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Merton Elliott architecture and mortuary art photograph collection, approximately 1850-1900
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Elliott, Merton
- Title
- Merton Elliott architecture and mortuary art photograph collection
- Dates
- approximately 1850-1900 (inclusive)18451905
- Quantity
- 78 photographic prints (2 boxes, 4 folders) ; various sizes
- Collection Number
- PH1233
- Summary
- Largely photographs of tombs, cemeteries and mortuary art, with a few architecture drawings and maps, bulk related to the historic Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio, along with a series of photographs by Francis Frith and an Edouard Baldus print of Place de la Concorde in Paris
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Eugene Merton Elliott was born on September 11, 1910 in Santa Fe, Kansas to Ernest Henry and Myrtle McCoy Elliott. He graduated from Stanford University in 1932 with his Bachelor's degree. After receiving his law degree from Washburn University in 1935, he practiced law in Tacoma, Washington until 1947. Elliott married Marjorie Pierce on December 20, 1933. He died on March 3, 2007 in Tacoma, Washington. Elliott collected and donated all materials in collection.
The historic Spring Grove Cemetery is located in Troy, Cincinnati, Ohio and is, to this day, considered a leader in cemetery design. In 1844, the Cincinnati Horticultural Society formed a cemetery association in order to address the growing opinion that their cemeteries appeared rundown and discomforting to grieving families as a result of the cholera epidemic. Headed by former Chief Justice and Secretary of Treasury, Salmon P. Chase (January 13, 1808-May 7, 1873), the cemetery association began researching proper location and design. The group traveled to many notable cemeteries along the East Coast and Europe to collected ideas. Chase and his colleagues, Nathaniel Wright, Timothy Walker and James Hall, constructed the charter on December 1st and by September 1st of the following year, the first internment was created. Robert Buchanan (1797-1879) was the Spring Grove Cemetery President from 1845 to 1879, proceeded by Henry Probasco Esquire (1820-1902) from 1879 to 1902. Adolph Strauch (1822-1883) was the Spring Grove Cemetery landscape gardener and Superintendent from 1854 to 1883 followed by William Salway (1841-1925) from 1883 to 1925.
Photographs contained in the "Francis Frith & Co. Series" were collected by Francis Frith. Francis Frith (1822-1898) was a British photographer and photograph collector. It has been noted that these images were most likely photographed by Frith's traveling employees, William Johnson and William Henderson. Most of the images are from Frith's India series.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs of tombs, cemeteries and mortuary art, including sculptures and monuments, along with a few maps and architectural plans, bulk relating to the historic Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati; a group of Francis Frith photographs of tombs and other views in India and Pakistan; albumen prints of the Emperor Josephus II monument and a fountain at Schonbrunn in Vienna; a photograph of a portrait of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and an albumen print of the Place de la Concorde in Paris by Edouard Baldus.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Donor: Merton Elliott, December 27, 1983.
Processing Note
Processed by Libby Hopfauf; 2014; Stefanie Terasaki, 2015. Processing completed 2015.
Accession PH2008-020. 44 more photographs were located and added to the collection in 2009.
Separated Materials
These photographs were part of a larger donation which included lithographs, engravings, plans and photographs of European and American architecture, landscape architecture and mortuary art. These materials are probably located with the miscellaneous materials in theRare Book collection.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Spring Grove Cemetery, Troy, Cincinnati, OhioReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/1 | 1 |
Disposition plans of lots, monuments, and trees at the
junction of avenues, Spring Grove Cemetery, Troy, Cincinnati, Ohio Mrs. C. Waldack Photographic Studio, S. W. Cor. Liberty & Vine, Cincinnati, OhioA. Stauch (photographer)
|
1854 |
1/1 | 2 |
Dexter mausoleum, Spring Grove Cemetery, Troy,
Cincinnati, Ohio The steeple in the middle of roof has since fallen off.
|
circa 1869-1895 |
mapcase | |||
M266 | 3 |
Plan of Oakwood, residence of Henry Probasco Printed on mat: to A. Strauch Esq., Superintendent of Spring
Grove Cemetery and Public Parks of Cincinnati, compliments of R.Herich.
