This is a work in progress to compile as comprehensive as possible a listing numbers and titles of individual Elias Olcott Beaman (best known as E. O. Beaman) stereographs of Arizona. Each listing will include a brief biographical overview, in addition to the checklist of stereoviews complied to date.

Elias Olcott (E. O.) Beaman (September 13, 1837–October 15, 1876) was born in Chateaugay in Franklin County, New York. His father operated the first store and hotel in the “Centre House,” the oldest frame building built in the area. Little has surfaced about his early years, or how and where he learned photography. A title list on the verso of a stereograph credits him as producing a series of 65 views in the 1870s titled “Scenes on the Upper Hudson and the Adirondack Mountains.” 

E. O. Beaman was hired as the photographer for Powell’s second expedition to explore the Colorado River in spring, 1871, Powell acquired the photography equipment from the E.&H.T. Anthony Company in New York City. E.O. Beaman noted that the cameras, portable darkroom, glass for negatives, and associated photographic equipment carried on the Powell expedition in 1871 weighed over a ton and cost $1,173.70. 

Powell’s cousin, Walter (“Clem”), served as Beaman’s assistant. The intent was for Clem to learn the trade and become a permanent member of the survey team. Beaman produced about 350 images before friction between he and Powell forced him to leave the expedition. The two parted company in early August 1872, at the head of Marble Canyon. Powell continued his exploration along the Colorado River, with James Fennemore temporarily acting as expedition photographer. Soon, oarsman John K. Hillers replaced Fennemore. After parting company with Powell, Beaman traveled on to photograph the Moqui villages in North Eastern Arizona and New Mexico before returning to the East. 

Powell claimed to have purchased the photographic equipment and rights to the negatives Beaman produced while associated with the expedition. Their disagreement over the ownership, credit, and use of these images continued for many years. Despite the alleged agreement, Beaman began selling stereographs after his return to the East, and his stereographs and photographs were reproduced as lithographs and printed illustrations in a series entitled The Cañon of Colorado and the Moquis Pueblos, which appeared in Appleton’s Journal, volume 11, issues 265–271 in April and May 1874. 

Beginning in 1873, E.O. Beaman further competed with Powell, marketing the stereographic images he had taken while associated with the survey expedition. During this era, several publishers issued Beaman’s stereographs on orange mounts with titles including: 

Wonders of the Colorado and The Moquis Pueblos of Arizona, by E.O. Beaman, Photographer for the Colorado River Exploring Expedition, on the recto and a listing of 59 titles on the verso. 

E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., 591 Broadway, New York on recto and Views in the Canons of the Colorado River and Among the Aztec Cities of Arizona; view number and title; photographed by E.O. Beaman, formerly of Powell’s Col. River Exploring Expedition; Published by E. & H.T Anthony & Co., Emporium of American and Foreign Stereoscopic Views, Chromos and Albums; 591 Broadway, opposite Metropolitan Hotel New York on verso. 

Views in the Canons of the Colorado River, and Among the Aztec Cities of Arizona on recto and Photographed by E.O. Beaman, Formerly of Powell’s Colorado River Expedition/Published by C.W. Woodward, 126 State Street, Rochester, N.Y. with title and number on verso. 

The animosity Powell had for Beaman, which began during the expedition, further escalated when Beaman marketed photographs from the Powell expedition, and from competition regarding the dissemination of their stories about the expedition in the popular press, such as Beaman’s series in Appleton’s Journal and Powell’s in Scribner’s Monthly. 

It is very important to note that Powell and Hillers purposefully recredited, recaptioned, redated some of his stereos and credited Hillers with greatly modified information.  Paula Fleming notes that Smithsonian Institution, National Anthropological Archives Ms. 1795-C, Powell's inventory of photographs made on his expeditions, that he crossed out Beaman and Fennemore's names and replaced them with that of Hillers and other expedition photographers to provide credited images for soliciting Congressional funding and to generate revenue through commercial sales.

At some point, likely later in 1873, Beaman produced views of Yellowstone National Park. Building on the popularity of his Powell Expedition images, Beaman embarked on a lecture series in 1874, exhibiting his Yellowstone images as lantern slides made from half of a stereo negative. He used a carbide-lamp lantern slide projector to present his slides to public groups. 

