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Art Hobson photograph album

Guide to the Art Hobson photograph album
circa 1909-1911

Collection number: HMC-1088.
Creator: Hobson, Art.
Title: Art Hobson photograph album.
Dates: circa 1909-1911.
Volume of collection: 0.8 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs of the Copper River and Northwestern Railway from a fireman who worked on the railroad.

Biographical note:
Art Hobson worked as a fireman on a locomotive for the Copper River and Northwestern Railway in Alaska from 1909-1911. He died in 1955 at the age of 74.

Collection description:
This collection consists of an album of photographs taken and/or collected by Art Hobson, an employee of the Copper River and Northwestern Railway who worked as a locomotive fireman. The photos date from circa 1909-1911, the years Hobson was working for the railroad. They depict the railroad’s employees, locomotives, tunnels, tracks, and bridges, including the construction of the Kuskulana Bridge and Gilahina River trestle bridge in 1911; construction efforts to extend the railway from Cordova to Kennecott Mine and views of the mine buildings; tent camps for workers on the railroad; Chitina; sled dogs; steamboats; and views of rivers and mountains. There is also one photo taken by Eric A. Hegg of the driving of the golden spike that marked the completion of the railway on March 29, 1911. The collection also contains one folder of newspaper clippings and other notes relating to Hobson and the construction of the railroad.

Digitized copies: The photo album has been digitized for preservation purposes. Selected photographs can be found online at Alaska Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: The copyright status of the materials in this collection is unknown. Some materials may be in the public domain.

Preferred citation: Art Hobson photograph album, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Related materials: For other archival collections at Archives and Special Collections relating to the gold rush era in Alaska, refer to the Research Guide to Gold Rush Collections.

Custodial history: The photograph album was given to Menzo C. La Porte by Art Hobson in 1955. In 1968, La Porte gave the collection as a gift to Governor Hickel’s Administration. In 2010, the collection arrived at the Archives with Hickel’s personal papers.

Acquisition note: The collection arrived at the Archives with Hickel’s personal papers when they were donated in 2010. The Alaska State Library Historical Collections agreed to leave the collection with the Archives due to its geographic focus.

Processing information: This collection was described and cleaned of mold by Megan K. Friedel in 2012. In 2013, the collection was digitized and further described by Veronica Denison.

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