Description
The Harold A. Parker Studio Collection of Negatives consists of 5157 glass plate negatives, film negatives, and panoramic
negatives, 1889-1949, that depict commercial, residential and landscape sites in and
around Pasadena and Southern California. The images provide a look at the commercial, residential and social development
of Pasadena and surrounding areas during the early years of the twentieth century.
The collection is especially rich in images of residential architecture in Pasadena, Altadena, and San Marino; images of Lake
Tahoe; depictions of, and activities at, the Raymond, Maryland, and Huntington
Hotels in Pasadena; and the commercial, social and cultural landscapes of Pasadena. The collection also provides, through
its breadth and depth of subject matter, an example of the career activities of a
commercial photographer in Southern California in the early years of the twentieth century.
Background
Harold A. Parker (1878-1930) was born in Iowa and immigrated to Pasadena with his parents in 1892 at the age of 14. He became
interested in photography at an early age, and began working professionally in 1900. Parker opened his Pasadena studio in
1904 and operated it until his death in 1930 at the age of 52. Parker also operated a studio in the Tahoe Tavern at Lake
Tahoe between 1908 and 1910, where he produced a number of images of the Tavern, Lake Tahoe, and the surrounding areas. Parker
was noted for his photographs of California, especially his images of the California Missions and the Tournament of Roses
parades; he was also responsible for the earliest aerial images of Pasadena. A commercial photographer, Parker worked as a
contract photographer for the Pasadena Star-News Tournament of Roses edition, and took pictures of civic and social organizations, local retailers, and private individuals
who commissioned him to record their gatherings, buildings, and various rites of passage.
Extent
5157 photographs in 60 boxes and 4 binders (44.47 linear feet)
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities.
The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the
researcher.
Availability
Advance arrangements for viewing the collection must be made with the Curator of Photographs. The collection is open to qualified
researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please visit the Huntington's website: www.huntington.org.