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Nelson Wadsworth photograph collection, 1990-1994

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wadsworth, Nelson B., 1930-
Title
Nelson Wadsworth photograph collection
Dates
1990-1994 (inclusive)
Quantity
7 Boxes, (3.0 Linear Feet)
Collection Number
UUS_P0585
Summary
Consists of 943 images taken by photographer and journalism professor Nelson Wadsworth. Images are of reenactors at Fort Bridger in Wyoming and negatives of individuals dressed in period costume during the Festival of the American West (1990 and 1994) on the Utah State University campus.
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

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Nelson Wadsworth was born in Martinez, California, and graduated from Alhambra Union High School in 1948. He served as a radio operator in the Korean War in 1951 before enrolling in San Jose State College, where he received his undergraduate degree in 1954. Wadsworth went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Utah in 1970.

In addition to work as a freelance writer and photographer, Wadsworth served on the faculty at the University of Utah from 1966 to 1971, Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1982, and Utah State University from 1982 to 1994. During his time at USU he was instrumental in the acquisition of several significant photograph collections for the Special Collections Division of the Merrill-Cazier Library. As professor emeritus at USU, he edited The Rangefinder (a magazine of the National Press Photographers Association) and worked to collect and restore historic photographs.

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Content Description

Consists of photographs taken by photographer and journalism professor Nelson Wadsworth. Images are of reenactors at Fort Bridger in Wyoming and negatives (and order forms) of individuals dressed in period costume during the Festival of the American West (1990 and 1994) on the Utah State University campus. Also includes documents relating to Wadsworth's Festival of the American West images.

Nelson B. Wadsworth: "Patrons at the festival who wanted their picture taken dressed up in vintage costumes, which we provided, and were photographed using authentic cameras before the turn of the Century. I played the role of a traveling photographer (like Springville photographer George Edward Anderson) and offered 8x10, 5x7, and cartes de visite prints." I set up a north-light tent studio, using diffused scrims aimed toward the northern sky. This afforded soft light perfect for portraits. Those who wanted 8x10s were photographed with an 8x10 Century Studio Camera. In other words, the size of the desired print required a camera of corresponding size. All prints were contact printed and mounted on stiff boards, just photographers did with cabinet photos before the turn of the century."

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Nelson Wadsworth photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: USU_P0585; Nelson Wadsworth photograph collection; Photograph Collections Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_P0585, USUSCA.

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Administrative Information

Processing Note

Processed in 2015

Acquisition Information

Donated by Nelson B. Wadsworth in 2014.

Custodial History

Images taken and collected by Nelson Wadsworth. Wadsworth's friend Michael Slade acted as a temporary custodian of the material before it was donated to USU Special Collections.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Graflex camera.
  • Journalism--Utah--Photographs.
  • Photography--Utah.

Personal Names

  • Wadsworth, Nelson B., 1930- --Photographs.

Corporate Names

  • Brigham Young University.
  • University of Utah.
  • Utah State University.

Finding aid/Register created by Daniel Davis
2015

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

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