Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Preliminary Guide to the Ed Kirwan ASUC Photograph Archive
UARC PIC 27P
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University Archives
Title: Ed Kirwan ASUC photograph archive
Creator:
Kirwan, Ed
Creator:
Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts
Creator:
University of California, Berkeley. Associated Students
Identifier/Call Number: UARC PIC 27P
Physical Description:
153 boxes
(and approximately 25 cartons and 5 oversize boxes of unprocessed additional negatives and prints)
photographs : chiefly black and white film negatives
Date (bulk): 1942-2002, bulk 1945-1975
Abstract: Photographs of student life, athletics, campus events, and buildings and grounds at the University of California, Berkeley,
chiefly from 1942 into the 1970s. The photographs were created by the ASUC Photography Department, headed by Ed Kirwan from
about 1957, and later under contract to Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts.
Physical Location: Many Bancroft Library collections are stored off-site and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Organization of the Collection
This collection is organized into series according to filing codes assigned by the ASUC Photography Dept. or Ed Kirwan Graphic
Arts. In the 1940s, codes are numeric and based on the year of creation. In 1949 and thereafter a topical alpha-numeric code
system was established, as reflected in this guide.
(The series titles in this guide have been created by Bancroft Library staff to better summarize the contents of various file
codes established by the creators. Occasionally non-consecutive code runs have been brought together under a single series
title, e.g. the alumni magazine appears with other Alumni Association images although they are filed under a different code
assigned to various publications.)
- Series 1, Chronological file: 1940s
- Series 2, Athletics
- Series 3, Students (by class)
- Series 4, Student Residential Life
- Series 5, Student Activities and Groups
- Series 6, Public Information Office and University Relations
- Series 7, UC Berkeley Publications
- Series 8, Faculty and Administrators
- Series 9, Alumni Association
- Series 10, Campus, Grounds, and Buildings
- Series 11, University Events
- Series 12, UC Graduate Programs or Schools
- Series 13, Miscellaneous (UC)
- Series 14, Electrical Engineering Department
- Unprocessed negatives (non-UC), prints, and files
Photographs of student life, athletics, campus events, speakers and prominent visitors, and buildings and grounds at the University
of California, Berkeley. The photographs date chiefly from 1942 into the 1970s and were created by the ASUC Photography Department
(for some time named ASUC Graphic Arts), headed, after about 1957, by Ed Kirwan. The work of various photographers employed
by the department is assumed to be present. Work after June 1 1964 was produced under contract by Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts for
the ASUC or other campus departments. The bulk of the images date from 1949-1968, but some material into the 1980s is present,
as well as faculty portraiture as late as 2002. Topics included are sports, social events, student organizations, identification
photographs, activity and event photographs for the Blue and Gold yearbook, etc. The portion of the collection that remains
unprocessed contains chiefly non-UC work by Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts, such as freelance jobs, passport and i.d. portraits for
walk-in customers, a small quantity of Berkeley Gazette work, and unsorted photographic prints in approximately 5 boxes.
Bernal Edmon (Ed) Kirwan, born 1923, was a staff photographer for the Associated Students of the University of California
(ASUC, Berkeley) from the late 1940s until the mid-1960s. By 1957-1958 Kirwan was listed in campus directories as Director
of the ASUC Photography Department. In Spring of 1964 the Photography Department (then called ASUC Graphic Arts) in Eshleman
Hall was closed and Kirwan established his own freelance studio, Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts, located across the street from campus
on Bancroft Way. As reported in the Daily Californian (April 15, 1964), Kirwan was sold the ASUC Graphic Arts operation and
awarded the ASUC photography contract, so he continued to document Berkeley student events, athletics, organizations, and
a wide range of campus activities through the 1960s, into the 1970s, and beyond. By the late 1960s the scope of his campus
photographic work had diminished, but he continued to take portraits and undertake more specific photography jobs for various
offices or departments of the University. The business later moved to 9th Street in west Berkeley, where it continued to operate
into the 21st century.
Negatives of UC subjects (NEG boxes 1-153): available by appointment.
Remainder of collection: UNPROCESSED. UNAVAILABLE FOR USE. Consult library catalog for details.
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.).
In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase
agreements,
donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission
of the copyright owners. 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.
For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please
see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies .
[Identification of item], Ed Kirwan ASUC photograph archive, UARC PIC 27P, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Ed Kirwan ASUC photograph archive was given to The Bancroft Library by the estate of Ed Kirwan in December, 2018.
Preliminary processing by Bancroft Library Staff in 2019.
Contact prints are present for most negatives, and are filed with the negatives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
University of California, Berkeley -- Associated Students
College students -- California -- Berkeley
College Sports -- California -- Berkeley
Photographs
Universities and colleges -- Faculty.
Portraits.
Kirwan, Ed
Ed Kirwan Graphic Arts
University of California (1868-1952)
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley--Students
University of California, Berkeley. Associated Students