Guide to the O.D. Goetze Photographs and Other Material
1898-1913

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Overview of the Collection

Photographer: Goetze, O.D. (Otto Daniel)
Title: O.D. Goetze Photographs and Other Material
Dates: 1898-1913 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 3 boxes ( 1 linear foot)
Location of Collection: 2b.3.6
Collection Number: 1995.38
Summary: 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

2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org

Languages: Collection materials are in English. 
Sponsor: 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

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1995.38.36:  Photo album , 1899-1909 and undated
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Page
1 1 Japanese reserve in Yellowstone Park, California undated
1 2 People on beach near Cliff House, San Francisco, California undated
1 3 Philippine natives in exhibit at St. Louis World's Fair 1904
1 4a Philippines Parade Ground at St. Louis World's Fair 1904
1 4b Alaska building at St. Louis World's Fair 1904
1 5a St. Louis World's Fair grounds 1904
1 5b Philippines Parade Grounds at St. Louis World's Fair 1904
1 6a St. Louis World's Fair grounds 1904
1 6b Great Siberian Railway Exhibit
"The Pike, St. Louis World's Fair"
1904
1 7a Orange Farms from Pasadena, California undated
1 7b Educational Government and Liberal Arts building at St. Louis World's Fair 1904
1 8a Agriculture building at St. Louis World's Fair 1904
1 8b Bird's Eye view of Santa Barbara, California undated
1 9a-b Mormon church in Salt Lake City, Utah undated
1 10a Four men near building in Texas undated
1 10b Building above street in Pasadena, California undated
1 11a Track for electric cars to the summit of Mt. Lowe in Los Angeles, California undated
1 11b Tracks for cog railway to summit of Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado undated
1 12a Street in Pasadena, California undated
1 12b World's Fair scene, showing Canada and Ceylon buildings undated
1 13a Peaks and glaciers near Thomas Bay, Alaska circa 1899-1909
1 13b, 13c Path through trees undated
1 14a Viewpoint on Mount Lowe near electric car station in Los Angeles, California undated
1 14b St. Louis World's Fair 1904
1 15a Street with stores, pedestrians and horse drawn carriages in Santa Barbara, California undated
1 15b View across Osage River, Missouri undated
1 16a Cable car and tracks on Mt. Lowe in Los Angeles, California undated
1 16b Crooks Bluff in Riverview, Missouri undated
1 17a Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah undated
1 17b Family in front of farm house undated
1 18a Pine forest 5000 feet above sea level in Los Angeles, California undated
1 18b Street in Pasadena, California undated
1 19a View of Sitka, Alaska across water 1898-1909
1 19b Miners in southeast Alaska 1898-1909
1 20a Scales and summit of Chilkoot Pass 1898-1909
1 20b Woman on path in front of building undated
1 20c Men sitting on log across river undated
1 21a Loggers felling timber in Washington undated
1 21b Tunnel on Spruce Creek, Alaska 1898-1909
1 22a Native men, women and children in front of totem poles in log house at Fort Wrangell, Alaska 1898-1909
1 22b Yoked oxen in logging camp in Alaska 1898-1909
1 23a Steamship Garonne at Nome dock 1900
1 23b Steamship Ohio at dock undated
1 24a Steamship Ohio loaded with passengers 1900 May 13
1 24b Handicrafts and art work of Alaska natives displayed against wall in Wrangell, Alaska 1898-1909
1 25a Hair seal from Alaska 1899
1 25b Miners on Silver Creek in Sitka, Alaska 1898-1909
1 27a Steamship Oregon with passengers leaving for Nome 1900
1 27b Two men on iceberg on Icy Bay 1899 August 12
1 28 Calberts [mining camp?] undated
1 29a Two totem poles 1898-1909
1 29b Group of native men, women, and children (probably Tlingit) in Chief Shakes' house in Wrangell, Alaska
"Coonk Shakes, nephew of a Great Chief of Wrangel, Alaska"
1898-1909
1 30 People on beach near Cliff House in San Francisco, California undated
1 31a Gold nugget
"Actual size of Alaska's largest nugget found by Pioneer Mining Co. on No. 5 bench, Discovery, Anvil, wt. 182 oz., value $3276.00, Nome, Sep. 8, 1903"
1903 September 8
1 31b Totem pole in front of building
"Eskimo's totem pole of S[outh]e[ast] Alaska "
1898-1909
1 32a Totem pole in Wrangell, Alaska 1898-1909
