Primary Name: Case, William Howard
Filed as: case_william_howard
Also known as: W. H. Case, William H. Case
Occupation / Association: Photographer; Business Owner; Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6
Born: April 19, 1868, Marshalltown, Iowa
Died: July 16, 1920, Juneau, Alaska
Parents:
Spouse:
Children: Howard Case; Alice Case; Madge Case Wade
Associated places: Marshalltown Iowa; South Dakota; Oregon; Skagway Alaska; Juneau Alaska; Atlin British Columbia
Keywords: William Howard Case, W H Case, Case and Draper photographers, Juneau photography studios
Biography
William Howard Case was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6.
The W. H. Case and H. H. Draper photography studios opened in 1898 in a small tent in Skagway, Alaska. The partners later moved their business to a two-story building on Broadway near 4th Avenue, where they also sold curios, photographic supplies, Alaska Native handicrafts, and game specimens.
By 1907, the partnership between Case and Draper had been mutually dissolved. Draper retained the Skagway shop while Case opened a new photographic studio in Juneau.
William Howard Case was born April 19, 1868, in Marshalltown, Iowa, and lived much of his early life in South Dakota and Oregon. During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, he traveled north and secured several mining claims in Atlin before establishing his photographic business in Skagway.
Case moved to Juneau in 1907, where he operated the Case photographic studio.
He had three children: Howard, Alice, and Madge. His daughter, Madge, married Hugh Wade, Secretary of the Territory of Alaska from 1959 to 1966.
Case was active in the Juneau community and was a member of the Masonic and Shrine organizations.
William Howard Case died suddenly in Juneau on July 16, 1920. After his death, the studio was reopened by E. C. Adams.
Case and Draper became well known for their portraits and photographs documenting the life and customs of the Tlingit people, early Skagway, and scenes from the 1898 Gold Rush. Their images were widely reproduced in Alaskan publications, including The Soapy Smith Tragedy, and on postcards and White Pass & Yukon Railway souvenir playing cards.
Sources
Historical records of Case & Draper Photographers; Alaska historical publications; community records of Juneau
Tags: William Howard Case, W H Case, Case and Draper photographers, Juneau photographers, Skagway photographers, Juneau Men's Igloo No 6, Alaska photography history