Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop negatives

Collection

Identifier: Org. Lot 1275

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection consists of approximately 600 negatives used to produce photographic postcards. The photographs date from 1930 to 1970 and depict landscapes, 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.

Dates

1930-1970

Creator

Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Historical Note

The Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop was a portrait studio and photography supply business based in McMinnville, Oregon, during the mid-twentieth century. The studio owned a large collection of negatives used to produce photographic postcards.

Biographical note

Christian, Ellis, and Perkins, identified only by the signatures on their negatives, were photographers who produced images for photographic postcards in the western United States in the mid-twentieth century. No more is known about them.

Extent

2.5 Cubic Feet (3 document cases) : approximately 600 safety film negatives

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection consists of negatives owned by the Gilliam Portrait Studio and Cemera Shop. The negatives date from 1930 to 1970 and were used to create photographic postcards. They depict landscapes, landmarks, city streets, storefronts, and tourist destinations across Oregon.

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.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Negatives are not available for direct access. Contact staff for assistance.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Collection transferred from the Yamhill Historical Society, May 2001 (Lib. Acc. 27972).

Existence and Location of Copies

362 of the photographs are viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.

Related 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.