Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop negatives
Date(s)
- 1930-1970 (Creation)
Extent
362 selected photographic postcard negatives.
Name of creator
Administrative history
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Collection consists of approximately 600 negatives used to produce photographic postcards. The photographs date from 1930 to 1970 and depict landmarks, city streets, storefronts, and tourist destinations across Oregon. A selection of places and events represented in this collection include Breitenbush Hot Springs, the Columbia River Gorge, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Caves National Monument, The Pendleton Round-Up, Petersen Rock Garden, and Singing Springs Ranch. Also included are street scenes from cities and towns in all regions of the state.
Many of the negatives have original postcard series numbering and a photographer's signature written directly onto the film. Three photographers are represented in the collection; their signatures identify them only as Christian, Perkins, and Ellis. About 70 percent of the work in the collection is attributed to Christian. It is unknown whether the photographers were employed by the Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop. The studio was likely a purchaser or publisher of their negatives.
System of arrangement
Collection is arranged by photographer, then in order by photograph number when known. Some negatives in a number series may be unsigned or attributed to another photographer. Negatives with no known number have numbering assigned by the processing archivist. Box 3 contains negatives isolated from the rest of the collection due to preservation concerns related to vinegar syndrome. These negatives repeat the arrangement of the main collection.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
In Copyright - Rights-Holder(s) Unlocatable or Unidentifiable: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/
Physical access
Negatives are not available for direct access. Contact staff for assistance.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Collection transferred from the Yamhill Historical Society, May 2001 (Lib. Acc. 27972).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Additional Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop negatives formerly held by Yamhill Historical Society are now held by the Alaska Historical Museum, Arizona Historical Society, California State Library Photo History Archives, Pacific Beach Historical Society, Monterey Historical Society, Historical Society of Colorado, Idaho State Historical Society, Montana State Historical Museum, Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico, Utah State Historical Society, Washington State Historical Society, and Wyoming State Historical Society.
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
Digital collection contains selections from about half of the total number of negatives in this collection.