FRANKLIN J. COVELL:

An Inventory of His Photograph Collection at the Minnesota Historical Society

Sound and Visual Collection

Expand/CollapseOVERVIEW

Creator: Covell, Franklin J.
Title:Split Rock Lighthouse photograph collection.
Dates:circa 1911-1945.
Language:Materials in English.
Abstract:Snapshots and copy prints of Split Rock Lighthouse, interiors, the Covell family, their friends, and the surrounding area.
Quantity:50 photoprints: black and white; 5x7 in. and smaller.
Location:I.401: See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Expand/CollapseBIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Franklin Covell began working at Split Rock Lighthouse in 1913 as the second assistant. He was transferred in 1916 and served at other lighthouses on Lake Superior, but returned in 1922 as first assistant. He was promoted to head keeper upon Otto Young's retirement in 1928.

When he was promoted, Covell and his family were living in the middle house, and chose to stay there rather than moving one door over, into the head keeper's residence. Covell served as head keeper for 15 years, retiring at 70, in 1944. By retirement, he'd spent 24 seasons as a keeper at Split Rock. The photographs in this collection span his years at the lighthouse.


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Expand/CollapseADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Alternate Form Available:

Split Rock Tramway

Selected digital images from this collection are also available.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Covell, Franklin J. Split Rock Lighthouse Photograph Collection. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: AV2004.80

Processing Information:

Processed by: Jennifer Huebscher, May 2009.

Catalog ID number: 990068920460104294


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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Location
I.401.1Split Rock dwellings and barns, 1911.
Location
I.401.2View of the lighthouse from the porch of dwelling No. 2, 1913.
Location
I.401.3Gasoline air compressor, 1913.
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I.401.4Marjorie (standing) and Beulah Covell on the porch, 1915.
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I.401.5O. P. Young, Mrs. Gunther, Mr. Cooper, and the Covell family on the front porch, circa 1916.
Location
I.401.6A steamer, possibly the "America," at Split Rock, circa 1920s.
Location
I.401.7Beulah and Ileana near Little Two Harbors with view of the lighthouse in the distance, circa 1920s.
Location
I.401.8Split Rock tramway, circa 1920s.
Location
I.401.9Franklin J. Covell by the lighthouse lens, circa 1920s.
Location
I.401.10Lois Luick in front of dwellings, circa 1920s.
Location
I.401.11F. J. Covell in boat and O. P. Young on dock in Crazy Bay, circa 1920s.
Location
I.401.12The Covell's dog, Teddy, on the sidewalk in front of the dwellings, circa 1920s.
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I.401.13Tramway and buildings at Split Rock, circa 1920s.
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I.401.14Lightning storm seen from Split Rock Lighthouse, circa 1920s.
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I.401.15View of the lighthouse and fog signal building from the oilhouse, circa 1928.
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I.401.16Docks at Split Rock, circa 1930s.
Location
I.401.17F. J. and Ileana Covell at the lighthouse, circa 1930s.
Location
I.401.18Split Rock Lighthouse, circa 1930s.
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I.401.19-1.401.20Steamer "Amaranth" along the shore by Split Rock, circa 1930s.
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I.401.21The boathouse, dock, and lighthouse, circa 1930s.
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I.401.22Beaver Bay school, circa 1930.
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I.401.23Beulah and Ileana Covell, and Alleta Warrow on bobsleds, circa 1930.
Location
I.401.24Ileana and Edith Covell, and Josephine Burnap outside the lighthouse, circa 1930.
Location
I.401.25F. J. Covell outside the lighthouse in winter, circa 1930.
Location
I.401.26Lighthouse lens, circa 1930.
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I.401.27Lens assembly with IOV lamp, circa 1930.
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I.401.28Beulah Covell, 1933.
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I.401.29F. J., Edith, Beulah, and Ileana Covell on front porch, 1933.
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I.401.30View of Split Rock Lighthouse from the fog signal building, August 1938.
Location
I.401.31View of Little Two Harbors from the lighthouse base, 1938.
Location
I.401.32-33Split Rock Lighthouse buildings, circa 1940s.
Location
I.401.34-35View of Split Rock Lighthouse from the shoreline, circa 1940s.
Location
I.401.36View of Split Rock Lighthouse, circa 1940s.
Location
I.401.37View of shoreline of Lake Superior near Split Rock, circa 1940s.
Location
I.401.38Edith Covell and her grandson, Stanley Myers, circa 1940s.
Location
I.401.39View of the dwellings at Split Rock, circa 1940s.
Location
I.401.40F. J. Covell and friends on Little Two Harbors Island, circa 1940.
Location
I.401.41The Covell family by the broken flagpole, circa 1940.
Location
I.401.42Ileana Covell and Evelyn Hassing sitting on a government truck with their pet dogs, circa 1940.
Location
I.401.43Ileana Covell on the No. 2 kitchen porch with her pet dog, circa 1940.
Location
I.401.44View of the lighthouse and fog signal building from the No. 2 dwelling, circa 1940.
Location
I.401.45View of dwellings from fog signal building, circa 1940.
Location
I.401.46Well drilling machinery at Split Rock, circa 1940.
Location
I.401.47Lighthouse keepers Johnson, Hassing, and Covell at the No. 2 garage, circa 1941.
Location
I.401.48Edith Covell and her sister Jessie Clickner by the oilhouse circa 1943.
Location
I.401.49F. J. and Edith Covell with the wellhouse and barn in the background, circa 1943.
Location
I.401.50Mrs. Clyde Adams and Stanley Myers in front of her store near Split Rock, circa 1943.

Expand/CollapseCATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:
Lighthouses -- Minnesota -- Photographs.
Persons:
Covell family -- Photographs.
Organizations:
Split Rock Lighthouse (Minn.) -- Photographs.
Places:
North Shore (Minn.)
Superior, Lake.
Document Types:
Photographs.

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