The Sirlin Studios photographers' collection reflects the work Ted Sirlin accomplished in photography from 1945 until his death in 2009. A renowned Sacramento institution, Sirlin Studios captured the city's people and places from legislators, judges, and governors to weddings, graduating seniors, and local restaurateurs. The photographic collection includes black and white and color negatives, black and white and color prints, color transparencies, View Master transparencies, and 16mm film. While a bulk of the collection does document the actual work ordes, negatives, and photographs taken by Sirlin Studios, the collection also highlights Ted Sirlin's national acclaim in his copy and restoration sample album as well as his seminars on studio management. The other half of the collection documents the work, policies, and correspondences behind the photographs and the management of the studio and Sirlin's business Daguerreochrome Incorporated. The photographs themselves document a range of topics with a majority of them focusing on Sacramento and Sacramentans. The wide array of materials in the collection include correspondence, legal and financial documents, newspaper clippings, publications, awards and certificates, and photograph prints and negatives.

Theodore "Ted" Sirlin, born in New York City, New York on February 28, 1923, studied at the Signal Corp Photographic School and the Pennsylvania Military College. The latter is where is obtained a two-year degree in Engineering. During the Second World War, Sirlin served as a photographer in the Philippines. Upon his return to the United States, twenty-three-year-old Sirlin established Sirlin Studios in Sacramento in 1946. Since then, Sirlin Studios has been a staple within the community, capturing the people and events of the region. The Studio documented a variety of events and social aspects from weddings to high school senior portraits, politician visitations, corporation portraits, and family portraits. The institution kept every negative it produced since its establishment until its closure in February of 2010, seven months after Ted's death. Sirlin himself became one of the leaders of the photographic industry. He was a member and president of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and the Professional Photographers of Sacramento Valley (PPSV). Sirlin toured throughout the national, event raveling internationally to Japan, presenting seminars on the business aspects of the photography industry as well as the techniques. Sirlin earned various awards throughout his career. However, his principal goal was "to capture and reflect the beauty, strength, and sensitivity of the subjects he photographed." Sirlin remained a prominent member of the photographic and Sacramento community until his death on July 31, 2009.

37 boxes 32 carton boxes and 5 oversized boxes

All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts 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.

Collection is open for research use.