Center of Southwest Studies

Collection  D 002.04:
Photo album owned by Larry Smith

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Title:  Man with rifle and dog (Eureka, Colo.), mid-1880s. Digital file #: D00204002
Notes (supplied by the owner, Larry Smith): This photo was produced at the "Eureka Studio by EA Wilder of Durango, Colo."  Wilder maintained studios in Durango, Rico and Eureka (above Silverton).   The photo is undated, but the Winchester museum estimates it at mid-1880's.  The clothing is not 100% military and the rifle is a Burgess Repeating Rifle, produced 1878-1882.  This is a sporting model, though some military versions were produced for Spain and Russia.  The person is unidentified; he may be a relative of the Hanna family also pictured in this photo album.  He looks a lot like Bert Hanna, but the date doesn't work.  Bert was in the Silverton area in 1900.   Photoprint dimensions: 6 1/2" by 4 1/4".
Photographer: Photo by E. A. Wilder (Edwin A. Wilder) who maintained studios in Durango, Rico and Eureka (above Silverton), Colorado.  According to the 910 California census records for Alameda County, Oakland Township, page 54b, where he is listed as a photographer, Edwin A Wilder was born circa 1849 in Ohio, married Barbara (?) in Durango in 1883; their daughter Lilly was born in Durango circa 1884; son Vern was born circa 1896 in Ohio.

Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College
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The original photoprint  is owned by Larry Smith, who provided these notes and granted access for this digital access by the Center of Southwest Studies.   

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Page revised: December 03, 2003