George Russell aerial photography collection, 1922-1935; 1967

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Russell, George E.
Abstract:
The George Russell aerial photography collection contains glass plate negatives, film negatives, nitrate negatives, and photographic prints of aerial photographs of California taken by George Russell. The majortiy of the photographs document the development of the Bay Area in the 1920s and 1930s. George Russell was an aerial photographer in the 1920s to mid-1930s.
Extent:
45 Linear Feet 53 half cartons; 1 document box; 12 flat boxes; 4 negative storage boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

George Russell aerial photography collection. MS 156. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains approximately 2600 glass plate negatives of aerial photographs taken by George Russell. The photographs document all of California, but they primarily focus on the development of the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Alameda, and Santa Cruz Counties. The collection also includes film negatives, nitrate negatives, photographic prints and papers.

Biographical / historical:

George Russell (1888-1940) was a mechanic turned photographer. From the 1920s to the mid-1930s, Russell documented the development of the Bay Area by taking aerial photographs.

Acquisition information:
Gift of California State Lands Commission, 1995.
Processing information:

The George Russell aerial photogrpahy collection was processed by Zoe MacLeod in 2023.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in five series:

  • Series 1. Glass plate negatives
  • Sereis 2. Film negatives
  • Series 3. Nitrate negatives
  • Series 4. Photographic prints
  • Series 5. Papers
Each series is contains subseries that are arranged alphabetically by county.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs. Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.

Preferred citation:

George Russell aerial photography collection. MS 156. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Location of this collection:
Special Collections and Archives, University Library
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, US
Contact:
(831) 459-2547