Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Lily E. White photographs, 1900-1905
Overview of the Collection
- Photographer
- White, Lily E.
- Title
- Lily E. White photographs
- Dates
- 1900-1905 (inclusive)19001905
- Quantity
- 0.5 cubic feet, (1 oversize flat box (19 x 25)) : 43 black and white platinum prints, mounted; 5 loose, 38 in portfolio
- Collection Number
- Org. Lot 662
- Summary
- Collection consists of 43 photographs of the Columbia River Gorge taken by Lily E. White and other members of the Oregon Camera Club between 1900 and 1905.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Lily E. White was born in Oregon City in 1866. White trained in portrait painting and art in San Francisco and Chicago before taking up photography in the 1890s. White joined the Oregon Camera Club as a "lady member" in 1898. At that time, women were not allowed full membership in the organization. However, White's technical expertise and talent elevated her to the positions of assistant secretary and demonstrator, a role in which she instructed fellow members on the art of photography. It is likely through the Oregon Camera Club that White became acquainted with fellow members Sarah Hall Ladd, Will H. Walker, and Maud Ainsworth. In 1903, White commissioned the construction of a houseboat, the Raysark, which featured several living quarters and an onboard darkroom. White lived on the Raysark during extended photography trips up the Columbia River. White died in Carmel, California, in 1944.
Source: Glauber, Carole. "Eyes of the Earth: Lily White, Sarah Ladd and the Oregon Camera Club." Oregon Historical Quarterly 108 (Spring 2007): 34-67.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection consists of 43 photographs taken by Lily E. White and other members of the Oregon Camera Club between 1900 and 1905. The photographs depict landscape scenes of the Columbia River Gorge, the Pacific coast, and Mount Hood. Also included are posed portraits of members of the Klikitat and other Columbia River tribes. The photographs are mounted platinum prints and all but two of the prints are signed by the artist. Thirty-eight of the photographs are part of a tooled suede leather portfolio, which was designated Album 712 by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library. The portfolio also contains prints signed by Sarah Hall Ladd, Will H. Walker, and Maud Ainsworth. In addition to the portfolio, the collection includes five loose prints signed by Lily E. White.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
The Lily E. White photographs are viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Lily E. White photographs, Org. Lot 662, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Album 712, gift of the Ladd estate via Mrs. F. C. Trullinger, November 1982 (Lib. Acc. 16157). Loose prints purchased from Barbara O'Kun, May 1991 (PO 39348).
Related Materials
Additional collections related to the photography of Sarah Hall Ladd and Lily E. White include the Ladd family photographs, Org. Lot 58, and the Lily E. White negatives, Org. Lot 1415.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Columbia River--Photographs
- Indians of North America--Portraits
- Landscape photography--West (U.S.)
- Women photographers
Geographical Names
- Columbia River Gorge (Or. and Wash.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- photographs
