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Palmquist/Yale Digital Collection
2012.02
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Title: Palmquist/Yale Digital Collection
Dates: 1860s-1980s
Collection Number: 2012.02
Creator/Collector:
Peter Palmquist
Extent: 740 Digital Images
Online items available
Repository:
Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special Collections and Archives
Arcata, California 95521-8299
Abstract: Through an agreement between Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and Humboldt State University's Library, 740
images from the Peter Palmquist Collection at the Beinecke were digitized there and then cataloged at the HSU Library. Some
highlights of this digital collection are: Highway 101 and landscape views from the 1940s, a fire engulfing the Sound Lumber
Co. in Arcata in 1965, main streets of many of the region's smaller communities, "auto camp" businesses catering to tourists
on the Redwood Highway, national figures campaigning in the area such as Robert Kennedy and Barry Goldwater, industrial activity
on Humboldt Bay, and images of Hoopa from Nellie McGraw's circa 1901 photo album. Several batches of images were taken by
Palmquist himself. Peter was a professional photographer; his artistic and technical abilities are evident in his images.
Until now Palmquist's images have not been widely available in his home region.
Language of Material: English
Open for research. Search the collection and view the images on the Humboldt Room Photograph Collections page.
Copyright was not transferred to the HSU Library; Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University is the owner
of the items digitized for this collection.
[Identification of item]. Palmquist/Yale Digital Collection. Collection Number: 2012.02. Cal Poly Humboldt, Library Special
Collections and Archives
Through an agreement between Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University and Humboldt State University Library
arranged by George Miles (Yale) and Edie Butler (HSU) 740 images were digitized at the Beinecke and then cataloged at HSU.
Biography/Administrative History
Peter Palmquist spent his early years in Oakland, California, then moved to Humboldt County. The family lived outside Ferndale
where Peter attended a one room elementary school. Starting at age 12 he taught himself photography. He graduated from Ferndale
High School and then enlisted in the United State Army. While he was stationed in Paris with the Supreme Headquarters Allied
Powers Europe, he continued his study of photography and began his professional work as photographer. When he returned to
Humboldt County, bringing his young family, he attended Humboldt State College and was employed as the official university
photographer. He held that position long after his 1965 graduation, finally retiring in 1989. Throughout those years Peter
also ran a commercial photography business. Starting in 1971, Palmquist became interested in historical images, an interest
that led him in many directions. He died in 2003 immediately after being gravely injured by a hit and run driver.
At first his interest in old photographs led to studying the history of his own profession and then the lives of past photographers,
but it quickly incorporated an interest in the informational content revealed in a photograph. He started collecting images
taken in northwestern California, but this soon broadened out to include other areas and led to a collection of images from
all of western North America. Later his interest in women who worked in any aspect of photography led to extensive research
in and collecting of photographs by women worldwide. Working with the Women in Photography International Peter developed and
served as curator of the Women in Photography International Archive, which was housed at his home in Arcata. Throughout this
time Peter generously shared the information he was discovering and collecting through numerous writings, exhibits, presentations,
and workshops.
Scope and Content of Collection
Through an agreement between Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and Humboldt State University's Library, arranged
by George Miles (Yale) and Edie Butler (HSU), 740 images were digitized at the Beinecke Library and then cataloged at the
HSU Library. From research conducted in 2010 Butler determined that the Palmquist Collection was rich in images from the
mid 20th Century; a time period not well represented in HSU's collections, nor in other Humboldt County repositories.
In April 2012, Butler spent two weeks at the Beinecke Library reviewing and selecting images to be digitized. In June 2012
the images arrived at HSU Library where each one was cataloged. Reports on the 2010 and the 2012 research trips are located
on the Palmquist collection page.
Some highlights of this digital collection are: Highway 101 and landscape views from the 1940s, a fire engulfing the Sound
Lumber Co. in Arcata in 1965, main streets of many of the region’s smaller communities, "auto camp" businesses catering to
tourists on the Redwood Highway, national figures campaigning in the area such as Robert Kennedy and Barry Goldwater, industrial
activity on Humboldt Bay, and images of Hoopa from Nellie McGraw's circa 1901 photo album. Several batches of images were
taken by Palmquist himself. Peter was a professional photographer; his artistic and technical abilities are evident in his
images. Until now Palmquist's images have not been widely available in his home region.
Palmquist, Peter E.
Humboldt County (Calif.)--History--Pictorial works
Photographers--California--Humboldt County
Photography--California--Humboldt County--History