Photographs of Edward Schieffelin's Prospecting Trip in Alaska, 1883
1882-1883
Title: Photographs of Edward Schieffelin's Prospecting Trip in Alaska, 1883
Dates: 1882-1883
Collection Number: photCL 264
Creator/Collector:
Farciot, Charles O.
Extent: 45 photographs in 1 album; album 24 x 30 cm. (9 x 12 in.). See itemized list under "Additional collection guides."
Repository:
Huntington Library. Photo Archives
Abstract: This collection of photographs taken by Charles O. Farciot documents Edward Schieffelin’s gold prospecting trip through Alaska
via the Yukon River. Views include many close portraits of Alaskan natives and their families; the towns of St. Michael, Nuklukayet,
and Anvik; trading stations; Schieffelin and his dog sled team; and Fort Yukon missionaries interacting with Alaskan natives.
Language of Material: English
Access is granted to qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact the Curator of Photographs at the Huntington
Library.
All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Photographs. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Huntington as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or
imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Photographs of Edward Schieffelin's Prospecting Trip in Alaska, 1883. Huntington Library. Photo Archives
Given by M.C. Erskine in 1925.
Biography/Administrative History
Charles O. Farciot was born in Switzerland in 1840 and became a United States citizen in 1858. In the course of his life,
Farciot learned enough to become a photographer and steamship engineer. After opening photography studios in Arizona, he met
Edward Schieffelin, the founder of Tombstone, Arizona. Schieffelin, who was interested in searching for gold in the Yukon,
took Farciot along as part of his gold prospecting party to Alaska in 1882. Discouraged by the harsh environment, Schieffelin
left in 1883, but Farciot stayed behind to work as a steamship engineer on the Yukon River until at least 1886. Upon leaving
Alaska, Farciot opened photograph studios in San Francisco.
Scope and Content of Collection
The photographs in this collection depict Edward Schieffelin during his prospecting expedition through the Yukon; Alaskan
native families; a missionary preaching to and interacting with Alaskan natives; various steamships, including the “New Racket”;
the towns of St. Michael, Nuklukayet, and Anvik; dogsledding teams; trading posts; the Yukon River; Alaskan native chieftains
and shamans; Fort Yukon; Fort Reliance; a group of the only Caucasian men in St. Michael; and one view of an Inuit cemetery.
The photographs are mounted double-sided into an accordian fold book album. There are typeset captions, probably created by
photographer Charles Farciot. Some refer to photographic exposure and timing.
For related collections, see also at the Huntington Library: Papers of Edward Schieffelin, 1880-1881 (mssHM70261-70277, FAC
1517-1531).
Dogsledding
Indians of North America—Alaska
Missionaries
Prospecting
Shamans
Steamboats
Tanana Indians
Inuit
Schieffelin, Edward, 1847-1897
Alaska
Fort Yukon (Alaska)
Nushagak (Alaska)
Saint Michael (Alaska)
Saint Paul Island (Alaska)
Yukon River (Yukon and Alaska)
Photograph Albums
Photographs
Portraits
Marine photographs