|
1875 |
Box/Folder | |||
1/1 | 4 | 1875 | |
mapcase:oversize | |||
M266 | 5 |
Monumental Plan of the Cemetery of Spring Grove and
Surroundings, Troy, Cincinnati, Ohio Printed on front: by A. Strauch
|
1876 |
box:oversize | |||
XD4 | 6 |
Section views of Norman Chapel, Spring Grove Cemetery,
Troy, Cincinnati, Ohio Isaac Graveson, Henry Probasco
|
circa 1880 |
2 | 7 | circa 1880-1900 | |
Box/Folder | |||
1/1 | 8 | circa 1880-1900 | |
1/1 | 9 | circa 1880-1900 | |
box:oversize | |||
2 | 10 |
View of home from backyard, Troy, Cincinnati,
Ohio Printed on verso: The Stone House where Mr. Strauch lunched
while in Troy and as the house appeared when the old entrance to the cemetery
was on the north side of the house. The whole as was re-vamped by Hans
Boetehen. Written complements of A. R. Smith.
|
circa 1880-1900 |
Box/Folder | |||
1/1 | 11 | circa 1895-1900 | |
box:oversize | |||
2 | 12 | circa 1895-1900 | |
Box/Folder | |||
1/1 | 13 |
Sullivan family monument in front of pond, Spring Grove
Cemetery, Troy, Cincinnati, Ohio Mrs. C. Waldack Photographic Studio, S. W. Cor. Liberty & Vine, Cincinnati, Ohio (photographer)
|
circa 1895-1900 |
box:oversize | |||
XD4 | 14 | circa 1895-1900 | |
Box/Folder | |||
1/2 | 15 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/2 | 16 |
Girl looking at grave of Catharine Boyer Pomeroy and two
men on bench next to grave of Louderback, Spring Grove Cemetery, Troy,
Cincinnati, Ohio Two photographs pasted onto the same notebook paper.
|
circa 1895-1900 |
1/2 | 17 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/2 | 18 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/2 | 19 |
Wright family monument, Spring Grove Cemetery, Troy,
Cincinnati, Ohio John Crafts Wright was a U.S. Congressman for Ohio and
judge.
|
circa 1895-1900 |
1/2 | 20 |
Day family monument, Spring Grove Cemetery, Troy,
Cincinnati, Ohio Timothy Crane Day was a U.S. Congressman for Ohio The T. C. Day
Technical Library at the University of Cincinnati is named for him.
|
circa 1895-1900 |
1/2 | 21 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/2 | 22 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/3 | 23 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/3 | 24 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/3 | 25 | circa 1895-1900 | |
box:oversize | |||
KVXC2 | 26 | circa 1895-1900 | |
Box/Folder | |||
1/3 | 27 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/3 | 28 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/3 | 29 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/4 | 30 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/4 | 31 | circa 1895-1900 | |
1/4 | 32 | circa 1895-1900 | |
box:oversize | |||
KVXC2 | 33 | circa 1895-1900 | |
KVXC2 | 34 | circa 1895-1900 | |
KVXC2 | 35 | circa 1895-1900 | |
KVXC2 | 36 | circa 1895-1900 | |
Box/Folder | |||
1/4 | 37 | circa 1895-1900 |
American CemeteriesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/5 | 38 | circa 1880s-1900s | |
1/5 | 39 |
View of the Forest Home Cemetery, Chicago,
Illinois Written on front: Sec. 1.
|
circa 1880s-1900s |
1/5 | 40 | circa 1880s-1900s | |
1/5 | 41 | circa 1880s-1900s | |
1/5 | 42 | circa 1880s-1900s | |
1/5 | 43 | circa 1880s-1900s | |
box:oversize | |||
KVXC2 | 44 | circa 1880s-1900s | |
KVXC2 | 45 | circa 1880s-1900s | |
2 | 46 | circa 1880s-1900s |
English Tombs and CemeteriesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/6 | 47 |
Basalt of Sarcophagus of Sebaksi, Priest of Ptah, The
British Museum, London, England Stephen ThompsonW. A. Mansell & Co., 2 Percy Street West, London, England (photographer)
Photographed by Stephen Thompson and printed by W. A. Mansell
& Co. (Photograph and Fine Art Publishers).W.A. Mansell & Co. stamp on front.
