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LaVell Cooley photograph collection, 1920-1985
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Cooley, I. LaVell, 1901-
- Title
- LaVell Cooley photograph collection
- Dates
- 1920-1985 (inclusive)19201985
1940-1960 (bulk)19401960 - Quantity
- 4 boxes, (2 linear ft. )
- Collection Number
- UUS_P0101
- Summary
- The LaVell Cooley Photograph Collection consists of 736 artistic and personal photographs (both black & white and color) taken by this career military man and Utah State University graduate. Included in the collection are a few early shots of the Utah State University campus, but the bulk consists of views taken while on military assignment in the Virgin Islands (including Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Dutch Guinea, Haiti, and Jamaica) as well as national parks (including Monument Valley, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion National Park), mountain scenes, and the California coast. Cooley and his wife Gwendolyn appear in many of the images. More Cooley photographs (including black and white and color 16mm film of national parks) can be found in the unprocessed photographs.
- Repository
-
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Restrictions
Open to public research.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
LaVell Irwin Cooley (1901-1980) was the son of Oscar Wood Cooley, manager of the Utah State cafeteria for many years. LaVell took up photography at an early age making many images for the Buzzer yearbooks. In 1925, after graduating with a degree in chemistry, he attended summer school and worked on his Masters Degree in Geology, which he earned in 1929. Cooley later became a research engineer in Long Beach, California where he worked with photomicrographic and high speed photography. In 1940 he was called to active duty with the Army; his first assignment was Camp Callan, LaJolla, California. LaVell held several command positions during World War II, and retired after becoming physically disabled. He and his wife settled in Los Altos, where he immediately built a darkroom and continued his photography for the rest of his life. He died in 1980.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The LaVell Cooley Photograph Collection consists of 736 images of artistic and personal photographs taken by this career military man and Utah State University graduate. Included in the collection are a few early shots on campus, but the bulk consists of views taken while on military assignment in the Virgin Islands (including Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Dutch Guinea, Haiti, and Jamaica) as well as national parks (including Monument Valley, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion National Park), mountain scenes, and the California coast. Cooley and his wife Gwendolyn appear in many of the images. More Cooley photographs (including black and white and color 16mm film of national parks) can be found in the unprocessed photographs.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
CopyrightIt is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the LaVell Cooley photograph collection> must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
LaVell Cooley photograph collection, 1920-1985. (P0101). Utah State University. Special Collections & Archives Department.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Grand Teton National Park, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 1
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
1:01:01-1:01:03: Chapel of the Transfiguration |
undated | ||
1:01:04-08: Views of Grand Teton National Park (Jenny
Lake?) |
undated | ||
1:01:09-11: Photos of a woman on a horse |
undated | ||
Yellowstone National Park, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 2
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
1:02:01-02. : Views of The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
(waterfall) |
undated | ||
1:02:03: Elk discarding winter coat |
undated | ||
1:02:04-05: Views of Yellowstone river |
undated | ||
1:02:06-07: Scenic views of Grand Canyon? |
undated | ||
1:02:08: Bison |
undated | ||
1:02:09: The Firehole River |
undated | ||
1:02:10: A black bear |
undated | ||
1:02:11: Tower Falls |
undated | ||
1:02:12-14: Views of geyser formations in the
park |
undated | ||
Death Valley, CA:, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 3
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
1:03:01-03: Views of the valley |
undated | ||
Mesa Verde:, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 4
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
1:04:01-06. : Views of the Indian ruins at Mesa
Verde |
undated | ||
Zion National Park:, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 5
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
1:05:01-02: Views of the Narrows |
undated | ||
1:05:03-08: Rock Candy Mountain area, along Mt. Carmel
Highway (just outside of Zion National Park) |
undated | ||
1:05:09-17: Great White Throne area |
undated | ||
1::05:18: Park visitors exploring on rocks |
undated | ||
1:05:19-20: Virgin River. Entrance to Park |
undated | ||
1:05:21-30: The Narrows. Some views include a group of Boy
Scouts and their leaders |
undated | ||
Yosemite National Park:, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 6-9
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
1:06:01-15: Several different views of Half Dome in
Yosemite National Park |
undated | ||
1:07:01-10b. : Yosemite National Park Waterfalls and
Streams |
undated | ||
1:08:01-03: Photos of deer |
undated | ||
1:08:04. : View of road, car driving out of
park |
undated | ||
1:08:05. : Oddly shaped tree stump |
undated | ||
Views of Glacier National Park, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 9
Mount Whitney and Glacier Lake:, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 10
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
1:10:01-06. : Views of Mount Whitney and Glacier
Lake |
undated | ||
1:10:07. : Alabama Hills. Back of Lone Pine,
CA |
undated | ||
1:10:08. : View of the park |
undated | ||
1:10:09. : View of a 19 mile hike, showing a glacier
lake |
undated | ||
1:10:10-11: Views of the park |
undated | ||
Views of the Alabama Hills near Mt. Whitney, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 12
1:12:01-14.
