Atkinson family and Atkinson Construction Company photograph collection, circa 1865-circa 1975,, bulk bulk 1890-1940

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Summary

Creators:
Atkinson family
Abstract:
Chiefly family portraits and snapshots of the Atkinson family (of Colorado Springs and Los Angeles), with some views related to their construction business. Construction photographs are chiefly related to the Pardee Dam and Coolidge Dam projects.
Extent:
Number of containers: 2 cartons, 2 boxes, 3 oversized boxes (circa 900 photographic prints, 6 negatives, and 1 watercolor).
Language:
Collection materials are in English

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists chiefly of portraits, snapshots and photograph albums of the Atkinson family (of Colorado Springs and Los Angeles), with some views related to their construction business. Atkinson Construction views include single images of several Colorado Springs buildings constructed in the 19th century, and several dozen professional views of major 20th century projects. Pardee Dam, Coolidge Dam, and Cave Creek Dam (Arizona) construction are most notable, with between six and several dozen views of each. A few dam-related public event photographs picturing Atkinsons with Roy Rogers, Calvin Coolidge, and Franklin D. Roosevelt are present.

Family photographs include several hundred studio portraits (chiefly taken in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Los Angeles, 1885-1935), primarily of the Walter W. Atkinson and the Lynn Samuel Atkinson families. Guy F. Atkinson and family are also represented by a few portraits. Some relations from the Marks, Shirk, and Warner families (of Indiana, Illinois, and Colorado) and the Blackman family (of Louisiana) are pictured. Of note are numerous professional photographs of Atkinson family homes in Colorado Springs and Los Angeles, with exteriors and interiors pictured. Family gatherings and celebrations, outings and other activities are also well represented.

Biographical / historical:

Lynn S. Atkinson, Walter W. Atkinson, and Guy F. Atkinson were three of at least ten children of stone mason George W. Atkinson (1836-1905) and Nancy J. Wilson Atkinson. All three brothers were involved in the construction industry, and Lynn and Walter relocated from Colorado to Southern California early in the 20th century. Guy Atkinson founded Guy F. Atkinson Construction in the 1920s, specializing in dam projects and other major infrastructure projects in the West. Lynn S. Atkinson was responsible for construction of numerous schools and public buildings in Colorado Springs and the Los Angeles area and, later, dams and public works. Lynn S. Atkinson, Jr., eldest son of Lynn Atkinson, became head of the Atkinson Construction Co., based in Los Angeles.

Acquisition information:
The Atkinson family and Atkinson Construction Company Photograph Collection was purchased by The Bancroft Library in November, 2006.
Physical location:
Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

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