The collection includes approximately 400 glass plate and film negatives. The majority are 8x10 glass plates, with a few 5x7 glass plates. Some are cracked, lack pieces or have damaged emulsion. The CSRM Library has prepared contact prints for the railroad and logging images.

These images are believed to be the work of Loyalton (Sierra County) photogapher P. J. Thompson. Although most images are not dated, a few bear dates between 1909 and 1913. Two negatives are signed "Wheeler" and one is signed "Peterson." •The collection was discovered by Ed. G. White of Loyalton in the 1960s. He gave the negatives to Don Webber of Rio Vista who passed them on to San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. •The subjects are diverse and includes scenes relating to railroads, town life, logging, icing, and farming. There are also many portraits (some formal, some informal) of people of all ages (from babies to the elderly), from school children to firemen and surveyors.

400 glass plate negatives

Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM 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.

This collection is open for research at our off-site storage facility with one week's notice. Contact Library & Archives staff to arrange for access.