George D. Eagleton Stereoview Collection, ca. 1860s-2004

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Summary

Creators:
Eagleton, George D.
Abstract:
The collection contains ca. 6708 stereoviews, 179 other photographic images (most photo postcards), one videotape about stereoviews, 11 stereoviewers, and related books and issues of Stereo World, assembled by George D. Eagleton. The stereoviews, some exceedingly rare, include images from many parts of the U.S, and other countries. They cover subjects such as children, the Civil War, farming, Indians [Native Americans], logging, mining, planes, presidents, Russo-Japanese War, ships, Spanish American War, Trains, and World War I. Most of the stereoviews in the collection were produced in the latter nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by the Keystone View Company and Underwood and Underwood (which sold the work of a number of photographers). Numerous other companies also are represented. The cards were intended to be viewed through equipment such as stereopticans, which produced a three-dimensional effect.
Extent:
26 linear feet (ca. 6708 stereoviews, 179 other photographic images, 1 videotape, and 11 stereoviewers, in 36 shoeboxes, 1 pamphlet-size box, and 4 cartons).
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

George D. Eagleton Stereoview Collection. Mss 255. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains ca. 6708 stereoviews, 179 other photographic images (most photo postcards), 1 videotape about stereoviews, 11 stereoviewers, and related books and issues of Stereo World, assembled by George D. Eagleton. The stereoviews, some exceedingly rare, include images from many parts of the U.S, and other countries, and cover subjects such as children, the Civil War, farming, Indians [Native Americans], logging, mining, planes, presidents, Russo-Japanese War, ships, Spanish American War, Trains, and World War I.

Most of the stereoviews in the collection were produced in the latter nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by the Keystone View Company and Underwood and Underwood (which sold the work of a number of photographers). Numerous other companies also are represented and include:

  • A. D. Banney (Lewiston, Maine)
  • American Optical Company
  • American Stereoscopic Company
  • Berry, Kelley and Chadwick (Dallas and elsewhere)
  • C. H. Graves (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • C. J. Rospini (Vienna, Austria)
  • Charnaux Frères & Cie (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • Edward L. Wilson (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • G. Sommer (Naples, Italy)
  • Geo. [George] Barber
  • George Rose (Melbourne, Australia)
  • Griffith and Griffith (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • H. C. White Company (N. Bennington, Vermont)
  • H. H. Bennett (Kilbourn City, Wisconsin)
  • H. L. Toles View Co. (Seattle, Washington)
  • International View Co. (Decatur, Illinois)
  • J. F. Jarvis (Washington, D.C.)
  • James M. Davis (New York and elsewhere)
  • John P. Soule (Boston, Massachusetts)
  • John S. Moulton (Salem, Massachusetts)
  • M. M. Hazeltine
  • M. Moiley
  • Noah Gifford
  • P. B. Green (Chicago)
  • Realistic Travels (London)
  • Stereoscopic View Co.
  • Strohmeyer and Wyman (New York)
  • T. W. Ingersoll (St. Paul, Minnesota)
  • Universal Art Co.
  • Universal Photo Art Co. (Philadelphia and elsewhere)
  • Viking View Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
  • Webster and Albee (Rochester, New York)
  • Wm. [William] Pierce (Brunswick, Maine)
  • Woodward and Albee (Rochester, New York)

Categories in the container list are largely derived from those used by Eagleton to organize his collection. The number of items in a category are indicated in parentheses ( ).

Related books and issues of Stereo World have been cataloged separately.

Biographical / historical:

George D. Eagleton (July 22, 1933 - Jan. 12, 2008) was born in Peoria, Illinois to Lee O. Eagleton and Virginia Mackemer Eagleton. He graduated from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business in 1955, served in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and joined the Northern Trust Bank in Chicago in 1973. In 1987 he relocated to a newly opened branch of the bank in Santa Barbara, where he later retired in 1996. He served on many boards of directors, including the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and Planned Parenthood. He passed on January 12, 2008 in Santa Barbara.

Daughter Gwen A. Eagleton notes that:

"As a young boy George was introduced to stereographs by his grandparents, as family and neighbors would gather on Sundays to view each others collections. His fascination with photography endured, collecting stereoviews throughout his travels, at 3-D conventions, and most recently through bids on e-Bay. George was fairly private about this collection, but family members and friends who inquired often received a sampling, specially chosen according to their interests. He would be pleased to know his collection is now at UCSB for a wider audience to study and enjoy."

Acquisition information:
Gift from Gwen A. Eagleton, daughter of George D. Eagleton, 2008.
Physical location:
Del Sur.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

None.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred citation:

George D. Eagleton Stereoview Collection. Mss 255. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Location of this collection:
UC Santa Barbara Library
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
Contact:
(805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
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