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Thorn Mayes photograph collection, 1934-1937
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Thorn Mayes photograph collection
- Dates
- 1934-1937 (inclusive)19341937
- Quantity
- 988 items (68 photographs and 920 slides)
- Collection Number
- P0355
- Summary
- The Thorn Mayes photograph collection contains aerial views, 1934-1937, of the San Juan River drainage area, the Rio Grande watershed, and of the Navajo and Zuni Indian Reservations in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. This collection also includes an album of hand colored photographs of the Grand Canyon by Fred Harvey of the El Tovar Studio. As well as, slides of various areas in the southwest United States taken between 1962 and 1980.
- Repository
-
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Thorn L. Mayes, Sr. was born April 19, 1903, in Covington, Kentucky and raised in Springfield, Kentucky until 1915, when he moved to Coalinga, California. He attended Coalinga High School from 1919 until 1923.
In 1921 the principal of Coalinga High authorized the purchase of an amateur wireless radio station for the purpose of broadcasting results of athletic events at the school and put Mayes in charge of the purchase. This introduction to electronics was to have a lasting effect on Mayes. The equipment consisted of a 1KW spark transmitter, regenerative receiver, audion detector, and two-stage amplifier. The station reported the results of many local track meets and communicated with amateurs as far away as Alamagordo, New Mexico and Boise, Idaho. Mayes operated the amateur station 6JR of Oakland, California until the fall of 1923, when he moved to Berkeley to attend the University of California.
Mayes graduated with honors from the University of California in 1927, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. In July of 1927, he married Lygia Ouer of Oakland, California, and moved to Schenectady, New York to begin a long career with General Electric. Mayes completed the General Electric test course, and spent the next two and a half years working on large induction motor design. Late in 1930 he transferred to General Electric's Oakland, California plant, and acted as a motor design and application engineer for the eleven western states. This was a vital period as the western pump companies had recently developed small-diameter, multistage pumps which could be installed in drilled irrigation wells as small as eight inches in diameter. These pumps required special vertical hollow shaft induction motors for drive, and their introduction made possible the irrigation of vast agricultural areas in California, Arizona and other states.
It was also during the 1930s that Mayes met Norman Nevills, of Nevills River Expeditions fame, and became interested in compiling the first map of the Monument Valley area. Nevills flew him up in his Pyper Cub so that he could take aerial photographs of the area he wished to map.
During World War II Mayes was Engineer and Superintendent of the Oakland motor plant, and in 1949 was transferred back to Schenectady, New York as Assistant to the Manger of Engineering of General Electric. In 1950 he was transferred by General Electric to the Lynn, Massachusetts plant as Manager of Engineering of the alternating and direct current motor operation. Mayes was transferred in 1953 to Ft. Wayne, Indiana to supervise a study to select tooling and supervisory manpower, and to build and operate a new plant to manufacture single and polyphase production motors with one to five horsepower. He was also manager of the plant. Finally late in 1958 he moved to the Shelbyville, Indiana plant to become Manager of the Engineering Industrial Heating Department, which worked with large steel mill furnaces.
Mayes retired in 1963 at the age of sixty, and moved to Saratoga, California to travel and pursue hid hobbies. He died in about 1988.
(This biography was taken from one Mayes wrote himself, found in Box 1 of Accession 1189.)
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection was donated to the University of Utah in December of 1990 by Thorn Mayes' son, Thorn Mayes Jr., of Durango, Colorado. The collection was received by Gregory C. Thompson in Durango.
The heart of the collection is the aerial photographs that the senior Mayes used in his project to create the first map of the Monument Valley area. The photographs are of the drainage of the San Juan River, and include the watershed of the Rio Grande. The photographs date 1934-1937. These photographs were arranged chronologically by set, and then consecutively by index number within each set. The sets are not complete. See the survey indexes in Box 2, oversize, for the area covered. In both boxes, aerial photography is followed by landscapes. Box 2 contains an exceptional album of hand-colored photographs of the Grand Canyon by Fred Harvey of the El Tovar Studio.
Please note that due to the fact that Fairchild Aerial Surveys, Inc. Of Los Angeles took these photographs on contract with either the U.S. Department of the Interior or the U. S. Department of Agriculture, any one of the three parties could hold copyright. Patrons are responsible for obtaining written permission from the appropriate agency before copies of these photographs can be obtained.
See also Mayes own aerial photographs in the Norman Nevills Collection, P0341, Box 9.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Preferred Citation
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Collection is arranged topically.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Thorn Mayes, Jr. in 1990.
Processing Note
Processed by Peter Schmid in 2004 and by Agnes Korzeniowski in 2007.
Separated Materials
Manuscript materials were transferred to the Thorn L. Mayes papers (ACCN 1189).
Audio-visual materials were transferred to the Thorn L. Mayes audio-visual collection (A0183).
