Description
The collection consists of 139 landscape views, 15 «" x 21", and nine 39" x 58" enlargements. Two of the latter are enlargements
of smaller 15 «" x 21" photographs. The two remaining photographs in the collection are of the drawing, Celebration of Admission
Day, October 29, 1850 and a painting of Sutter's Mill in 1867 by Charles Christian Nahl, the famous painter of California
pioneer life. These two views were probably popular sales items in Watkins' studio. The 39" x 58" enlargements are of miscellaneous
views in California. The 15 «" x 21" views are of three definite geographical areas : the Comstock Lode in Nevada; Nevada
County in California; and two mining claims on the Feather River in California. All of these smaller views are of the Watkins
New Series, (indicated in the listing as Watkins' no.) although some prints are not marked as such. None of the 39" x 58"
enlargements are marked with Watkins' name but they can be shown to be his work by the character of the printed titles and
by the fact that smaller photographs of the same views are definitely identified as Watkin's pictures. A complete list of
the titles of the photographs in the Hearst Collection is presented below. In this list Watkins' own photograph number is
shown (when appearing). All of the original photographs are albumen.
Background
Carleton E. Watkins was born in Oneonta, Oswego county, New York, on November 11, 1829. He was the youngest of five children
of a Scottish innkeeper. During his youth he became acquainted with Collis P. Huntington, who frequented his father's hotel.
Soon after the discovery of gold, both young men went to California, where Huntington later became one of the Big Four who
built the Central Pacific Railroad.
Extent
150 photographs in 12 oversize boxes
139 digital objects
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted
in writing to the Curator of Pictorial Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library
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.
Availability
Original prints are restricted and may not be viewed unless permission is granted by the Curator of Pictorial Collections.
Viewing prints are available under the call number : BANC PIC 1905.17175--PIC.