Guide to the Theodore C. H. Schneider Papers MS 01 Finding aid prepared by Laura Bosserman and Kristin Romano This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit December 31, 2015 Describing Archives: A Content Standard Enoch Pratt Free Library Special Collections July 2001 http://www.prattlibrary.org/ 400 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD, 21201 443-984-2451 [email protected] Guide to the Theodore C. H. Schneider Papers MS 01 Table of Contents Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3 Biographical History......................................................................................................................................4 Scope and Contents note............................................................................................................................... 4 Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................5 Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5 Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6 Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 8 Series I: Financial Records......................................................................................................................8 Series II: Photograph Description........................................................................................................... 8 Series III: Images of Maryland Subjects.................................................................................................8 Series IV: Images of Non-Maryland Subjects and Miscellany...............................................................9 Series V: Family photographs.................................................................................................................9 Series VI: Books, Postcards, Pratt Library Card, and Greeting Cards..................................................21 Series VII: Postcard Album of Augusta Wachschlager (Mother-in-Law of T. C. H. Schneider)..........22 - Page 2 - Guide to the Theodore C. H. Schneider Papers MS 01 Summary Information Repository Enoch Pratt Free Library Special Collections Title Theodore C. H. Schneider Papers Date [bulk] Bulk, 1896-1915 Date [inclusive] 1848-1930 Extent 9.37 Linear feet 10 boxes Language English Abstract Theodore C. H. Schneider was a Baltimore photographer who specialized in portraits but was also known for his photography of the historical buildings and landmarks of Baltimore. The Schneider Collection spans the years 1848-1930, with the bulk of the material dating from 1896 through 1915. It includes financial papers, photographs, negatives, and glass plate negatives. The collection captures the family life of Theodore C.H. Schneider and locations around Maryland and Baltimore City. The subjects of the photographs and negatives range from portrait sittings of family to the area around Sewell, MD as well as images of Baltimore City. Preferred Citation Theodore C. H. Schneider Papers, Special Collections, Enoch Pratt Free Library/Maryland's State Library Resource Center. - Page 3 - Guide to the Theodore C. H. Schneider Papers MS 01 Biographical History Theodore Charles Henry Schneider, a Baltimore photographer, was born on March 19, 1871 in Grunberg, Hessen, Germany. Sometime between 1883 and 1889, the Schneider family moved to Baltimore. On March 15, 1897, he married Edith M. Wachschlager and they began their married life in Brooklyn, New York. By 1898, they moved to the Walbrook neighborhood of Baltimore, MD where they had three children. The eldest son, August, died in infancy and daughters, Edith Augusta and Helen Caroline, were born in 1903 and 1905, respectively. The Schneider family spent much of the summer in Sewell, MD, which is located in Harford County. The Schneiders purchased the property in 1914. Sewell Station, part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line, was located at the bottom of the Schneider’s property. Schneider began his photography career in Germany as an apprentice with photographer J. Graf. His first photographic position in the United States was at Weaver’s Gallery in Baltimore around the turn of the twentieth century. From 1909 to about 1918 he worked at Perkins Studio on 214 N. Charles St where he rose to become a partner, Secretary and Treasurer, in the company. Around 1918, he opened the T.C.H. Schneider Studio on 214 Clay St in Baltimore. He specialized in photographic portraits, but was also known for his photographs of historic buildings and historical landmarks in Baltimore City and Harford County. The Baltimore Sun published a collection of his building and historical landmark photographs in December of 1941. Schneider operated the studio until the beginning of 1946 when he became ill. A few months later, on July 7, 1946, Theodore Schneider died. Besides photography, Schneider was interested in horticulture, collecting butterflies, and fishing and canoeing on the Bush River near his Sewell, MD home. Scope and Contents note The Schneider Collection materials span the years 1848-1930, with the bulk of the material dating from 1896 through 1915, and consists of financial papers, photographs, negatives, and glass plate negatives. The Schneider Collection captures the family life of Theodore C.H. Schneider and locations in Maryland and Baltimore City. The subjects of the photographs and negatives range from portrait sittings of Theodore, his wife, and their two daughters, to the area around Sewell, MD, and images of Baltimore City. Some of the materials in the Schneider Collection are photographs or negatives that Theodore Schneider took of the originals (the originals being taken before Schneider was born). There is a database inventory of each item of the first four series available in-house, in the Special Collections department. Please ask the Librarian for assistance in locating the database. - Page 4 - Guide to the Theodore C. H. Schneider Papers MS 01 Arrangement The collection consists of four series. I. Financial Records, 1909-1912 The first series consists of financial records- receipts, certificates, and reports- related to Perkins Studio, Inc. These records give evidence to the financial dealings of Perkins Studio and Theodore Schneider’s position as Treasurer of the company. Records are arranged chronologically. II. Photograph Description, January 1941 The second series is a single item of description written by Theodore Schneider. He wrote a narrative of four of his pictures that were published in The Baltimore Sun on January 14, 1941. III. Images of Maryland Subjects,1848-1925 These items portray the Schneider family and friends, scenes around the Schneider home in Harford County, and historical sights throughout Baltimore City. The areas around Harford County that are photographed are Maxwell’s Point (Edgewood, MD), the Edgewood Military compound, the Bush River, the Sewell Train Station, Ore Bank, and Wye Oak. The Baltimore scenes focus more on the Baltimore Harbor, the U.S.A. General Hospital, Federal Hill, the Battle Monument, City Hall, and Druid Hill Park. This series is divided into five subseries based on the format of material: 1. Photocopies; 2. Photographs; 3. Negatives; 4. Glass Plate Negatives; 5. Oversized Glass Plate Negatives. All materials are arranged chronologically first and, if no date, then alphabetically. IV. Images of non-Maryland Subjects Some of the materials in the Schneider collection are photographs and negatives taken of areas outside of Maryland. Some of the areas portrayed are Philadelphia, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Harper’s Ferry. This series also consists of images of bridges, scenery, and houses that neither the librarian nor the donor could identify. This series is separated into two subseries based upon format of the materials: 1. Photographs; 2. Negatives. All materials are arranged chronologically and, if not date, then alphabetically. Administrative Information Publication Information Enoch Pratt Free Library Special Collections July 2001 - Page 5 - Guide to the Theodore C. H. Schneider Papers MS 01 Revision Description Entered into Archivist's Toolkit by Joan M. Wolk. October 2014 Conditions Governing Access Unrestricted, by appointment only. Conditions Governing Use Permission to reproduce or publish is required and may be subject to copyright, fees, and other legal restrictions imposed by parties outside of the Library. The Enoch Pratt Free Library is not responsible for the outside use of these images but is committed to the responsible and legal use of any content held in its collections. Any questions regarding the legal nature of content on this site may be referred to [email protected]. Accruals note No accruals are expected. Source of Acquisition Part I: Nancy R. Rapp, Theodore C.H. Schneider’s granddaughter, donated the collection in 1999. Although it was originally donated to the Maryland Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, it was moved to the Special Collections Department in January 2001. Laura Bosserman of the Maryland Department originally processed the materials. Once the collection moved