Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

The Ismailia-Damascus pilgrimage photograph albums consist of a three-volume set containing approximately 260 photographs taken during an Ismailia Shriner pilgrimage trip in 1902 to the western United States and an undated expedition overseas to various places in Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Palestine, Syria, Algeria, Lebanon, and Italy.

Volume 1 (23 x 25 cm) contains approximately 98 photographs pertaining to an overseas Shriner expedition to various locations around the Mediterranean Sea region including sites in North Africa, western Asia, and southern Europe. It is unclear when this expedition took place, though it likely occurred ca. 1902. Many of the sites visited by the group are related to biblical stories, events, and personages. Images of particular interest include the Lion's Gate at Mycenae (pg. 1); the Arch of Hadrian in Athens (pg. 3); the supposed tree under which Mary and Joseph rested in the Land of Goshen (pg.8); ruins from a "last stand" made by European Crusaders (pg. 11); the Plain of Sharon (pg. 12); the Great Pyramid (pg. 14); a "Nilo-meter" on the River Nile (pg. 14); an elevated view of Istanbul (pg. 16); a group of Greek Klephts marching in traditional uniforms (pg. 17); Tiberias (pg. 18); a tour boat conducted by guides of Nassaire, Farajallah & Co. (pg. 19); Jerusalem's Damascus Gate (pg. 21); the bell tower on the Mount of Olives (pg. 24); the Monastery of Choziba (pg. 24); the Mosque of Amr in Cairo (pg. 28); ancient Egyptian ruins at Luxor (pg. 30); the public square in Corinth where Paul was said to have preached (pg. 31); Bisharin villagers near Aswan (pg. 34); a waterfront view of Algiers (pg. 35); Pompeii (pg. 36); Job's Wall in Silwan, Palestine (pg. 40); the Bosporus Strait (pg. 41); Haifa (pgs. 43 & 45); Damascus (pg. 46); Ba'labakk (pgs. 47 & 48); and Hotel Fast in Jerusalem (pg. 49). Many but not all of the images have inscribed captions on their versos. A loose cartoonish engraving/etching of a bald man with a moustache wearing Arabic clothing while riding a camel titled "Dr. Walter D. Greene" is also present inside the front cover. The album is string bound in black leather covers with the word "Photographs" embossed in gold on front.

Volume 2 (18.5 x 27.5 cm) contains approximately 98 photographs related to the Ismailia-Damascus Pilgrimage of 1902. Images of particular interest include a cyanotype of B.W. Rowell (pg. 1); a group portrait of the travelling party at the railroad station in McFarlan, Kansas (pg. 5); scenes from Pikes Peak, Colorado (pgs. 7-23); views of the Garden of the Gods (pgs. 24, 25, 28-36 & 38); the Royal Gorge (pgs. 37, 39, 40, 42 & 44); Glenwood Springs, Colorado (pgs. 47-49, 57 & 58); the Mormon Tabernacle and Salt Lake Temple (pgs. 52-54); Monterey Bay, California (pgs. 64-66 & 67); Santa Barbara, California (pgs. 68-71); Mount Shasta and Shasta Springs (pgs. 73-77); natural landscapes in Oregon (pgs. 81-86); and a ferry boat on the Columbia River (pgs. 91-96). The album is bound in red leather covers with the words "Photographs of the Ismailia-Damascus Pilgrimage 1902; Compliments of B.W. Rowell, Imperial Recorder; To Walter D. Greene" embossed in gold on front.

