The Benjamin A. Gifford Photographs consist of photographs made by Gifford during his career as a photographer in Portland and The Dalles, Oregon. The images depict Native Americans, primarily of the Columbia Plateau region; the Columbia River and the Historic Columbia River Highway; Central and Eastern Oregon; Gifford Family members; and many unidentified individuals and groups. Gifford arrived in Oregon and worked first in Portland until 1895, when he opened a studio in The Dalles. He returned to Portland in 1910.
Images from this collection have been digitized and are available in Oregon Digital.
More Extent Information
855 photographs; 49 boxes, including 1 oversize box, and 1 map folder
Biographical / Historical Notes
Benjamin A. Gifford (1859-1936) was born in DuPage County, Illinois. After briefly attending Kansas Normal College, Benjamin worked for two years as an apprentice in a Ft. Scott, Kansas, photo gallery. He finished his apprenticeship in Sedalia, Missouri, under William LaTour, and then returned to Fort Scott to become a partner in a photo studio. Benjamin married Myrtle Peck in 1884; he and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1888 and by 1891 had started a photo studio across the street from the Hotel Portland. He was the first photographer in Portland to use electric lights for making enlargements.
About 1895 Benjamin moved to The Dalles and operated a studio there for several years, though he maintained strong ties to the Portland area. Gifford returned to Portland in 1910. His son Ralph I. Gifford took over operation of the studio around 1920. After his first wife died in 1919, Benjamin married Rachel Morgan, who had worked in his photography studio for several years. They moved to Clark County, Washington, soon after turning over the photography business to Ralph and settled in a home they called "Wa-ne-Ka," named after his famous photograph, "Sunset on the Columbia." Benjamin died on March 5, 1936.
Benjamin was well-known for his images of Native Americans, scenic views of the Columbia River and the Columbia River Highway, and views of central Oregon and Portland areas. He published Art Work of Oregon (1900), Art Work of the State of Oregon (1909), Art Work of Portland, Mt. Hood and the Columbia River (1912), and a view book titled Snap Shots on the Columbia (1902). In addition his work appeared in many promotional booklets issued by railroads, particularly the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company.
Arrangement
The Benjamin A. Gifford Photographs are arranged in 17 series: I. Native Americans, 1899-1908; II. Columbia River, 1899-1915; III. Columbia River Highway, circa 1915-1920; IV. Cascades, 1899-1904; V. Central and Eastern Oregon, circa 1900 - circa 1916; VI. Portland, Oregon, circa 1910 - circa 1920; VII. Shipbuilding, circa 1915; VIII. Logging and Timber, circa 1895-1915; IX. Farm and Ranch Scenes, circa 1905-1920; X. Businesses, circa 1903-1917; XI. Landscapes, circa 1895 - circa 1920; XII. Gifford Family, circa 1885-1919; XIII. Logos and mask charts, circa 1905- circa 1920; XIV. Studio and formal portraits, circa 1905 - circa 1920; XV. John Egan and wife camping, circa 1920; XVI. Unidentified informal portraits and other unidentified photos of people, circa 1905 - circa 1920; and XVII. Damaged Glass Negatives, circa 1905 - circa 1920.
