Description
The Frank B. Rodolph collection consists of 1,254 original photographs taken chiefly by Frank B. Rodolph in the 1880s and
early 1890s. His subjects include a variety of cityscapes, Oakland residences and other buildings throughout the San Francisco
Bay Area, Sonoma County, Santa Cruz and Monterey areas of California. Many of the photographs are of recreational and leisure
activities, including outings and camps of a Bay Area group that called themselves "the Merry Tramps of Oakland." Rodolph
was also active in the Oakland Camera Club, and other photographers are sometimes visible in outing photographs. It is not
clear how much cross-over there may have been between the Camera Club and the Merry Tramps, and any given excursion pictured
may have been taken with members of one or both clubs.
Background
Frank Bequette Rodolph (1843-1923) was a commercial photographer active in Oakland during the 1870s, 1880s, and into the 1890s.
Born in Wisconsin, he and his family traveled overland to California in 1850. They settled first in Placerville and later
operated a ranch on Cache Creek. Moving to Oakland in 1869, Rodolph attended business college and opened a stationery store
on Broadway in partnership with his father. The store also sold school books and sheet music, and in the 1880s Rodolph began
doing printing work as well. Many of his photographs were taken on his extensive travels throughout California.
Extent
1254 photographs
in 16 albums and 620 digital objects
: chiefly albumen prints
Restrictions
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies
Availability
Collection is open for use.