|
circa 1870 |
1/6 | 48 |
Tablet from the side of a small Egyptian pyramid, The
British Museum, London, England Stephen ThompsonW. A. Mansell & Co., 2 Percy Street West, London, England (photographer)
Photographed by Stephen Thompson and printed by W. A. Mansell
& Co. (Photograph and Fine Art Publishers).W.A. Mansell & Co. stamp on front.Printed on photo: 203. Side of a Small Pyramid of a Person Named
Kharf, XIX Dynasty, Tablet of USR.
|
circa 1870 |
1/6 | 49 | circa 1900 | |
1/6 | 50 | circa 1900 | |
1/6 | 51 | circa 1900 | |
1/6 | 52 | 1863 |
Italian Cemeteries and tombsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/7 | 53 | circa 1850-1900 | |
1/7 | 54 |
The mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna,
Italy Written on front: 6
|
circa 1850-1900 |
1/7 | 55 |
Tomb of Nicholas Breakspear (Pope Adrian IV), St.
Peter's, Rome, Italy Written on front: 4Printed on verso: 2992 Nicolas Breakspear, the only English
pope.
|
circa 1850-1900 |
1/7 | 56 |
Catacombs, Rome, Italy Written on front: 3Printed on verso: 1617
|
circa 1850-1900 |
Unidentified Mortuary ArtReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/8 | 57 | circa 1850-1900 | |
1/8 | 58 |
Statue of a woman wearing a crown and holding a shield
and wreath, with two boys sitting at her feet, along with a globe, owl, harp,
tuning fork and book Carved on the lower part of the statue: J. Sibbel
|
circa 1850-1900 |
1/8 | 59 | circa 1850-1900 | |
1/8 | 60 |
Statue of woman in robes and a crown, arms
outstretched Carved on lower part of statue: T. O'Hare, Sc.
|
circa 1850-1900 |
box:oversize | |||
2 | 61 | circa 1850-1900 |
Francis Frith & Co. SeriesReturn to Top
Embossed in lower left corner on each photograph: Frith's Series.
European ArtReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
box:oversize | item | ||
XF1 | 72 |
The obelisk of Luxor and two fountains by Hittorf, Place
de la Concorde, Paris, France (Baldus 35) Edouard Baldus (photographer)
: master print of photograph
Edouard Baldus was commissioned to photograph monuments in Paris
in 1851.
|
circa 1850-1860 |
2 | 73 |
Emperor Josephus II (Denkmal des Kaiser Joseph II)
monument, Vienna, Austria Ferdinand Kuss (1800-1886) (photographer)
: albumen print
|
circa 1880 |
2 | 74 |
Fountain at Schonbrunn (Schonbrunn Eine Allee), Vienna,
Austria Michael Frankenstein (1843 - 1918) (photographer)
: albumen print
|
circa 1880 |
2 | 75 |
Portrait of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe H. Burghard, Torgau, Germany (studio)
: photographic print of detail
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (August 28, 1749 – March 22, 1832)
was a German politician and writer. His body of work includes poetry, fiction,
memoirs, plays, literary criticism, and scientific overviews.
|
circa 1880 |
EngravingsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/10 | 76 |
Tomb of Maria Christina of Austria, Venice,
Italy Antonia Canova (1757–1822)Dominice del FratiBonato Venetus (sculptor)
: engraving
|
1805 |
1/10 | 77 |
Lake See-Hoo and Temple of the
Thundering Wings, from the Vale of Tombscreated and printed in London,
England Thomas Allom (1804-1872)Joseph Clayton Bentley (1809 - 1851) (artist)
: engraving
|
1842 |
1/10 | 78 |
Die Graeber der Koenige bey Jerusalem
(View of the Tombs of the Kings Near Jerusalem), created and printed in
Germany Carl Joseph Meyer (1796-1856)unknown (publisher)
: engraving
This is a reproduction of steel engraving. The image was first
produced in volume E ofMeyer's Universum,
published and printed by the Bibliographical
Institute in Germany.
|
circa 1834-1837 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Frith, Francis, 1822-1898 (photographer)
Corporate Names
- Spring Grove Cemetery (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Elliott, Merton, 1910-2007 (collector)