Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Turrill, Charles Beebe, 1854-1927
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Turrill-Miller Photograph Collection is a collection of images that captures campus life and the built environment of Santa Clara College from 1905-1920. During that time, Charles Beebe Turrill, of the photography firm of Turrill & Miller photographers, photographed student organizations, construction of new buildings, individual portraits, and sports events. The period was defined by dramatic changes in the built environment. As such, the majority of the collection comprises images of campus buildings.
The Collection includes approximately 4 linear feet of photographs and glass negatives. Image sizes include 8x10 and 11x13.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Charles Beebe Turrill was born March 6, 1854, and died in 1927. He began his work as an amateur photographer in 1886, and started a professional business around 1900 in San Francisco. His work at Santa Clara College, later Santa Clara University, reflect his interest in photography as a form of historical documentation. As quoted in the San Francisco Call and Post, Sept. 17, 1921, Turrill explained, "I am fighting to preservethe history of California - for the accuracy of historic records." He spent time at Santa Clara restoring photographs damaged in a fire in the Fathers' residence hall, 1909, and took other photographs himself "to show present conditions, the building of a new residence and senior hall and the class pictures."
(Correspondence from Turrill to J. Perkins Tracy, April 8, 1914, Society of California Pioneers)
- Physical description:
- 4 linear feet of photographs and negatives
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
Dept. of Archives & Special Collections, University Library,500 El Camino RealSanta Clara, CA 95053-0500, US
- Contact:
- (408) 554-5530