Volume 3 (18.5 x 27.5 cm) contains approximately 63 photographs related to the Ismailia-Damascus Pilgrimage of 1902. Images of particular interest include scenes from Spokane, Washington (pgs. 1-3); geysers at Yellowstone's Norris Basin (pgs. 12-22) and Upper Basin (pgs. 27-36); Yellowstone Lake (pgs. 39-43); Yellowstone's Upper and Lower Waterfalls and Grand Canyon (pgs. 46-51); Shriner Caleb Saunders posing with a haul of fish (pg. 52); and Walter D. Greene posing with his wife Mary L. Greene (pg. 55), an unidentified fellow "manager" of the pilgrimage (pg. 56), and alongside George F. Loder and a man identified as "Gass" (pg. 57). The album is bound in red leather covers with the words "Photographs of the Ismailia-Damascus Pilgrimage 1902; Compliments of B.W. Rowell, Imperial Recorder; To Walter D. Greene" embossed in gold on front.

The Jacob Myers & Sons photograph album contains 80 photographs taken between 1906 and 1912 of various structures including large private residences, institutional buildings, and city dwellings that were built or renovated by prominent Philadelphia-based construction company Jacob Myers & Sons.

The Jacob Myers & Sons photograph album contains 80 photographs taken between 1906 and 1912 of various structures including large private residences, institutional buildings, and city dwellings that were built or renovated by prominent Philadelphia-based construction company Jacob Myers & Sons. The album (30 x 22.5 cm) is hard-bound with a green leather cover and includes photographs showcasing a number of construction projects in various stages of completion. The photographs appear to cover a period of time from 1906 to 1912. No clear identifications are provided regarding who produced the album, however there are indications that the locations represented are primarily in eastern Pennsylvania and that they relate to jobs performed by Jacob Myers & Sons.

The album may possibly have been used as a company sample book by Jacob Myers & Sons in order to attract new customers. In one photograph on pg. 41, there is visible signage indicating that work was being done by "Jacob Myers & Sons, Builders." A sequence of photographs on pgs. 47-75 also shows the construction of Drown Hall at Lehigh University, a project that Myers was known to have bid on in August of 1906. The construction of Drown Hall is documented extensively with photographs taken every few months from foundation to completion. Extensive renovation of an unidentified farmhouse is also photographed from start to finish over a three-month period. Another building shown on pg. 15 has been identified as "Dolobran," the home of Clement Griscom in Haverford, Pennsylvania. While there is no confirmation that Myers ever worked on this house, he was known to have been very active in residential building in that area around the time when Dolobran underwent a major renovation.

The John D. Bagley photograph albums consist of three photograph albums created by John DuCharme Bagley IV of the Bagley family of Detroit, Michigan.

The John D. Bagley photograph albums consist of three photograph albums belonging to John DuCharme Bagley IV of the Bagley family of Detroit, Michigan.

The photograph albums document the life of John DuCharme Bagley IV over a period of twenty years or so. Bagley IV was clearly an enthusiastic amateur photographer who enjoyed documenting his family and friends. The photos in all three albums are snapshot-sized and mostly taken outdoors. While the earliest album (Volume I) is extensively captioned, the other two are not.

Volume 1:

The first volume (14 x 30 cm) includes images taken between 1903 and 1905, including numerous photographs taken during a Bagley family trip to Europe. Bagley IV was a teenager at the time. Identified family members documented in this album include his older sister Frances, younger brother Phil, parents John N. and Esther, and an “Aunt Frankie” who was likely Esther’s sister. This trip appears to have lasted several months, perhaps the better part of an entire year. Locations visited included the German Alps, Naples, Rome, Pompeii, Lake Lucerne, Amsterdam, and London. The family’s return to New York by steamship is also represented. The remainder of this album documents experiences on Woodcote Farm in Ionia, Michigan, as well as family life in Detroit and outdoor summer activities at Long Lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan.

Volume 2:

The second volume (20.5 x 30.5 cm) contains material compiled during World War I and afterwards. Views of the U.S. Naval Academy and of Washington D.C. are included, and Bagley IV is shown in many images wearing a naval uniform. Several warships (including what appears to be the USS Pennsylvania, commissioned in 1916) are pictured from afar throughout the album. One series of snapshots shows an Armistice celebration taking place at an unidentified location. Several pages showcase scenic views taken during a train journey through an unidentified mountainous region. The bulk of the remaining pictures in this album consist of portraits of family and friends posing informally in urban, domestic, and rural settings. Bagley IV appears regularly, usually in a business suit, and in a couple of cases he can be seen standing next to a Bagley & Co. company vehicle. Also present is a large loose photo that shows John J. Bagley’s birthplace in Medina, New York, which was photographed in 1895.

