This personal album illustrates the sights and peoples experienced by the voyagers of the "Corwin." There are many views of Inuit villages and inhabitants in Alaska and coastal Siberia, along with scenery and seascapes. All photographs are accompanied by detailed, manuscript captions in ink by an unknown individual. Photographs depict Alaskan nature scenes and harbors; Inuit people, dwellings and villages; and documentation of the fur trade in the nineteenth century. This collection primarily provides insight into the USRC “Thomas Corwin"’s Arctic voyage in 1881. It is unclear if the photographs taken in 1883 are of a later voyage. The collection is particularly strong in images of fur trade expeditions and merchants, and Inuit people and dwellings.

Individual related to this collection: Michael A. Healy, 1839-1904,(not depicted in this collection) served with the "Thomas Corwin" beginning in 1882; he rose to the position of captain in March of 1883. While in command of the "Corwin," Healy patrolled the Arctic to prevent illegal sale of guns and alcohol to the Alaskan natives and to control illegal fur seal hunting. The captain was also concerned for the well-being of the Alaskan natives, and ferried Siberian caribou over to help reestablish the natives’ food supply since many seals and walruses were killed by white traders.

36 photos in 1 album; album 18 x 27 cm. (7 x 11 in.); 1 microfilm roll of copy negatives of the photos. See itemized list under "Additional collection guides."

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.