Find aid for Views on the Isthmus, circa 1870 95.R.20
Beth Ann Guynn
Special Collections
2016
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections
Title: Views on the Isthmus album
Identifier/Call Number: 95.R.20
Physical Description:
1 album(s)
(21 photographs)
Date (inclusive): circa 1870
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Abstract: The album
Views on the Isthmus contains 21 views, taken by an unknown photographer, of the Isthmus of Panama along the route of the Panama Railroad, roughly
in the area where the Panama Canal was eventually built. Included are views of Aspinwall (Colón), the northwest terminus of
the railroad and western entrance of the canal; the stations along the railroad; and Panama City, the southern railroad terminus
and canal entrance.
Language of Material: The material is in English
Scope and Content of Collection
The album contains 21 albumen photographs, taken by an unknown photographer around 1870, of the Isthmus of Panama along the
route of the Panama Railroad, roughly in the area where the Panama Canal was eventually built. Included are views of Aspinwall
(Colón), the northwest terminus of the railroad and western entrance of the canal; the stations along the railroad; and Panama
City, the southern railroad terminus and canal entrance.
The album is bound in brown leather and closes with a silver metal clasp on its foredge. The title is written on the verso
of the free front endpaper: Views on the Isthmus. The inital "V" is in the shape of a palm tree.
The photographs are only on the recto pages. Image titles are hand-printed in English in ink, watercolor and pencil with decorative
capitals and floral elements on the mounts below the images. From the twelfth image onward the titles and decorations are
only penciled in. There are four blank pages at the end of the album.
Processing History
Processed in 1996 by Beth Ann Guynn who wrote the finding aid in 2016.
Preferred Citation
Views on the Isthmus, circa 1870, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 95.R.20.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa95r20
Publication Rights
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Biographical/Historical Note
The views in the album were taken by an unidentified amateur photographer.
Arrrangement
Arranged in a single series: Series I. Views on the Isthmus, circa 1870.
Acquisition information
The album was acquired in 1995.
Digitized Material
The collection was digitized by the repository and the images are available online:
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/95r20
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Panama, Isthmus of (Panama) -- Description and travel
Panama (Panama) -- Description and travel
Panama -- Description and travel
Photographs, Original
Photograph albums -- Panama -- 19th century
Albumen prints -- Panama -- 19th century
Colón (Panama) -- Description and travel
Views on the Isthmus, Series I.
approximately 1870
Views on the Isthmus: approximately 1870
Arrangement
In original order.
box 1, page Title page
Title page 95.R.20-tp
Scope and Contents
Written on the verso of the free front endpaper: Views on the Isthmus. With a decorated inital "V" in the shape of a palm
tree.
box 1, page 1
Main Street, Aspinwall
95.R.20-1
box 1, page 2
Statue Presented by the Empress Eugenie, Aspinwall 95.R.20-2
box 1, page 3
Aspinwall on the Sea Front 95.R.20-3
box 1, page 4
Church and Monument at Aspinwall 95.R.20-4
Scope and Contents
Shows the John L. Stephens monument.
box 1, page 5
Aspinwall from the Top of the Light House [sic] (Aspinwall from the Top of the Lighthouse) 95.R.20-5
box 1, page 6
Residence of Supt. of PRR & PMSS Co. 95.R.20-6
box 1, page 7
Mameii Station, PRR: Passing Point 95.R.20-7
box 1, page 8
Shagus River, Gatun Station and Village [Chagrus River, Gatun Station and Village) 95.R.20-8
Scope and Contents
The "u" in Shagus is struck through with "re" penciled above it.
box 1, page 9
Lion Hill Station 95.R.20-9
box 1, page 10
Buenavista (Buenavista Station) 95.R.20-10
Scope and Contents
Superimposed over title in light black ink: Station.
box 1, page 11
Orgona 95.R.20-11
Scope and Contents
View of a large organ pipe cactus next to village huts.
box 1, page 12
Panama Station 95.R.20-12
box 1, page 13
View on the North Side of Cathedral Plaza 95.R.20-13
box 1, page 15
Pacific Mail Shops, Isle de Noa, Panama Bay 95.R.20-15
box 1, page 16
Cathedral Plaza 95.R.20-16
Scope and Contents
View of the Grand Hotel. 95.R.20-16 and 95.R.20-17 depict two different hotel buildings with similar names.
box 1, page 17
Cathedral Plaza 95.R.20-17
Scope and Contents
View of the Grand Central Hotel. 95.R.20-16 and 95.R.20-17 depict two different hotel buildings with similar names.
box 1, page 18
City of Panama from Mt. Ancon 95.R.20-18
box 1, page 19
Panama from Mt. Ancon 95.R.20-19
box 1, page 20
American Wharf, Panama 95.R.20-20
box 1, page 21
Islands in Bay of Panama: Dead Man's, Flamengo, Isle de Noa, Taboga 95.R.20-21