Volume 3:

The third volume (20.5 x 30.5 cm) contains numerous photographs taken during visits to New Mexico and Colorado in 1908 as well as Oregon in 1909. Images in the New Mexico section highlight operations and personnel of the Maxwell Irrigated Land Company. Bagley IV’s younger brother Phil may have been involved with this company. While it is not entirely clear which photos were taken in Colorado, numerous images of logging operations and logging camps were most likely taken in Oregon. Also present are personal photos showing Bagley IV and his wife Mary visiting forests and beaches. The final section of the album includes photos of Bagley IV in a navy uniform and views of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

The J.R. Dixon Canada tour photograph album (28 x 20 cm) contains photographs from a camping expedition in the Canadian backcountry undertaken ca. 1909-1910.

The J.R. Dixon Canada tour photograph album (28 x 20 cm) contains photographs from a camping expedition in the Canadian backcountry undertaken ca. 1909-1910. Images include photographs of canoeing, fishing and hunting, and a rustic game of croquet at Lac Clair. Also shown are multiple views of campsite areas, and men portaging a canoe over a corduroy road. Scenic photographs include river views and the Banff mountains in winter.

The album has a green cloth cover and is stored in a three-part wrap with a red cloth spine.

The King's Own Borderers photograph album is a 54 page, 23.4 x 15.5 cm embossed leather bound album containing portrait photographs of individuals and groups associated with the Stoney family and the British army's 25th Regiment of Foot known as The King's Own Borderers. The images are cartes de visite, with some larger albumen prints and tintypes interspersed. The album contains a wide variety of other visual materials including photographic prints of artwork, pen and ink drawings, calligraphy, newspaper clippings, printed cartoons, and greeting cards. The cover of the album is inscribed "G. Ormond Stoney/King's Own Borderers/5th July 1864." The album appears to have evolved over time in several different stages.

The King's Own Borderers photograph album is a 54 page, 23.4 x 15.5 cm embossed leather bound album containing portrait photographs of individuals and groups associated with the Stoney family and the British Army's 25th Regiment of Foot known as The King's Own Borderers. The images are largely cartes de visite, with albumen prints and tintypes interspersed. The cover of the album is inscribed "G. Ormond Stoney/King's Own Borderers/5th July 1864." The album contains a wide variety of other visual materials including photographic prints of artwork, pen and ink drawings, calligraphy, newspaper clippings, printed cartoons, and greeting cards. The album appears to have had at least three different stages of construction. The first as a traditional 1860s carte de visite photograph album kept by its namesake G. Ormond Stoney (hereafter referred to as Ormond) comprised of photographs of family members interspersed with related newspaper clippings.

The album appears to have been revised with significant additions in the 1870s-1880s, including more photographs of family members as well as commercial photographic prints. The majority of those represented were army officers, with Anglican priests and politicians; many being contemporaries and associates of Ormond's father, George Butler Stoney (1819-1899). Clipped autographs of many are included beneath the photos and appear to be from correspondence to George Butler Stoney.

Various clues to point to Ormond Stoney's sister Jane (Janie) Stoney Smith as a contributor to the album. Not only is she frequently represented in the album, but the album has several pictures of her husband Arthur Smith and his family--many more so than any other family that married into the Stoney family. Arthur and Janie married on September 19, 1867--the same date on the autograph posted under Arthur's picture. Arthur died in 1870 leaving Janie a pregnant widow with a young son, Herbert (see p.24 for his portrait), and an even younger daughter, Ethel Maud. Newspaper clippings around the portrait of Arthur on p.13 mention his death as well as the birth of Herbert and Ethel, though not of Florence, the youngest daughter. Although Jane's two daughters are not represented in the album, on page 44 it appears that at one point a photograph of both of her daughters was extant.