The popularity of his exhibitions eventually led to an invitation for Beaman to participate in the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition which opened on May 10, 1876. Sadly, Beaman died suddenly on October 15, 1876, in Camden, New Jersey, from “congestion of the brain,” likely a result of a disease such as meningitis. 

(from Arizona Stereographs 1865-1930 by Jeremy Rowe, 2014)

If you have additional information about E. O. Beaman, examples of stereographs that are not on this list, or variant titles I would appreciate hearing from you. Ideally, I would like to obtain either a Xerox copy or scan for my files as well.

Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.

Please feel free to use this information but please credit this source and reproduce only with full credit information.
Thank you.

Jeremy Rowe

jrowe@vintagephoto.com

©Jeremy Rowe 2017


PHOTOGRAPHER: E.O. BEAMAN
SERIES: Wonders of the Colorado and The Moquis Pueblos of Arizona/ by E.O.
Beaman/ Photographer for the Colorado River Exploring Expedition
DATE: ca 1871
MOUNT COLOR: red/purple with manuscript titles on front
SUBJECT: Powell Survey of the Colorado River

[?] "On The Colorado" (view of survey boats on shore)


PHOTOGRAPHER: E.O. BEAMAN
SERIES: no titles on reverse of mount but in lot with and identical to the series marked - Wonders of the Colorado and The Moquis Pueblos of Arizona/ by E.O. Beaman/ Photographer for the Colorado River Exploring Expedition
DATE: ca 1871
MOUNT COLOR: red/purple with manuscript titles on front

[?] Indian Children at Play
[?] Piute Indian Children
[?] Piute Indians Camp
[?] Piute Indians making Fire with Sticks of Wood


PHOTOGRAPHER: E.O. BEAMAN
SERIES: POWELL SURVEY
DATE: 1871
MOUNT COLOR


38. Kai-vav-its, Waiting for the kettle to boil.

61. Echo Rock along the Green River

64. Green River, Echo Park Series.

100. Trin alcove - Views of Green River

191. Looking up River, Grand Canyon


PHOTOGRAPHER: E.O. BEAMAN
SERIES: mount info - E. & H.T. ANTHONY & CO./591 BROADWAY, New York
- label info - VIEWS IN THE CANONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER/AND AMONG THE AZTEC CITIES OF ARIZONA / number / title / photographed by E.O. Beaman, formerly of Powell's Col. River Exploring Expedition./ PUBLISHED BY E. & H.T. ANTHONY & CO.,/EMPORIUM OF AMERICAN AND FOREIGN STEREOSCOPIC VIEWS, CHROMOS AND ALBUMS,/591 Broadway, opposite Metropolitan Hotel New York
DATE: 1871
MOUNT COLOR: orange/buff


15. Barrel Cactus over 6 Feet High

18. Fishing Above the Rapids

39. Sentinel Rocks of the Kaibab Plateau

46-48. Approaching the Aztec Cities - The Moquis Pueblos in the distance; situated about 125 miles east of the Colorado River, are seven towns built upon high Mesas or Rocks. The Natives are supposed to be descendants of the Montezumas of Mexico.

51. Our "Brown Stone Front" at Oribay - Where we camped three days, surrounded by filth, vermin, and superstitious and benighted savages.

55. At Home with the Aztecs

59. Street Scene Showing Entrance to a Kevah

62. The outer walls of Moqui showing entrance to kevah and ladder by which its people ascend to the house.

63. The outer walls of Moqui showing entrance to kevah and ladder by which its people ascend to the house.

64. Street Scene At Moqui

65. The Moquis Pueblos. On this mesa are three towns, namely Moqui, Moqueena, and Tawah.

66.
Scene At Tawah. This is one of the oldest towns, supposed to be at least 350 years old.

67. Scene At Tawah. This is one of the oldest towns, supposed to be at least 350 years old.

68. Aztec Houses at the Moqui's Pueblos, Four Stories High.

70.
Aztecs On The Moincoppee. Corn fields in the distance.

71. Aztecs On The Moincoppee. Corn fields in the distance.

73. Homeward Bound from Arizona


PHOTOGRAPHER: E.O. Beaman
SERIES: VIEWS IN THE CANONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER/AND AMONG THE AZTEC CITIES OF ARIZONA/(title information)/ Photographed by E.O. Beaman, formerly of Powell's Colorado River Expedition/PUBLISHED BY C.W. WOODWARD, 126 STATE STREET, ROCHESTER, N.Y.
DATE: 1871
MOUNT COLOR: orange/lavender (1904-1907, 1909-1934 from Woodward catalogue)


1904. Interior of Me-Shong-an-avah. These towns are built in the form of a hollow square, leaving a "court" in the center.