Infra-red views of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 13
1:13:01-05.
Winter Scenes of Yosemite National Park, including Mirror Lake, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 14
1:14:01-09.
Winter Scenes of Yosemite National Park, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 15
1:15:01-11.
Views of Half Dome at Yosemite National Park, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1, Folder 17
1:17:01-13.
Arizona photos, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 1
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
2:01:01: A pueblo ruin in Arizona |
undated | ||
2:01:02: A native-American woman with baby in
Arizona |
undated | ||
2:01:03: Cancer on Sajuaro cactus near
Tuscon |
undated | ||
2:01:04-11: Various views of cacti in Arizona |
undated | ||
2:01:12-27: Views of the Arizona desert, various photos of
cacti, flowers |
undated | ||
Craters of the Moon, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 2
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
2:02:01: "Craters of the Moon" on the way to Sun
Valley |
undated | ||
San Juan Capistrano Mission near San Diego, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 6
2:6:01-04.
Animal Photos, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 7
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
2:07:01-02: Elephants |
undated | ||
2:07:03: Cocker Spaniel |
undated | ||
2:07:04: Donkey |
undated | ||
2:07:05: Chipmunk |
undated | ||
San Juan Capistrano Mission near San Diego, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 10
2:10:01-15.
North California Scences, incliuding Stanford University, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 13
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
2:13:01-02: Devil's Post Pile, High Sierras |
undated | ||
2:13:03-04: Views of Stanford |
undated | ||
2:13:05-06: Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San
Francisco |
undated | ||
2:13:07-08: Views of the High Sierras, near Bishop,
CA |
undated | ||
2:13:09-10: Devil's Post Pile |
undated | ||
2:13:11: Lodge at Mount Hood |
undated | ||
2:13:12-22: Redwood trees in North California, including
the General Sherman tree |
undated | ||
2:13:23: Beautiful old home of Pacific Lumber Co.
President Eureka, California |
undated | ||
2:13:24: Burney Falls |
undated | ||
2:13:25-30: More views of Redwood forests
Includes photos of LaVell, Gwen and friends among the trees.
|
undated | ||
2:13:31-34: San Francisco Bay |
undated | ||
2:13:35-38: Views of the California-Oregon coast (Pyramid
Rock?) |
undated | ||
2:13:39: Russian Church |
undated | ||
2:13:40-41: Famous old cypress at Carmel |
undated | ||
2:13:42: Stanford Chapel |
undated | ||
2:13:43: View on the way to the Gold
Country |
undated | ||
Views of New Orleans including Jackson Square Cathedral, Statue of Andrew Jackson, and The Old Absinthe House, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 14
2:14:01-17.
Views of Georgetown, British Guiana (Manatees?), undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 1
3:01:01-07.
Views of New Orleans including Jackson Square Cathedral, Statue of Andrew Jackson, and The Old Absinthe House, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 2
3:02:01-10.
Panama, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 3
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
3:03:01. : Colon-Panama (Caribbean Side) |
undated | ||
3:03:02-05. : Old Panama City (Pacific Side) |
undated | ||
Culebra Island, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2, Folder 12
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
3:04:01. : Typical West Indies Cove at Culebra Island,
between Puerto Rico and the virgin Islands |
undated | ||
Paramaribo, Dutch Guinea, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 6
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
3:06:01. : Market Place in Paramaribo, Dutch
Guinea |
undated | ||
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 7
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
3:07:01. : Market Place at Port-au-Prince in
Haiti |
undated | ||
Views of Trinidad including the famous Tar Pits, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 8
3:08:01-13.
Views of San Juan, Puerto Rico including poor native families, and photos of the trip from Puerto Rico to Trinidad, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 10
3:10:01-22.
Views of San Juan, Puerto Rico including Fort El Moro, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 11
3:10:01-20. Some duplicates of photos in folder 10.
Views of Puerto Rico including the oldest Christian church in the western hemisphere at San German (dated about 1511 AD), undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 12
3:12:01-16.
Views of Puerto Rico including locals harvesting sugar cane fields, Colonel Jones, and a snapshot of the Capital Building at San Juan, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 13
3:13:01-21.
Various photos of LaVell and others in Puerto Rico, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3, Folder 14
3:14:01-31.
