Guide to the August Hahn Collection of Eric A. Hegg Photographs
ca. 1897-1898

Biographical Note

Eric A. Hegg was born in Bollnas, Sweden, in 1868 and came to America with his parents when he was three years old, settling in Wisconsin. Hegg studied art and photography (possibly as an apprentice to a local photographer). At fifteen, he opened his own studio in Washburn, Wisconsin. At the age of twenty-one, Hegg moved to the Puget Sound area, and by 1897, he owned two photo studios in Bellingham Bay, Washington. In that year, he left for the gold fields with a group of men from Bellingham Bay on the Skagit Chief sternwheeler. Having arrived too late in the season to get all the way to Dawson, Hegg stayed close to the coast, photographing stampeders, first in Dyea, then with a second studio in Skagway. With his brother Pete and several others he formed a party continuing on to the Klondike, heading over Chilkoot Pass, successfully navigating through White Horse Rapids, on to Lake LaBarge, Thirty Mile River, past Five Finger Rapids, and arriving in Dawson in July, 1898. He later went to Nome and opened a studio there, continuing to photograph the gold rush. Eric Hegg died in San Diego in 1955.

Scope and Content

The collection contains photographs made by E. A. Hegg depicting images of the Klondike Gold Rush in Alaska and Yukon Territory, ca. 1897-1898. Most show miners, prospectors, and Klondikers on their way to the gold fields or engaged in mining activities. Towns (such as Skagway and Dawson) also appear in the photographs.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open to the public.

Historical Background

The discovery of gold in the Klondike in 1896 brought a stampede of hopeful gold seekers. Alaska was the gateway through which most miners passed as the routes through Alaska were more accessible than those through Canandian territory. Ships left San Francisco, Seattle, and Port Townsend, among other ports, for the Alaska panhandle. From there one of the most popular routes went from Dyea over the Chilkoot Pass. A longer but less steep route began in Skagway and went over the White Pass. The Canadian government required every prospector to carry in at least a one-year supply of food, and a single miner's food and supplies might weigh several tons. Once over the passes, gold seekers built boats to make the rest of the trip along the Yukon. While the trip over the pass could be difficult, the trip downriver was equally arduous, with early freezes and perilous rapids. The miners crossed Lake Bennett and then proceeded down the Yukon to Dawson City, and on to seek their fortune.

Acquisition Info

Donated by August Hahn, Jr. on March 19, 1998.

Processing Info

Processed by Scott Rawlings and Jocelyn Spicer.

Bibliography

Morgan, Murray. One Man's Gold Rush: A Klondike Album (University of Washington Press, 1967).

Inventory

Box/Folder

Item

Date

1/1

1

Dyea, Alaska (Hegg 51)

2

"Canyon": Dyea Trail (Hegg 101)

1898

3

Sheep Camp, Alaska (Hegg 204)

Apr., 1898

1/2

4

Summit: Chilkoot Pass (Hegg 208)

ca. 1898

5

Caribou Crossing (Hegg 701)

This photograph, like the one above, is still attached to an album page. Photo 701 is on the reverse side of photo 208.

1/3

6

Lake Lindeman (Hegg 402)

June 1, 1898

7

Three men, woman, and dog in a small boat, probably Bennett Lake or Lake Lindeman

Photograph on album page.

1/4

8

Wharves at Skagway (Hegg 164)

9

"Street scene in Skagway": dogsled in Skagway street, Alaska (Hegg 12)

1/5

10

Tagish Post, Custom House (Hegg 704)

ca. 1898

11

"Looking south on Lake Marsh": scows with sails (Hegg 708)

June 6, 1898

1/6

12

Small boat navigating White Horse Rapids (Hegg 712)

ca. 1898

13

"Drying goods after a wreck at White Horse Rapids" (Hegg 719)

1/7

14

Boats on Lake LeBarge (Hegg 717)

ca. 1898

15

"Str. Kalamazoo wrecked on the Thirty Mile River" (Hegg 580)

ca. 1898

16

Five Finger Rapids (Hegg 723)

1/8

17

"Steamboat landing, Dawson City, N.W.T."

18

"Main St. looking north, Dawson City, N.W.T." (Hegg 741)

1898

1/9

19

Men with huskies, Yukon (Hegg 570)

1/10

20

Grand Fork looking up Bonanza Creek

21

"Looking up Eldorado from the Forks"

22

Skookum Gulch (Hegg 399)

23

"Keith and Wilson mine on French Hill" (Hegg 3025)

24

Mining on French Hill, rocking out gold

25

French Hill (Hegg 552)

Subject Terms

Personal Names:

Hahn, August, collector.

Hegg, Eric A., 1867-1948.

Subjects:

Frontier and pioneer life--Alaska--Photographs.

Frontier and pioneer life--Yukon--Klondike River Valley--Photographs.

Gold miners--Alaska--Photographs.

Gold miners--Yukon--Klondike River Valley--Photographs.

Gold mines and mining--Yukon--Klondike River Valley--Photographs.

Gold rushes--Alaska--Photographs.

Gold rushes--Yukon--Klondike River Valley--Photographs.

Geographic Names:

Alaska--Gold discoveries--Photographs.

Dawson (Yukon)--Photographs.

Dyea (Alaska)--Photographs.

Klondike River Valley (Yukon)--Gold discoveries--Photographs.

Skagway (Alaska)--Photographs.