Hegg, P. L. (Peter L.)

Peter Hegg, brother of the Klondike Gold Rush photographer Eric Hegg, was a proficient photographer in his own right. The Heggs emigrated from Sweden with their parents when they were very young. Peter Hegg came to Washington in 1888. Eric Hegg started a photography studio in New Whatcom (Bellingham, Washington) in 1889, but sold it when he went to the Klondike to record the Gold Rush. Peter took over the Hegg studio when Eric left. Peter worked closely with the Equality Colony in producing a number of propaganda photographs of the colony for their newspaper Industrial Freedom. In addition, these images were available for sale to the curious public for 30 cents each or $1.75 for the first seven.

From the guide to the Peter L. Hegg Equality Colony photographs, 1898-1900, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)

The Equality Colony, located near Edison, Washington in Skagit County, was a cooperative community founded in 1897. It was part of an initiative begun by the National Union of the Brotherhood of the Cooperative Commonwealth, whose goal was to make Washington a socialist state by gradually starting colonies in the area and expanding into the rest of the state. For $160 a family was admitted to the colony. All residents were expected to work, including the children when they were not in school. Families lived in apartment houses, or in individual family cabins and ate in a communal dining hall. The colonists were not well received by the surrounding communities because of their progressive beliefs. By 1906 the colony was dissolved.

Peter Hegg, brother of the more well known Klondike Gold Rush photographer, Eric Hegg, was a proficient photographer in his own right. The Heggs emigrated from Sweden with their parents and Peter Hegg arrived in Washington State in 1888. He took over the photography studio in New Whatcom (Bellingham, Washington) that Eric Hegg had started in 1889, but sold when he left for the Klondike. Hegg worked closely with the Equality Colony to produce a number of promotional photographs for its newspaper, Industrial Freedom, and for sale individually.

From the description of Peter L. Hegg Equality Colony photographs, 1898-1900 [graphic]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 318130103