Thérèse Bonney photograph collection, circa 1850-circa 1955, bulk 1930-1945

Summary

Creators:

Bonney, Thérèse

Extent:

100 linear feet, 5,147 digital objects (5,147 images)

Language:

French , English

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Thérèse Bonney photograph collection, BANC PIC 1982.111, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

The Thérèse Bonney photograph collection at The Bancroft Library consists chiefly of documentary photography taken in various parts of Europe before and during World War II and portraits of well known artists and designers taken by Bonney while living in Paris, France. Also present are images documenting Bonney's life, family history, and collecting interests. Although portraiture related to art, fashion, and design is present, it should be noted that the Bancroft Library's collection has little of her photographic documentation of architecture and design in Paris; such materials were given by Bonney to the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and perhaps other institutions. An important component of the Bancroft Library collection is Bonney's photographic work made while traveling throughout Europe, particularly as a war correspondent during World War II. Photographs forming her pictorial manuscript of "Europe's Children", "War Comes to the People", "The Vatican", and other works for publication are present.

The collection also features materials compiled by Bonney relating to various interests, including the history of photography. While her personal collection of daguerreotypes and objects related to early photography is not part of the Bancroft Library collection, there are many copy photographs and photographs that document exhibits curated by Bonney. In addition, autobiographical material and material related to Bonney's family are included. Some of this family portraiture dates to the mid-19th century, from portrait studios in New York state.

The collection includes 9 folio albums (designated "fALB" in this finding aid) that relate to Bonney's book projects. They contain typescript caption text and silver gelatin photographic prints, presumably created as mock-ups for published editions. Bonney has labeled several as "pictorial manuscripts". The albums are referenced within this finding aid's Container List within the descriptions of the relevant Series. Some of these albums have been cited by researchers prior to the current volume numbering, so their contents are briefly listed here. Volume 1-3: "The Vatican" -- Volume 4: "War comes to the people" (formerly "album # 1") -- Volume 4a: "And in another land" (a part, or "episode" of War comes to the people) -- Volume 5: "War comes to the people" (also labeled "Album No. II, To Whom war is done. Complete 6/68". Formerly cited as Carton 15, Album II) -- Volume 6: "Battle of freedom" ("English book III, War comes to the people") -- Volume 7: Friendship chain -- Volume 8: "The Tale of Europe's Children" (Carnegie Hall version, given Feb 20, 1943.) -- Volume 9: "Daguerre Book" (with outline for "High spots in one hundred years of photography").

Biographical / historical:

Mabel Thérèse Bonney, born July 15, 1900. Graduate, University of California, Berkeley. A.B., M.A., Docteur de l'Université de Paris. Journalist/war correspondent, photographer, author. Carnegie Corporation Grant recipient. Member French Legion of Honor, recipient Croix de Guerre, Battle of France, 1940. Died, Paris, January 23, 1978.

Acquisition information:

The Thérèse Bonney photograph collection, along with her papers, were given to The Bancroft Library in 1978 by the estate of Thérèse Bonney.

Processing information:

The collection has been arranged by the library into sixteen series. Series 1-6 are arranged according to logbooks kept by Bonney in which groups of numbered negatives are listed under a subject entry. These subject entries are represented in the finding aid, and any extant corresponding prints are noted. Any un-numbered materials related to the series have been arranged following the numbered materials. Copies of Bonney's original logbooks from which these entries have been transcribed are also filed with the relevant photographic print files. Only broad entries have been recorded in the finding aid as file headings, while the logbooks often provide more specific (although brief) identifications of individual photographs. Availability of a Logbook for a given group of material has been noted in the container listing of this finding aid.

For Series 1-6, photographic prints are, chiefly, in files in groups as found, often having been removed from envelopes annotated by Bonney. These envelopes were photocopied, with copies retained in the files. A print file can contain images from numerous film rolls, and this finding aid does not list the print folders present. Rather, the presence and location of prints is indicated under the subject entries for negatives, derived from the photographer's logbooks.

Most negatives in Series 1 and all negatives in Series 2 and Series 6 were scanned between 2017 and 2023. Each image was given the title of Bonney's file of negatives in which it was found, as recorded in her logbooks (notebooks), usually with no additional description. These file titles are intended to provide context for the image, but they usually do not convey any details of the individual image content. Some entries have been updated based on image comparison, log book entry, or details submitted by the public after online posting. In time more may be updated with descriptive information.

Physical location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Physical description:

Extent: 16 boxes (photographic prints), 6 boxes (photographic portraits), 11 boxes (oversize photographic prints), 2 items (cased photographs), 10 albums, 2 cartons (objects), 6 boxes (lantern slides), 108 boxes (film negatives), 39 boxes (glass negatives), 2 cartons (objects)

Rules or conventions:

Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Related resources

Alternative form available:

Digital reproductions of selected images are available. Most negatives in Series 1 (Finland) and all negatives in Series 2 (France, Portugal, Belgium 1940) and Series 6 (France, Germany 1944-1946) have been scanned (5,117 images), plus 30 ad hoc scans from various series.

Other descriptive data:

Related materials include the Thérèse Bonney papers (BANC MSS 83/111 z) and Thérèse Bonney papers relating to her photographic work (BANC MSS 70/91 c), both at the Bancroft Library.

Other collections of Thérèse Bonney photographs in the United States include the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York Public Library, and Library of Congress. In France, related collections are housed at the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (CMN) and the Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

World War, 1939-1945--Europe.
Children and war--Europe.
Women photographers.
Artists--France--20th century--Photographs.
Authors--France--20th Century--Photographs.
Photographs.

Restrictions:

Photographic prints are open for research.

NITRATE NEGATIVES ("NNEG") ARE CLOSED TO RESEARCH DUE TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESTRICTIONS. Other negatives are available by appointment only.

ALBUMS are RESTRICTED due to fragile condition and loose materials. Permission of curator required for use.

OBJECTS are RESTRICTED. Permission of curator required for use.

Inquiries concerning restricted materials should be directed, in writing, via The Bancroft Library's Application for Access to Restricted Materials form.

Terms of access:

Thérèse Bonney's copyright has been assigned to the University of California Regents. The photographs in this collection are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY 4.0). The following attribution is required for all uses of these photographs: "Thérèse Bonney © The Regents of the University of California, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. This work is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license."

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Thérèse Bonney photograph collection, BANC PIC 1982.111, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

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