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Finding Aids > UC Los Angeles > Special Collections, Young Research Library

Finding Aid for the Carleton Watkins Collection of Photographs, ca. 1867-1882

Descriptive Summary

Title:
Carleton Watkins Collection of Photographs, ca. 1867-1882

Collection number:
599

Creator:
Watkins, Carleton E., 1829-1916

Extent:
6 oversize boxes

Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.

Los Angeles, California 90095-1575

Abstract:
The collection consists of 136 photographs, with the majority being from Watkins' California mission series, Yosemite series, and pacific coast series. A few additional prints are from the Columbia River and Oregon series, studio portraits, and various images from the Southwest, such as Casa Grande, San Marino, New Almaden Mines, and Pasadena. Carleton E. Watkins was born in Oneonta, Oswego County, New York, on November 11, 1829. Watkins moved to California in 1854, where he eventually established his own photographic studio, then spent large portions of the summer traveling with his cameras throughout California. In 1861, Watkins visited the Yosemite Valley and made the first 18" x 22" landscape photographs in California. He also is also believed to have created the earliest photographs of the California Missions. Watkins died on June 23, 1916.

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.

Language:
English.