Killing Baby Seals

Yes, I admit it.  This is kind of an unpleasant image.  It's not, however, a celebration of seal hunting.  While it was never mailed, it is addressed to "Right Honorable Pierre Elliot Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Canada KIA OA2."  And the caption, "A Canadian sealer, with club poised, prepares to bludgeon the 10-day old baby harp seal at his feet.  This brutal episode was repeated more than 180,000 times last year."  Clearly this postcard was meant to protest the annual harp seal hunt. 

Seal Hunt, Arctic Alaska

It's a bit grizzly, but it's also a great record of a disappearing way of life.  Nice photo, but everyone should take the time to check out Nanook of the North,  a silent documentary directed by Robert Flaherty.

So, back to the postcard, literally, on the back, "ART.2-ARCTIC ALASKA  Eskimo returning from a successful seal hunt on the Polar ice. PHOTO BY WILLIAM W. BACON."  Published by "ALASKA SCENIC POST CARDS J&H SALES, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA."  I couldn't find anything about the publisher, but I was able to dig up a bit of information on the photographer.

William W. Bacon III, donated his photographic archives to the University of Alaska, Anchorage.  The collection covers his complete photographic and film work from 1945-2004.  According to the brief bio on the University's website, he was born in 1926.  Since he was described as both a photographer and a documentary film maker, I also checked on IMDB where he was listed as having been born in 1927.  Neither site listed a date of death, so presumably, he's still alive and kicking.  Well, perhaops not kicking, but at least, in a well deserved retirement.

This card was never used.

Melvine's Album Page

I often complain that too many photos albums lack labels.  Not this time, though I'm not sure I'm all that better off.    For those who are having a problem reading the captions, the top strip of images, all separate photos by the way, not multiple images printed on the same piece of paper, "Nell At Hunting Camp 1939"  And then, "Melvine 1st Grade Class" and then "Melvine 3rd Grade Class."  The next post will have pictures of Melvine, aged 12.   I'm not certain, but I think first grade Melvine is top row, far left.  Third grade Melvine, second row, five in from the left.

Buffalo Wyoming is a fairly small town.  The 1940 census listed 2302 residents though like most rural town schools, locals living beyond the town border would have also attended the local school.

Gathering Fire Wood

And maybe some hunting, too.  No date on this one, but going by the truck, I'm thinking sixties or seventies.

The Hunting Camp

I grew up in a small town where most men, and a sizable number of women, hunted.  During the great depression my father hunted out of necessity, and had no interest in hunting for sport.  As an adult, I've developed an interest in environmental issues.  It surprises the people I know that I have no objection to regulated hunting.  It shocks many of them that I'd still like to try hunting.  Looks like these guys are having fun.

Mail Pouch

I don't have a lot of landscapes in the collection, but I've always liked this one. It shows a mail pouch, and earlier version of the modern mail box. Note the three hunters, just down the rutted dirt road. A nineteenth century albumen print, very likely a contact print made from a glass negative.