Case & Draper

Case & Draper was a prominent photographic studio established in Skagway, Alaska in 1898 by William Howard Case and Horace H. Draper during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. The studio specialized in documenting the rapidly developing Alaskan frontier, producing significant visual records of industrial operations, indigenous Tlingit communities, landscape scenery, and gold rush activities. Initially operating from a portable photographic tent that allowed them mobility throughout the region, their success led to a permanent storefront in Skagway where they sold photographic equipment, curios, and their own photographic works.

The studio gained notable recognition in 1901 when they secured a contract with the White Pass and Yukon Route railway to document scenery along the railway route. This commission resulted in a valuable collection of photographs recording the development of crucial transportation infrastructure in Alaska. The partnership between Case and Draper dissolved in 1907, with Case relocating to Juneau to establish his own studio while Draper continued operations in Skagway under the name "Draper and Co." until approximately 1914. The work produced by Case & Draper represents an important historical documentation of Alaska's industrial development, mining operations, and cultural landscape during a transformative period in American history.