Skip to main content

Joshua Crissman Yellowstone collection of stereographs, 1871-1874

 Series
Identifier: MSS 9007 Series 1

Scope and Contents

Contains 21 black and white stereographs taken by Joshua Crissman of several features of Yellowstone National Park, including waterfalls, rivers, formations, geysers, and one hunting scene. These stereographs were likely taken from Crissman's time in the Hayden expedition, which he joined in 1871. The stereographs are part of a series called "Views of Yellowstone National Park," which feature photos he took between 1871-1874. The stereographs are on yellow, blue, pink, and brown paper boards.

Dates

  • 1871-1874

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Access

Condition restricted. Items kept in cold storage; access requires 24 hours advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Joshua Crissman was born July 29, 1833 in Madison, Ohio. He probably began taking photographs during the Civil War, and moved to the Western United States circa 1868. He moved around Wyoming and Utah taking pictures, and he settled in Bozeman, Montana in 1871, where he was involved with William Henry Jackson in taking photos for the Hayden expedition of Yellowstone country. The stereoviews produced during this expedition, and Crissman's willingness to sell them to individuals and companies for publication, helped make him a popular photographer. After the scientific expedition, Crissman continued photographing Yellowstone's geysers, springs, and tourist attractions until the summer of 1874. His stereograph series, from 1871-1874, are called the "Views of Yellowstone National Park." Around 1874 he again moved around the western United States and continued to operate photography companies until his death in 1922.

Extent

21 folders

Language of Materials

English