University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH1646Allara, Maxwell, 1906-1981Maxwell Allara
Photographs1947-1970s20 photographic prints; 144 contact sheets (2 boxes)Negatives - 21/4, 4x5, 35mm (1 box)Collection materials are in
English.Photographs of
the Oregon coast, Portland, California, Southwest, and portraiture exhibited in
shows My camera is a tool to record light and open up
new doors of visual experience. Massimino Frederico Allara.
Maxwell Allara (May 29, 1906-1981) was born in Tonco, Italy as
Massimino Frederico Allara. He came to the US at the age of three with his
parents and grew up in Portland, Oregon. He left to study for a year at the
University of California, Berkeley and then attended the California School of
Fine Arts. During the 1930s he worked as a magazine photo-illustrator for the
Globe Picture Agency in New York City. He returned to Portland in the late
1930s and worked as the display manager for the Meier & Frank department
store where he met his future wife, Helen Luhr. He became an American citizen
and joined the army to serve in the Pacific in World War II. He was wounded in
action and listed as missing. In 1945, he married Helen and they opened the
Allara Studio on 35th and Division Street as partners. Later, in 1950, they
moved their business to their house on Clintion Street. Besides their
commercial work, they also created artistic photography as well as oil and
watercolor paintings.
He became more interested in photography as a form of expression. He
became a life-long member of the Camera Club of Oregon which included
photographers Ray Atkinson, Al Monner, Stacy Wong, and others. He also joined
the Oregon Society of Artists. His professional photography appeared regularly
in the Oregon Journal; his more artistic work
appeared in the influential photography magazine Aperture. As a
member of the Oregon Society of Artists, he exhibited his photography in a
number of shows around Oregon in association with "Group 15" during 1958-1959.
At these shows he learned about the work and philosophy of Minor White. Allara
shared Minor White's philosophy that a photograph was more than a simple image.
Allara echoed this idea in believing that the image became more than "just the
subject matter." In 1960 Minor White organized a group of Portland based
photographers into the Advanced Interim Workshop Group. Allara was a assistant
to Minor White from 1960-1965. He also became friends with the photographer,
Brett Weston, the son of the famous photographer, Edward Weston. He continued
to operate his studio and exhibit until his death in 1981.
Photographs of the Oregon coast, Portland, California, Southwest, and
portraiture exhibited in shows
Forms part of the Pacific Northwest Photographers Archive (PNPA).
The collection is made from some random materials left over after the
photographer's death and unfortunately does not represent the quality of his
work. Most of it is made up of contact sheets. There is an accompanying
document about a donation of his prints to the Portland Art Museum which is
illustrated with his work and shows the quality of it. There are also some nice
examples of his commercial work in the collection. Dates for the contact sheets
are not always accurate. He would often put one date on his contact sheet and
another date on his negatives. He also was often unclear in his identifications
of place.
Selected images can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections
website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals.
Contact Special Collections for more information.
Request at UW
Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington
Libraries Special Collections.
Donor: Mitchell Allara, 2018; Bill Rhoads (2 photographs), March 2022;
Bill Rhoads (152 photographs), January 2023.
Processed by Nicolette Bromberg, 2022.
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)PhotographsOregonUtah
Minor White Workshop, Oregon Coast
Allara attended a workshop with the famous photographer, Minor
White. The photographs do not show Minor White
1/11a-fPhotographs made while attending the Minor White
Workshop at Cape Arago on the Oregon coast1965 Six contact sheets (negatives exist for all images). One contact
sheet is scanned from negatives.
1/22a-mPhotographs made while attending the Minor White
Workshop at Cape Arago on the Oregon coast1965Thirteen contact sheets (no negatives).
1/33Photograph made while attending the Minor White Workshop
at Cape Arago on the Oregon coast 1965One print.
1/44a-IPhotographs made while attending the Minor White
Workshop at Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon coast1965Ten contact sheets (1 negative exists) includes images of the
photographer Paul Caponigro and a contact sheet of portraits of a man who might
be Don Center.
1/44g.15Paul Caponigro with camera on beach1965 1/44g.17Paul Caponigro with camera on beach1965 1/55-6Photographs made while attending the Minor White
Workshop at Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon coast 1965Two prints.
Oregon CoastArch Cape, Oregon1/67a-dCove Beach Arch Cape, Oregon1968 Four contact sheets (most negatives exist). Three contact
sheets are scanned from negatives.
7c includes images of Sharon Wong walking on the beach with
poodle.
1/78a-dCove Beach Arch Cape, Oregon1968 Four contact sheets (some negatives exist). Two contact sheets
are scanned from negatives.
8d includes images of a tidal pool
1/89Art gallery at Arch Cape, Oregon1968 One contact sheet scanned from negatives.
Cape Arago, Oregon Coast 1/910a-fCape Arago on the Oregon coastbetween 1966 and 1969?Six contact sheets (no negatives).
1/1011-12Photographs of Cape Arago on the Oregon
coastbetween 1966 and 1969?Two prints.
1/1113a-cCape Arago on the Oregon coastbetween 1970 and 1979?Three contact sheets (no negatives).