While Jane's younger sister Wilhelmina married Colin McKenzie Smith, another son of William Smith, she did not do so until 1889. The focus on Janie's husband Arthur and their children, suggests Jane rather than Wilhelmina as a significant contributor to the album.

George Ormond's wife Meylia has not been identified in the album and may not be present, however, her father, Sinclair Laing is represented. Laing appears to have been a correspondent with George Butler Stoney.

At some later date, likely in the late 19th century, decorative gold painted borders were added, along with chromolithograph stickers, known as "scraps." These include a series illustrating Robinson Crusoe. Unlike the earlier additions which point to Janie Smith, these later additions might have been the work of a child playing with what would have been a 30 year old album. The gold paint overlapping earlier items (see p. 28 for example) suggests a later date, as do the "scraps" made popular after 1880. The seemingly random nature of the placement of the "scraps" is quite the opposite of the carefully placed and planned addition probably done by Janie Smith.

Of the children represented in the album, three of them would be killed in World War One: Thomas Ramsay Stoney (1882-1918), George Butler Stoney (1877-1915), and Herbert Stoney Smith (1868-1915).

• Two group portraits of young men in military uniform, presumably with George Ormond present in both photographs (p.2, and back inside cover).
• A portrait of a dog that if viewed from another angle appears to be an individual with a disfigured face (p.7).
• A commercial carte de visite of a Zulu warrior identified as King Cetewayo (likely incorrect, the chief of the Matabele) (p.41).
• A portrait of Napoleon, Prince Imperial, in his military uniform ca. 1879 before he died in the service of the British Army during the Anglo-Zulu War (p.40).
• A print of Rosturk Castle in County Mayo, Ireland (p.47).
• A retouched portrait of a dog posed with a military hat, cane and pipe. (p.23).
• An 1873 program for an "evening reading" of two different farces, "Little Toddlekins," and "The Dead Shot," done to raise money for Mrs. Palmer, the retiring battalion nurse (p.53). On the outside of the program is a print of Portland House, a manor owned by members of the Stoney family.

The Lewis J. Cox photograph album contains 47 photographs of Lewis J. Cox's family and home in Terre Haute, Indiana, taken between approximately 1900 and 1910.

The Lewis J. Cox photograph album contains 47 photographs of Lewis J. Cox's family and home in Terre Haute, Indiana, taken between approximately 1900 and 1910. The exterior of album (14 x 11.5 cm) is in fragile condition.

The Liberty Bell Tour photograph album contains approximately 580 photographs depicting the journey of the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California, and back again in 1915.

The Liberty Bell Tour photograph album contains approximately 580 photographs depicting the journey of the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California, and back again in 1915.

The album (40 x 28 cm) has black paper covers and 305 pages, 14 of which do not contain any photographs. The photographs are generally arranged in chronological sequence and depict loading the Liberty Bell onto parade floats and train cars, celebratory parades, gathered crowds, and individuals and groups posing with the Liberty Bell. Numerous pictures include captions referencing the locations in which they were taken. The album also contains two small maps, each showing one of the routes of the cross-county trips that the Liberty Bell took, as well as landscape photographs of scenes in the western United States. Notable persons photographed with the Liberty Bell include Thomas Edison, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and groups of Native Americans in Cayuse, Oregon. Landscapes pictured include views of Wyoming, Pulpit Rock, Bear River Canyon, Mount Shasta, Shasta Springs, Horseshoe Curve, Royal Gorge, the Rockies, Salt Lake, and Feather River Canyon.

The L. L. Flower family photograph album consists of 37 photographs depicting family, friends, lumber business, and leisure activities of Lucius Leonard Flower, Jr., of Mann Creek, Pennsylvania, and Corning, New York.

