Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- H.C. Tibbitts Photograph Collection
- Dates:
- 1909-1915
- Creators:
- Tibbitts, Howard Coffin
- Abstract:
- The H.C. Tibbitts Photograph collection contains 114 black and white photographic prints taken by H.C. Tibbitts during his employment as a contract photographer for the Southern Pacific Railroad's magazine Sunset. The photographs predominately depict landscapes and agricultural views of the Santa Clara Valley between 1909 and 1915.
- Extent:
- Containers: 3 boxes Volume: .68 cubic feet
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], H.C. Tibbitts Photograph Collection, 07.01, Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection is comprised of 114 black and white photographic prints taken by H.C. Tibbitts between 1909 and 1915. The photos are organized numerically mirroring the chronology of his travels. The majority of the photographs are geographically focused on the Santa Clara Valley, though additional photos of Vallejo, Martinez, Santa Cruz, and Big Basin State Park are included in the collection. The photographs generally feature beautifully composed landscapes of the Santa Clara Valley, focusing on agricultural scenes including orchards in blossom. Several panoramic prints have been created through the composite of multiple photographs. Popular historic photographic subjects include the Catherine Dunne Ranch in Morgan Hill, the Casa del Rey Hotel and golf course in Santa Cruz, and the Hotel Del Monte in Monterey.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Howard Clinton Tibbitts (1863-1937) was a San Francisco based photographer who worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad for 40 years starting in 1892. He photographed extensively in the American West, Canada and Mexico, documenting landscapes, towns, agriculture, parks, and other local scenes to help promote the railroad. His work as used in the railroad's magazine Sunset starting with the first publication in 1898. Sunset attempted to change the "wild west" perception of California and Nevada through depictions of the beauty and grandeur of the West. The magazine especially featured locations on the Southern Pacific's Sunset line running from New Orleans to San Francisco.
- Acquisition information:
- This collection was donated to the Sourisseau Academy by Les Amis de Sourisseau in 2012.
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- Machine-readable finding aid created by Stephanie Waslohn. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: March 2012.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Neither the original photographs nor the digital images in the catalog may be reproduced, published, or used on the Internet without the expressed, written permission of either the Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History. Rights assessment is the responsibility of the researcher. The credit line, "Courtesy of Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History" should accompany any such use.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], H.C. Tibbitts Photograph Collection, 07.01, Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History
- Location of this collection:
-
One Washington SquareSan Jose, CA 95192-0117, US
- Contact:
- (408) 808-2064