Southern Oregon Coast1/1214Photograph of Southern Oregon Coastbetween 1960 and 1969One print.
Cape Mears, Oregon Coast 1/1315a-IBeach logs at Cape Mears on the Oregon
coastbetween 1970 and 1975?Nine contact sheets (a few negatives exist).
1/1315a.15Weatherbeaten tree at beachbetween 1970 and 1975? Beach log and abstracts, Oregon Coast1/1416a-bAbstract images and beach logs on the Oregon
coastbetween 1970 and 1975? Two contact sheets (all negatives exist). One contact sheet
scanned from negatives.
1/1416a.9Row of old pilings on beachbetween 1970 and 1975? Portland, Oregon1/1517Log boom and boat under St. Johns Bridge, Portland,
ORbetween 1950 and 1959 Scanned from original negative
1/1618West Moreland Park with Mitchell Allara playing in trees
and in water, Portland, ORbetween 1955 and 1959One contact sheet (no negatives).
1/1719Lloyd Center and the Tsutakawa Fountain, Portland,
ORbetween 1960 and 1969One contact sheet (all negatives exist).
1/1820a-dPortland scenes: views of town from highway, Portland,
ORbetween 1960 and 1969Four contact sheets scanned from negatives.
1/1820a.8Interstate 5 near Portland, ORbetween 1960 and 1969 1/1820c.4Bridge in Portland, ORbetween 1960 and 1969 1/1820c.8Storefront of Day's Tailor-d Trousers with signage for
Kaufman Bros. Square Dancer Headquartersbetween 1960 and 1969 1/1820c.10Mannequins in Portland shop windowbetween 1960 and 1969 1/1820e-fPortland scenes: views of town from highway and Skidmore
Fountain, Portland, ORbetween 1960 and 1969 Two contact sheets scanned from negatives.
1/1921a-bVictorian houses, Portland, ORbetween 1960 and 1969 Two contact sheets (all negatives exist). One contact sheet
scanned from negatives.
1/1921a.4Victorian housebetween 1960 and 1969 1/2022a-bTrees and apartment building, Portland, ORbetween 1960 and 1979Two contact sheets (all negatives exist).
1/2123a-bAbstract images and flowers, Portland, OR between 1960 and 1969Two contact sheets (some negatives exist).
1/2224a-cWillow Trax Tree, Portland,
OR between 1970 and 1975Three contact sheets (all negatives exist).
1/2224b.5Old tree with sculptural trunkbetween 1970 and 1975 Central Oregon1/2325Mt. Hood landscape, ORbetween 1960 and 1969One contact sheet (one negative exists).
1/2426a-dBuildings and cattle drive in John Day vicinity,
ORbetween 1970 and 1975Four contact sheets (one negative exists).
1/2426c.7Cowboy driving herd of cattle along roadbetween 1970 and 1975 1/2426c.11Cowboy with dog and cowboy on horse next to herd of
cattle crossing roadbetween 1970 and 1975 Moab, Utah TripThe photographs from this series and the next series are from two
trips in the southwest. Unfortunately Allara was unclear in his identification
and dating of the photographs so there may be some crossover of images from the
two trips.
1/2527a-kLandscapes on the way to Moab, UT including the Wildrose
Charcoal Kilns in Death Valley which look like large beehives and rock
formations in Monument ValleyOctober 1972Eleven contact sheets (most negatives exist).
1/2527d.7Rock arch formation October 1972 1/2527d.8Man standing under rock arch formationOctober 1972 1/2527f.9Rock natural obelisk formationOctober 1972 1/2527h.3Wildrose Charcoal Kilns in Death ValleyOctober 1972 1/2527i.5Cloud formation over desertOctober 1972 1/2527i.8Winged sculptures near buildingsOctober 1972 1/2527i.9Castle-like rock formationsOctober 1972 1/2628a-kLandscapes on the way to Moab, UT, including views of a
ghost town1972Eleven contact sheets (most negatives exist).
1/2729a-dLandscapes, cactus, and horses in the vicinity of Moab,
UT1972Four contact sheets (all negatives exist).
1/2729c.1Sand dunes1972 1/2830a-eScenes of Monument Valley, Anasazi Ruins at Mesa Verde,
Grand Canyon. Taos Pueblo, AZ1972Five contact sheets (no negatives).
1/2931a-dScenes of Taos Pueblo, Bryce Canyon area and portrait of
Helen Allara sitting on a park bench, UT1972 Four contact sheets (one negative exists).
1/30/32a-cLandscape near Grand Canyon, Utah1972Two contact sheets and print (no negatives).
1/3032aRock formation1972 1/3133Landscapes in Monument Park, UT1972 [March 1973]This is not Monument Valley, it is a park north of Moab near
Provo, Utah
One contact sheet (all negatives exist).
Trip to Death Valley and the High
Sierra, Nevada MountainsThe photographs from this series and the previous series are from
two trips in the southwest. Unfortunately Allara was unclear in his
identification and dating of the photographs so there may be some crossover of
images from the two trips.
1/3234a-cScenes of Death Valley, southern Utah, and Helen
Allara1973Three contact sheets (no negatives).