The L. L. Flower family photograph album consists of 37 photographs depicting family, friends, lumber business, and leisure activities of Lucius Leonard Flower, Jr., of Mann Creek, Pennsylvania, and Corning, New York. Lumber-related photographs include sawmills in Mann Creek (near Mansfield) and Corning, a group of sawmill employees, and logs loaded onto the railroad cars of the Fall Brook Railway. Other images show Flower's family and friends relaxing outdoors, posing on a bridge over the Tioga River, and sitting on front porch steps with bicycles. Several photographs show a trip down the Tioga River on the houseboat, "City of Rome," co-owned with Flower's partner in the Fralic & Flower lumber business, Daniel Fralic. Also included are photographs of the interior of Flower's home in Mann Creek, a self-portrait of Flower reading, Flower's son Thomas Albert Flower, and his daughter, Dr. Edith Flower Wheeler. Additional photographs show crowds at the Tioga County Fair watching a man on a high wire, views of the Niagara River and falls, and the buildings of Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Photographs include handwritten captions. The album is approximately 19 x 26 cm.

Also included are two manuscript sheets describing the houseboat trip on the Tioga River in August, 1892.

The MacMillan Arctic Expedition photograph album contains approximately 160 photographs related to the Arctic Expedition to Greenland in the summer of 1925 led by Donald Baxter MacMillan aboard the ships Peary and Bowdoin.

The MacMillan Arctic Expedition photograph album contains approximately 160 photographs related to the Arctic Expedition to Greenland in the summer of 1925 led by Donald Baxter MacMillan aboard the ships Peary and Bowdoin. The photographs were removed from the journal of Chief Boatswain Earl E. Reber, an expedition pilot, and stored in plastic sheets in a green three-ring binder (30 x 30 cm). Images of interest include scenes from the departure out of Boston, Massachusetts; a stop at Labrador; many views of native peoples and landscapes of Greenland; and shipboard photographs including individual and group crew portraits, crew members playing pirate, and a view of the captain's table with officers and servants. Landscape views include rocky shorelines, glaciers, drift and pack ice, icebergs, and aerial photographs of Etah harbor, the Greenland ice cap, and Ellesmere Island. Crew members are shown in various images interacting with native Greenlanders onboard ships, showing a group of children how to use a camera, and visting a native Greenlander residence. Additional images include views of an Inuit summer hut and permanent shelter, sled dogs, and natives kayaking and cleaning a walrus carcass; the unloading and assembly of the Loenig amphibious aircraft; and waterfront views of Battle Harbor, Labrador, and of Gotthaab, Godhavn, and Umanak, Greenland.

Expedition members identified by typewritten captions include: Floyd Benney, Richard Byrd, Leo Max Davidoff, Albert Francis, Jacob Gayer, John La Gorce, Donald MacMillan, E. F. McDonald, A. C. Nold, W. D. Publicover, Earl E. Reber, Charles Rocheville, M. A. Schur, Nels Sorensen, and G. F. Steele.

The Marble, Colorado photograph album contains approximately 55 photographs related to industry built around the marble quarry and stone works of Marble, Colorado.

The Marble, Colorado photograph album contains approximately 55 photographs related to industry built around the marble quarry and stone works of Marble, Colorado. The album (20 x 28 cm) has brown leather covers and is partially disbound. Numerous images have manuscript captions on their versos. Images of interest include views of the marble quarry; the town of Marble; the trolley used to move marble slabs; the school and cottages made for the workers; the saw mill, finishing mill and planer; power generators; a 3-photo bird's-eye view of the marble deposit and quarry; a 2-photo panorama of the mill and village; the lathe making marble columns; a cave for mining called the Wilson Opening; and elements of the Denver-based U.S. Post Office and Federal Building (now the Byron R. White U.S. Courthouse) and Cheesman Park Memorial being constructed. The last photograph of the album bears the stamp of Arthur Luckhaus.