Fonds consists of 45 glass-plate lantern slides featuring scenes from Osterhout's work with B.C. First Nations, including Haida, Tsimshian and Kwakwaka'wakw. Images document First Nations individuals, communities, totem poles and landscapes of British Columbia.
Image depicts two poles standing in an open area. The front pole features a human-like creature on visible portion. The back pole also includes a human figure at the bottom with an owl on top. The figures on the bottom may be crest figures (Leading In or Halfway Out) or a Man of the Wild. Read's note suggests that one of these may be a Pole of Hrkyadet at Kispiox.
Image depicts three totem poles, standing in an open area. Read's note under this photo indicates that the pole on the left may by a Snag-of-the-Sand-Bar pole from the House of Chief Skogum Laxhe. The pole on the right may be Chief Laxhe`s Hat-of-Tsagyem-hanak Pole. See also item a034837 for a closeup of the Snag-of-the-Sand-Bar pole.
Image depicts a carving of a creature that resembles a bear--with fins. The carving sits on a wooden structure, possibly a carver's bench. Several buildings can be seen behind the carving platform.
Read's note cards detail information about three groups of totem poles and contain text and page references to Marius Barbeau's book, Totem Poles of the Gitksan, Upper Skeena River, British Columbia (published by the Canada Department of Mines and the National Museum of Canada, 1929).
Image is a posed portrait of a seated older girl and younger boy standing on a footstool holding hands. The girl and boy are dressed formally. It appears to be an albumen print on a carte de visite. Photographer information printed on verso with the inscription "S. A. Spencer, FORT STREET, Victoria, B. C." A handwritten inscription reads "[illegible] Reid + boy"
Image is a posed portrait of a young woman or girl clothed from the waist down in a blanket. She is seated outdoors in front of a blanket hanging on the wall of a house. Handwritten inscription on verso of photograph reads "Slave girl Native F? M? B.C."
Image is a posed portrait of a woman wrapped in a blanket and standing next to a woven sack on a tiled floor. The woman wears a headscarf. Handwritten inscription on verso reads "Fort Rupert woman B. C."
Image is a posed portrait of a man holding a cane and standing on an elaborate tiled floor. Handwritten inscription on verso reads "Indian chief. Nanaimo"
Image is a posed portrait of a woman seated on the floor next to what appears to be a woven willow clam basket. The woman is wearing a wool blanket shawl. Handwritten inscription on verso reads "Indian woman Birds? Inlet, B. C."
Image is a head and shoulders portrait of a man printed in vignetted oval shape. Below the portrait is inscribed "SHEE-SHADI INDIAN, V. I." Handwritten inscription on verso reads "[Illegible] Rupert, B. C."