Louis Slevin Photograph Collection
Finding aid created by Harrison Memorial Library staff using RecordEXPRESS
Harrison Memorial Library
2023
P.O. Box 800
Mission St & 6th Ave
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California 93921
(831) 624-1615
hml.localhist@gmail.com
https://ci.carmel.ca.us/library
Title: Louis Slevin Photograph Collection
Dates: 1895-1945
Collection Number: S48
Creator/Collector:
Slevin, L. S. (Louis Stanislas), 1878-1945
Extent: 4 archival boxes of photographs
Repository:
Harrison Memorial Library
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California 93921
Abstract: Louis S. Slevin (1878-1945) was a notable photographer in the early days of the 20th century. He was a pioneer in the early
days of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, the first to open a general merchandise store in 1905, the first postmaster, first
express agent, and first city treasurer. This photograph collection contains images of San Francisco and the Monterey Peninsula,
covering the 1900s-1930s. It includes photographs of changes made to several notable buildings in Monterey over a period of
decades, as well as early photographs of Carmel, Point Lobos and Pebble Beach. Slevin also documents everyday artifacts of
the time period, from paving stones to hitching posts and household tools, that could be of use to researchers.
Language of Material: English
Materials are open for research.
The Henry Meade Local History Department, Harrison Memorial Library does not hold copyright to these items. Permission to
publish must be obtained from the copyright holder by the user.
[Identification of item]. Louis Slevin Photograph Collection. Collection Number: S48. Harrison Memorial Library
Biography/Administrative History
"Closed. Gone to the countryside." That was the sign Louis Slevin would hang on his general store when he went out to take
photographs of the happenings and sights of Carmel and its environs during the early 1900's. The images in our collection
reflect the extremely wide interests of this man, who came to Carmel in 1902 with his brother and mother. They built a store
to sell general merchandise in 1903 and, shortly thereafter, their store became the first Carmel Post Office. While running
the store, seeing to the mail, and taking photographs, Louis Slevin also found time to become Carmel's first city treasurer.
He also helped start the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club and was its first treasurer and still found time to write "Ode to a Milk
Shrine" and to dash off letters to the editors of the local and Monterey newspapers.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Slevin photo collection contains images of San Francisco and the Monterey Peninsula, including Carmel, Point Lobos, and
Pebble Beach, covering the 1900s-1930s. It includes a series of photographs documenting changes to notable Monterey buildings
over several decades, photographs of missions across the West, and photographs of everyday artifacts of the time period, from
paving stones to hitching posts and household tools.
Some of the photos reflect Slevin's wit, having pithy remarks on them. Many of Slevin's photographs were made into postcards,
of which we have a generous sampling, complete with his greetings. Also included are postcards Slevin sent to his friend Anne
Hadden, who was the first director of the Monterey County Free Library.
Mission San Carlos Borromeo (Carmel, Calif.)
Hadden, Anne, 1874-1963
San Francisco (Calif.)
Carmel (Calif.)
Monterey (Calif.)
Pebble Beach (Calif.)
Point Lobos (Calif.)
Photographs
Postcards