Collection Guide
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French (Gerald L.) Photograph Collection
MSS.2010.09.20
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Gerald L. French Photograph Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2010.09.20
Physical Description:
8 boxes
(8 Linear Feet)
Date (inclusive): 1906, 1958-2011 (bulk 1958-1989)
Abstract: The Gerald L. French Photograph Collection consists of photos and negatives taken by Gerald L. French from 1958 to 2011, the
bulk being taken between 1958 to 1989. Throughout his career, French photographed subjects around the world ranging from agriculture,
livestock, and landmarks to individuals and festivals. The Collection is divided into six series: Series I: Arizona, Series
II: California, Series III: Correspondence, Series IV: Digital Media, Series V: Domestic States, Series VI: International.
The collection is open for research.
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives 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. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Gerald L. French Photograph Collection, MSS-2010-09-20 , San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed and finding aid EAD encoded by R. Schuyler Selden. Accrusals were added to the collection by Samira Habibi
in Fall 2019.
Biography / Administrative History
Gerald L. French graduated San Jose State College in 1960 with a BS in Journalism. After graduation, French worked for the
San Jose Mercury News, then moved to San Francisco and worked for Skelton Photograph. Later, French was hired by the Seattle
World's Fair as a Photographer. In 1962, French returned to San Francisco and opened his studio. Clients included BART, KRON-TV,
KCBS, Bank of America, and various others. French's photographs were published in National Geographic, Time, Newsweek, and
many others. Assignments he received by his clients took him around the world.
The Gerald L. French Photograph Collection documents the San Jose State College West Coast Nature School held in Death Valley
in 1958, as part of the week of "short courses" San Jose State College offered. The early field school took place in Big Basin
in 1931. Several San Jose State College natural science professors lead the program, which became known as Field Studies in
Natural History. The program is focused on the study of geology, history, and the flora and fauna of the region. The Field
Studies in Natural History program remains an active and popular study program today at SJSU. French, a San Jose State College
student (B.S. 1960), attended the program in 1958. He documented the activities, events, and the participants. The collection
consists of 42 black and white ink jet contact prints, 4x5 negatives, and 27 color slides. Images of note from the Death Valley
region include views of Titus Canyon, the Borax Works, Scotty's Castle, and Ubehebe crater.
Once graduated from San Jose State College in 1960 with a degree in Journalism, French worked in various news stations and
transportation systems before opening his own photography studio. His assignment through his career has taken him around the
world to photograph agriculture of different states and countries, festivals, architecture, landmarks, landscapes, politicians,
and individuals ranging from 1958 to 2011, with the bulk of the collection being taken between 1958 and 1989.
This series is arranged alphabetically.
San José State University Archives Publications Collection, MSS-2010-01-01, San José State University Special Collections
and Archives.
San José State University Student Publications Collection, MSS-2009-08-02, San José State University Special Collections and
Archives.
University Archives Collection
Record Group: 6.5.5
San José State University. About SJSU. http://www.sjsu.edu/about_sjsu/
San José State University. Special Session Programs. http://special.sjsu.edu/programs.html
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographs
Photography -- Negatives
Photo Journalism
California -- Photographs
International--Photographs
French, Gerald L.