Ed Kirwan ASUC photograph archive, bulk 1942-2002, bulk 1945-1975

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Summary

Creators:
Kirwan, Ed, Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts, and University of California, Berkeley. Associated Students
Abstract:
Photographs of student life, athletics, campus events, and buildings and grounds at the University of California, Berkeley, chiefly from 1942 into the 1970s. The photographs were created by the ASUC Photography Department, headed by Ed Kirwan from about 1957, and later under contract to Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts.
Extent:
153 boxes (and approximately 25 cartons and 5 oversize boxes of unprocessed additional negatives and prints)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ed Kirwan ASUC photograph archive, UARC PIC 27P, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

Photographs of student life, athletics, campus events, speakers and prominent visitors, and buildings and grounds at the University of California, Berkeley. The photographs date chiefly from 1942 into the 1970s and were created by the ASUC Photography Department (for some time named ASUC Graphic Arts), headed, after about 1957, by Ed Kirwan. The work of various photographers employed by the department is assumed to be present. Work after June 1 1964 was produced under contract by Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts for the ASUC or other campus departments. The bulk of the images date from 1949-1968, but some material into the 1980s is present, as well as faculty portraiture as late as 2002. Topics included are sports, social events, student organizations, identification photographs, activity and event photographs for the Blue and Gold yearbook, etc. The portion of the collection that remains unprocessed contains chiefly non-UC work by Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts, such as freelance jobs, passport and i.d. portraits for walk-in customers, a small quantity of Berkeley Gazette work, and unsorted photographic prints in approximately 5 boxes.

Biographical / historical:

Bernal Edmon (Ed) Kirwan, born 1923, was a staff photographer for the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC, Berkeley) from the late 1940s until the mid-1960s. By 1957-1958 Kirwan was listed in campus directories as Director of the ASUC Photography Department. In Spring of 1964 the Photography Department (then called ASUC Graphic Arts) in Eshleman Hall was closed and Kirwan established his own freelance studio, Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts, located across the street from campus on Bancroft Way. As reported in the Daily Californian (April 15, 1964), Kirwan was sold the ASUC Graphic Arts operation and awarded the ASUC photography contract, so he continued to document Berkeley student events, athletics, organizations, and a wide range of campus activities through the 1960s, into the 1970s, and beyond. By the late 1960s the scope of his campus photographic work had diminished, but he continued to take portraits and undertake more specific photography jobs for various offices or departments of the University. The business later moved to 9th Street in west Berkeley, where it continued to operate into the 21st century.

Acquisition information:
The Ed Kirwan ASUC photograph archive was given to The Bancroft Library by the estate of Ed Kirwan in December, 2018.
Processing information:

Preliminary processing by Bancroft Library Staff in 2019.

Arrangement:

This collection is organized into series according to filing codes assigned by the ASUC Photography Dept. or Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts. In the 1940s, codes are numeric and based on the year of creation. In 1949 and thereafter a topical alpha-numeric code system was established, as reflected in this guide. (The series titles in this guide have been created by Bancroft Library staff to better summarize the contents of various file codes established by the creators. Occasionally non-consecutive code runs have been brought together under a single series title, e.g. the alumni magazine appears with other Alumni Association images although they are filed under a different code assigned to various publications.)

  1. Series 1, Chronological file: 1940s
  2. Series 2, Athletics
  3. Series 3, Students (by class)
  4. Series 4, Student Residential Life
  5. Series 5, Student Activities and Groups
  6. Series 6, Public Information Office and University Relations
  7. Series 7, UC Berkeley Publications
  8. Series 8, Faculty and Administrators
  9. Series 9, Alumni Association
  10. Series 10, Campus, Grounds, and Buildings
  11. Series 11, University Events
  12. Series 12, UC Graduate Programs or Schools
  13. Series 13, Miscellaneous (UC)
  14. Series 14, Electrical Engineering Department
  15. Unprocessed negatives (non-UC), prints, and files
Physical location:
Many Bancroft Library collections are stored off-site and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Physical facet:
photographs : chiefly black and white film negatives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Negatives of UC subjects (NEG boxes 1-153): available by appointment. Remainder of collection: UNPROCESSED. UNAVAILABLE FOR USE. Consult library catalog for details.

Terms of access:

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 .

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ed Kirwan ASUC photograph archive, UARC PIC 27P, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, University Archives, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
(510) 642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
Website