Guide to the Walter R. Miles Research concerning Eadweard Muybridge M0736
Processed by Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Steven Mandeville-Gamble
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2002 ; revised 2022
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Walter R. Miles research concerning Eadweard Muybridge
Identifier/Call Number: M0736
Physical Description:
5 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1928-1932
Abstract: Miles' correspondence about Muybridge, material about the Semi-Centenial Celebration and the invention of moving pictures,
ephemera and published articles about Muybridge, and photographs and negatives including those used by Miles in his articles
and publications about Muybridge.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the University of Akron, 1995.
Biographical / Historical
Walter Miles, a professor of experimental psychology at Stanford University, endeavored to memorialize photographer Eadweard
Muybridge's work by establishing a permanent exhibit at the Stanford Museum and by hosting a 50th anniversary event.
Preferred Citation
Walter R. Miles Research concerning Eadweard Muybridge. M0736. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford,
Calif.
Scope and Contents
The Walter Miles Collection centers around the Semi-Centennial Celebration held during the year 1929 in honor of Eadweard
Muybridge's work completed at Stanford University from 1877-1878. Muybridge was a pioneer in photographic technique, and his
work with animals in motion at the Palo Alto Stock Farm, later part of the campus of Stanford University, led directly to
the development of motion pictures, a monumental advancement in photographic history. Walter Miles, a professor of experimental
psychology, endeavored to memorialize Muybridge's work by establishing a permanent exhibit at the Stanford Museum and correspondingly
hosting a 50th anniversary event, or the Semi-Centennial Celebration.
Miles set out to collect any material that related to Muybridge's time spent at Stanford, i.e. photographs, letters, notes,
personal memoranda, etc. His correspondence, and the responses he received, represent the bulk of this collection. This correspondence
is important because of the many discrepancies about the credit given to Muybridge for his work done in the development of
the motion picture technique. The basis of the dispute arose from a fraudulently patented camera device (patented by Muybridge)
which made consecutive instantaneous exposures on film.
John D. Isaacs, a mechanical engineer working for the Southern Pacific Railroad, developed the mechanical devices to enable
such consecutive exposures to be made; however, Muybridge was the one to patent the instrument. The correspondence from John
D. Isaacs and his daughter, Lillian Isaacs Morris, center upon this dispute. Another problematic issue revealed in this collection
is the publication of the book The Horse in Motion. Muybridge, who was instrumental in the technique of photographing animals
in motion, in particular Leland Stanford's horses, was omitted from the title page of The Horse in Motion, authored by J.
D. B. Stillman. Muybridge was deeply offended by this ommission and proceeded to file suit against Leland Stanford and the
publisher of the book, James R. Osgood and Company. Correspondence regarding this lawsuit, between Stanford and Stillman,
and the depositions of this lawsuit, appear in this collection. (An in depth treatment of Muybridge's involvement with Leland
Stanford, his work completed at the Palo Alto Stock Farm, and the eventual legal battles between Muybridge and Stanford, can
be found in the book
Leland Stanford by George T. Clark [Stanford University Press, 1931], chapter entitled "Animal Locomotion and Muybridge.")
Of Muybridge's personal history, Miles received an account of Muybridge's murder of Major Harry Larkyn from Johnston Johnston
Attorneys at Law. In one letter of correspondence, dated December 30th, 1927, H. L. Johnston and L. E. Johnston go into lengthy
detail about the cause of the murder and the subsequent release of the 1st degree murder charges against Muybridge due to
the brilliant oratory display by his lawyer, Pendegast. Regarding the actual Semi-Centennial event, the inclusion of The Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was considered to be crucial in the ceremony. This organization owed its existence to
Muybridge for his work in motion pictures, and among the individuals present at the Semi-Centennial Celebration was Louis
B. Mayer, motion-picture studio executive. Photographs of Louis B. Mayer attending the ceremony can be found within this collection.
Related also to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is Miles' correspondence with such figures as Lester Cowan
and Frank Woods.
Besides correspondence, this collection contains many of the published articles and ephemera that Miles received concerning
photographic technique and Muybridge's history. Among such ephemera is Muybridge's patent established June 27th, 1878 entitiled:
"Improvement in the Method and Apparatus for Photographing Objects in Motion." Included also are Miles' notes, speeches to
be given at the Semi-Centennial Celebration, and various newspaper articles and bulletins. Photographs and negatives represent
a large part of this collection. Many of the photographs and negatives, such as the horse in motion, Muybridge, the Stanford-Muybridge
motion picture studio at Palo Alto Stock Farm, and a series of portraits of various personages involved in the Stanford-Muybridge
history, were used by Miles in his articles and publications. The portraits he used included such figures as Eadweard Muybridge,
J. B. Stillman, and John D. Isaacs. Of distinct nature in this collection is one box of 18 nitrate negatives, one box of 32
glass positives, and one box of 9 photographic half-tone printing blocks. The negatives are fragile, and must be handled with
care.
