Fred Kiser
The brothers were in business together until Oscar died of accidental drowning in late 1905. After Oscar’s death, Fred became a premier photographer of mountain landscapes, and one of the most successful commercial photographers in the country during the first decades of the twentieth century.
Kiser’s photographs of Crater Lake helped publicize the lake, and his work photographing northwestern Montana contributed to the creation of Glacier National Park. Additionally, Kiser worked as a photographer for the Great Northern Railway and took photos of the construction of the Columbia River Highway in the years prior to World War I.
After the War, Kiser started the Scenic America Company to sell his colorized prints using the slogan “See America First.” Under this company name, he sold prints and developed film at Crater Lake throughout the 1920s.
He later moved to the Los Angeles area, where he died in 1955.
--Summarized from The Oregon History Project at ohs.org
- Along the Shore at Crater Lake - c. 1910As low as $5.00This hand-tinted view by Kiser looks along the south shore of the lake, towards Mount Scott in the distance. Learn More
- Annie Creek Canyon, Crater Lake - c. 1925As low as $5.00Pinnacles formed by erosion around ancient volcanic vents can be seen on the right slope of Annie Creek Canyon, located near Mazama Village at Crater Lake. Learn More
- Applegate Peak, Crater Lake - c. 1907As low as $5.00Applegate Peak is located on the south rim of Crater Lake, just to the east of the slightly shorter Garfield Peak. It forms the western limb of Sun Notch Learn More
- Capt. Applegate & Joaquin Miller at Klamath Agency, Steel Excursion - 1903As low as $5.00Capt. O. C. Applegate was not a member of the Steel Excursion; he was leading his own party of thirty to the rim at the same time, and the two groups interacted. Learn More
- Cliffs of Garfield Peak, Crater Lake - circa 1920As low as $5.00The trail to the summit of Garfield Peak continues to be one of the most popular at Crater Lake, due both to its proximity to Crater Lake Lodge and the spectacular views it offers. Learn More
- Columbia River near White Salmon c. 1916As low as $5.00Pine trees dominate the foreground in this scenic photo by Fred Kiser. His ability to quickly create artistic compositions is demonstrated by the thousands of scenic views he captured during his career. Learn More
- Crater Lake as Seen from the Studio on Victor Rock - c. 1925As low as $5.00Photographer Fred Kiser didn't have to go far to create this photograph; it's taken from the front porch of his studio on the rim of Crater Lake. Learn More
- Crater Lake from Castle Crest - 1903As low as $5.00This early view of Crater Lake was created by brothers Fred and Oscar Kiser, as part of a series documenting the Will G. Steel Excursion in 1903. Learn More
- Crater Lake from the South Rim - c. 1910As low as $5.00This colorful view of Crater Lake is recreated from a hand-tinted photograph produced by Fred Kiser in about 1910. Learn More
- Crown Point Before Vista House - c. 1916As low as $5.00This unusual view shows Crown Point before Vista House was built, but apparently after the Columbia River Highway was completed. That would date it to a short span of time in 1916. Learn More
- Diamond Lake and Mount Thielsen - c 1918As low as $5.00Diamond Lake is located north of Crater Lake in Douglas County, and is about halfway between Mt. Thielsen and Mt. Bailey. Learn More
- Dinner at Eagle Point, Steel Excursion to Crater Lake - 1903As low as $5.00This photo showing much of the 1903 Steel Excursion was taken by Fred and Oscar Kiser, who were the official photographers of that trip. Learn More
- Dutton Cliff from Garfield Peak, Crater Lake - c. 1907As low as $5.00This hand-tinted photo was taken from about half-way up Garfield Peak, where a trail was built between 1905 and 1910. Learn More
- Eagle's Nest Closeup, Columbia River Highway - c. 1916As low as $5.00This image is recreated from a hand-colored print made by the Fred Kiser Company, as part of a series publicizing the new scenic highway. Learn More
