E.F. Buchan was born June 11, 1858, at Dover, WI, son of Andrew and Delia N. Buchan. He came to Nobles County MN in 1872 with his parents; the family homesteaded on the NW Quarter of Section 12, Worthington Township. The City of Worthington also was founded in 1872.

In 1879, when he was 21, Buchan spent a winter at St. Paul, MN, learning photography. On April 20, 1880, he opened a photographic studio in a small frame building at the corner of 10th Street and Third Avenue. This is a major intersection on the main street of Worthington.

Buchan later built a two-story brick building along Third Avenue and located his studio there. He continued as a photographer at Worthington through 54 years, retiring in 1934 when he was 76. There is no record at Worthington of when Buchan visited Yellowstone.

On May 14, 1882, he married the daughter of a homesteader, Emma Mott. A son, Hale, died March 8, 1884. Mrs. Buchan died Nov. 2, 1902. When Mr. Buchan died - June 16, 1941 - he was survived by one daughter, Mrs. E.S. Browning of Rochester, NY.

In later years, before his retirement, Buchan used to lay out portraits in heaps on tables at the front of his studio - extra prints he had made, photos which never were claimed, proofs that were rejected. He also had an array of photos he had made of Worthington scenes and Worthington news events - snowstorms, train crashes, fires. Some Worthington residents passed the time of day now and again by stopping at the Buchan Studio and digging through the heaps of pictures.

[SPECIAL THANKS TO RAYMOND CRIPPEN OF WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA FOR THIS EXCELLENT BIO OF BUCHAN'S LIFE]

The Yellowstone views by this obscure publisher all appeared on eBay several years ago. Buchan has no record of any visits to the Yellowstone during the cabinet mount era (1870-80’s). All views are untitled and uncredited (to a specific photographer). For now, the details of Buchan’s Gallery stereoviews and his Yellowstone visit remain a mystery.

Untitled View of Grotto Geyser Cone
and Buchan's Gallery Green Mount Verso