Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message Alexander Gardner Collection, 1867-1868NAU.PH.92.15
Biographical NotePhotographer Alexander Gardner (1821-1882), a native of Paisely, Scotland, was one of the first of his profession to photograph Northern Arizona and the Mohave Indian tribe. From 1858-1863, before his westward excursion, he supervised Matthew Brady's Washington, D.C. gallery, but broke with Brady over a question of policy. Gardner believed that all photographers should receive credit and pay for their own work, not "give" that work to another without due recognition. Brady did not share this idea. Gardner became noted for his Civil War photographs, his western scenes, and was among those allowed to photograph the hanging of the Lincoln Conspirators. Social reform and cooperative societies had been an ongoing interest of Gardner, and in his later life he left photography to pursue these areas. He became secretary of the Masonic Mutual Life Insurance Association, an organization dedicated to helping widows and orphans. He was also active in trying to reduce insurance premiums and in eliminating fraudulent insurance practices. He died in December of 1882, still an active advocate for honesty in business. These photographs were taken by Gardner while working with the survey team commissioned to investigate a proposed route to extend the Union Pacific Railway along the 35th parallel, 1867-1868. In the original portfolio, which Gardner titled "Across the Continent on the Kansas Pacific Railroad," there were 127 photographs. Although there are several partial portfolios still available to researchers, no complete collection of this work is known to remain. Scope and ContentSeveral of the photographs are landscapes along the 35th parallel; several are of military life at the campsites. The last four are photographs of Indians and Anglos near or at Fort Mohave on the Colorado River. ArrangementThese photographs are arranged as they were when they were donated by James E. Babbitt. They begin with the Bill Williams Mountain, near Williams, Arizona, and end at Fort Mohave, on the Colorado River, Arizona.RestrictionsConditions Governing Access
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan. Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for Northern Arizona University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright. Controlled Access TermsPersonal Name(s) Family Name(s) Corporate Name(s) Geographic Name(s) Subject(s) Genre Form(s) Title(s) Administrative InformationAlternative Form Available
Digital versions of parts of this collection are available online herehere. The Boston Public Library is allegedly the agency holding the originals of these images. Preferred Citation
Alexander Gardner Collection, NAU.PH.92.15. Special Collections and Archives. Northern Arizona University. Cline Library. Flagstaff, Arizona. Acquisition Information
This collection was donated to Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives by James Babbitt in 1992. Container List
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||