Inventory of the Thelner & Louise Hoover Photographic Collection, 1921-1982
Processed by Karen Baxter; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
© 1999
University Archives
21560 Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: univ-archives@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/archives.htm
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Thelner & Louise Hoover Photographic Collection
Date (inclusive): 1921-1982
Record Series number: 647
Creator: Louise Hoover Trust.
Extent:
65 canisters of film
41 document cartons
26 shoe cartons
50 oversized cartons (52 linear feet)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Department of Special Collections. University Archives.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
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, University Archives Reference Desk for paging information.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections University Archives Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library,
Department of Special Collections, University Archives. 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.
Source of Acquisition/Provenance
The collection was a gift from the Louise Hoover Trust, donated April 4, 1991. Additional items were donated by Keith Brown
in December, 1996.
Preservation of the collection began in 1996/97. Negatives and prints were separated for the majority of the collection and
stored in separate archival boxes. Negatives were grouped by size and basic content (UCLA and non-UCLA). Negatives were
cleaned and copy negatives and some contact prints were made from many of the UCLA original nitrate negatives. These negatives
were stored in archival mylar or polyethylene sleeves. The daguerreotypes, tintypes and ambrotypes were cleaned and placed
in an archival box. Some of the glass which was broken or deteriorated was replaced. The glass lantern slides were cleaned
and placed in an archival box with walled support between each section. Contact sheets were made for some of the 2 1/4 UCLA
negatives. Many of the oversized prints were cleaned. Prints with bacteriological deterioration were separated from the
rest of the collection. And many of the severely deteriorated nitrate negatives were removed from the collection.
In the summer of 1998, all UCLA nitrate and older safety negatives were placed in archival paper negative sleeves. Any UCLA
copy negatives or contact prints or prints without enclosure were cleaned and placed in archival mylar or polyethylene sleeves.
The next most pressing conservation issue is to have copy negatives and contact prints made for all UCLA original nitrate
and safety negatives. Most already exists, but some of the collection still needs to be duplicated. When this is complete,
the nitrate negatives must be removed from contact with the other negatives and prints. Contact sheets for the UCLA 2 ¼ negatives
need to be completed. The other negatives in the collection need to be assessed for type. All nitrate negatives need to removed
from contact with other negtives.
The 16mm films which are probably nitrate based, need to be assessed by a film archivist for proper care and storage.
The manuscripts and personal papers need to be processed for archival storage. Newspaper articles need to be duplicated and
removed from contact with the rest of the collection.
Preliminary processing began prior to summer of 1992 by Michelle Welle, GSLIS intern. Processing continued in 1996/97 by Ines
Gil, a film and photograph preservationist. Processing continued and finding aid completed by Karen Baxter, 30 September,
1998. Final container list needs to be created. The non-UCLA portion of the collection needs processing. And the UCLA
portion needs final folder level processing.
[Identification of item], Thelner & Louise Hoover Photographic Collection (Record Series number 647). Department of Special
Collections, University Archives, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Hoover, Thelner and Lousie--Archives
Hoover, Thelner B. (Barton)--Archives
Hoover, Louise (Brown)--Archives
Hoover family--Archives
University of California, Los Angeles--Alumni and alumnae--Archival resources.
University of California, Los Angeles. Alumni Association.
UCLA Alumni Association.
University of California, Los Angeles. Gold Shield.
University of California, Los Angeles. Affiliates.
Royce Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.)
University of California, Los Angeles--Buildings.
Auditoriums--California--Los Angeles.
Lawrence Clark Powell Library (Los Angeles, Calif.)
University of California, Los Angeles. College Library.
Powell Library (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photographers--California, Southern--Archival resources.
Photographs--Aerial photographs.
Photographs.
Other Index Terms Related to this Collection
Hoover, Thelner--Photograph collections.
Abbreviations Used in the Container List
- TH Thelner Barton Hoover
- LH Louise Brown Hoover
- ND no date
Thelner Barton Hoover, photographer, and his wife, Louise Brown Hoover, both UCLA Class of 1930, served UCLA in various capacities
for over 50 years. Thelner B. Hoover began his career in 1921 as a student photographer for his Rockford Illinois high school
yearbook. When his family moved to California, he attended Pasadena Junior College, and was the official student photographer
for that campus from 1925 until graduating in 1927. T. B. Hoover attended the University of California, Los Angeles from
1927 until he graduated in 1930. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity. He was the official student
photographer for the "The Southern Campus" yearbook, the Daily Bruin (student newspaper) and the Athletic News Bureau. As
a student, he financed and co-produced with Bud Graybill, a 35mm film entitled, "The Bruin Review" which featured the move
from the Vermont campus to Westwood. This film was a part of the student Charter Day event in March 1930. Thelner made
films of UCLA football games before Stan Troutman took over. He began a series of aerial photographs of the campus and the
surrounding community in 1929 and continued this series after graduation. Thelner continued to document UCLA after his graduation.
