Edward Taylor Parsons Photo Collection

Edward Taylor Parsons (1861-1914) served as William E. Colby's outing assistant and as a High Trip photographer from 1901 until his death in 1914. He and his wife, Marion Randall Parsons, an accomplished painter, also participated in the production of the Sierra Club Bulletin. Characteristics of Parsons's work are his panoramic photographs, so instrumental in the preservation of national parks and forests, as well as in the promotion of the Sierra Club's outing program. The library is fortunate to hold over 2,000 of his original negatives. As an exemplary Sierra Club volunteer, Parsons, who joined the Club in 1900, was a member of both the outing committee and the board of directors. His obituary states that in his "unflagging devotion to the lost cause of Hetch Hetchy, he paid a heavy price in strength and health as well as in time and money."

Group on the summit of Farewell Gap

Group on the summit of Farewell Gap (1903).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#0113]

Supper at base camp, near timber line, Tyndall Creek Valley

Supper at base camp, near timber line, Tyndall Creek Valley (1903).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#0177]

View from unnamed peak west of Cathedral showing Cloud's Rest

View from unnamed peak west of Cathedral showing Cloud's Rest (1904).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#0223]

Group on summit of Mt. Lyell

Group on summit of Mt. Lyell (1904).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#0237]

  Merced Lake

Merced Lake (1907).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#0431]

Three hikers in snow

Three hikers in snow (1911).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#1536]

Two figures at unknown lake

Two figures at unknown lake (1912).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#1656]

Pines on Liberty Cap, Yosemite

Pines on Liberty Cap, Yosemite (1909).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#1111]

Group on summit of Mt. Brewer

Group on summit of Mt. Brewer (1902).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#0448]

Vernal Fall

Vernal Fall, Yosemite 1907.
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#0405]

Hikers on Granite Slope  

Hikers on Granite Slope (1914).
By Edward Taylor Parsons [#1939]

Line of hikers

Line of Hikers (1915).
By Marion Randall Parsons (E.T. Parson’s widow) [#2038]