Views of Cache Valley, Utah, Arizona and California, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 1
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
4:01:01: Woman taking photo of a girl and a
dog |
undated | ||
4:01:02: A field of Sheep |
undated | ||
4:01:03: Rick's Spring in Logan Canyon, Utah |
undated | ||
4:01:04: View of the Valley, LDS Temple in
sight |
undated | ||
4:01:05: Old Main USAC Campus in winter |
undated | ||
4:01:06: View of LDS Temple |
undated | ||
4:01:07: View of Logan Canyon from USU
Campus |
undated | ||
4:01:08: Great Grandma Cooley with baby Gene and his
Grandpa |
undated | ||
4:01:09: Old Main Tower |
undated | ||
4:01:10: A photo of the Cooley Family |
undated | ||
Various views of Hoover Dam and electric equipment, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 2
4:02:01-07.
Views of Palm Springs including Palm Springs Canyon, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 3
4:03:01-11. Photo 11 is in color.
Photos of Monument Valley (Also Arches National Monument?), undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 4
4:04:01-06.
Photos of Arizona: Mostly palm trees, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 5
4:05:01-11. Photo 10 is the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, AZ.
Photos of Utah, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 6
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
4:06:01. : Cache Valley, Utah. Wellsville and Mendon in the
distance |
undated | ||
4:06:02-03: Logan Canyon |
undated | ||
4:06:04: Wasatch Mountain Range of the Rocky Mountains
(near Brigham City) |
undated | ||
4:06:05-17: Views of aspen trees in Southern
Utah |
undated | ||
Photos of California, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 7
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
4:07:01: Harbor in Southern California |
undated | ||
4:07:02: Cypress tree in Carmel, CA |
undated | ||
4:07:04: Old Prospector in Borego Desert,
CA |
undated | ||
4:07:05-06: Southern California, Los Angeles
area |
undated | ||
4:07:07-24: Photos of Sailboats |
undated | ||
4:07:25-43: Ocean views on the California
Coast |
undated | ||
4:07:44: San Juan Capistrano Mission, near San
Diego |
undated | ||
4:07:45-48: Various photos of boats |
undated | ||
4:07:49-50: Photos of olvera Street in L.A |
undated | ||
Various views of Bryce Canyon (also Pueblo Ruin), undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 6
4:08:01-09.
Cedar Breaks, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 9
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
4:09:01: Photo of Cedar Breaks |
undated | ||
Mount Saint Helen's and Spirit Lake, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 10
4:10:01-02.
Photos of LaVell, Gwen and other military friends stationed in various countries including Trinidad and Puerto Rico, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 11
4:11:01-21.
Unidentified locations, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 12
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
4:12:01-11: Different angles of unidentified beach and
valley locations, possibly in Haiti |
undated | ||
4:12:12-26: Photos of natives and their homes in various
unidentified locations, possible Puerto Rico and/or Trinidad |
undated | ||
Unidentified locations, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 13
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
4:13:01-04. : Views of cows in an unknown
location |
undated | ||
4:13:05-11. : Unidentified photos of buildings and street
scenes probably in Puerto Rico, Antigua, or Trinidad |
undated | ||
4:13:12: A man looking at photos of topless
women |
undated | ||
4:13:13-15: Unidentified water scenes |
undated | ||
4:13:16-23. : Photos of plants in tropical
locations |
undated | ||
Some locations unidentified, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4, Folder 14
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
4:14:01: Shoshone Falls, Idaho |
undated | ||
4:14:02: The California coast |
undated | ||
4:14:03: A wooden cabin with a fallen tree straight
through the middle of it. Possibly in the Redwood Forest in CA |
undated | ||
4:14:04: Gwen and LaVell Cooley (in uniform) standing in
front of a white house with columns-location unknown |
undated | ||
4:14:05: A postcard with photos of four of the public
schools in Brigham City, Utah |
undated | ||
4:14:06: A blossoming tree |
undated | ||
4:14:07: Corn stalks |
undated | ||
4:14:08: Military men in uniform surrounding a bomb on
display
Label on back of photo: "Roc Glide Bomb."
|
undated | ||
4:14:09: A field of wild daisies |
undated | ||
4:14:10: Photo of a woman collecting rocks |
undated | ||
4:14:11: A field of wheat, ready to harvest, probably in
Cache Valley |
undated | ||
4:14:12-13: Photos of dead tree stumps |
undated | ||
4:14:14-21: Mountain scenes of trees and stream. One view
in winter |
undated | ||
4:14:22-23: Views of unidentified mountains
One photo includes a cemetery possibly in Cache Valley.
|
undated | ||
4:14:24-57: Various unidentified photos: trees, rivers,
lakes, mountains (Yosemite? Mount Rainer? Southern Utah?) |
undated | ||
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- National parks and reserves--United States--Photographs.
Personal Names
- Cooley, I. LaVell, 1901- --Photographs.
Corporate Names
- United States. Armed Forces--Photographs.
- Utah State University--History--Photographs.
Family Names
- Cooley family--Photographs.
Geographical Names
- Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--Photographs.
- California--Photographs.
- Puerto Rico--Photographs.
- Virgin Islands--Photographs.
Finding aid created by Daniel Davis, May 2006.
2008
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
