Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biography/Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Additional collection guides
Descriptive Summary
Title: Shirlie Montgomery Papers
Dates: 1882-2012
Collection Number: 2013-58
Creator/Collector:
Montgomery, Shirlie Alice (1918-2012)
Extent: 22 linear feet
Online items available
Repository:
History San Jose Research Library
San Jose, California 95112
Abstract: Personal papers and photographs of San Jose photographer Shirlie Montgomery (1918-2012), who captured post World War II culture
in Santa Clara Valley.
Language of Material: English
Access
The papers are open to the public for research by appointment. Photographic negatives are not available to the public, but
can be viewed through History San Jose's online catalog, along with any prints that have been scanned.
Publication Rights
Contact History San Jose's Research Library for information on reproduction and publication.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Shirlie Montgomery Papers. Collection Number: 2013-58. History San Jose Research Library
Acquisition Information
Donated to History San Jose in 2013 by a private collector.
Biography/Administrative History
Shirlie Alice Montgomery was born on Chapman Street, San José, on June 9, 1918, to parents Rae and Madeline Montgomery. Her
artistic and creative abilities blossomed at an early age; Montgomery was a talented dancer who performed with future Hollywood
sister actresses Joan (Fontaine) and Olivia De Havilland. In middle school, the local newspaper published her book reviews.
Recognizing his only child's interests, her father built a darkroom in their small home. In her late teens, Montgomery began
keeping a daily journal; she continued this habit throughout her career to record her appointments with clients. Additionally,
she created numerous photo albums of family and friends, documenting her frequent outings to Santa Cruz beach.
Montgomery began her career at the De Anza Hotel on Santa Clara Street, where she was employed to create photographic gifts
for hotel guests. After photographing guests as they socialized, she would develop the photos in a small, on-site darkroom,
then sell the images to guests as they departed for the evening. Because of the De Anza's reputation as one of "the" places
to socialize in San José, Montgomery met many servicemen during World War II, whom she befriended, and photographed. Montgomery's
collection includes dozens of letters from young men serving their country overseas, writing to request copies of photographs,
or expressing their friendship with the vivacious photographer.
As male photographers left to join the war effort, Montgomery seized the opportunity to work as a "stringer" -- an independent
correspondent paid by the job. Her photographs were picked up for publication by the San José Mercury News and the San Francisco
Examiner. As a newspaper photographer, she met many local and national celebrities, some of whom hired her for personal portraits.
After World War II and before the expansion of major league baseball to the West coast in 1958, professional wrestling was
a popular sport in San José. Weekly matches were held in the Civic Auditorium, on land donated by Montgomery's great-uncle
T. S. Montgomery. Shirlie was introduced to the sport by her father Rae. An acquaintance from the Mercury News invited Montgomery
to bring her camera to a match. Her action shots soon began appearing in local newspapers, and she became a regular at the
press table. The atmosphere was more interesting than the standard studio work most women photographers were doing at the
time. The quality of Montgomery's images was recognized throughout professional wrestling, and she became lifelong friends
of many in the community. Wrestler Vern Langdon honored her as an original legend inductee at his Sun Valley Slammers Wrestling
Gym's Hall of Fame. Montgomery’s images were also featured on the walls of former wrestler Glen Neece’s Ringside Bar in San
Jose, where she documented many patrons and wrestlers.
Scope and Content of Collection
Personal papers and photographs of San Jose photographer Shirlie Montgomery (1918-2012), who captured post World War II culture
in Santa Clara Valley. Montgomery's collection documents the Montgomery family, Montgomery's childhood and young adulthood
with friends at Santa Cruz Beach, World War II servicemen, wrestling culture, as well as a swathe of cultural and political
events throughout the San Jose area in the 1940s-1960s.
Indexing Terms
Women photographers
Wrestling matches
Wrestlers
Nineteen forties
Nineteen fifties
Nineteen sixties
Bars (Drinking establishments)
World War, 1939-1945
Montgomery, Thomas S., 1855-1944
Advertising Association of the West
San Jose (Calif.)
Santa Cruz (Calif.)
Additional collection guides