Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Bunn, George R. and Oakley, P. Benson
- Abstract:
- The records consist primarily of black-and-white photographs created by members of the Pacific Photo Club, an organization of amateur photographers active during the first three decades of the 20th century. The collection was accumulated by George R. Bunn, a member, and the majority of the photographs represent his work. Also included are club correspondence, personal correspondence, newsletters, photographic postcards, and albums representing the work of members.
- Extent:
- 3.6 Linear Feet (6 document boxes and 6 shoeboxes)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Pacific Photo Club Records (Collection 784). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists primarily of black-and-white photographs created by members of the Pacific Photo Club. The bulk of the images appear to have been taken by George R. Bunn. Also included are club correspondence, personal correspondence, newsletters, photographic postcards, and albums representing the work of members.
The majority of photographs were taken in the U.S., though some were shot in locations as far away as Japan, India, Australia, and Europe. Subjects include landscapes, people, street scenes, historic landmarks, civic events (e.g., parades, rodeos, car shows, and festivals), and artistic still lifes. The bulk of the subjects are nature related, with many photos of the American West, including national parks and forests. The images also provide insight into the fashions of the times, in particular women's hiking garb.
The albums compiled by members, with their attendant correspondence, document the procedures and function of this photo club.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The Pacific Photo Club was an organization of amateur photographers across the United States active from the early 1900s through at least the 1930s. In addition to U.S. photographers, some participants hailed from Japan, Australia, and other areas.
The collection was accumulated by George R. Bunn, who lived in Los Angeles and who appears to have been an active member of the photo club.
Members corresponded by mail, exchanging photographs and assembling annotated group albums. The club also organized trips, such as camping expeditions to Yellowstone and Palm Springs, during which they practiced their avocation, and later exchanged these photos.
The Pacific Photo Club was one of many such camera and photo societies that emerged at the beginning of the 20th century for amateur photographers seeking to enhance their technique and the artistic quality of their images. A number of the photographers in this collection had their work published in amateur photography magazines, including Popular Photography and American Photography, among them E. A. Doolittle, Arthur Van W. Eltinge, C. A. Heald, J. W. Jeffers, P. Benson Oakley, G. W. Schinkel, and Elizabeth B. Wotkyns.
Other similar titles from the era include Anthony's Photographic Bulletin, The Photographic Times, The American Amateur Photographer, The Photo Beacon, Camera Notes, Camera and Darkroom, Photographic Topics, and Popular Photography.
In addition to submitting photos for publication, and in some cases commentary, subscribers to these publications would post classified-style ads requesting exchange. For example, the following appeared in American Photography, Vol. 9 (January - December 1915):
"507. George R. Bunn. 1571 W. First St., Los Angeles, Calif. 3) 4 x 5Y2 prints, all kinds D. O. P. of California mountain and marine scenery to exchange for artistic scenery preferred."
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Lena Hicks and Licia Hurst assistance from Jillian Cuellar and Megan Fraser, 2012.
Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
We are committed to providing ethical, inclusive, and anti-racist description of the materials we steward, and to remediating existing description of our materials that contains language that may be offensive or cause harm. We invite you to submit feedback about how our collections are described, and how they could be described more accurately, by filling out the form located on our website: Report Potentially Offensive Description in Library Special Collections.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged into 3 series.
- Series 1: Photographs, 1907-1955
- Subseries 1.1: Albums
- Subseries 1.2: Loose photographs
- Subseries 1.3: Grouped photographs
- Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1913-1921
- Subseries 2.1 Bunn, George R.: Personal correspondence, circa 1918-1921
- Subseries 2.2. Bunn, George R.: Club-related correspondence, circa 1913-1921
- Series 3: Publications, 1901-1903
- Physical location:
- Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Pacific Photo Club Records (Collection 784). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
- Location of this collection:
-
A1713 Charles E. Young Research LibraryBox 951575Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
- Contact:
- (310) 825-4988