Will Connell Papers LSC.0893
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf5199n9r9 Online items available Finding Aid for the Will Connell papers LSC.0893 Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé UCLA Library Special Collections Online finding aid last updated 2020 July 30. Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 [email protected] URL: https://www.library.ucla.edu/special-collections Finding Aid for the Will Connell LSC.0893 1 papers LSC.0893 Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections Title: Will Connell papers Creator: Connell, Will Identifier/Call Number: LSC.0893 Physical Description: 76 Linear Feet(152 boxes) Date (inclusive): 1928-1961 Abstract: Will Connell (1898-1961) was a self-taught photographer. He opened a studio in downtown Los Angeles in 1925 and became a member of the Camera Pictorialists. He taught at Art Center College in Pasadena from 1931 until his death. His work included movie publicity shots, magazine assignments and other commercial photography. The collection consists of photographs, negatives, experimental work, correspondence, instructional materials, and ephemera. Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page. Language of Material: English . Conditions Governing Access Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page. Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements PORTIONS OF THIS COLLECTION HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. Please consult digital facsimiles instead of originals. Conditions Governing Use Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Will Connell papers (Collection 893). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles. Provenance/Source of Acquisition Gift of Grace Connell and Will Connell, Jr., 1964-1966. Processing Information Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices. Processed by Manuscripts Division staff, circa 1998. UCLA Catalog Record ID UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4232902 Biographical / Historical Will Connell was born in McPherson, Kansas in 1898. His father, a cowpuncher, kept moving the family westward and ultimately left them in Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Connell, a school teacher, relocated to Los Angeles where Will, an only child, went to Los Angeles High School. In 10th grade, Will dropped out of school to join the Army, but World War I came to an end and spoiled his plans. He then had a variety of jobs from soda-jerk to pharmacist, a job for which he had to obtain a pharmacy license, which he updated with pride throughout his life. In the 1920s, Connell became a self-taught photographer, learning on a four-by-five camera. In 1925, he opened a studio on Seventh Street in downtown Los Angeles and started to exhibit in Pictorialist exhibits with good success. He was a member of the Camera Pictorialists along with Edward Weston, Louis Fleckenstein, and others. He was also a member of a group of prominent Los Angelenos who met regularly at Jake Zeitlin's bookshop. They included Merle Armitage, Paul Jordan Smith, Phil Townsend Hanna, Lloyd Wright, Cary McWilliams, and Lawrence Tippet. In 1931, Connell started a thirty year teaching career at Art Center College of Design that ended with his death in 1961. He was a dedicated teacher and held weekly meetings at his home for his students which always turned into lively discussions. Connell married a student of his, Grace Allen, and she stabilized his heretofore bohemian life by giving him a home and Finding Aid for the Will Connell LSC.0893 2 papers LSC.0893 family: Will, Jr. (1935) and Samantha (1938). Will closed his downtown studio and worked out of a home office / studio. His work, in addition to teaching nights, now included publicity shots for the movie studios, magazine work, and various types of cormercial photography such as Sunkist ads, jewelry and fashion advertising for stores like Bullock's Wilshire, and industrial views for technical brochures, such as Kaiser Steel Mills in Fontana, California. He was one of the first photojournalists, and illustrated numerous articles for Colliers and The Saturday Evening Post. Not only did Connell provide pictures for magazines, for 15 years he also turned out a monthly column for U.S. Camera entitled Counsel by Connell. It was a very popular technical question and answer column done in an informal, humorous