Ball (Russell) Collection, 1930s

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Summary

Title:
Russell Ball Collection
Dates:
1930s
Creators:
Ball, Russell
Abstract:
Russell E. Ball (1891-1942) was in Carmel for a time while his mother, Mary Richardson Ball, lived in Carmel around the 1930s until her death in 1941. He was a well-known photographer in New York City and Hollywood, being a favorite of Rudolph Valentino and Mary Pickford. This collection consists of 3 B&W photographs, 31 B&W negatives, and 2 photo envelopes of family photos and various scenes in Carmel and Point Lobos, and family pictures at Palos Verdes taken by Russell Ball possibly in the 1930s. Photos/negatives are likely of a young John K. Ball, his mother, Gladys Hall, and his grandparents, taken by his father, Russell Ball.
Extent:
2 folders (photographs and negatives)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Russell Ball Collection, Henry Meade Williams Local History Room, Harrison Memorial Library, Carmel, CA

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of 3 B&W photographs, 31 B&W negatives, and 2 photo envelopes of family photos and various scenes in Carmel and Point Lobos, and family pictures at Palos Verdes taken by Russell Ball possibly in the 1930s. Photos/negatives are likely of a young John K. Ball, his mother, Gladys Hall, and his grandparents, taken by his father, Russell Ball.

Biographical / historical:

Russell E. Ball (1891-1942) was in Carmel for a time while his mother, Mary Richardson Ball, lived in Carmel around the 1930s until her death in 1941. He was a well-known photographer in New York City and Hollywood, being a favorite of Rudolph Valentino and Mary Pickford. He was married to Gladys Hall (1891-1977), who was an interviewer and writer in New York and Hollywood. Her work is held at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Russell's work was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art from December 5, 1980, to February 28, 1981, as part of the exhibition Hollywood Portrait Photographers 1921-1941. The two had a son, John K. Ball. Russell Ball died on June 12, 1942, of a heart attack and was buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

Acquisition information:
Donated by John K. Ball.
Processing information:

Processed by Michael Martinus on 07/22/25.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Harrison Memorial Library staff.
Date Prepared:
1930s
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on Oct. 7, 2025, 10:19 a.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Materials are open for research.

Terms of access:

The Henry Meade Local History Room, Harrison Memorial Library does not hold copyright to these items. Permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder by the user.

Preferred citation:

Russell Ball Collection, Henry Meade Williams Local History Room, Harrison Memorial Library, Carmel, CA

Location of this collection:
P.O. Box 800
Mission St & 6th Ave
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921, US
Contact:
(831) 624-1615
hml.localhist@gmail.com
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