Fred Jukes correspondence, 1938-1962

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Summary

Abstract:
Letters to and from John B. Madden concerning the use of Jukes' photographs for paintings, 1962. Also Jukes' Christmas cards using his photographs, circa 1938-1939.
Extent:
.167 Linear Feet 1 folder
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Fred Jukes Correspondence, MS 354, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California

Background

Scope and content:

Letters to and from John B. Madden concerning the use of Jukes' photographs for paintings, 1962. Also Jukes' Christmas cards using his photographs, circa 1938-1939.

Biographical / historical:

Mark Frederick "Fred" Jukes (1877-1971) was a prominent rail photographer, known most famously for his action shots of locomotives on narrow gauge railroads in Colorado. Born in Emerson, Manitoba, Canada, in 1877, Jukes and his family moved to Virginia City, Nevada in 1892. It was in Virginia City that Jukes first became fascinated with the railroad, when he began studying mechanical drawings from the Colliery Engineer Company. The same year, he purchased his first camera for five dollars and produced his first known photograph (of a Virginia & Truckee 4-4-0).

In 1894 Jukes and his family moved to Bellingham, Washington, where his interest in railroading continued to grow. Jukes parlayed this interest into a career first with the Canadian Pacific as an engine wiper, and later in the shops of the Colorado Midland Railway. Poor eyesight prevented Jukes from gaining a position as a locomotive engineer, and he turned to photography as a full-time job by 1900, although he briefly returned to railroading in 1902 after selling his gallery in Laramie, Wyoming.

In 1903 Jukes moved to Rawlins, Wyoming, and entered a partnership with photographer Greeley Barber to form Ferris Studios. He and Barber would separate as partners in 1907 due to Barber's failing health, however they reunited several times to work together until Barber's death in 1934. While remaining in Rawlins, Jukes was able to travel across the western United States on various assignments before finally settling in Bellingham, Washington where he opened a studio.

Over the course of his professional career, Jukes photographed a multitude of subjects however he continued to focus primarily on locomotives and railroads and contributed photographs and articles to railroad magazines, including Railway and Locomotive Engineering. Jukes was best known for his preference of spontaneous action views of locomotives (specifically steam locomotives) in motion, which set him apart from his contemporaries, who focused instead posed locomotives in carefully planned environments. Jukes officially retired in 1942 after selling his studio in Bellingham, although he maintained close ties with other railroad photographers, including Otto Perry and Richard Kindig.

Fred Jukes died in Bellingham, Washington on January 2, 1971, at the age of 93.

Processing information:

Formerly part of MS 1.15

Physical location:
Statewide Museum Collections Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Places:
Correspondence--Letters

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM 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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Fred Jukes Correspondence, MS 354, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California

Location of this collection:
111 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 323-8073
Library.CSRM@parks.ca.gov
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