1905. View of Me-Shong-an-avah, showing houses three and four stories high.

1906. Distant view of Mouqui. This place is supposed to be about 200 years old, and contains 350 inhabitants. Is about 1,800 feet above the valley.

1907. Outer walls of Mouqui, showing entrance and ladders by which people ascend to their houses.

1908. Distant View of Mouqui, Showing sheep-pens in foreground under the cliff. In the distance is the valley, in which they heard their sheep and raise a very inferior quality of corn.

1909. Loom for weaving blankets. Aztec women in foreground. Blankets made from wool of their own raising.

1910. Aztec houses at Mouqui Pueblos, four stories high.

1911. Grand Canon of the Colorado River. Walls 5,500 feet high.

1912. Another view of above.

1913. In Kanab Canon, showing figure in foreground. Canon 50 feet wide, walls rising 2,500 feet on each side.

1914. In Kanab Canon. Walls 3,000 feet high.

1915. Peaks in Kanab Canon. Description on each view.

1916. Rapids in Marble Canon, Colorado River.

1917. Sentinel Rocks of the Kaibab Plateau.

1918. Chasm of the Desert of Arizona, cut into the sandstone a depth of 1,000 feet. On the points are remains of Aztec houses.

1919. Colorado River from Buckskin Falls.

1920. Surprise Valley. Two miles in circumference, and surrounded by walls 2,000 feet high.

1921. Cascades of Surprise Valley.

1922. Buckskin Falls, Colorado River.

1923. Eagle Gate, Johnson's Ranch.

1924. Homeward Bound from Arizona.

1925. Marble Canon, from Buckskin Falls. Opposite walls 4,500 feet high.

1926. Buckskin Falls.

1927. Fern Shower Bath. A flat rock covered with Ferns and moss, above which is a beautiful spring; the water falling on the vegetation forms a shower bath.

1928. Aztecs on the Moincoppee, corn fields in the distance

1929. Tuba and his band on the Moin Coppee. Having visited Salt Lake City, is building his houses on the modern plan.

1930. The Moqui's Pueblos. On this mesa are three towns, viz: Moqui, Moqueena, and Tawha.

1931. Grand Canon of the Colorado, walls 5,500 feet high.

1932. Fishing above the Rapids.

1933. Johnson's Ranch, Southern Utah, The future strong hold of the Saints.

1934. John D. Lee's Lookout Mountain. The rocks upon which Lee, the outlaw, keeps a lookout for officers of justice.


PHOTOGRAPHER: E.O. BEAMAN
SERIES: VIEWS IN THE CANONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER/AND AMONG THE AZTEC CITIES OF ARIZONA/ Photographed by E.O. BEAMAN, formerly of Powell's Col. River Exploring Expedition/ PUBLISHED BY E. & H. T. ANTHONY & CO.,/EMPORIUM OF AMERICAN AND FOREIGN STEREOSCOPIC VIEWS, CHROMOS, AND ALBUMS,/591 Broadway, opposite Metropolitan Hotel, New York. (on reverse)
DATE: 1871
MOUNT COLOR: orange/buff


5. Fern Shower Bath - Kanab Canon - A large flat rock projecting out over the Canon about 50 feet, is covered with moss and fern. On the top of rock is a beautiful spring of water, which being carried off in drops by the vegetation hanging from beneath, forms a shower bath.

6. Fern Shower Bath - Kanab Canon

7. Fern Shower Bath - Kanab Canon

10. Cleopatra's Needle, 2400 Feet High. Standing Sentinel-like at a sharp turn in the Canon where the walls are not more than a hundred feet apart.

