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Our National Parks, Yellowstone and Yosemite.—California.
Fitchburg, Mass., [1884]. Broadside, 20” x 12”. A large illustrated broadside by the prolific lecturer and early Yellowstone guide William I. Marshall, published in connection with his eighth season of lectures (1883–84). Outlined here are sixteen different lectures Marshall gave, the bulk of which were accompanied by “the most brilliant calcium-light dissolving views, all photographed from nature, and many very elegantly colored.” Marshall notes “these lectures have been delivered six hundred times, in twenty-four states, and have been everywhere received with greatest favor.” The broadside covers both Yellowstone and Yosemite, including the history of Yellowstone National Park, the Yellowstone Lake, the Geysers, Yosemite, its Big Trees, and the Yosemite Valley. The text concludes with a brief discussion of California. The four illustrations depict Mammoth Hot Springs, Wawona Big Tree, Giantess Geyser, and the Mormon Temple and Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Marshall notes that circulars will be sent on application that contain commendations from the likes of William Lloyd Garrison, Charles Francis Adams, Doctor Oliver Wendell Holmes, Edward Everett Hale, William Cullen Bryant, F. O. C. Darley, and others. He observes as well that he has sent artists across the country in 1882 to make new views for a number of his lectures. Born in Fitchburg, Mass., William Marshall (1840–1906) worked as a teacher before moving to Montana Territory in 1866 to mine for gold. While in Montana, he also worked in various schools and conducted tours and sold photos of Yellowstone Park. While not a photographer, he purchased a large Yellowstone and Montana photo collection from Joshua Crissman and sold the photos under his own copyright. Marshall visited Yellowstone with his family in 1873 and 1875 and claims to have taken the first children ever—including two of his own—through the park. He advertised and sold views at his lectures on Yellowstone and via mail as promoted through articles he wrote about the park for National Education Association Proceedings. In 1879, Marshall proposed to begin conducting his own commercial tours of Yellowstone, and is known to have taken at least one such group into the Park. After 1875, he moved back to Fitchburg and in 1887 moved to Chicago where he became principal of the Gladstone School. He published multiple books on Oregon and educational subjects. As late as 1902, he visited the park and was granted a permit to collect geological specimens. In 1904 he sent a book manuscript to Park Superintendent John Pitcher for comments, which was subsequently published. Over the course of his life he gave over 200 lectures to various educational associations on Yellowstone, Yosemite and mining. Worldcat locates three copies, at Yale, BYU, and the Univ. of Wyoming. REFERENCES: Rubinstein, Paul. William Isaac Marshall at yellowstonestereoviews.com; William I. Marshall papers, 1882-1915 at archiveswest.orbiscascade.org. CONDITION: Very good, tape markings on verso.
Item #7065
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