Ansel Adams photographs of the Wayburn family, 1963

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Summary

Creators:
Adams, Ansel, 1902-1984 and Wayburn, Edgar, Dr., 1906-2010
Abstract:
A collection of 12 Polaroid (black and white) peel-apart type 100 packfilm prints depicting five members of the Wayburn family as well as one still life, taken by Ansel Adams in 1963 at his home in Carmel, CA.
Extent:
0.1 Linear Feet in 1 folder within manuscript box
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item, date]; Ansel Adams photographs of the Wayburn family; 1988-001; [box number]; [item identifier]; William E. Colby Memorial Library, Sierra Club.

Background

Scope and content:

The Ansel Adams photographs of the Wayburn family (1988-001) depict Dr. Edgar Wayburn, his wife Peggy, and their four children Cynthia, Diana, Laurie, and William during a 1963 visit to Adams' home in Carmel, CA. The twelve photographs are printed on Polaroid (black and white) peel-apart type 100 packfilm. They include five single shots of Dr. Wayburn; one of Dr. Wayburn and his daughter Laurie; two of wife Peggy Wayburn with daughter Diana; two single shots of Cynthia Wayburn; one single shot of William Wayburn; and one image of a still life containing a bowl, candles, and other objects.

Biographical / historical:

Ansel Adams (1902-1984) was born in San Francisco, CA. In 1919, at age 17, he had his first contact with the Sierra Club when he took a job as custodian of the Club's LeConte Memorial Lodge (renamed the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center in 2016), the Club headquarters in Yosemite National Park.

Adams' role in the Sierra Club grew rapidly and the Club became vital to his early success as a photographer. His first photographs and writings were published in the Sierra Club Bulletin. Adams also got involved politically in the Club, suggesting proposals for improving parks and wilderness, and soon became known as both an artist and defender of Yosemite. In 1934, Adams was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club, a role he maintained for 37 years. His tenure (1934-1971) spanned the years that the Club evolved into a powerful national organization that lobbied to create national parks and protect the environment from destructive development projects.

Adams' friendship with Dr. Edgar Wayburn likely began while working together in the Sierra Club. In 1939, Wayburn joined the Club and began attending its annual trips to the Sierra Nevada, of which Adams was a frequent attendee. As Wayburn's involvement in conservation issues and the Sierra Club grew, he joined Adams as an elected member of the Club's Board of Directors in 1957, where they both remained for several decades. Wayburn would go on to be a five-term president of the Sierra Club.

In 1962, Adams moved from San Francisco to Carmel, CA, where he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife Virginia received numerous guests over the years, including the Wayburn family – Dr. Edgar Wayburn, his wife and fellow conservationist Peggy, and their four children Cynthia, Diana, Laurie, and William. Along with Peggy, Dr. Wayburn played a pivotal role in the creation of Redwood National Park, Point Reyes National Seashore, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, as well as securing over 100 million acres of public lands in Alaska which earned Dr. Wayburn the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Edgar Wayburn on May 25, 1988.
Processing information:

Items were given to the Colby Library by Dr. Wayburn on May 25, 1988 in a Sierra Club envelop, with a typed note stating "All photographs taken by Ansel Adams at his Carmel home, probably September 1963." Envelop has been retained in collection. Some additional description is written on the back of some images, but no other description was provided with collection. Images have been described at the item level and include links to digital surrogates.

Arrangement:

This collection has not been arranged by an archivist. The materials are arranged in the order in which they were received from the donor.

Physical / technical requirements:

Due to the fragile nature of the original materials, researchers must use the digitized version online. Please contact Colby Library, colby.library@sierraclub.org, 415-977-5506 for more information.

Dimensions:
4.25 × 3.25 inches
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Repository permission is required for access. Please contact Colby Library, colby.library@sierraclub.org, 415-977-5506.

Terms of access:

This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item, date]; Ansel Adams photographs of the Wayburn family; 1988-001; [box number]; [item identifier]; William E. Colby Memorial Library, Sierra Club.

Location of this collection:
2101 Webster Street, Suite 1300
Oakland, CA 94612, US
Contact:
(415) 977-5506
colby.library@sierraclub.org
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