Don Meacham photograph collection, 1934-1985

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Summary

Creators:
Meacham, Don
Abstract:
This collection contains prints, negatives and published examples of commercial work illustrated by Santa Rosa Press Democrat and commercial photographer, Don Meacham. The majority of the collection is comprised by photographic negatives and prints produced throughout his career. The commercial works that comprises the remainder of he collection are a set of pamphlets, folders, reports, etc. containing a variety of Meacham's photographs.
Extent:
approximately 96 linear feet 1 box + approximately 5600 sheets
Language:
Materials are in English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Don Meacham photograph collection, 1934-1985. SPC.00012, History and Genealogy Library, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

Photographs taken by Don Meacham.

Arrangement of the collection

Organized into two series:

  1. Photographic negatives and prints, 1934-1985
  2. Examples of photographs included in commercially published pamphlets, folders, reports, 1965-1980

Photographs (Series 1) were originally assigned accession numbers in the general Sonoma County Library Photograph Collection sequence and prints are interfiled with the remainder of the Photograph Collection; commercial works (Series 2) are numbered within the series as received from donor, Sonoma County Historical Society.

Biographical / historical:

Don Meacham (May 30, 1916-Feb. 28, 2010) was born in Cowell, Contra Costa County in 1916. He lived most of his life in Sonoma County where he retired as freelance commercial photographer after 50 years in the profession. He worked as a photographer in the Navy during WWII; was the flagship photographer on the U.S.S. Augusta during the North African invasion; and was Chief Photographer of the Naval Air Station in Santa Rosa until the war ended. Meacham was a charter member and chairman of the Santa Rosa Civic Art Commission and was instrumental in establishing Arttrium, the county's first visual and performing arts festival.

Acquisition information:

(Series 1) Gift: Don Meacham, Before 1996

(Series 2) Gift: Sonoma County Historical Society, 2011?

Custodial history:

Don Meacham donated the photographs and negatives directly to the Sonoma County Library when he retired; he donated the commercial example print collection to the Sonoma County Historical Society, per the included (undated) note, for the purpose of filling in "some empty spaces in your ongoing search for history".

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard, Second Edition (DACS)

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is fully processed. Most of the photographs and printed examples of commercial works are available online through Sonoma County Digital Collections. Please contact the Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library for access to originals; for contact info and current hours, see https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-library

Terms of access:

Collection does not circulate and may be photocopied or photographed by arrangement only.

Copyrighted. Rights are owned by Tom Heuser. Copyright Holder has given Sonoma County Library permission to provide access to the digitized work online. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Copyright Holder. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. Consult with the Library for copyright holder contact information: https://sonomalibrary.quartexcollections.com/about/contact-us

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Don Meacham photograph collection, 1934-1985. SPC.00012, History and Genealogy Library, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA.

Location of this collection:
6135 State Farm Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928, US
Contact:
(707) 545-0831
digital@sonomalibrary.org
Website