Related Materials
This collection forms part of the Utah River Running Archive, which is part of the S.J. Quinney Outdoor Recreation Archive
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Aerial Photographs and LandscapesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Fairchild Aerial Survey
|
1934 |
1 | 2 | Fairchild Aerial Survey
|
1934 |
1 | 3 | Fairchild Aerial Survey
|
1937 |
1 | 4 | Aerial Photographs, Miscellaneous
|
|
1 | 5 | Aerial Photographs, Oblique
|
|
1 | 6 | Landscapes
|
Oversize MaterialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 1 | Fairchild Aerial Survey
|
1934 |
2 | 2 | Fairchild Aerial Survey
|
1934-1936 |
2 | 3 | Navajo Country, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, Arches National Park
|
|
2 | Unknown | Grand Canyon of Arizona, Hand-Colored Photographs-Photograph Album by Fred Harvey, El Tovar Studio.
|
SlidesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box | Folder | |
3 | 1 | Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell
|
3 | 2 | Monument Valley, Zion, Capitol Reef and Glen Canyon Dam
|
3 | 3 | Glen Canyon Dam, Mexican Hat, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon
|
3 | 4 | Mexican Hat, Monument Valley
|
3 | 5 | Bryce Canyon and Lake Powell
|
3 | 6 | Lake Powell filling, Zion, Etc. (?)
|
3 | 7 | Lake Powell, Hoover Dam and Arches National Monument
|
3 | 8 | Black Mesa, Bluff, Garden of the Gods, Mexican Hat
|
3 | 9 | Grand Canyon trip
|
3 | 10 | Supai and Monument Valley
|
3 | 11 | Arizona-Utah
|
Various sites in Arizona, Nevada, and UtahReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box | Folder | |
4 | 1 | Agathla Peak, Arizona
|
4 | 2 | Betatakin, Arizona
|
4 | 3 | Canyon De Chelly, Arizona
|
4 | 4 | Canyon De Chelly, Spider Rock
|
4 | 5 | Death Valley
|
4 | 6 | Grand Canyon
|
4 | 7 | Green River, highway
|
4 | 8 | Triassic Landscape
|
4 | 9 | Keet Seel
|
4 | 10 | Mesa Verde National Park
|
4 | 11 | Mexican Hat, Utah
|
4 | 12 | Monument Valley
|
4 | 13 | Monument Valley
|
4 | 14 | Monument Valley
|
4 | 15 | Monument Valley, Moccasin Arch
|
4 | 16 | Monument Valley, Totem Pole
|
4 | 17 | Navajo Mountain
|
4 | 18 | Nevills Expedition
|
4 | 19 | Poncho House, near Bluff, Utah
|
4 | 20 | Rainbow Bridge, Utah
|
4 | 21 | San Juan River
|
4 | 22 | San Juan River, Gooseneck
|
4 | 23 | Unidentified Arches
|
4 | 24 | Unidentified men
|
4 | 25 | Unidentified men and women, automobiles
|
4 | 26 | Unidentified Native Americans
|
4 | 27 | Unidentified scenery
|
4 | 28 | Unidentified scenery
|
4 | 29 | Unidentified wedding photos
|
4 | 30 | Wetherill Trading Post
|
4 | 31 | White House Ruins
|
Various aerials, U.S.G.S. ExpeditionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
5 | 1 | Various aerials, U.S.G.S. Expedition
|
1933 |
5 | 2 | Various aerials, U.S.G.S. Expedition
|
1933 |
5 | 3 | Various aerials, U.S.G.S. Expedition
|
1933 |
5 | 4 | Various aerials, U.S.G.S. Expedition
|
1933 |
5 | 5 | Various aerials, U.S.G.S. Expedition
|
1933 |
5 | 6 | Various aerials, U.S.G.S. Expedition
|
1933 |
Aerial PhotographReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
6 | 1 | Aerial Photographs
|
circa 1945 |
6 | 2 | Aerial Photographs
|
circa 1945 |
6 | 3 | Aerial Photographs
|
circa 1945 |
6 | 4 | Aerial Photographs
|
circa 1945 |
6 | 5 | Aerial Photographs
|
1945 |
NegativesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
7 | 1 | Aerial Photographs
|
|
7 | 2 | Test airplane shots taken with KTO camera over Oakland
|
1933 |
7 | 3 | Death Valley, Monument Valley
|
1933 |
7 | 4 | Goosenecks
|
1933 |
7 | 5 | Goosenecks
|
|
7 | 6 | Mexican Hat, Norm Nevills boating, Monument Valley, Navajo rug weaving
|
|
7 | 7 | Monument Valley, Goosenecks of San Juan, Mesa Verde
|
|
7 | 8 | Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Death Valley
|
|
7 | 9 | Nevills at Mexican Hat Lodge
|
|
7 | 10 | Nevills and boat in front of Lodge
|
|
7 | 11 | Rainbow Bridge, Map, Monument Valley, Mexican Hat and Elephant feet
|
|
7 | 12 | Unidentified scenery
|
|
7 | 13 | Unidentified
|
|
7 | 14 | Yosemite National Park
|
|
8 | 1 | Kodak Negative Album 1
|
1929 |
8 | 2 | Kodak Negative Album 2: South Rim of Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Goose Necks, Mexican Hat, Monument Valley
|
1931 |
8 | 3 | Kodak Negative Album 3
|
1931 |
8 | 4 | Kodak Negative Album 4
|
1931 |
8 | 5 | Kodak Negative Album 5: Kayenta and Marsh Pass, Tuba City, North Rim of Grand Canyon, Zion, Point Sublime of Grand Canyon, Lee's Ferry, and Navajo Bridge
|
1932 |
8 | 6 | Kodak Negative Album 6: Havasupai, Arches National Monument, Goblet of Venus, Zion(?), Crater Lake(?)