- Eagle's Nest, Columbia River Highway - c. 1916As low as $5.00"Eagle's Nest" is the name given by Samuel Lancaster to this small viewing area when he designed it as part of the Columbia River Highway. Learn More
- East of Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Highway - c. 1916As low as $5.00Many of Kiser's Columbia River Highway photos contrast the geometric lines of bridges and railings with the organic forms of the Columbia River Valley. Learn More
- Elowah Falls in Autumn, Columbia River Highway - c. 1916As low as $5.00Elowah Falls are on McCord Creek, and were originally called McCord Falls, which is the name given on our hand-tinted original print. Learn More
- Expedition at South Sister - Circa 1918As low as $5.00Photographer Fred Kiser clearly put a lot of planning into this photo of a pack train crossing in front of Green Lake, below the west face of South Sister. Learn More
- First Photo Showing Entire Crater Lake, from Mt. Scott - 1903As low as $12.00Fred and his brother Oscar Kiser were very proud of this photo, as it was the first time the entire lake was captured on on photograph. Learn More
- Glacier Peak and Llao Rock at Crater Lake - circa 1915As low as $5.00A lone hiker takes in a spectacular view of Glacier Peak, now called Hillman Peak, as well as Llao Rock, to its right, from his perch most of the way up on the Watchman, the lake's tallest peak, located on the west rim. Learn More
- Grand Arch, Crater Lake - c. 1925As low as $5.00A loan boater guides his craft across Crater Lake in this photo taken from the Grand Arch on the west shore. Learn More
- Joaquin Miller Writing a Poem, Steel Excursion - 1903As low as $5.00Joaquin Miller, "The Poet of the Sierras", was about 65 when he joined the Will G. Steel Excursion to Crater Lake. He was hired by Sunset Magazine to report on his trip. Learn More
- Latourelle Bridge, Columbia River Highway - c. 1916As low as $5.00Looking across the newly completed bridge, we can still see a ladder below and planks piled in the distance. Learn More
- Launching the Boat, Steel Party at Crater Lake - 1903As low as $5.00This was not the first boat on Crater Lake, but it was an important one, lowered to the lake by the Will G. Steel excursion in 1903. Learn More
- Lava Dike in Devil's Backbone, Crater Lake - c. 1907As low as $5.00This tinted photo of Devil's Backbone with Llao Rock in the background was created by Fred Kiser, likely early in his career. Learn More
- Llao Rock and Mt. Thielsen, Crater Lake - c. 1907As low as $5.00This early sepia-tone photo by scenic photographer Fred Kiser features Llao Rock, the vertical cliff in the center, and Mt. Thielsen, the pointed mountain in the distance. Learn More
- Llao Rock and Mt. Thielsen, Crater Lake - c. 1907As low as $5.00This photo was taken from Rim Village, near where Crater Lake Lodge was built. Learn More
- Looking Down the Deschutes River - Circa 1920As low as $5.00This image is reproduced from an early print by Oregon landscape photographer Fred Kiser. Learn More
- Looking Over Elk Lake Towards South Sister - c. 1918As low as $5.00We're looking north across Elk Lake towards South Sister, at a distance of about 20 miles, in Deschutes County. The mountain on the right is Broken Top. Learn More
- Looking up the Columbia River from Inspiration Point - c. 1916As low as $5.00This vantage point takes in both Rooster Rock, on the left, and Crown Point, on the right. Vista House has yet to be constructed. Learn More
- Lowering a Boat through Cleetwood Canyon to Crater Lake - 1903As low as $5.00Cleetwood Canyon, located behind the current lodge, was named by William Steel because this is the location where the Cleetwood, the first boat to reach the lake, was slid down in 1886. Learn More
- Lowering the Boat "The Start" down to Crater Lake - 1903As low as $5.00Part of the Will G. Steel Excursion helps to lower the boat down to the lake. The boat was likely named for the fact that Crater Lake National Park was created the year before. Learn More
