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Title: V. Covert Martin Family Papers
Dates: 1918-1966
Collection Number: MSS 009
Creator/Collector:
Martin, Van Covert, 1885-1962
Extent: 17.5 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific
Stockton, California 95211
Abstract: Asa Van Covert “Cove” Martin was a Stockton
photographer/historian. His photographic career began in 1899 when he served as
an apprentice for a year in Nevada City, California. He soon returned to
Stockton, and worked with photographer Charles W. Logan. Martin married Adeline
Bazo in 1910. He went into business for himself in 1915. He served as news
photographer for the Stockton Record until 1923. Martin was a freelance
commercial photographer until 1944. He spent much of his time collecting and
printing negatives of other early photographers, including William H. Rulofson,
W.M. Stuart, J. Pitcher Spooner, and Charles W. Logan. He compiled a collection
of nearly 20,000 Stockton and San Joaquin County photographs.
Language of Material: English
Collection open for research.
[Identification of item]. V. Covert
Martin Family Papers. Collection Number: MSS 009. University of the Pacific
His collection of notes for his book
were acquired by The University of the Pacific in 1964. His photograph
collection and other papers were given to the University by R. Coke Wood in
1967. Martin had given them to Wood in gratitude for his writing Stockton Album
Through the Years. Additional material (MS 9B) was obtained via purchase in
1991 and again in 1994 from John B. Williams.
Biography/Administrative History
Asa Van Covert "Cove"
Martin was a Stockton photographer/historian. His photographic career began in
1899 when he served as an apprentice for a year in Nevada City, California. He
soon returned to Stockton, and worked with photographer, Charles W. Logan.
Martin married Adeline Bazo in 1910. He went into business for himself
in 1915. He served as news photographer for the Stockton Record until 1923.
Martin was a free-lance commercial photographer until 1944. He spent much of
his time collecting and printing negatives of other early photographers
including William H. Rulofson, W. M. Stuart, J. Pitcher Spooner, and Charles W.
Logan. He compiled a collection of nearly 20,000 historic Stockton and San
Joaquin County photographs.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains
Martin’s preparatory notes to a pictorial history of Stockton, Stockton
Album—Through the Years (1959). The collection also contains personal
correspondence, account books, day books, financial records, research notes,
and photographs. Martin took many aerial photographs of Stockton and the
surrounding area during his commercial career. His photograph collection was
given to the University of the Pacific by R. Coke Wood in 1967 and serves as
the core collection in Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections’
Photograph Collections.
The collection also includes personal
correspondence and family papers of Martin’s mother, Josephine Amanda Tam
Martin Stewart (1847-1929), a seamstress, who was the daughter of early
settlers near Stockton. Of interest are records of John Thomas Tam (1860-1896),
an actor and necromancer with the Pawnee Medicine Company. There are also many
papers regarding Martin’s real estate holdings and the development of the
“Miracle Mile” shopping district.
Photographers - California - Stockton
Photography - California - 20th century
Photography - California - 19th century
Photography
Photographers
Stockton (Calif.) - History -Sources
Real property -California -Stockton