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Guide to the Eugene Hepting photograph collection
MS0053
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Title: Eugene Hepting photograph collection
Dates: 1850-1970
Collection number: MS0053
Creator:
Hepting, Eugene
Collection Size:
6.5 linear feet
(7290 photographs)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Abstract: The Eugene Hepting Collection contains 7,290 photographs, negatives and numerous magazine and newspaper articles. The images
document Sacramento and Northern California beginning in the early 1930s and ending in the mid-1960s. Eugene Hepting carefully
researched the subject matter of his images. The majority of his photographs include a paragraph stating the location and
dates of the photos and the names of any people in the pictures. The subject matter of this collection is quite varied. Mr.
Hepting took photographs of almost every city block and home in the downtown area of Sacramento. These images are very important
because many of these residential and business structures are no longer standing. Often accompanying a photo is another image
or newspaper article showing the demolition or burning of the same structure. Certain groups of photographs are quite valuable
in capturing historical events, such as the Japanese American internment and relocation of 1942, the physical decline of Sutter's
Fort and its subsequent reconstruction, scenes of Hooverville in 1934, and damages done by flood and storms in Sacramento's
history.
Physical location: 4D1 Drawers F and G, 4E1 Drawer E
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research use.
All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron.
No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Eugene Hepting photograph collection , MS0053, Center
for Sacramento History.
The Eugene Hepting photograph collection was donated to the Center for Sacramento History by Elizabeth Hepting in 1985 (accession
#1985/24).
Collection was processed by Pam F. Poffenberger, archives intern, and by various Center for Sacramento History volunteers,
1985-2019.
Biography / Administrative History
Photographer Eugene Walter Hepting (1896-1971), was born in Sacramento, California in 1896 to German Swiss immigrants Edward
and Anna Hepting. He worked for the state treasurer for over 30 years and was an active bicyclist for many years holding various
records for long distance rides in the California Central Valley. As a native Sacramentan, he was prompted to start his photograph
collecting by the late historian Caroline Wentzel. She brought to his attention that no one had yet compiled historic, old
photographs of Sacramento. Mr. Hepting enthusiastically took on the project, and he added to his collection of cycling photographs
of himself and the Sacramento bicycling club, The Wheelmen Club, dating back to 1917. Hepting would work continually on this
massive project until his death in 1971. His entire original collection filled forty two loose leaf binders, of which the
Sacramento History Center received twelve.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Eugene Hepting Collection contains 7,290 photographs, negatives and numerous magazine and newspaper articles. The images
document Sacramento and Northern California beginning in the early 1930s and ending in the mid-1960s. Eugene Hepting carefully
researched the subject matter of his images. The majority of his photographs include a paragraph stating the location and
dates of the photos and the names of any people in the pictures. The subject matter of this collection is quite varied. Mr.
Hepting took photographs of almost every city block and home in the downtown area of Sacramento. These images are very important
because many of these residential and business structures are no longer standing. Often accompanying a photo is another image
or newspaper article showing the demolition or burning of the same structure. Certain groups of photographs are quite valuable
in capturing historical events, such as the Japanese American internment and relocation of 1942, the physical decline of Sutter's
Fort and its subsequent reconstruction, scenes of Hooverville in 1934, and damages done by flood and storms in Sacramento's
history. There are also many images taken by Hepting of the separate communities in the Sacramento area in the 1940s. There
is also extensive information and images of the New Helvetia, Old County, and Franklin cemeteries. Mr. Hepting took photos
of railroads, street scenes, construction of the capitol , sporting events, churches, schools, and river scenes. This collection
is not only of Sacramento, but includes Northern California towns of Ione, Jackson, Orangevale, Coloma, Loomis, Lincoln, Stockton,
Brighton , Mormon Island, and many others, some of which no longer exist. There are many photos and detailed information on
Folsom; its bridge, Old Town, Prison, Dam, Lake, and cemetery. Mr. Hepting spent a great many years taking his own photographs
and acquiring copies of other people's to make up his voluminous collection.
Series 1. Sacramento buildings and street scenes
Series 2. Japanese internment
Series 3. Sacramento floods and storms
Series 4. Bicycling
Series 5. Railroads
Series 6. Assorted
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Southern Pacific Railroad Company--History--Pictorial works
Sacramento (Calif.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Pictorial works
Sacramento (Calif.)--History--Pictorial works
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans
Floods--California--Sacramento River
Floods--California--American River
Bicycles--History--Pictorial works