Guide to the Clara Cook Lawrence photographs
circa 1907-1917
Collection number: HMC-0159.
Creator: Lawrence, Clara Cook.
Title: Clara Cook Lawrence photographs.
Dates: circa 1907-1917.
Volume of collection: 0.02 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Photographs and postcards from a teacher at the Jesse Lee Home in Unalaska, Alaska.
Biographical note:
Clara Cook Lawrence was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, in 1870. She came to Alaska in 1910 to teach school at the Jesse Lee Home in Unalaska. During her seven years at the school she taught sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and tatting. She left Alaska in 1917, and married Charles Engle Lawrence later that same year. Clara Cook Lawrence died in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, in 1961.
Collection description:
The collection consists of the postcards, and photographs of Clara Cook Lawrence. The postcards and photographs were sent to her friend, Ida Lawrence Kinyon, and consist of 23 black and white and color tinted photo postcards and photographic prints from Hillsdale, Michigan and Alaska. Five of the black and white photo postcards were taken by photographer John E. Thwaites, three of which are scenes in Unalaska. Six black and white photographs are of Clara Cook Lawrence, the Jesse Lee Home, and her colleagues and students at the school.
Arrangement: The postcards and photographs are arranged roughly chronologically.
Alternative formats: Copy negatives have been made of the twelve Alaskan photo postcards.
Digitized copies: Twelve of the thirteen photographs and postcards with Alaska content were digitized and placed online in the Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Some materials in the collection may still be under copyright which is not held by Archives and Special Collections.
Preferred citation: Clara Cook Lawrence photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: Clara Cook Lawrence’s diary is available on microfilm through some Alaskan libraries.
Acquisition note: The photographs and postcards were provided to the Archives by Jane Coryell, granddaughter of Ida Lawrence Kinyon, in 2004.
Processing information: This collection was described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2004. The microfilm of the diary was transferred to the Consortium Library’s holdings in 2010. The postcards were arranged chronologically and the finding aid updated with further description of the images by Arlene Schmuland in 2015. Twelve of the images were digitized and placed online in the Alaska’s Digital Archives by Arlene Schmuland in 2016.
Container list:
| Item | Description | Date |
| 1-10 | Postcards written by Clara Cook in Hillsdale, Michigan. All images on the postcards are of Hillsdale scenes. | 1907-1908, 1910 |
| 11 | Postcard written by Clara Cook from Cordova, Alaska. Tourist image of Alaska Native women and children. | 1910 October 13 |
| 12 | From verso: “Taken May 26, 1911, in front of the School house. Mt. Newhall and Bering Sea for back ground.” Dress portrait of Clara Cook Lawrence (photo postcard). | 1911 May 26 |
| 13 | From verso: “The largest Girl is Agnes Shoposinikoff. She is five years old last May. She is an Aliute. The littlest one is Lydia Waln. She was 4 years old yesterday the 12 of Aug. on your Mother’s Birthday. Children of the Jesse Lee Home, Unalaska, Alaska. From Clara Cook, Aug. 13, 1911.” Exterior portrait of two small children (photo postcard). | 1911 August 13 |
| 14 | From verso: “Miss Goss music class of Jesse Lee Home Children, taken the night of the recital, June 18, 1912. The blossoms are wild flowers from the hills. Taken in our Chapple.” Group photo of choral group composed of men, women, and children (photo postcard). | 1912 June 18 |
| 15 | From verso: “Miss Winchell telling stories. Jesse Lee Home. Unalaska, Alaska.” Interior scene of teacher and group of seven small Alaska Native children (photograph). | Undated |
| 16 | From verso: “Hilda Lee, Meydell Applegate, Miss Winchell, Lydia Waln, Agnes Shoposinikoff, Clara Cook. Taken on our front steps on wash day. I was first in from hanging up clothes, and the little ones from play, Jesse Lee Home, Unalaska, Alaska.” Group photo of two women and four children (photo postcard). | Undated |
| 17 | From verso: “This is Nellie Holmberg, one of my sweet little Girls, a favorite of mine. She is eleven years old. She is not strong. I fear we can’t raise her.” Exterior portrait of Alaska Native girl in dress with ribbon in her hair (photo post card). | Undated |
| 18 | From caption: “Jessie Lee Home, Unalaska, Alaska.” Further comments by Clara Cook on verso. Superintendent’s house with Mount Newhall in background and old steamer on beach at left. Photo by John E. Thwaites (photo postcard). | Undated |
| 19 | From caption: “Native Skin Boat (Bidarky), Chignik, Alaska.” Further comments by Clara Cook on verso. Native kayak with Alaska Native and two white men in bay with dock and two large schooners in background. Photo by John E. Thwaites (photo postcard). | Undated |
| 20 | From caption: “Shishaldon Volcano, Alaska (9387 ft.).” Further comments by Clara Cook on verso. Photo by John E. Thwaites (photo postcard). | Undated |
| 21 | From caption: “Unalaska, Alaska.” Reverse of photo indicates spot of Clara Cook’s home. View of village from bay. Photo by John E. Thwaites (photo postcard). | |
| 22 | From caption: “Mt. Pyramid – Unalaska.” Further comments by Clara Cook on verso (photo postcard). | Undated |
| 23 | From caption: “Wreck of S.S. Farallon at low tide. Taken 4 weeks after wreck. Cooks Inlet, Alaska, Jan. 5, 10.” Ship encased in ice. Photo by John E. Thwaites (photo postcard). | Undated |
| 24-35 | Copy negatives of the Alaskan images. | Undated, 1911 |