Oblong Quarto album (ca. 18,7x28,2 cm). 50 card stock leaves (1 blank). With 215 original gelatin silver photographs (including 1 loose) from ca. 6,4x4,2 cm (2 ½ x 1 ¾ in) to ca. 11,3x6,5 cm (4 ½ x 2 ½ in). Most photos with period ink captions (in English) on the mounts. Period black full-cloth album fastened with a string; with generic blind-stamped title “Photographs” on the front board. One photo missing, one image lacks a small fragment in the lower left corner, mild silvering, but overall a very good album with strong, interesting photos.

Historically interesting collection of original gelatin silver photographs, illustrating an early family road trip through Oregon and showing rare views of now-destroyed local dams, hatcheries, and mills.

According to the photos, the compiler traveled with family and friends, likely to visit their acquaintance Oscar Blakey (ca. 1882–1942) in Oregon. The group journeyed by car, camping along the way and visiting landmarks in Leasburg, Silverton, Salem, and Welches. Captions also suggest a trip to Massachusetts, including a visit to Yale in Stockbridge. Identified individuals include “Lee Alfred,” “Ronald Hubbs,” “Gilbert Oddie,” and others.

The album contains 215 heavily-annotated photographs, with most images showing well-executed group portraits of travelers joyfully posing beside cars, scenic landscapes, and horses. Among the highlights are about fifteen early images of McKenzie River environs, including rare views of a bath house in Belknap Springs and the original State River Hatchery in Leasburg, photographed shortly before its replacement in 1927. Also notable is an early photo of the Lost Creek Bridge in Lake Creek, widely considered Oregon’s oldest standing covered bridge. Several curious photos from Silverton show the rare view of the now-destroyed Fischer’s Flouring Mill and unidentified local dam. There are also about a dozen photographs of Santiam, documenting the first Santiam Fish Hatchery and views of the traveler’s camps and cabins. The rest of the photos mostly capture Multnomah Galls, Tulip Farms out from Salem, and Huckleberry Mountains in Welches, Oregon.

Apparently, the collection also includes about ten lively, vernacular photos of Yale, Stockbridge (Massachusetts), with a rare standout image of the iconic Yale-Duryea Mill and its waterwheel. Built around 1810 on Yale Hill Road in Stockbridge, the mill served as a grist- and sawmill before being transformed into a residence by author Nina Duryea. The once-impressive 24-foot waterwheel gradually decayed by the early 2000s.

Overall, historically interesting album, mostly illustrating an early family road trip to Oregon.