1/3335a-cScenes of Death Valley including Max and Helen Allara at
the Badwater historical marker and Max photographing on sand dunes1973Three contact sheets (all negatives exist).
1/3335b.8Helen Allara sitting on Badwater historical
marker1973 1/3335b.9Max Allara standing next to Badwater historical
marker1973 1/3436a-cBristelcone Pines1973Three contact sheets (a few negatives exist).
California1/3537a-bTrees and church at Point Lobos, CA1968Two contact sheets (negatives exist for all but one
photograph).
1/3638a-bButterfly, San Francisco seen from across the bay,
Monterey scenes, and Helen Allara1968Two contact sheets (negatives exist for a few photographs).
1/3739a-cScenes in the Haight District of San Francisco and
images of a Buddha statue in Portland, OR1968Three contact sheets - includes two copies of the same contact
sheet printed differently (negatives exist for most of the photographs)
1/3739a.1Octagonal building 1968 1/3739a.4Elderly woman with broom at sidewalk art
exhibit1968 1/3739b.4Storefront of Haight Street Palace1968 1/3739b.11Young man carrying large sacks along
street1968 1/3840a-eCalifornia Desert & Snow
scenes of snow covered landscape, ruins of buildings in desert, desert
plants, church and graveyard, and Dutch windmill building with
Artiler Motor sign1973 Five contact sheets (all negatives exist). One contact sheet is
scanned from negatives.
1/3840e.8Close view of desert plant, possibly agave1973 Scanned from negative.
1/3840e.9Close view of desert plant, possibly agave1973 Scanned from negative.
1/3941California High Country
scenes of snow covered landscape1973?One contact sheet (no negatives).
British Columbia1/4042a-bLog barn, landscapes, and Allara with camera, British
Columbiabetween 1960 and 1969Two contact sheets (no negatives).
Shells1/4143Shells, log and a building frontbetween 1965 and 1969 One contact sheet scanned from negatives.
1/4143.5Still life of shellbetween 1965 and 1969 Scanned from negative.
1/4143.9Still life of shellbetween 1965 and 1969 Scanned from negative.
Portraits1/4244Max and Helen Allara dancing at Oregon Camera Club
dance1947Gladys Gilbert Studio, Portland One print.
1/4245Helen Allara in field of daisiesbetween 1950 and 1955 Scanned from negative.
1/4246Portrait of Erik Bromberg children, Portland,
ORMarch 1957 Print with mat from Allara studio.
1/4247Portrait of Dorothy M. Johnsonbetween 1957 and 1960?Dorothy Mae Johnson was Miss Oregon, 1955, and the first runner
up in the Miss America pageant. She went on to have a career in film and
television. Allara made many photographs of Dorothy and she credited his
photographs as helping her get her start as a Hollywood actress.
One print.
248 Portrait of Max Allara1959L.K. Andrews, Portland, OR Written on verso: Group 15 Member Maxwell F. Allara Photographer
1959.
One print.
1/4249 Portrait of a model, Jane Baumgardnerbetween 1960 and 1965?One print.
1/4250a-b Portraits of a model, Jane Baumgardner, on the beach at
Cannon Beach, ORbetween 1960 and 1965?Two contact sheets (no negatives exist).
1/4251Wedding portrait of Rita Schnitzer, Portland,
ORbetween 1960 and 1965One print and one negative. Rita was the daughter of Dell
Schnitzer.
1/4252Portraits of Mitchell Allara, Portland, OR1972One contact sheet (no negatives). Mitchell was Maxwell's
son.
Maxwell Allara Exhibit
Work1/4353a-bPhotographs of an exhibit of Allara's workbetween 1972 and 1974Two contact sheets (no negatives).
254Responses - Tree Bark
[abstract]1964One print.
255Dogwood blossom1965One print.
256Skunk Cabbage blossom1964One print.
Oregon Camera Club Exhibit Photos257 Katrinka [portrait of a
baby] 1951? Print has two stickers on verso. One sticker is for the Oregon
Camera Club 56th Annual Salon in Portland and the other is for Maryhill Museum,
Maryhill, WA. Both stickers are dated 1951.
258Portrait of a baby 1951?Print has sticker on verso for the Oregon Camera Club Spring
Salon in Portland in 1951.
259 Portrait of a childbetween 1950 and 1955One print. This may have been printed for exhibit for the
Oregon Camera Club but doe not have any show stickers. It is in a mat similar
to the prints that were in OCC exhibits.
260Portrait of a woman in a wedding dress 1951?Print has sticker on verso for the Oregon Camera Club Spring
Salon in Portland in 1951.
261Portrait of a woman 1953? Print has two Oregon Camera Club exhibit stickers on verso
which are dated 1953. One is for the 58th Annual Exhibit Oregon Camera Club in
Portland
262Jane [portrait of a
woman]1953? Print for Oregon Camera Club exhibit. This is most likely Jane
Baumgardner who modeled for Allara.
263Nudebetween 1970 and 1979? Documentation1/44Document: Artwork Donation to the
Portland Art MuseumFebruary 19, 2013