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John Gallagher negatives collection

 Collection
Identifier: WCMss-742

Scope and Contents

The glass plate negatives, numbered 1 through 6, depict unidentified Indigenous people in a camp of tipis. Their dress and some decorative elements in the images suggest these may be people from the Columbia River Plateau region. It would appear that the images were taken at some kind of rodeo or pageant event. In one image, a young woman shows her beadwork, including a small purse with a beaded “1915” and a depiction of a horseman wrangling cattle.

The Walla Walla area street scenes largely depict buildings and businesses in the region, including fire and police stations, Walla Walla High School, First National Bank, Walla Walla Bottling Company, the American Theater, and more. The First Christian Church in Milton, Oregon (today, Milton-Freewater) is also shown, suggesting other buildings and businesses may also be from that area. The Walla Walla area agricultural scenes show the Walla Walla Farmers Agency, Walla Walla Meat and Cold Storage, Palouse Falls, the Whitman Mission gravesite, and more. The collection may serve researchers interested in Walla Walla and the surrounding area during the 1920s and 1930s, particularly businesses that operated during that time.

Dates

  • circa 1915-1932

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Extent

.16 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The John Gallagher negative collection contains film negatives depicting Walla Walla and the surrounding region. The collection also contains several glass plate negatives, showing portraits of unidentified Indigenous people.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

John Gallagher purchased the materials in this collection from an unknown source, and the creator of the materials is also unknown. Many negatives show that they are from the McFadden Photo Shop. John Gallagher donated the collection to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives on July 5, 2022.

Title
Guide to the John Gallagher negatives collection
Author
River Freemont
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Whitman College and Northwest Archives Repository

Contact:
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla WA 99362 United States
509-527-5922