David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography, Black River Lumbering photographs, ca. 1880

Summary

Creator:

Tinder, David V.

Abstract:

The Black River Lumbering Photographs collection consists of 16 albumen prints depicting the Black River logging camp (presumably Alger, Smith & Company) in Alcona County, Michigan taken by an unknown photographer sometime ca. 1880. All of the photographs have penned captions written in the same handwriting. The collection includes images of camp buildings, the cutting, stripping and transport of logs by rail, water and horse drawn wagons, as well as images of lumbermen at work.

Extent:

16 photographs in 1 box

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Lori Mott, 2012. Finding aid revised and updated by Louis Miller, March 2017

Background

Scope and Content:

The Black River Lumbering Photographs collection consists of 16 albumen prints (24 x 19.15 cm) depicting the Black River logging camp (presumably Alger, Smith & Company) in Alcona County, Michigan taken by an unknown photographer sometime ca. 1880. The prints are individually pasted on 30.5 x 25.5 cm brown paper mounts. All of the photographs have penned captions written in the same handwriting on the back of the mount. The collection includes images of camp buildings, the cutting, stripping and transport of logs by rail, water and horse drawn wagons, as well as images of lumbermen at work. Of particular note is a photograph (#5) of what appears to be a married couple in front of their log-cabin home.

Biographical / Historical:

The settlement of Black River in Alcona County, Michigan was founded in 1849. The headquarters of the lumbering company Alger, Smith & Co. were based in Black River between 1876 and 1880. Alger, Smith & Co. were at that time one of the largest producers of pine timber in the world. Over 600 men were employed by the company at its peak. By the turn of the 20th century the lumbering industry throughout the Lower Peninsula, including in Black River, had ground to a standstill; there simply were not enough trees left to sustain the industry any further.

Acquisition Information:

2006. F-891 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded in part by the Michigan Photographic Historical Society. This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Materials

David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography

The David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photographer, County File, Alcona County has an earlier image (#1) of a lumbering camp on the Black River.

Bibliography

Tinder, David V. Directory of Early Michigan Photographers. This reference work contains biographical information about virtually every known commercial and significant amateur photographer in the state of Michigan from the first known appearances in the 1840s into the early twentieth century.

"Black River, Michigan." Alcona County Chamber of Commerce. Web. Accessed January 10, 2017.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography.
Photographs shelf.
Logging railroads--Michigan.
Lumbering--Michigan.
Lumbermen--Michigan.
Lumber camps--Michigan.

Formats:

Albumen prints.

Places:

Alcona County (Mich.)