|
|
8 | 7 | Untitled |
|
8 | 8 | Untitled |
|
8 | 9 | Untitled |
|
8 | 10 | Untitled |
General ImagesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box | Folder | |
9 | 1 | San Juan River and COlorado River, 1948 trip |
9 | 2 | Bluff, Utah |
9 | 3 | Monument Valley |
9 | 4 | Gooseneck, San Juan River, Colorado River and Monument Valley |
9 | 5 | Aerial views of Gooseneck, San Juan River, Colorado River and Monument Valley |
9 | 6 | Anticline at Mexican Hat |
9 | 7 | Cap and Grand Canyon |
9 | 8 | Mexican Hat |
9 | 9 | Four Corners Monument |
10 | 1 | Southern Utah alubum |
11 | 1 | Grand Canyon: North and South Rim |
11 | 2 | Grand Canyon: North Rim, Havasupai, Grand Canyon National Monument |
11 | 3 | Arizona: Sedonia, Flagstaff, showbowl, Betatakin, 4 Corners, White Mountains, Canyons de Chelly, Pheonix |
11 | 4 | Monument Valley |
11 | 5 | San Juan Mountains, Teppuride Ovray, Silverton, Yankee Boy Basin |
11 | 6 | San Juan Mountains, Governor's Basin, Imogene Pass and Creek Pass |
11 | 7 | San Juan Mountains, Eureka, Animal Forks, Engineer Mountain, Cinnamon Pass, Poughkeepsie Gulch, Mineral Creek |
11 | 8 | San Juan Mountains, Black Bear, Boomerang Road, Alta, Alta Lakes, Ophir Pass, Gold King Mine, Mount Wilson Road |
11 | 9 | San Juan Mountains, Corkscrew, Kendall Mountain, Clear Lake, Carson, La Plata Canyon, Bolam Pass, Al Pine Tunnel |
11 | 10 | San Juan River, 1948 |
12 | 1 | Bryce Natonal Park |
12 | 2 | Capital Reef, Mesa Verde, Mount Rushore, Yellowstone, Tetons and Salt Lake 1953-1963 |
12 | 3 | Arches and Canyonlands National Parks 1950s-1960s |
12 | 4 | Arches and Boat Trip, 1973 |
12 | 5 | Mexican Hat, San Juan River, Bluff to Mexican Hat |
12 | 6 | Glen Canyon Bridge, Glen Canyon Dam |
12 | 7 | Glen Canyon/ Lake Powell |
12 | 8 | Ames Station |
12 | 9 | Colorado |
12 | 10 | Yosemite 1946, 1957-58 |
13 | 1 | Western Road trips |
13 | 2 | Lake Powell |
13 | 3 | Glen Canyon Dam |
13 | 4 | Arizona |
13 | 5 | Mesa Verde |
13 | 6 | Grand Canyon: North Rim |
13 | 7 | Grand Canyon: South Rim |
13 | 8 | Phoenix, Arizona |
13 | 9 | Supai, Arizona |
13 | 10 | San Francisco |
13 | 11 | Nevada |
13 | 12 | Yellowstone/ Grand Teton |
13 | 13 | Yorktown |
13 | 14 | Lake George (New York) |
13 | 15 | New England |
13 | 16 | Personal/ Residential |
13 | 17 | Universities |
13 | 18 | Titles |
14 | 1 | 1933 |
14 | 2 | 1934 |
14 | 3 | 1936 |
14 | 4 | 1945 |
14 | 5 | Norman and Doris |
14 | 6 | San Juan |
14 | 7 | Rainbow Bridge |
14 | 8 | Monument Valley |
13 | 9 | Scenery from Trips |
13 | 10 | glass lantern slides |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Navajo Indian Reservation--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Grand Canyon (Ariz.)--Photographs
- Monument Valley (Ariz. and Utah)--Photographs
- Rio Grande Watershed--Photographs
- San Juan River (Colo.-Utah--)Photographs
- Zuni Indian Reservation (N.M.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Aerial photographs--1934-1937
- Photographic prints--1934-1937
- Photographic prints--Colored--1934-1937
- Slides--Color--1962-1980