Edward Weston photographs, 1918-1946

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Summary

Creators:
Weston, Edward Henry
Abstract:
Collection consists of 256 original Edward Weston photographs, taken between 1918 and 1945, and ten pieces of correspondence. 195 of the prints are a series of 8×10 landscape photographs of California that Weston created for Westways magazine. The remaining images are a variety of matted prints, including landscapes, still lifes, nudes, and portraits. Correspondence is from Weston to Illiana Rosey and Rosario Mazzeo.
Extent:
0.75 linear ft. (2 document boxes and 5 oversize boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Edward Weston Photographs (Collection 613). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of 256 original Weston gelatin silver prints taken between 1918 and 1945 and ten pieces of correspondence from Weston. 195 of the prints are a series of 8×10 landscape photographs of California that Weston created for Westways magazine. The remaining images are a variety of matted prints, the majority taken around Death Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Point Lobos. In addition, there are five nudes, including one of Tina Modotti, eight still-lives of vegetables and found objects, and portraits of Mina Cooper, William Wilcox Robinson, Madeleine Ruthven, John Cowper Powys, Dillard King, and Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Correspondence is to Illiana Rosey and Rosario Mazzeo.

Biographical / historical:

Edward Weston, (American, 1886-1958), was born in Highland Park, Illinois and from an early age was involved with photography. He studied at the Illinois College of Photography in 1908, afterwards moving to Los Angeles to work for a commercial portrait studio and eventually starting his own. Weston exhibited his works in many salons and exhibitions, making his works known in the photographic community. In 1929 Weston moved to Carmel, California, where he would spend the rest of his life. Here he was fascinated by his surroundings, producing many works in the Point Lobos coastal region. Weston stopped creating photographs in 1948, suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Acquisition information:
Westways prints, gift of the Automobile Club of Southern California, 1959. Fifty prints purchased from Brett Weston, 1981. Portraits of Mina Cooper, gift of Herbert Arthur Klein, 1982. Correspondence purchased from Jeff Weber Rare Books, 1988.
Processing information:

Processed by Kelley Wolfe Bachli, 2002.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Westways Magazine
  2. Landscapes
  3. Still Lifes
  4. Portraits
  5. Correspondence.

Series 1, Westways Magazine, is organized by article themes. Series 2 through 5 are arranged chronologically.

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Photographs.
Names:
Weston, Edward, 1886-1958--Archives.

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary 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], Edward Weston Photographs (Collection 613). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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