Publication Rights
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Motion pictures -- History.
Photography -- History.
Science -- History.
Photographers.
Stanford, Leland
Muybridge, Eadweard, 1830-1904
Cowan, Lester.
Isaacs, John D.
Mayer, Louis B. (Louis Burt), 1885-1957
Woods, Frank E.
Stillman, J.D.B. (Jacob Davis Babcock), 1819-1888
box 1, folder 1
Correspondence, Johnston & Johnston Attorneys at Law, re.Muybridge shooting of Major Harry Larkyn
Dec. 1927
box 1, folder 2
Correspondence (1928-29) and copies of depositions (ca. 1882-83) re. Stanford v. Muybridge lawsuit
1882 - 1929
box 1, folder 3
Copies of historical letters, ca. 1882-1883, between Leland Stanford and John Stillman re. Stanford v. Muybridge lawsuit
Container Summary: (photocopies).
box 1, folder 4
Copies of correspondence
1892-1896
Scope and Contents note
(incoming Muybridge correspondence from various museum curators and scientists exhorting the value of Muybridge's work, The
Science of Animal Locomotion).
box 1, folder 5
Correspondence etc.
1929-1930
Scope and Contents note
re. personal accounts of Muybridge's photographic technique; also clippings and notes re. development of motion pictures.
box 1, folder 6
Correspondence and addresses re. Muybridge Dedication at Kingston-Upon-Thames,
1931-1932
box 1, folder 7
Correspondence: John D. Isaacs
1915-1916
Scope and Contents note
Contains related biographical information. Includes correspondence by Isaacs' daughter, Lillian Isaacs Morris, to Walter Miles,
defending her father, dated June 30, 1929.
box 1, folder 8
Correspondence with England (Will Day)
1928-1929
box 1, folder 9
Correspondence re. semi-centennial celebration of Muybridge at Stanford. (incoming and outgoing)
1928-1929
box 1, folder 10
Correspondence re. semi-centennial celebration of Muybridge at Stanford. (incoming and outgoing)
1928-1929
box 1, folder 11
Correspondence re. semi-centennial celebration of Muybridge at Stanford. (incoming and outgoing)
1928-1929
box 1, folder 12
Correspondence re. semi-centennial celebration of Muybridge at Stanford. (incoming and outgoing)
1928-1929
box 1, folder 13
Correspondence re. semi-centennial celebration of Muybridge at Stanford. (incoming and outgoing)
1928-1929
box 1, folder 14
Correspondence re. semi-centennial celebration of Muybridge at Stanford. (incoming and outgoing)
1928-1929
box 1, folder 15
Correspondence re. semi-centennial celebration of Muybridge at Stanford. (incoming and outgoing)
1928-1929
box 1, folder 16
Correspondence, Lester Cowan
1928
Scope and Contents note
(incoming and outgoing).
box 1, folder 17
Correspondence, Lester Cowan
1929
Scope and Contents note
(incoming and outgoing).
box 1, folder 18
Correspondence, Francis X. Dercum
1928-1929
Scope and Contents note
(incoming and outgoing).
box 1, folder 19
Correspondence, Caspar Dickson
1925-1929
Scope and Contents note
(incoming and outgoing).
box 1, folder 20
Correspondence, Timothy Hopkins
1928-1929
Scope and Contents note
(incoming and outgoing).
box 1, folder 21
Correspondence, Janet Leigh
1929-1956.
box 1, folder 22
Correspondence, Robert E. Swain
1928-1929
box 1, folder 23
Correspondence, Charles R. Toothaker
1928-1929
Scope and Contents note
(incoming and outgoing).
box 1, folder 24
Correspondence, to Ray Lyman Wilbur and Herbert Hoover
1928-1929
Scope and Contents note
(outgoing).
box 1, folder 25
Correspondence, Frank Woods
1928-1929.
box 1, folder 26
Correspondence, miscellaneous
1929-1939
Series 2. Ephemera & research material for Semi-centennial celebration
box 1, folder 27
Notes re. semi-centennial organization.
box 1, folder 28
Semi-centennial celebration programs
box 1, folder 29
University of Southern California course: "Introduction to the Photoplay,"
February 6th, 1929.
