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Otto Hogue Henderson Photographs of Quincy, Washington, 1900-1961

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Henderson, Otto Hogue, 1882-1973.
Title
Otto Hogue Henderson Photographs of Quincy, Washington
Dates
1900-1961 (inclusive)
Quantity
11 Linear feet of shelf space, (21 Boxes)
Collection Number
PC 17 (collection)
Summary
Included in the collection are glass negatives, negatives, photographic prints, account books and one studio register. Spanning some 60 years, the collection consists of three broad categories: portraits, town and country scenes in and around Quincy, Washington, and farming pictures. The images record the pioneer days of the Quincy Valley and its subsequent development.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Otto Hogue Henderson was born at Dayton, Washington on February 10, 1882. His parents moved from the Midwest in the 1880's and homesteaded in and around Dayton. In May of 1904, Otto and his sisters, Adella and Enola, came to Quincy where they purchased homesteads. In addition, Henderson also set up a commercial photographic studio in a tent. His advertisements included stamp pictures and cabinets, two popular photographic forms of the day. For most of his life Otto was forced to do odd jobs to supplement the small income he received from his studio. He carried mail, worked as an engineer for local farmers (engineering being another interest of Henderson's) and was the general handyman for the ladies of Quincy. This fact was due, however, to the small volume of business generated in the early years of photography, and not Henderson's abilities as a photographer. He was known to be slow but methodical, and his products were well received. During the second World War Otto moved to Ephrata and received a substantial volume of business from the air base at Moses Lake. After the base closed down and business fell off, Henderson became something of a recluse, living alone in his house collecting large apple juice bottles, old receipts, and many other strange items. He died in 1973 at the age of 91.

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Content Description

The Otto Hogue Henderson collection of photographs consists of glass and film negatives most of which fall within the period from 1910 to 1950. Also included in the collection are eight account books and one studio register which cover the period from 1909 to 1942, used by Henderson to record information pertaining to his photographic practice. The glass plates run from 1910 to 1936 while the film negatives run from 1908 to 1961. This situation occurred because Henderson utilized glass negatives long after film negatives had usurped their popularity. In addition to safety negatives, Henderson also used many nitrate base negatives which, due to their flammable nature, had to be discarded. Where these films have been pulled from the collection, prints have been made and a NITRATE designation recorded on the back of the print. In the main number sequence an 'IF" designation has been added to indicate film negatives.

Spanning the course of over 60 years, the collection contains three broad categories: portraits, town and country scenes in and around Quincy, and farming pictures. Most of the photographic documentation for Faye Morris' book, "They Claimed A Desert" (Fairfield, Washington, Ye Galleon Press, 1976), a history of the early days of the Quincy Valley, has been taken directly from this collection. It contains a rich pictorial representation of pioneer days in the valley and the march of progress in the ensuing years.

Identifications of negatives came from three sources. Henderson's own identifications, recorded in his register, written directly on the negative or on an envelope, have no parentheses or brackets around them. Fay Morris' identifications of negatives not otherwise identified by her uncle are enclosed in parentheses. Other identifications are enclosed in brackets. It might be noted that Henderson's bookkeeping practices often recorded the purchaser of a picture who may or may not have been the subject of the photograph.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Otto Hogue Henderson Photographs of Quincy, Washington, 1900-1961 (PC 17)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged into five series. The divisions are based on Henderson's own numbering sequences (where possible) and the size and type of negative. Series I contains the main number sequence, both glass and film negatives, plus four other sub-series of large (14x19 cm.) plates which have been arranged to fit into the main number sequence. Series II contains the "011 number sequence and two other sequences of medium (10x16.5 cm.) glass negatives. Series III contains the small (11x13, and 11x8 cm.) glass negatives and the small miscellaneous film negatives. Series IV contains oversize plates (20x26, 16.5x21.5 cm.) and Series V contains Henderson's account books and studio register.

For ease of arrangement and description of the entire collection, the several small unrelated numbering sequences used by both Morris and Henderson have been superseded by the processor's numbers. In the main number sequence, numbers 3694 to 3897 have numbers recorded on their plates which were superseded. The new numbers correspond to Henderson's main number sequence. Plates 0827 to 0838 have been given numbers which correspond to Henderson's "011 number sequence. All other sequences were given numbers where none previously existed which categorize them either within Henderson's two series or the last two series of negatives.

Acquisition Information

The Otto Hogue Henderson collection of photographs was donated to the Washington State University Library by Faye Morris, the photographer's niece, in 1974.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Janalee Walters, Terry Abraham and Charisse Peters from April 1974 to October 1977.

Related Materials

Preliminary Guide to the Catherine Para Othello, Washington Manuscript, circa 1974-1989 (MS 2021.18)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Farmers -- Washington (State) -- Photographs.
  • Farmhouses -- Washington (State) -- Quincy -- Photographs.

Personal Names

  • Henderson, Otto Hogue, 1882-1973 -- Archives.

Geographical Names

  • Grant County (Wash.) -- Photographs.
  • Quincy (Wash.) -- Photographs.

Finding aid prepared by Janalee Walters, Terry Abraham, and Charisse Peters
2021

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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