Benjamin Haldane facts for kids
Benjamin Alfred Haldane (born June 15, 1874 – died November 21, 1941) was a talented photographer from the Tsimshian people. He lived in Metlakatla, Alaska, and took many important pictures of his community.
Who Was Benjamin Haldane?
Benjamin Alfred Haldane was born on June 15, 1874. His birthplace was a village called Metlakatla, British Columbia.
He was a full member of the Tsimshian tribe. The Tsimshian are a First Nations group living in parts of British Columbia and Alaska. When Benjamin was about 13, he moved to Metlakatla, Alaska. This village is on Annette Island.
About 800 other Tsimshian people moved with him. They traveled about 30 miles by canoe. They were looking for a place where they could own land and practice their religion freely. They moved with a missionary named William Duncan.
Benjamin's parents were Matthias (Matthew) Haldane and Caroline Auriol. He married Martha Calvert on November 17, 1896. They had 11 children together. Martha passed away in 1918. Later, Benjamin married his second wife, Margaret, before 1938.
Benjamin was a successful businessman. He owned a store that sold many things, like groceries. He also worked as the village secretary for 35 years. In 1903, Benjamin started teaching music. People in southeast Alaska respected his musical skills. For 38 years, he played the organ and led the choir at the William Duncan Memorial Church. He also led the Metlakatla Concert Band.
Benjamin Haldane's Photography
Benjamin Haldane started taking photos in the late 1800s. His brother, Henry Haldane, and Thomas Eaton, who were also Tsimshian, also became photographers. In 1899, when he was 25, Benjamin opened his own photo studio.
He kept his studio open and took pictures of his community from the 1890s until about 1910. He was especially good at taking portraits, which are pictures of people. His photos were carefully planned and showed the Tsimshian people during a time of big changes.
Families and individuals would pose in the Western clothes they wore back then. He took pictures inside his studio with special backgrounds and props. He also took photos outside. He captured important events like weddings or concerts by his marching band.
Because he was part of the community, he could take very personal pictures of the Tsimshian people. He even photographed potlatches, which were special ceremonies. At that time, potlatches were not allowed by the government. He took these photos along the Nass River.
His Lasting Impact
Benjamin Haldane died on November 21, 1941, from tuberculosis, a lung illness. He is buried in the Ocean View Cemetery in Metlakatla.
In recent years, more and more people have seen his photographs in art shows. This new interest in his work started because of Dennis Dunne. In the 1990s, Dennis Dunne saved 162 original glass plates of Haldane's photos from a dump on Annette Island. These glass plates were like the negatives used to print old photos.
In 2006, the Tongass Historical Museum held an exhibit called Metlakatla: Vintage Photographs. It showed 36 prints of Benjamin Haldane's pictures. Also in 2006, his work was part of another exhibit. This show was called Our People, Our Land, Our Images. It featured photos by many Indigenous photographers. The exhibit was at the C.N. Gorman Museum at the University of California, Davis. It was put together by Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie. This show also traveled to the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, Washington, in 2007.
