Alexander Hesler Photograph Collection

The series consists of approximately one hundred and fifty photographic prints made by Evanston, Illinois, photographer Alexander Hesler during the 1870s and 1880s. Most of the prints are portraits of Northwestern University faculty, administrators, and students. Also included are a number of photographs of class and student groups, University buildings, and portraits of Northwestern University Preparatory School students. Most of the prints are mounted on cardboard stock and range in size from approximately 4" x 6" to 4-1/2" x 7". Prints of buildings and student groups are sorted into alphabetically-arranged topics. Portraits of Northwestern faculty and administrators are arranged alphabetically by the subjects’ surnames. Portraits of students are arranged by their class year (year of graduation; for example, Class of 1878, Class of 1879, etc.) When multiple portraits exist for a given year they are alphabetized within folders by students’ surnames. Unidentified or partially identified portraits are at the end of the series. The series includes two copies of Hesler’s book, Photographic Views of Picturesque Evanston (1887).

This collection has been digitized and can be viewed here: Alexander Hesler Photograph Collection, 1870-1887.