Description
The Peter E. Palmquist Working Photograph Collection contains approximately 5,000 images from Northwest California, especially
Humboldt County. 3,700 of these images can be viewed in the Library's Humboldt Room and searched through the Humboldt Room
Photograph Collections database. There is a close association between this collection and major portions of the Peter E. Palmquist
Photograph Collection at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.
Background
Peter Palmquist spent his early years in Oakland, California, then moved to Humboldt County. The family lived outside Ferndale
where Peter attended a one room elementary school. Starting at age 12 he taught himself photography. He graduated from Ferndale
High School and then enlisted in the United State Army. While he was stationed in Paris with the Supreme Headquarters Allied
Powers Europe, he continued his study of photography and began his professional work as photographer. When he returned to
Humboldt County, bringing his young family, he attended Humboldt State College and was employed as the official university
photographer. He held that position long after his 1965 graduation, finally retiring in 1989. Throughout those years Peter
also ran a commercial photography business. Starting in 1971, Palmquist became interested in historical images, an interest
that led him in many directions. He died in 2003 immediately after being gravely injured by a hit and run driver.
At first his interest in old photographs led to studying the history of his own profession and then the lives of past photographers,
but it quickly incorporated an interest in the informational content revealed in a photograph. He started collecting images
taken in northwestern California, but this soon broadened out to include other areas and led to a collection of images from
all of western North America. Later his interest in women who worked in any aspect of photography led to extensive research
in and collecting of photographs by women worldwide. Working with the Women in Photography International Peter developed and
served as curator of the Women in Photography International Archive, which was housed at his home in Arcata. Throughout this
time Peter generously shared the information he was discovering and collecting through numerous writings, exhibits, presentations,
and workshops.