12. In Kanab Canon. The walls at this point are nearly 3000 feet high.

13. Black Canyon. Nearing the Colorado River the walls gradually close vertical and overhanging, forming as it were a monster tomb, from which the light of the sun is completely shut out.

18. FISHING ABOVE THE RAPIDS (in Grand Canyon)

32. Opposite walls of the Grand Canon of the Colorado from Buckskin Falls, and looking down into the river from a point 1000 feet above the water level.

38. Looking down into the Great Chasm From A Mile Above. The river with its many rapids and falls appearing like a little string of beads.

42. John D. Lee's Lookout Mountain. The rocks upon which Lee keeps a lookout for approaching officer's of justice.

45. NAVAJOE INDIANS

46-48. APPROACHING THE AZTEC CITIES. The moquis Pueblos in the distance; situated about 125 miles east of the Colorado River, are seven towns built upon high Mesas or Rocks. The natives are supposed to be descendants of the Montezumas of Mexico.

51. OUR "BROWN STONE FRONT" AT ORIBAY. Where we camped three days, surrounded by filth, vermin, and superstitious and benighted savages.

57. VIEW OF ME-SHONG-AN-AVAH. Showing houses three and four stories high. This town is built above the valley some 1200 feet. Its inhabitants number about 350.


PHOTOGRAPHER: E.O. BEAMAN
SERIES:
WONDERS OF THE COLORADO AND THE MOQUIS PUEBLOS OF ARIZONA /HAWORTH & MCCOLLIN, PHILADELPHIA/EXPLORATION OF THE COLORADO RIVER
(on reverse) WONDERS OF THE COLORADO AND THE MOQUIS PUEBLOS OF ARIZONA/E. O. Beaman/Photographer for the Colorado River Exploring Expedition.
DATE: 1871
MOUNT COLOR: yellow/yellow

1. Fern Shower Bath - Kanab Canon

2. Fern Shower Bath - Kanab Canon

3. Peaks of Kanab Canyon

4. Cleopatra's Needle, 2400 Feet High, Kanab Canyon

5. Down Kanab Canyon, Walls 2800 feet.

6. Down Kanab Canyon, Walls 2800 feet.

7. Down Kanab Canyon, Walls 2800 feet.

8. Barrel cactus, 6 feet high, Kanab Canyon.

9. Mouth of Kanab Canyon, Colorado River

10. Rapid on the Colorado River, walls 3500 feet high.

11. Rapid looking down the River.

12. Rapid in Marble Canyon, Colorado River.

13. Rapid in Marble Canyon, Colorado River, walls 5000 feet.

14. Rapid in Marble Canyon, Colorado River, walls 5000 feet.

15. Buckskin Falls, Colorado River, 400 feet high.

16. Buckskin Falls, Colorado River, 400 feet high.

17. Buckskin Falls, Colorado River, 400 feet high.

18. Marble Canyon, Colorado River.

19. Surprise Valley, Colorado River.

20. Surprise Valley, Colorado River.

21. Surprise Valley, Cascades.

22. Surprise Valley, Cascades.

23. Outlet of Surprise Valley Falls.

24. Grand Canyon of the Colorado from Buckskin Falls.

25. Grand Canyon of the Colorado from Buckskin Falls.

26. Looking down into the great Chasm from one mile above.

27. Looking down into the great Chasm from one mile above.

28. Peaks of the Kibab Plateau.

29. John d. Lee, the Leader of the Mountain Meadow Massacre

30. Johnson’s Ranch, Southern Utah.

31. Eagle Gate.

32. Chasms in the Desert of Arizona.

33. Chasms in the Desert of Arizona.

34. Group of Navajo Indians.

35. Distant view of She-pah-lavy, on a rock 1200 feet high.

36. Street scene in She-pah-lavy, Indian Town of the Desert.

37. Weaving Blankets among the Moquis.

38. Scene in Oribay.

39. Scene in Oribay.

40. Me-shong-an-ave-ah, in the distance.

41. Me-shong-an-ave-ah, interior view.

42. Me-shong-an-ave-ah, side view.

43. Distant view of Moqui, built 1500 feet above the valley.

44. Distant View of Moqui, Sheep pens in the foreground.

45. Scene in Moqui.

46. Street Scene at Moqui.

47. The Moqui Pueblos, Arizona.

48. Scene at Ta-wah.

49. Scene at Ta-wah.

50. Scene at Ta-wah.

51. Tuba and his friends on the Moincoppei.

52. Tuba and the Aztec Indians.

53. Tuba and the Aztec Indians.

54. Homeward Bound fomr Arizona.

55. Under the Shadow of a Rock in a lonely land.

56. Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City.