way. In addition to all his other work, Connell produced three photography books: In Pictures (1931), The Missions of California (1941), and About Photography (1949). The UCLA holdings reflect all of Will Connell's work, and span his entire career. Kayla Landesman Scope and Content Collection consists of photographs, negatives, experimental work, correspondence, instructional materials, and ephemera. Most of the photographs were taken in Los Angeles and vicinity. Existence and Location of Copies Digitized materials are available electronically at https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/tpf2h200zz-89112. Subjects and Indexing Terms Negatives (photographs). Photographs. Commercial photography -- California, Southern. Photographers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives. Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.)--Faculty--Archives. Connell, Will, 1898-1961--Archives. Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.) Salon Prints of Movie Stars General Physical Description note: (1 Box of 45 × 35cm., unless otherwise noted) box 1 1. George Arliss, 1938. box 1 2. George Arliss, 1934. box 1 3. George Arliss, 1932. General note This photograph is now in the possession of Will Connell Jr. box 1 4. Sallie Blaine, 1931. box 1 Finding Aid for the Will Connell LSC.0893 3 papers LSC.0893 5. Sallie Blaine, 1932. box 1 6. Sallie Blaine, 1931. box 1 7. Mary Brian, 1932. box 1 8. Mary Brian, 1932. box 1 9. Mary Brian, 1932. box 1 10. Constance Cummings, 1933. box 1 11. Constance Cummings, 1931. box 1 12. Walt Disney, n.d. box 1 13. Walt Disney, n.d. General Physical Description note: (Duplicate of no.12). box 1 14. Walt Disney, 1935. General note This photograph is now in the possession of Will Connell Jr. box 1 15. W.C. Fields, n.d. box 1 16. Sydney Fox, 1932. box 1 17. Sydney Fox, 1932. box 1 18. Jean Harlow, 1931. box 1 Finding Aid for the Will Connell LSC.0893 4 papers LSC.0893 19. Myrna Loy, 1932. General note This photograph is now in the possession of Will Connell Jr. box 1 20. Myrna Loy, 1932. General Physical Description note: (Duplicate of no.19). box 1 21. Lon Nora, 1939. box 1 22. Ginger Rogers, n.d. box 1 23. Ginger Rogers, 1931. box 1 24. Ginger Rogers, 1932. box 1 25. Ginger Rogers, 1932. General Physical Description note: (Duplicate of no.24) Smaller: 24.5 × 19cm. box 1 26. Ginger Rogers, 1932. General note This photograph is now in the possession of Will Connell Jr. box 1 27. Barbara Weeks, 1931. box 1 28. Barbara Weeks, (Apparent duplicate of no.29, despite discrepancy of dates). 1931. box 1 29. Barbara Weeks, 1930. box 1 30. Pat O'Brian, n.d. Finding Aid for the Will Connell LSC.0893 5 papers LSC.0893 General Physical Description note: (21 × 26cm.). box 1 31. Pat O'Brian, n.d. General Physical Description note: (21 × 26cm.). Factory View. Also: Advertisement Photographs General Physical Description note: (Mounted, 45 × 35cm, unless otherwise noted) General Physical Description note: Box 2 box 2 1. South Arkansas no.129, n.d. box 2 2. Trona, 1928. box 2 3. Merco valves at Tima, 1930. box 2 4. Trona, 1928. box 2 5. Trona (?) 1929. box 2 6. Untitled photograph of pylon, 1931. box 2 7. Untitled photograph of machine part, 1929. box 2 8. Untitled photograph of machine parts, n.d. box 2 9. Untitled photograph of rods, n.d. box 2 10. Motor-shafting at U.S. Motors, 1928. box 2 11. Oil pump parts, 1931. Finding Aid for the Will Connell LSC.0893 6 papers LSC.0893 box 2 12. The Welder, 1930. General note This photograph is now in the possession of Will Connell Jr. box 2 13. The Iron Alligator, 1930. box 2 14. Arc Welding, n.d. box 2 15. Untitled photograph of men hammering stakes, 1928. box 2 16. Gyratory grinding, 1929. General note This photograph is now in the possession of Will Connell Jr. box 2 17. Gyratory grinding, 1928. box 2 18. Pulling the slag, n.d. box 2 19. Dynamometer test, 1928. box 2 20. Milling operation, 1920 (?). General note This photograph is now in the possession of Will Connell Jr. box 2 21. Heat treating, 1930. box 2 22. Testing micrometer, 1928. box 2 23. Untitled photograph of researcher using microscope, n.d. Finding Aid for the Will Connell LSC.0893 7 papers LSC.0893 box 2 24. Untitled photograph of maching parts (?) 1930. box 2 25. Assembly line, Douglas plant, 1936. General note Photograph removed, now in Box 36. box 2 26. Douglas plant, 1936. box 2 27.