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Walter Douglas Portrait and Oral History Collection
MS-15
MS-15
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Title: Walter Douglas Portrait and Oral History Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS-15
Contributing Institution:
Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. Presidio Research Center
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
15.0 Linear feet
13 oversized boxes; 110 audio cassettes
Date: 1983-2002
Abstract: The collection consists of portraits and prints of Santa Barbara citizens who have been active and influential in the work
of preserving Santa Barbara's history. They were photographed by Walter Douglas in his home studio between 1996 and 2002.
The collection also consists of corresponding oral history interviews with the portrait subjects.
creator:
Douglas, Walter C.
Walter C. Douglas was born December 15, 1919 in St. Francis Hospital, Santa Barbara, CA. He was baptized by Fr. Villa in Our
Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. He is a member of the graduating class of 1939
from Santa Barbara High School and a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography’s first graduating class in 1948. During
his career, Mr. Douglas worked as a photographer for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, a group supervisor at Los Prietos Boys
Camp, a planning technician for Santa Barbara County, a building designer for the cities of Santa Ynez and Solvang, an engineer
and photographer for Pacific Bell Telephone Company, and as a free-lance photographer. A lifelong Santa Barbara resident,
Mr. Douglas is a founding member of the Santa Barbara Historical Society and has been involved with the Santa Barbara Trust
for Historic Preservation from its inception. He currently lives in Santa Barbara with his wife Joyce.
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open to researchers.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Director for
Historical Resources. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation Research
Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which
must also be obtained by the reader.
Walter C. Douglas Portrait and Oral History Collection, Presidio Research Center, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gifts, Walter Douglas, 1997-2000
The collection consists of a series of matted portraits and prints photographed by Walter C. Douglas in his home studio between
1996 and 2002. While the majority of the photos are portraits, a small number are landscape, structure, and architectural
detail shots of historic Santa Barbara city and county buildings. Container descriptions identify the nature of the photograph;
descriptions that contain names only indicate a portrait; building names or more detailed descriptions indicate landscape,
structure, or architectural photos or prints. The portraits are primarily of Santa Barbara citizens who have been active and
influential in the work of preserving Santa Barbara's history, and many work in connection with the Santa Barbara Trust for
Historic Preservation.
The collection also consists of corresponding oral history interviews with some of the portrait subjects. Subjects were selected
for portrait sittings and interviews based on their connection with Santa Barbara historic preservation or a connection with
prominent nineteenth century Santa Barbara citizens. Several of the interviewees are descendants of major landholding families
from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; others are or were notable figures involved in a variety of civic
activities from the mid-twentieth century forward. Walter C. Douglas' project represents nearly a decade of work preserving
the stories and images of these Santa Barbara citizens. Photos labeled
Print are prints made by Walter C. Douglas from a negative, and generally consist of early twentieth century photographs and one
daguerrotype (Maria Antonia De la Guerra, box 1). The collection is organized by and preserves the numbering and original
chronological order imposed by Mr. Douglas during his project. In Mr. Douglas' own words, his project accomplishes the documentation
of the
last generation of Santa Barbara pioneers.
RI after the portrait name indicates that a recorded interview was also conducted.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographic prints
Portraits
Santa Barbara (Calif.)--Biography--Portraits.
Santa Barbara (Calif.)--Buildings, structures, etc.