Historic Snake River photographs by
Daisy Evans Brown
This collection of photographs was taken by Daisy Evans Brown. Daisy was born in Genesee, Idaho and moved with her parents to Lewiston, Idaho to homesteaded a small piece of land 6 miles below Lewiston on the Snake River in Eastern Washington. In 1902 Daisy became a professional photographer in Pullman, Washington. She later married and was subsequently widowed and left to provide for and raise two children on her own.
To make ends meet she homesteaded along the Snake River at a spot now near the Port of Wilma. She maintained a small dairy farm, hauled milk to sell in Lewiston, Idaho, grew vegetables and raised poultry. She was a master seamstress and sewed clothing for her sisters, children and herself.
Her brother, Roy was a fisherman who is featured here with wild salmon and steelhead he caught along the river. He was also a boat builder who built the row-boats in these photos.
Her photos provide a remarkable and artistic record of the life along the Snake River ca 1900-1910. Daisy Evans Brown was an artist who gave us a wonderful gift through her photos. Her niece, Carol Wilson, gave Daisy’s collection of photos to the Nez Perce County Historical Society who has in turn graciously allowed us to display them on this web site.
The Nez Perce County Historical Society operates the Luna House Museum in downtown Lewiston, Idaho. The Museum houses rich historical collections as well as operates displays that educate visitors about the local and regional history of North Idaho and Eastern Washington.
