LaVell Cooley photograph collection, 1920-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Cooley, I. LaVell, 1901-
Title
LaVell Cooley photograph collection
Dates
1920-1985 (inclusive)
1940-1960 (bulk)
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

Copyright

It 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

Arrangement

Organized numerical by photo number.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by Cooley's widow, Gwendolyn Cooley, of Los Altos, California in June of 1995.

Processing Note

Register completed by Daniel Davis, May 2006.

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

Various views of Mount Whitney, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 11

1:11:01-12.

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.

Christmas at Yosemite , 1931.Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 16

1:16:01-08.

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

Views of Washington, D.C, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 3

2:3:01-02.

Views of Richmond, Virginia, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 4

2:4:01-03.

Photos near El Paso, Texas, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 5

2:5:01-03.

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

Niagra Falls, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 8

2:8:01.

Columbia River (falls), undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 9

2:9:01-02.

San Juan Capistrano Mission near San Diego, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 10

2:10:01-15.

Virginia City, Nevada, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 11

2:11:01-02.

White Sands, New Mexico, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 12

2:12:01-22.

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

Views of Kingston, Jamaica, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 5

3:05:01-03.

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.

San Juan Harbor, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 9

3:09:01.

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.