Harry Babcock Photograph Albums, 1881-1883

Summary

Creators:

Babcock, Harry

Extent:

175 photographic prints; compiled in 2 albums, each measuring 32 x 28 cm. 175 digital objects

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

The Harry Babcock Photograph Albums collection contains 175 photographic prints taken between 1881 and 1883, presumably by Harry Babcock. The collection contains many scenes of outdoor recreational activities, including hunting, fishing, boating, and camping. The natural locations photographed include Yosemite, San Andreas Lake, various parts of the Sacramento, McCloud and Pitt Rivers, Lagunitas, Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Shasta, Eddy Mountain, San Francisco Bay, Mud Lake, Picayune Lake, Buck Lake, Castle Lake, Pilarcitos, and the Suisun marshes. There are also photographs of Babcock's hunting dogs, hunting partners, and killed game.

The collection also features photographs of those who are likely family members and friends of Babcock, as well as various residences and properties. Though most people are not identified, those that are include a Mr. Randolph, a Mr. Plaw, a W.B.F., and a Captain M. Identified residences include the Babcock homes in San Francisco, San Rafael and at San Andreas Lake; the Plaw residence, East Oakland; the Lick house, Gilroy Hot Springs; The McD. residence, Menlo Park; the Walken cottage, Lagunitas; the T. Walker cottage, San Rafael; the Captain M. house, Army Point, Benicia; two Sisson residences, Shasta County; and an unidentified residence at Soda Springs. Also included are views of San Francisco; the U.S. Fishery on the McCloud River; the Cordelia Shooting Club and Teal Station on Suisun Bay; and the grounds, residences, and surrounding vicinity of the Guadalupe Quicksilver Mine in Santa Clara County.

The collection is made up of two leather-bound albums, fully captioned in manuscript, with all prints being mounted to board pages. Most prints measure approximately 12 x 20 cm. The name "Harry Babcock" is embossed on the front cover of each album.

Biographical / historical:

According to Langley's San Francisco Directory of 1881-1882, Harry Babcock was a clerk at Parrott & Co. and resided at 11 Essex Street in San Francisco. The collection features several photographs of this residence. The partners of Parrott & Co. were Louis B. Parrott, William F. Babcock, and William Babcock. Both William F. and William also resided at 11 Essex Street and are referred to in the albums' captions. The relations among the three Babcock's is undetermined.

Acquisition information:

The Harry Babcock Photograph Albums were purchased in 1954.

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

Website