1 32b Totem pole behind memorial marker in Wrangell, Alaska
Marker reads "In memory of Kaukish. Died 1897. Age 68 years"
1898-1909
1 33a Steamer Rosecrans near dock in Seattle 1900 April 14
1 33b Waterfall on Silver Creek, near Silver City, Alaska 1898-1909
1 34a Four people in snow in Nome, Alaska 1901 March 28
1 34b Reindeer pulling two people on sled in Nome, Alaska 1898-1909
1 35a Fishing schooner near Wrangell Island 1898-1909
1 35b Indian art and handicrafts inside store, Wrangell, Alaska
"Maurice Haeley Curio Store, Wrangell, Alaska"
1898-1909
1 36a Freighting schooner under construction in Seattle, Washington undated
1 36b Passengers on Steamship Santa Ana for Nome 1900 May 26
1 37a Crowd on dock near Steamship Charles D. Lane undated
1 37b Buildings near docks, Wrangell, Alaska 1898-1909
1 38a Schooner on water, Wrangell, Alaska 1898-1909
1 38b Man and woman with dogsled and dog team outside house in Nome, Alaska 1898-1909
1 39a Totem pole in front of building in Wrangell, Alaska 1898-1909
1 39b People in large canoe in front of buildings and totem poles in Wrangell, Alaska 1898-1909
1 40a Steamship City of Seattle 1899 August 24
1 40b Bear skins hanging in room in Fort Wrangell, Alaska undated
1 41a Three people with large fish hanging from pole undated
1 41b Crab undated
1 42a Man with wolf's head hat and two boys posed with guns and dressed in decorative Native costumes in Wrangell, Alaska 1898-1909
1 42b Group of native men, women, and children (probably Tlingit) in Chief Shakes' house, Wrangell, Alaska
"Coonk Shakes, nephew of a Great Chief of Wrangel, Alaska"
1898-1909
1 43a Man and woman with dogsled and dog team outside house, Nome, Alaska 1898-1909
1 43b Man on skis in front of Anvil Rock undated
1 44 Men building a skid road for logging inWashington undated
1 45a Bridges and town of Skagway, Alaska 1898-1909
1 45b Two men on icebergs in Icy Bay, Alaska 1899 August 2
1 46a Tlingit men and women wearing ceremonial costumes in front of Chief Shakes house, Wrangel, Alaska 1898 July 4
1 46b Native men and women inside hut decorated with American flags in southeastern Alaska 1898-1909
1 47a Crowd on dock near Steamship Oregon, loaded with passengers for Nome 1900
1 47b Steamship Cottage City 1899 August 22
1 48a Chilkat man in traditional dress and blanket, Alaska 1898-1909
1 48b Chilkat man wearing dancing costume in Wrangell, Alaska 1899 March 6
1 49a Woman in fur parka with dog team and sled
Buildings in background: N.L and Warehouse Co., The Beau Mercantile Co., North American Transportation and Trading Co.
undated
1 49b, 50a Panorama of Fort Wrangel, Alaska 1898 May 10
1 50b Kayakers racing on Snake River in Nome, Alaska 1908 August 15
1 51 Sunset in St. Michael., Alaska 1898-1909
1 52 Thundercloud in Nome, Alaska 1898-1909
1 53a Taxidermy ptarmigans
"Ptarmigans of Northeast Alaska"
undated
1 53b Pipe in surf in Nome, Alaska 1898-1909
1 54a Dog team pulling couple in sled in Nome, Alaska 1898-1909
1 54b Reindeer herd at Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska 1898-1909
1 55 Man and woman on horse undated
1 56 Horse team with freight near building buried in snow. Photographer: Bell & Co. undated
1 57 St. James Cathedral in Seattle undated
1 58 Couple in front of house undated

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Photographic postcards
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition 1909
Box
3 Buildings and grounds
57 postcards
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
undated
Miscellaneous
Box
3 Towns
2 postcards
undated
3 Alaska
11 postcards
Sled dogs, mining operations and native Alaskans
1898-1908

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Other material , 1897-1909 and undated
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
1 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. 1908

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Subjects

  • Geographical Names :
  • Nome (Alaska)
  • Seattle (Wash.)
  • Form or Genre Terms :
  • Photograph albums
  • Photographic postcards
  • Photographic prints
  • Subject Terms :
  • Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909: Seattle, Wash.)
  • Eskimos--Alaska--Photographs
  • Gold miners--Alaska--Nome--Photographs
  • Indians of North America--Alaska--Photographs

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