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Finding Aid to Max Wassman, Jr. Panama Pacific International Exposition
Photograph Album
1902-1903, 1915
SFP 121
SFP 121
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Title: Max Wassman, Jr. Panama Pacific International Exposition Photograph
Album
Creator:
Wassman, Max, Jr., 1884-1968
Identifier/Call Number: SFP 121
Physical Description:
1 photograph album with 432 photographic prints; album 9.25x13
inches.
(1 album)
Date (inclusive): 1902-1903, 1915
Date (bulk): 1915
Abstract: This photograph album
consists of approximately 432 photographic prints of various views of the Panama Pacific
International Exposition (PPIE) in San Francisco, California in 1915. The album includes
several construction photographs and PPIE ephemera, all bound in soft brown buckskin
leather. Though largely amateur and repetitive in subject matter, the are some unusual and
not normally seen street views of the various boulevards and buildings at PPIE, as well as
some construction views.
Physical Location: The collection is stored
onsite.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English.
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.
No copyright clearance needed as photographs in the photograph album are in the Public
Domain.
[Identification of item], Max Wassman, Jr. Panama Pacific International Exposition
Photograph Album (SFP 121), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Gift. Accession 2002-32.
Max Wassman, Jr. was born in California on January 9th, 1884, to Maximilian Wassman and
Mary H. Turner. He graduated with the class of 1907 at Stanford University, and earned his
graduate degree in dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. Wassman,
Jr served in the United States Armed Forces during World War I. He was a dentist, and a
member of the California State Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the
Masons. He died on November 3rd, 1968, in San Francisco at the age of 84.
This photograph album consists of approximately 432 photographic prints of various views of
the Panama Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in San Francisco, California in 1915. The
album includes several construction photographs and PPIE ephemera, all bound in soft brown
buckskin leather. Many of the photographs appear to be made by an amateur photographer, as a
significant portion of the photographs are repetitive views of the same subject. Amateur
photos are interspersed with professionally photographed images. There are many night views.
Of note are some unusual and not normally seen street views of the various boulevards and
buildings at PPIE, as well as several pictures of specific state and country pavilions;
entrances to main Palaces; statuary and details of plaster reliefs; Art Smith; and a few
construction photographs. Many of the prints are labeled with captions, most of them
handwritten.
Approximately the last quarter of the album contains PPIE ephemera. Pieces include
invitations to private events held during the Fair, event programs, color lithographed views
of the Fair, brochures from pavilions, a booklet from the Bell Telephone exhibition where
coast to coast telephone calls were demonstrated, two pop-up cards and newspaper slippings
reporting San Francisco Day at the Fair.
Accompanying the album is a group of loose photographs related to the Max Wassman, Jr.
Family. These include a ferrotype of Max, views of several retail candy stores in San Jose,
CA associated with the Wassman family, and group pictures of the Seattle High School Glee
Club from 1902-03 featuring Max.
This album is arranged on album paper ranging from 1 to 12 prints to a page. Both sides of
each page are used. Accompanying the album is a folder of loose photographic prints.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.)
-- Pictorial works.
Photographic prints.
Photograph albums.
Amateur works