Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Robert C. Dockery photographs and negatives
- Dates:
- 1848-2002
- Creators:
- Dockery, Robert C., 1945-2004
- Abstract:
- Collection consists of photographs and negatives both collected and taken by Robert C. Dockery, including images of railroads, movies, locations, and other subjects.
- Extent:
- 3.173 Linear Feet (2 record cartons, 1 manuscript box, and 2 negative boxes)
- Language:
- English and English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Robert C. Dockery Photographs and Negatives, MS 856, California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives, Sacramento, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Robert C. Dockery Photographs and Negatives consist of photographs and negatives both collected and taken by Robert C. Dockery from 1848-2002. They include images of various railroads, movies, locations, and subjects mainly pertaining to Northern California and Nevada. The photographs are arranged in alphabetical order by subject, while the negatives are currently unidentified and unsorted.
Of particular interest are Dockery's images of movies, in which he was invited on various sets and allowed to take photographs with his camera.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Robert "Bob" Dockery (1945-2004) was born and raised in Stockton, California. His interest in photography as an art form developed as a young adult. This led him to take a mail order course in photography from a prestigious New York school in which he received a graduation certificate. Bob gradually accumulated a number of cameras and an enlarger which he modified to allow him to produce 11x14 prints. What is noteworthy about his developing and printing efforts is that they were carried out in the small one-car garage attached to his family home. The garage was not insulated or air-conditioned, thus the city of Stockton's hot summer temperatures limited his work to the periods of late fall to early spring. His love for his photography equipment was second only to his love for his Thunderbird. Since Bob was six-foot-four in height, he had to wait until the Thunderbird evolved from a true sports car to the larger early version of a sports coup. Later in life, Bob had the car restored and it was in perfect condition upon his death. Bob's interest in railroads and proximity to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento led him to make railroad subjects a primary interest. His warm, friendly personality soon gave him access to the museum's restoration shop and a life-long acquaintance with the staff of Short Line Enterprises who were under contract to restore the Museum's collection of 1800's era locomotives and rail cars. This small company had acquired a number of early era pieces of railroad equipment from motion pictures studios. They took over railroad operations for many motion picture scenes and Bob was soon invited to take behind-the-scenes photographs, which led to his interest in the Sierra Railroad and his large collection of photos of their equipment. Upon completion of their contract with CSRM, Short Line Enterprises moved to Carson City under contract to restore some of the Nevada State Railroad Museum's collection of Virginia and Truckee Railroad equipment, most of which had been saved from the same motion picture lots as the Short Line collection. This led to three decades of photographing the Virginia & Truckee Railroad's surviving equipment but, more importantly, his interest in the history of the V&T Railroad and the geographical areas it served. Bob became an active member of the V&T History Workshop group and attended all of the Virginia & Truckee Symposiums. His presentations at the latter event were greatly appreciated by all. Bob actively searched for photographs to support his interests and assembled a large collection of copy negatives from multiple sources. His willingness to share prints from this collection was one of his greatest gifts to V&T railfans.
Written by Charlie Siebenthal.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift from Charlie Siebenthal, 2015.
- Arrangement:
-
Collection is arranged into two series:
Series 1. Photographs Series 2. Negatives
Series 1 is arranged alphabetically by subject. Series 2 is currently unidentified and unsorted.
- Accruals:
-
No additions are expected.
- Physical location:
- Big Four Building
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-04-16 15:46:20 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research by appointment.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM 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 reader.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Robert C. Dockery Photographs and Negatives, MS 856, California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives, Sacramento, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
111 I StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 323-8073