- Mazamas Descending a Glacier on the South Side of Mt. Hood - 1921As low as $5.00In addition to being a professional photographer, Fred Kiser was a dedicated mountaineer. The original print for this image is stamped with his name on the back. Learn More
- Mist Falls, Columbia Highway 1,200 Feet Below - c. 1916As low as $5.00This image is recreated from a hand-tinted original still in its folder, labeled "Artograph, Hand colored in oil, Kiser Studio, Portland, Oregon." Learn More
- Mitchell's Point from the Washington Side - c. 1916As low as $5.00An unusual view of Mitchell's point, looking at it from a distance rather than the classic photos taken from inside the "windowed" tunnel. Learn More
- Mount Hood from Lost Lake - circa 1910As low as $5.00This classic view has been captured by many photographers; the original for this image is a hand-tinted print by Fred Kiser. Learn More
- Multnomah Creek Bridge, Columbia River Highway - c. 1915As low as $5.00This photo was taken shortly after the car bridge below Multnomah Falls was completed in 1914. The roadway itself was yet to be paved. Learn More
- Near View, Wizard Island, Crater Lake - c. 1927As low as $5.00This close-up view of Wizard Island is identified on its back as being by Fred H. Kiser, Authorized Photographer for Crater Lake National Park. Learn More
- Nearing Summit of Castle Crest, Steel Excursion to Crater Lake - 1903As low as $5.00Some of the twenty-seven members of the Steel Excursion make their way to the top of Castle Crest, near where Crater Lake Lodge now stands. Learn More
- Note / Greeting Card Assortment: Fred Kiser Tinted$28.00
Six note / greeting cards from photographer Fred Kiser, selected from his hand-tinted originals.
Learn More - On Rim of Crater Lake, Will G. Steel Excursion - 1903As low as $5.00Some of the principals of the Steel excursion are artfully posed on the rim of Crater Lake by the excursion's photographer, Fred Kiser. Learn More
- Party Leaving Medford, Steel Crater Lake Excursion - 1903As low as $12.00In 1903, a promotional excursion to Crater Lake was organized by Will G. Steel, who advocated for the newly designated national park there for years. Learn More
- Party Leaving Stewarts, Will G. Steel Excursion - 1903As low as $5.00The Will G. Steel Excursion was organized by Steel to help promote the recently established Crater Lake National Park. Starting from Medford, the party spent their second night on the Rogue River at the mountain retreat of Joseph H. Stewart, a prominent Medford orchard owner. Learn More
- Phantom Ship and Mount Scott at Crater Lake - c. 1910As low as $5.00While the original print for this view is not signed, it is numbered on the back in pencil, with the handwriting and number series matching signed Kiser prints. Learn More
- Phantom Ship Island, in Crater Lake - 1919As low as $5.00This photo was used by the American landscape artist Henry Howard Bagg (1852-1928) as the foundation for his painting #1510, featured in a calendar from the Murphy Calendar Company of Red Oak, Iowa. Learn More
- Phantom Ship, Crater Lake - c. 1919As low as $5.00We're dating this hand-tinted photo to 1919, as the black and white version shown below in Related Items was published that year. However, the colorized version shown here was published about 1925. Learn More
- Pinnacles at Sand Creek Canyon, Crater Lake - c. 1925As low as $5.00The Pinnacles are spires of eroded rock, located at the confluence of Sand Creek and Wheeler Creek. Some are as much as 200 feet high. Learn More
- Riders at Head of Lake Chelan - c. 1920As low as $5.00Lake Chelan, in northern Washington State, is the third-deepest lake in the United States, at over 1400 feet. Learn More
- Sen. Fulton's Party Leaving Medford, Steel Excursion - 1903As low as $5.00A companion photo to another in this series that shows the larger part of the excursion on Medford's Main Street. Fulton's carriage is facing east at about Front Street. Learn More
- Sentinel Rock from the rim of Crater Lake - c. 1915As low as $5.00This view along the rim of Crater Lake features Sentinel Rock, the bare rock formation beyond the trees that reaches to the upper left corner of the photo. Learn More