Some of his photographs of UCLA are included in "UCLA on the Move" by John B. Jackson and Andrew Hamilton; and in "California
of the Southland" published in 1937.
In 1938, Thelner became the manager of the Westwood Village Studio, a photography studio specializing in portraits. He was
the official photographer for the Southern California Tennis Association from 1929 until 1942. He photographed many events
and VIPs at many of the Westside country clubs and hotels, particularly the Beverly Wilshire. He photographed the Las Floristas
Headress Ball, national conventions of the Delta Zeta, Pi Beta Pi and Alpha Chi Delta sororities. His photographs were published
in many national magazines including color covers of "Sunset Magazine" and the "Los Angeles Times Home Magazine". Thelner
Hoover was a photography instructor for UCLA Extension Division for 20 years. He opened the Department of Journalism at Pasadena
City College and taught Pictorial Journalism for four years. Thelner belonged to the Westwood Village Lion's Club for 39
years and served as its president. And he was a member of the Blue Key Men's Honorary. He was active in the UCLA Alumni
Association for many years and served as the Alumni Travel Chairman and official photographer. And he was co-chair with his
wife, Louise for the 1975 reunion of the Class of 1930.
Louise E. Brown (Hoover) was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, Alpha Chi Chapter, UCLA. She was active in the University
Dramatic Society and worked for the Athletic News Bureau as a UCLA student. After graduation, she worked as a radio actress.
Louise Brown and Thelner Hoover were married in August 1930. Louise Hoover began an active association with many different
UCLA service clubs and organizations after she graduated. L . Hoover was a member of the Alumni Council from 1945 until 1947.
She was a life member of the Alumni Association, serving as Vice President from 1949 until 1951. She served on many Alumni
Association committees including the Scholarship, Charter Day and Homecoming committees. Louise was an active member of the
Gold Shield for 33 years and served both on the board and as Vice President. She was a charter member of the Westwood Women's
Bruin Club, and was a long time member of the Affiliates, serving on the Board and as Vice President. Louise Hoover served
as the Class of 1930 secretary for many years and helped organize various reunions of that class.
Selected Chronology of Louise Brown Hoover
September 1998 - Facts from various sources included in manuscripts & personal papers
in the Thelner & Louise Hoover collection.
| 1929 | Member of Delta Zeta Sorority, Alpha Chi Chapter of University of California, Southern Branch |
| 1930 | Graduated from UCLA / LA Independent |
| 1930 | Worked as a radio actress after graduation / LA Independent |
| 1930, 8/12 | Married |
| 1945-1947 | Member of Alumni Council / LA Independent |
| 1949-1951 | Vice President of Alumni Association / UCLA Alumni Magazine |
| nd | Life member of Alumni Association. Served on numerous committees: Scholarship, Charter Day, Homecoming & events honoring World figures. / Letter to 1981 Alumni Awards Program |
| nd | Organized & initiated the Volunteer Program within the Alumni Association / Letter to 1981 Alumni Awards Program |
| nd | Active member of Gold Shield for 33 years. Served on the Board & as Vice President / Letter to 1981 Alumni Awards Program |
| nd | Charter member of Westwood Women's Bruin Club for 35 years. Served as President when first scholarship was presented. Organized, modeled & narrated series of Scholarship Fashion Show Benefits. / Letter to 1981 Alumni Awards Program |
| nd | Long time member of the Affiliates, three years on the Board & two years as Vice President / Letter to 1981 Alumni Awards Program |
| nd | Class of 1930 secretary for many years & co-chair with TH of the 45th Reunion & Reception chair for the 50th. / Letter to 1981 Alumni Awards Program |
The Thelner and Louise Hoover collection, spanning the years 1921 - 1982, consists primarily of Thelner Hoover's photographs
and negatives. The collection contains of black and white photographs, color photographs, negatives, color slides, 16mm films
and a few daguerrotypes, tintypes, ambrotypes, glass lantern slides, glass negatives and two autochromes. The collection also
includes personal papers and manuscripts relating to Thelner and Louise's personal life, travels, their involvement with UCLA,
and his professional work.
The majority of the photographs are Hoover's professional portraits of individuals and groups; and of social, business and
sporting events in the west Los Angeles area. There are photographs of brides and weddings; events at the Beverly Wilshire
Hotel; celebrities and political figures, including Ronald and Nancy Reagan; sporting events, including those of the Southern
California Tennis association; many social events and conferences of various sororities, including Delta Zeta, Alpha Chi Delta,
Alpha Delta Pi; fraternities, such as Sigma Alpha Epsilon; various women's groups; the Las Floristas Headress Balls; and examples
of his product and architecture photography. The majority of these photographs are not specifically identified.
