Selected Photograph Collections
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf638nb10s No online items Inventory of the Selected Photograph Collections Processed by Genevieve Troka; machine-readable finding aid created by Xiuzhi Zhou California State Archives 1020 "O" Street Sacramento, California 95814 Phone: (916) 653-2246 Fax: (916) 653-7363 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/ © 1999 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved. Inventory of the Selected 1 Photograph Collections Inventory of the Selected Photograph Collections California State Archives Office of the Secretary of State Sacramento, California Contact Information: California State Archives 1020 "O" Street Sacramento, California 95814 Phone: (916) 653-2246 Fax: (916) 653-7363 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/ Processed by: Genevieve Troka Encoded by: Xiuzhi Zhou © 1999 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Title: Selected Photograph Collections Creator: California State Archives Repository: California State Archives Sacramento, California Language: English. Publication Rights For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Selected Photograph Collections, California State Archives. Introduction The photographic collection of the California State Archives constitutes a rich and varied source of information about the history of California state government and of the state as a whole. While portions of the collection have been used extensively, most of it remains largely untapped. This is due in part to the fact that descriptive information about photographs, which most often are an integral part of much larger groups of documentary records, is not easily accessed. If one is not familiar with the structure and functions of state government, knowing where to start looking for photographs of railroads, for instance, can be somewhat overwhelming. Also lacking is much in the way of cataloging of collections by subject which would allow researchers to locate the specific images they seek. The purpose of this guide is to give users of the State Archives an overview of the photographic collection, to increase access to it, and above all, to encourage greater use of the collection. The guide gathers together in one place information about photographs which already exists, for the most part, in other State Archives finding aids. Some guide entries were created just for this purpose because original finding aid descriptions needed to be condensed or particular photographs were not previously described separately from related records. For example, photographs are part of files of cases heard by the Public Utilities Commission and derive most of their significance from the context in which they are found. But the photo researcher interested in locating images of ferry boats may not be interested in the PUC case concerning ferry rates. Other guide entries were upgraded and standardized to conform with the guide's format. Inventory of the Selected 2 Photograph Collections Although the guide is not comprehensive, it does include the largest and most significant photographic series in the collection. A quick review of the guide's contents will reveal that the collection consists of primarily twentieth century, black and white prints and negatives and that it's strengths are in the documentation of state highways and state buildings. Some 185,000 images are described in the guide, about one third of which pertain in some way to the "public works" theme. But upon closer examination, the researcher will uncover many other interesting items: images documenting the efforts of law enforcement officials to solve crimes and incarcerate and rehabilitate the guilty, the post-World War II expansion of the state's educational system, the management of the state's natural and agricultural resources, state officials, politicians and political campaigns, the celebration of the state's bounty at state and local fairs, and many others. Using the Guide Guide entries are arranged alphabetically by the name of the state agency which created or collected the photographs. Collections from non-governmental agency sources are placed alphabetically following the aforementioned group. At the end of the guide listings are placed entries pertaining to unprocessed materials to which access may be limited. Each entry bears a unique, sequential number at the beginning of the entry. The set of numbers which follows the entry number are collection identification numbers. Use these numbers to determine the location of a particular collection using the Location Key also at the end of the guide. Location and identification numbers are required when requesting the retrieval of photographs for research use. Terminology for photographic formats and for most subject terms is derived from Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) online version of The Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) and Library of Congress Subject Headings, respectively. Some subject terms are local in origin. Photographs are black and white unless otherwise specified. Towards the end of most entries, the researcher will see a cross reference to other finding aids which either provide more extensive information about the collection described or about related records from the same state or local agency. Occasionally, references to restrictions concerning access are also found here. See the California State Archives for more information. F3741:2493-2516 Series 1 Agriculture -- Information Office, Photographs 1881-1941 Physical Description: 405 items Arrangement Arranged alphabetically by subject. Scope and Content Note Formats included are: gelatin dry plate negatives, lantern slides, photomechanical prints, photographic prints, and negatives. Subjects include avocado packing, shipping and marketing; department personnel; State Fair agricultural exhibits; war preparedness; Governor Culbert Olson (F3741:2498:1); farm machinery; fruit harvesting, inspection and testing; insects; livestock kills; milk production, testing and inspection; peach canning; rodents; spraying equipment; vegetable packing and inspection; weeds; and, weights and measures. See Deptartment of Agriculture finding aid for more detail. Inventory of the Selected 3 Photograph Collections Series 2California Centennial Commission, Photographs 1948-1950 VB 3:P37(1-298) Series 2 California Centennial Commission, Photographs 1948-1950 Physical Description: 298 items Arrangement Arranged numerically. Scope and Content Note Format included is: photographic prints. Photographs document events developed by the Commission to commemorate California's centennial including parades, stage productions with historical themes, placement of historic markers and monuments, California history exhibits (such as the Historical Caravan, a traveling exhibit) and historic preservation projects (the Fallon House Theater in Columbia). Then Governor Earl Warren is depicted (VB3:P37(2)) as is Richard Nixon campaigning for the U.S. Senate (VB3:P37(290)). See California Centennial Commission finding aid for more information. F3717 Series 3 Corrections -- Folsom State Prison, Identification Photograph Cards 1923-1945 Physical Description: Approx. 12,000 items Arrangement Arranged numerically (chronologically) by prison identification number. Access Information Some restrictions may apply. See Reference Archivist for more information. Scope and Content Note Format included is: photographic prints. Identification photographs are adhered to cards which may also include the following information: prison identification number, name, county sent from, crime, occupation, race, sentence, criminal record, age, birthplace and physical description. See Corrections finding aid for additional information. F3717:1095-1113 Series 4 Corrections -- Folsom State Prison, Inmate Photograph Albums 1880-1942 Physical Description: 20 volumes Arrangement Arranged numerically (chronologically) by prison identification number. Access Information Some restrictions may apply. See Reference Archivist for more information. Scope and Content Note Format included is: photograph albums. Identification photographs of inmates may depict individuals in both street clothes and later in prison garb with heads shaved. Other information included: name, crime, prison identification number, county sent from, age, birthplace, sentence and other notes. See Corrections finding aid for additional information. F3717:817-871 Series 5 Corrections -- Institutions, Institutional Photographs 1945-1965 Physical Description: Approx. 3,000 items Arrangement Arranged by institution then alphabetically by subject. Access Information Some restrictions may apply. See Reference Archivist for more information. Scope and Content Note Format included is: photographic prints.Subject categories include: "Activities/Programs/Institutional Services"; "Construction"; "Personnel"; "Physical Plant"; "Recreation/Athletics/Free Time"; and, "Vocational Training/Industries/Productive Labor". See Corrections finding aid for additional information. Inventory of the Selected 4 Photograph Collections Series 6Corrections -- San Quentin