57. Residence of Brigham Young, Salt Lake City.

58. Preparing the Rock for the Temple, Salt Lake City.

59. View of Salt Lake City.


PUBLISHER: WOODWARD STEREOSCOPIC CO./ROCHESTER, N.Y. 
MOUNT COLOR: orange/lavender 
DATE: 1872 
SERIES: Views in the Canons of the Colorado River/And Among the Aztec Cities of Arizona/ 
Photographed by E.O. Beaman, Formerly of Powell’s Col. River Exploring Expedition/ 
Published By C.W. Woodward,/126 State St., Rochester, NY. 
Alternate Mounts/Series: C.W. Woodward, Publisher, Rochester N.Y.(in elaborate script) – 
Published by C.W. Woodward , Rochester, NY. (in Block serif type) 

1904. Interior of Me-shong-an-avah. These towns are built in the form of a hollow square, leaving a “court” in the center. 

1905. View of Me-shong-an-avah, showing houses three and four stories high. 

1906. Distant view of Moqui. This place is supposed to be about 200 years old, and contains 350 inhabitants. Is about 1,800 above the valley. 

1907. Outer Walls of Moqui, Showing Entrance & Ladders by which people ascend to their houses. 

1908. Distant view of Moqui, showing sheep-pens, and valley for grazing and herding in distance. 

1909. Loom for weaving blankets. Group of Aztec women foreground – the blankets are made by hand from wool of their own raising. 

1910. Aztec houses at Moqui Pueblos, four stories high. 

1911. Grand Canon of the Colorado River. Walls 5.500 feet high. 

1912. Grand Canon of the Colorado River, Walls 5500 ft. High. 

1913. In Kanab Canon, showing figure in foreground. Canon 50 feet wide, walls raising 2,500 feet on each side. 

1914. In Kanab Canon, walls 3,000 ft. high. 

1915. Peaks in Kanab Canon. 

1916. Rapid in Marble Canon. 

1917. Sentinel Rocks of the Kaibab Plateau. 

1918. Chasm in the Desert of Arizona, cut into the sandstone at a depth of 1,000 feet. On the points are remains of Aztec houses. 

1919. Colorado River at Buckskin Falls. 

1920. Surprise Valley. Two miles in circumference, and surrounded by walls 2,000 feet high. 

1921. Cascades of Surprise Valley. 

1922. Buckskin Falls, Colorado River. 

1923. Eagle Gate, Johnson’s Ranch. 

1924. Homeward Bound, Arizona. 

1925. Marble Canon, from Buckskin Falls. Opposite walls 4.500 feet high. 

1926. Buckskin Falls. 

1927. Fern Shower Bath. A flat rock covered with ferns and moss, above which is a beautiful spring, the water falling on the vegetation forms a shower bath. 

1928. Aztecs on the Moin Coppee. Cornfields in the distance. 

1929. Tuba and his band on the Moin Coppee. Having visited Salt Lake City, is building his houses on the modern plan. 

1930. The Moqui Pueblos. On this mesa are three towns, viz: Moqui, Moqueena, and Tawha. 

1931. Grand Canon of the Colorado, walls 5,500 feet high. 

1932. Fishing above the rapids. 

1933. Johnson’s Ranch, Southern Utah. Future stronghold of the Saints. 

1934. John D. Lee’s Lookout Mountain. The rocks which Lee, the outlaw, keeps a lookout for officers of justice. 

19907. Outer Walls of Moqui. Showing Entrance & Ladders By Which People Ascend to Their Houses 

29117. Cowboy waters horse in Hermit Creek, Tower of Rain background, Grand Canyon 

29118. Tourists seated on folding chairs at Phantom Ranch 

29122. Grand Canyon from Cape Royal on the North Rim 

29423. Scenic study of trees in Kaibab Nat. Forest 

29441. Man on horse 

©Jeremy Rowe 2017


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