The collection also contains his personal family photographs. The earliest photographs, estimated to be in the late 1800's
are photographs of the generation preceding him and his wife. It may be that the daguerrotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes are
Hoover or Brown family members or his collection of early photographic techniques. These portraits are not identified. There
are early portraits of Thelner and Louise, their wedding portraits, and portraits of their two daughters Janeen and Lisa.
The collection contains many photographs of social occasions and celebrations of holidays with their friends and family.
The Hoovers traveled a great deal and documented their trips well. Thelner's early artistic photography work focused on landscape.
His later travel photographs reflect some of this early interest in landscape, but expanded to include the documentation of
the place, its architecture and life. In addition to some of the fine art photography, the collection also includes many snapshot
travel photographs. The collection documents Sequoia and Yosemite from the late 20's and early 30's; Idyllwild in the late
30's; Lake Tahoe in 1930 (taken during their honeymoon); Taxco, Mexico in the late 30's; Lake Tagish (Yukon) in 1938; and
the Canadian Rockies in the early 40's. There are photographs of Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, France, Holland, Denmark,
Yugoslavia, Australia, New Zealand, Bangkok, Tokyo, Bali, Hong Kong, Tahiti and other locations.
The UCLA collection of photographs ranges from the State Normal School in 1925 through the Alumni Association Awards in 1982.
Thelner documented the history of UCLA beginning with the Vermont Avenue Campus in 1927; the Westwood campus groundbreaking
ceremony in 1927; photographs of book illustrations of the Italian buildings which inspired the architecture of Royce Hall
and the Powell Library building; the construction of Royce Hall, the Powell Library building and Kinsey Hall (the Physics
building); the UCLA Band in 1928; models of the earliest buildings, Chemistry, Haines, Moore and others; and the moving days
to the Westwood campus. There are only portions or strips of his film "The Bruin Review" identified in the collection. Highlights
of the collection include the photographs of Royce Hall and the Powell Library Building construction. There are 1929 glass
negatives of the Powell Library Building, UCLA's 1st registration; and two autochromes, one of Haines Hall and the other of
Louise Brown.
Thelner began a series of aerial photographs of the UCLA campus and surrounding area of Westwood in 1929. He photographed
the campus from the air again in January and April 1930, in 1936 (from the Goodyear Blimp), 1938 and 1952. The collection
contains photographs of the dedication of his aerial mural which was hung in the UCLA Ackerman Student Union Westwood Room
in 1962 and was moved to the University Religious Conference Building.
Thelner recorded the dedication of UCLA on March 26, 1930. The collection contains over sixty negatives and prints of this
ceremony, with portraits of President Campbell, Sproul, Moore, Barrett, Hedricks, Dickson, Dodd, John Dewey, Case, Gimble
and others. It also contains photographs of the Mira Hershey Hall dedication, commencement, the Bookstore and Coop, football
practice, the first snowfall on campus in 1932, the Clark Library fourth Annual celebration in 1948. Other events in the
collection include John Wooden's last game, the Class of 1930's 30th and 40th reunion, and the 1982 Alumni Association Awards.
There are various sports photographs of basketball, track and tennis. And there are photographs of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
(SAE) fraternity presenting UCLA Football coach Tommy Prothero with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Thelner photographed
many dignitaries and UCLA important people such as; Dwight Eisenhower, Charles Young, Ralph Freud, Kenneth McGowan, Arthur
Ashe, Robert B. Campbell, Edwin Pauley, Franklin Murphy and many as yet unidentified.
He photographed Ralph Bunche, John Wooden, and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Adbul-Jabbor). However, these negatives or prints have
yet to be located within the collection.
In addition to the photographs, there are 65 canisters of 16mm films, 12 reels of 16mm and 6 reels of sound recording tape
and 5 reels of 16mm film identified as UCLA. These films have not yet been assessed for content.
Within the personal papers and manuscript portion of the collection are publicity newspaper articles, UCLA Alumni Association
travel records and Alumni magazines; information about Gold Shield, The Affiliates, Westwood Women's Bruin Club and the UCLA
University Club; information about Delta Zeta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon; yearbooks from UCLA, "The Southern Campus" from 1941
and 1942; Pasadena High School, 1918, 1925 and 1928; Pasadena Junior College, 1928; Pasadena City College, 1948 and 1950;
records of his photography business; and miscellaneous memorabilia. The collection contains some objects, such as two 4
x 5 wooden negative holders, a slide attache case and two boxes of mats imprinted with his business name.
The collection is currently organized by content and format. The two primary content areas are: non-UCLA or UCLA. The non-UCLA
area is subdivided into professional work, personal family and travel sections.
The majority of non-UCLA material is not organized within document boxes and is not specifically identified. UCLA materials
are currently arranged chronologically with folders named for the specific contents. Some materials are not specifically
identified. There are just a few document boxes which are not identified as either UCLA or non-UCLA.
Formats include manuscripts and personal papers, objects, 16mm films, photographic negatives (subdivided by size for most
of the collection), photographic prints, and slides.
The collection is not in its permanent order.