Historical Manuscripts Collection List » G to J Collection List »
CECIL AND LOIS GOWEN. Photograph Album; n.d., 1932-1948. .2 cu. ft. List.
Cecil Gowen, was from Nampa, Idaho. His wife's name was Lois, and at one time he owned the business, Cecil Gowen Welding & Blacksmithing, in Meridian, Idaho. Cecil Gowen's mother, Celia (maiden name Morden), was remarried in 1917 to George W. Fairbanks. The couple lived in Oregon and Washington before moving to Alaska. George Fairbanks was the lighthouse keeper at Saint Elias Island for twelve years. The Fairbankses later moved to Ketchikan, where they owned and worked mining claims at Thorne Arm and Moth Bay on Revillagigo Island. They also operated the Alaska Oyster Company in Ketchikan. Celia "Bunnie" Gowen Fairbanks died in Ketchikan in 1948, and George Fairbanks died in Seattle, Washington in 1951. Cecil and Lois Gowen visited his mother and stepfather in the Ketchikan area in August 1947, arriving aboard the S.S. Alaska.
The collection consists of the family and travel photograph album of Cecil and Lois Gowen. The collection consists of a xerographic copy of the original 49-page photograph album; the original 80 black and white photographic prints and one newspaper clipping from the album; 21 black and white copy negatives; and the original album cover and those pages which contain handwritten descriptions. Subjects of the photographs include: Lois and Cecil Gowen's trip to Ketchikan in August 1947, including scenes of Ketchikan and Coon Cove, the boats the Ranzo and the Stormy Petrell, a deer hunting trip, friend Jud Conkle, and the deck of the S.S. Alaska; Cecil Gowen's vacation to Fort Defiance Park, Long Beach, Mount Rainier, and Olympia, Washington in 1936; Cecil Gowen and a custom trailer he built at his welding shop in Meridian, Idaho; post card scenes of Seattle and Western Washington; and various Gowen family gatherings and portraits including Thanksgiving celebrations in Nampa, Idaho in 1936, and Ontario, Oregon in 1937.
The collection was acquired by the archives in 2002.
HMC-0561
JAS (4/2002)