Guide to the Lomen Brothers Photographs of Alaska 1920-1932
PC 81

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Lomen Bros.
Title
Lomen Brothers Photographs of Alaska
ID
PC 81
Date [inclusive]
1920-1932
Extent
1 box, 12 items
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
The collection primarily consists of black and white, outdoor photographs of Alaskan scenes and autographed portraits of Byrd and Amundsen, taken by the Lomen Brothers of Nome, Alaska, 1920-1932.

Preferred Citation

Lomen Brothers Photographs of Alaska, 1920-1932 (PC 81)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

G. J. Lomen and his son Carl originally came to Nome as part of the 1900 gold rush. G.J. Lomen soon established a profitable law practice. In 1903 Carl's mother, sister Helen, and brothers Ralph, Harry and Alfred moved from Minnesota to Nome. Brother George arrived in Nome in 1906, opening a men's furnishing store in 1907. The family was involved in many commercial and civic interests including law, their reindeer corporation, lighterage, retail, and photography. In 1908 the brothers bought a photographic studio and later bought the negatives of several other photographers including Dobbs, Nowell, Goetze and Kinne. Brothers Carl, Harry, Alfred, and Ralph Lomen were partners in the business. Harry managed the studio and all of them took photographs, quickly learning how to keep cameras in working order at Arctic temperatures. Alfred became particularly interested in photography and took most of the photos. In September 1934, a fire destroyed their studio along with 25,000-30,000 negatives and 50,000 commercial prints. Approximately 3,000 negatives were salvaged. The Lomens never reopened their photography business but they remained in Nome, pursuing their other business enterprises, including the Lomen Reindeer Corporation. By the 1940's they all moved to Seattle, Washington, where George died in 1934, Alfred in 1950, Harry in 1957 and Carl in 1965.

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Scope and Content

The collection primarily consists of black and white, outdoor photographs of Alaskan scenes and autographed portraits of Byrd and Amundsen. Photographs by the Lomen Brothers of Nome, Alaska, 1920-1932.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2016

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Ralph Lomen through Walter M. Stephen, 1973.

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Names and Subjects

Geographic Name(s)

  • Alaska -- Photographs.

Personal Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Byrd, Richard Evelyn, 1860-1925 -- Photographs.
  • Amundsen, Roald, 1872-1928 -- Photographs.
  • Boschen, Fred W. -- Photographs.

Subject(s)

  • Eskimos -- Photographs.
  • Alaska
  • Photographs

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Detailed Description of Collection

box folder

Alaskan scenes  7 items

1 1

Eskimos, undated  1 item

1 2

Richard Evelyn Byrd, 9 August 1932  1 item

1 3

Roald Amundsen, 1920, 1925  2 items

1 4

Fred W. Boschen, U.S. Army, undated  1 item

1 5