box 2, folder 1
Miles Articles and Addresses (drafts) for Semi-Centennial Celebration
box 2, folder 2
Accompanying articles re. Muybridge and Semi-Centennial Celebration
box 2, folder 3
Joseph D. Grant speech at Semi-Centennial Celebration
box 2, folder 4
Miles: Bibliography cards and notes
box 2, folder 5
"Early Photography," Goldschmidt & Co. Catalogue, circa 1939
box 2, folder 6
Serial Numbers of the Plates in Animal Locomotion
box 2, folder 7
"The Science of Animal Locomotion (Zoopraxography)" by Eadweard Muybridge
circa 1883
box 2, folder 7
"Animal Locomotion" by Eadward Muybridge
circa 1887
Scope and Contents note
(includes catalogue of plates); misc. articles by Muybridge.
box 2, folder 8
"United States Patent Office: Improvement in the Method and Apparatus for Photographing Objects in Motion,"
June 27, 1878.
box 2, folder 9
Copies of articles re. Horse in Motion from various publications
circa 1881-1912
box 2, folder 10
Muybridge medal
1930
Scope and Contents note
Includes associated documents.
box 2, folder 11
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Bulletins: Sept. 1928, Oct. 1928, Nov. 1928, Dec. 1929, Jan. 1929; Premier Publication,
Nov. 1927.; "The Motion Picture," circa 1929
1928 - 1929
box 7
Los Angeles Times Annual Preview [of Motion Pictures]
April 23, 1929
box 7
Palo Alto Times,
May 8, 1929
box 7
Stanford Daily
May 8, 1929
Series 3. Photographs & negatives
box 2, folder 14
Print, Muybridge copyright, horse in motion, 1881
box 2, folder 15
Stanford-Muybridge motion picture studio at Stanford; 2 maps of Stanford Farm.
box 2, folder 16
Muybridge Apparatus at Kingston Library; Muybridge memorial - Walter Keyte photographs (incl. correspondence, 7/9/1932).
box 2, folder 17
Muybridge shutters (before, during, after exposure)
Scope and Contents note
incl. 1 negative
box 2, folder 18
Muybridge motion picture apparatus
box 2, folder 19
Front cover and frontispiece of "The Attitudes of Animals in Motion" by Leland Stanford
box 2, folder 19
"The Action of the Horse" by Muybridge and various photographs from book
box 2, folder 20
Horse in Motion; Muybridge with pick-axe; Muybridge with model
box 2, folder 21
Photograph of correspondence from Muybridge to Mrs. W. W. Pendegast, May 1876
box 2, folder 22
Semi-centennial celebration (with Louis B. Mayer and others) at Stanford
1929
box 2, folder 23
Portraits: J. B. Stillman; Muybridge; John D. Isaacs; Leland Stanford (photograph of painting); unidentified negative; unidentified
man in field.
box 2, folder 24
Two men posing in front of memorial sculpture (unidentified).
Series 4. Publications & miscellaneous
box 3, folder 1
Notes and notebook - Miles' notes on Semi-Centennial Celebration
box 3, folder 2
"The Stanford-Muybridge Motion Pictures of 1878-1879," by Walter R. Miles,
Container Summary: (3 copies).
box 3, folder 3
The Bulletin: Architecture, Engineering, Surveying
September 1929.
box 3, folder 5
Magazine clipping: Look (ca. 1952) - Motion Picture Pioneers
box 3, folder 6
Science
August 30, 1929
Container Summary: (3 copies).
box 3, folder 7
Catalog - The Will Day Historical Collection of Cinematograph and Moving Picture Equipment
1930
Scope and Contents note
Includes caricature of Will Day).
box 3, folder 8
For Your Confidential Information: A Letter to Roger W. Babson from Carl E. Milliken
May 7, 1929
Container Summary: (2 copies)
Scope and Contents note
Includes accompanying correspondence).
box 3, folder 9
International Photographer
June 19, 1929
Container Summary: (2 copies).
box 3, folder 10
The Stanford Illustrated Review
June 1929
Container Summary: (3 copies).
box 3, folder 11
Distribution of Electricity
January 1932.
Series 5. Nitrate Negatives
box 4, folder 1
18 negatives used in publication by Miles (poor condition)
Series 6. Glass Positives
box 5
Glass positives & lantern slides
Container Summary: 32 slides and a few small fragments.
Series 7. Printing Blocks for Miles publications
box 6
Photographic half-tone printing blocks
Container Summary: 9 printing blocks and 1 rubber stamp.
Series 8. Oversize ephemera
box 7
"The Times Film Number," London Edition,
March 19, 1929.