Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop negatives
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
- Creation: 1930-1970
Creator
- Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop (Organization)
- Christian (Photographer) (Photographer, Person)
- Ellis (Photographer) (Photographer, Person)
- Perkins (Photographer) (Photographer, Person)
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
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
- Title
- Guide to the Gilliam Portrait Studio and Camera Shop negatives
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Laura Cray
- Date
- 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org