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Will H. Thrall Photographs: Finding Aid
photCL 481
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Title: Will H. Thrall Photograph Collection
Dates (inclusive): Approximately 1880s-approximately 1955
Bulk dates: 1930s
Collection Number: photCL 481
Creator:
Thrall, William Henry, 1874?-1963
Extent:
17 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Photo Archives
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains photographs, negatives, and some ephemera chiefly collected by California
conservationist and editor William H. Thrall (1873-1963)
for use in
Trails magazine. The photographs primarily date from the 1930s, but also include copy prints (and some originals) of late 19th and
early 20th photographs.
The images depict mountain and forested
landscapes and outdoor recreational activities including hiking, skiing, and camping, chiefly in the San Gabriel Mountains
and surrounding mountains of Southern California,
as well images of historical mountain pioneers.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
The film negatives (boxes 9-15) have been placed in cold storage for preservation. Arrangements for viewing negatives must
be made in advance with the Curator of Photographs.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item], Will H. Thrall Papers and Photographs, The Huntington Library,
San Marino, California.
Gifts of William H. Thrall, April 29, 1949; March 23, 1951; and September 17, 1952.
Purchase from Mrs. W. H. Thrall, May 1963.
William Henry Thrall (1873-1963), conservationist and editor, was born in Connecticut on September 26, 1873, and came to California
in 1888. Thrall became an authority on the trails and history of
the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. From 1933 to 1938 he served as head of
the Division of Mountain Education of the Los Angeles County Department of
Recreation. He wrote many articles about the San Gabriel Mountains and was editor
of
Trails magazine from 1934 to 1939. Thrall married Olive J. Fryer (1880-1952) in December 1898. Thrall died on February 20, 1963.
This collection contains photographs, negatives, and some ephemera chiefly collected by California
conservationist and editor William H. Thrall (1873-1963)
for use in
Trails magazine. Thrall served as managing editor of the publication from 1934 to 1939, which was produced to encourage the use
of mountain
trails and outdoor recreation in Los Angeles County.
The collection includes approximately 1200 prints (Boxes 1-4); 68 glass negatives (Boxes 7-8); approximately 2300 film negatives;
150 slides;
and miscellaneous documents and ephemera, and a folding pocket camera.
The photographs primarily date from the 1930s, but also include copy prints (and some originals) of late 19th and early 20th
photographs. The images depict mountain and forested
landscapes and outdoor recreational activities including hiking, skiing, and camping, chiefly in the San Gabriel Mountains
and surrounding mountains of Southern California. Many of the
photographs include individuals involved in recreational activities as well images of historical mountain pioneers.
The photographs chiefly consist of 4.5 x 2.75 inch snapshots and 8 x 10 and 6 x 10 inch prints, by photographers including
Dan P. Alexander,
Carl H. Bauer, Harlow Dormer, C. C. Vernon, and Thrall. There is also a group of glass plate negatives and film negatives,
including a group of unprinted
film negatives that appear to be personal photographs with views of nature, groups of people, family scenes, buildings, boating,
and trips,
in the 1930s-1950s (Box 15). The film negatives have handwritten numbers presumably assigned by Thrall.
Many of the prints appear in
Trails magazine, which was published quarterly
by the Mountain League of Southern California from Winter 1934 to Spring 1939 (Volume 6, No. 1).
In Autumn 1941, the Southern California Outdoor Federation began publishing a new edition of Trails Magazine (without Thrall
as editor), but only two issues were published (Volume 2, Nos. 1-2).
Related materials in the Huntington Library
- William Henry Thrall papers (Call number: mssThrall)
- Trails Magazine (Call number: 250040)
The collection is arranged in the following 5 series:
- Prints (Boxes 1-4)
- Negatives (Boxes 7-5)
- Slides (Box 5)
- Albums (Box 6 and Box 17)
- Camera and case (Box 16)
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Thrall, William Henry, 1873- -- Archives.
Trails.
Conservation of natural resources -- California -- Los Angeles County.
Conservationists -- California, Southern -- Archives.
Hiking -- California.
Hiking -- California -- San Gabriel Mountains.
Outdoor recreation -- California -- Los Angeles County.
Outdoor recreation -- California -- San Gabriel Mountains.
Periodical editors -- California, Southern -- Archives.
Trails -- California.
Trails -- California -- San Gabriel Mountains.
San Gabriel Mountains (Calif.) -- History -- Sources.
San Gabriel Mountains (Calif.) -- Recreational use.
Photographs.
Thrall, William Henry, 1874?-1963, photographer.