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Fardon's (George Robinson) Views in California photograph album
PC RM Fardon  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
One photograph album containing 12 black and white, salted paper prints. Photographed by G.R. Fardon and published in 1865, the images are considered the earliest published photographic record of an American city. Photographs document the development of downtown San Francisco. Photographs primarily document churches and fire houses in San Francisco.
Background
George Robinson (G.R.) Fardon was born in Birmingham, England in 1807. He first emigrated to New York, but relocated to San Francisco in 1849, where he started a photography business. Fardon is believed to have introduced the glass plate negative process to San Francisco in 1852. Fardon captured photographic views of the city, including a seven-panel panorama of San Francisco and the published volume San Francisco Album (also known as Views in California). He moved to Victoria, British Columbia in 1859 where he continued to work as a photographer. In 1876 he returned to California, opening a photography studio with William H. Bluett. He died and was buried in Victoria in 1877. References: Palmquist, Peter E. and Thomas Kailbourn. Pioneer Photographs of the Far West: A Biographical Dictionary, 1840-1865 Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press, 2000.
Extent
0.81 Linear Feet One photograph album and a sleeved pannotype housed in flat box.
Restrictions
Materials in this collection, which were created in 1856, are in the public domain in the United States. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.
Availability
RESTRICTED ALBUM; permission of archivist required for use.