Hermann Niehoff came to the United States on a 3-masted sailing ship as a sailor before World War I. While exploring the West Coast he discovered Portland and decided to settle. He found early work in logging before making a career in upholstery. While not working, he took classes at the Portland Art School and played as a musician around town.
After the war, Hermann and his wife opened their own upholstery business in Woodstock. While working hard to make is business succeed, he set aside time to explore Oregon. On one of his early outings, Hermann encountered a group of Mazamas and a short while later became a member. He enjoyed the comradely of the Mazamas and climbed Mount Hood at least once, in August of 1927. On many of his outings with the Mazamas Hermann brought along his film camera.
The Mazama Library holds two different film reels shot by Mr. Niehoff, and we recently had both digitized. The three segments focus on mountaineering and cover two climbs of Mount Hood, one in 1936 and the other in 1938. The rest of the film is footage from the 1938 Annual Outing to the Olympic Mountains and the climb of Mount Olympus.