
grocery store and gas station
Exteriors of A.Y.P.E. buildings and A.Y.P.E. grounds,
including landscaping, monuments, fountains and entrance gates.
3
Paystreak amusement park
16 postcards
Postcards of the Paysteak include the image listed below,
available in digital format by clicking on the icon:
Box
3
1995.38.37.68: Arena Theater
3
Parades
197 postcards
German Day, Japan Day, Italian Day, Labor Day, New England
Children's Day and Odd Fellows parades as well as a parade to view the Markus
Whitman monument and a military parade for the dedication of the Vancouver
Welcome Arch. Postcards of parade include the images listed below, available
in digital format by clicking on the icon:
1995.38.37.131: Dedication of the Vancouver
Welcome Arch
1909 August 21
1995.38.37.146: Landing passengers from the
Mayflower on New England Day
1909 September 11
3
President Taft Day
4 postcards
President Taft entering and leaving the A.Y.P.E.
3
Animals
39 postcards
Horses, livestock, chimpanzees, elephants, camels and
sheep
3
Alaska natives
16 postcards
Alaska natives from exhibits including "Miss Columbia" from
Labrador and Igerrote carvers and weavers. Postcards of Alaska native include the images listed below,
available in digital format by clicking on the icon:
1995.38.37.219: Miss Columbia and her family
1995.38.37.221: Miss Columbia and her father
1995.38.37.228: Miss Columbia and her mother
3
Miscellaneous
11 postcards
Crowd, parades and events. Includes the images listed below, available in digital format
by clicking on the icon:
Box
3
2002.50.230: Crowd near hot air balloon
3
2002.50.231: Balloon in air at stockyard
barbeque
3
2002.50.232: First passengers leaving the
Mayflower on New England Day
Seattle
1909-1910 and undated
Box
3
Waterfront fire
5 postcards
1910 June 11
3
Regrading
19 postcards
1909
3
Golden Potlatch
Parade
34 postcards
1912
3
Other parades
5 postcards
Labor Day Parade, September 6, 1909; Work Horse Parade, July
4, 1910; and unidentified parades
circa 1909-1910
3
Streets and buildings
20 postcards
undated
3
Ships
20 postcards
Armored cruisers in Seattle Harbor, steamships, a cable ship
and the West Seattle ferry
1995.38.1.1: By-laws and Articles of
Incorporation and Prospectus of the Seattle Moving Picture Company, of which
O.D. Goetze is President and Treasurer
1909
1
1995.38.1.2: $250 stock certificate for
Seattle Moving Picture Company
1
1995.38.2: "Mining Experiences in Alaska"
pamphlet illustrated and written by O.D. Goetz
1909
1
1995.38.3: Souvenir of
North Western Alaska, book of photographs by O.D. Goetze
1
1995.38.4: En Route to
the Klondike: Chilkoot Pass and Skaguay Trail by F. LaRoche
1897
2
1995.38.23.1-.4: Alaska Steamship Company menus,
illustrated with pastel drawings of sled dogs by Alaskan artist Josephine
Crumrine
2
1995.38.31: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, 1900. Illustrated book
about Alaska published in anticipation of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.