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Guide to the Edward W. Cochems Photographs
MS.R.016
MS.R.016
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Table of contents
Title: Edward W. Cochems photographs
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.016
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
8.2 Linear feet
(23 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1919-1949
Abstract: This collection is comprised of approximately 1,200 photographs taken by Edward William Cochems, a prominent commercial photographer
in Santa Ana, California, between ca. 1919-ca. 1949. The images are principally views of Southern California, primarily Orange
County locations. Areas receiving the most coverage include San Juan Capistrano, Del Mar, the Irvine Ranch (80 images), Laguna
Beach (120 images), the Rosicrucians monastery (Oceanside, California), San Luis Rey Mission, and Santa Ana (55 images). There
are approximately 40 studio portraits by Cochems in the collection. Approximately 130 images are of unidentified subjects.
Individual photographs are undated.
Creator:
Cochems, Edward W. (Edward William), 1874-1949
Selected digitized images from this collection.
Collection is open for research. Use of negatives is restricted to Special Collections staff.
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Edward W. Cochems Photographs. MS-R16. Department of Special Collections, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Gifts of Eldon McNeil (negatives) and Adeline Cochems Walker (Mrs. Weston Walker, daughter of E.W. Cochems; Laguna Beach and
family photographic prints), 1968-1969.
Processed by Special Collections staff in 1969 and 1997-2000. Original glass negatives duplicated and printed in 1969.
Edward W. Cochems was born in Chicago on October 13, 1874 and died in Orange, California, on July 31, 1949 at the age of 74.
He married Emma Glaser of Chicago, Illinois, on October 14, 1902; they had one daughter, Adeline, born on July 10, 1904.
Cochems came to Orange County from Los Angeles in 1915, where he had collaborated with Henry Hauser since 1912 in the operation
of the following community newspapers: Artesia News, Bellflower Herald, a newspaper in Downey and the Buena Park Herald. A
self-taught photographer, he operated his own commercial photography business, "Cochems the Photographer," in four different
Santa Ana locations between 1915 and ca. 1947. His firm specialized in commercial photography, though he was engaged in making
motion pictures and served as photography instructor from 1939-1944 for the adult education program at Lathrop Junior High
School.
Cochems was involved in many civic and fraternal organizations, including IOOF (Odd Fellows), Knights of Pythias, Moose Lodge,
Santa Ana Breakfast Club, and others. He formed the first Association of Photographers in Santa Ana and was its first President.
He held a life membership in the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Laguna Beach Art Association. Additional
biographical information, including essays written by Cochems and by his daughter Adeline, is on file.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection is comprised of approximately 1,200 photographs taken by Edward William Cochems, a prominent commercial photographer
in Santa Ana, California, between ca. 1919-ca. 1949. The images are principally views of Southern California, primarily Orange
County locations. Areas receiving the most coverage include San Juan Capistrano, Del Mar, the Irvine Ranch (80 images), Laguna
Beach (120 images), the Rosicrucians monastery (Oceanside, California), San Luis Rey Mission, and Santa Ana (55 images). There
are approximately 40 studio portraits by Cochems in the collection. Approximately 130 images are of unidentified subjects.
Individual photographs are undated.
This collection is organized in 2 series:
- Series 1. Photographic prints, ca. 1919-ca. 1949. 3 linear ft.
- Series 2. Negatives, ca. 1919-ca. 1949. 5.2 linear ft.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cochems, Edward W. (Edward William), 1874-1949 -- Photograph collections.
McNeil, Eldon
Mission San Juan Capistrano -- Photographs.
San Luis Rey Mission (Calif.) -- Photographs..
Walker, Adeline Cochems, former owner.
Negatives -- California -- Orange County.
Photographers -- California -- Orange County.
Photographic prints -- California -- Orange County.
Rosicrucians -- California -- Oceanside -- Photographs.
Santa Ana (Calif.) -- Photographs.