Calvin F. Todd was born in Colorado. He began his photographic career as a young man working for a time as a news and commercial photographer in Mexico. He came to Washington in 1898. After arriving in Seattle in 1910, he worked with Asahel Curtis until World War I. During the war he served for a time in the Army's 30th Division. After the war he joined the photographic firm of Depue Morgan & Company as a partner in 1921. The studio was located at 1117 Pine St.
During his professional career, he was founder and board member of the Pacific International Photographers Association until it disbanded when state associations were formed. He was an honorary life member of the Professional Photographers of Washington and the Seattle Professional Photographers Association. He interests in other associations included the Bellevue Camera Club and the Mountaineers Club.
He was also a founder of the Seattle Photographic Society in 1933 which met monthly at the Y.M.C.A. on Madison St. This club was composed of both amateurs and professionals, offered photography instruction, darkroom facilities and the opportunity to display their work in various member exhibitions, in addition to various international photographic competitions.
Due to his accomplishments as a photographer, he was also a judge at the Seattle International Salon of Photography, the Central Washington International Salon and the Victoria International Exhibition of Photography. He had a one man show of old time Seattle photographs at the Frye Museum in the 1960s. He retired in 1952 and died in his Yarrow Point home in 1968.
Arranged in 3 series.
The collection includes 2 albums (containing 169 black and white photographs) and 210 separate black and white photographs of images of the University of Washington campus (circa 1920s) and scenes from Seattle including waterfront, regrade activities, Pike Place Market, and buildings especially apartments. All circa 1905-1930. An additional collection of images of mushrooms is to be found in Box 2.
The prints and albums are open to the public. The negatives are restricted. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Photographs of the University of Washington campus including individual buildings and general views. Also includes construction of Suzzallo Library and some examples of gargoyles, and the Columns. Buildings noted: Suzzallo Library, Denny Hall, Parrington Hall, Old Forestry Building (AYPE), Meany Hall (Old), Home Economics Hall (Raitt Hall), Education Hall (Miller Hall), Commerce Hall (Savery), Mines Building, Stadium, Anderson Hall, circa 1926. (Todd numbers are noted on the photographs).
Photographs of the University of Washington campus including individual buildings and general views. Includes photographs of architectural layout for Campus plans for 1920 and 1923. Also plan of the UW Stadium, 1920.
Access restricted.