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Edward and William Partridge photographs

 Collection
Identifier: PH 245

Abstract

Edward J. Partridge (1856-1891) and his brother, William H. Partridge (1860-1939), were important photographers active in Oregon, Alaska, and San Francisco. The Edward and William Partridge photographs collection consists of fifty-two original images taken by photographers employed by the Partridge Studio sometime between 1870 and 1900.

Dates

  • circa 1870s-1900s

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open to the public.

Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room.

Physical Access

Glass plate negatives and lantern slides are restricted due to the fragility of the format. All decisions regarding use will be at the discretion of the curator for visual materials.

Conditions Governing Use note

This work has been identified as in the public domain under applicable United States copyright laws.

Biographical / Historical

Edward J. Partridge (1856-1891) and his brother, William H. Partridge (1860-1939), were important photographers active in Oregon, Alaska, and San Francisco.

Edward J. Partridge was one of three brothers who followed their father into the photography business. The father, Asa C. Partridge, was a daguerreotyper who owned a photo supply house in West Virginia, and later migrated to Boston.

Born in West Virginia in 1856, young Edward graduated from engineering school at M.I.T. in 1876. By the early 1880s he and brother William were working with their father in Boston at A. C. Partridge and Sons.

By 1884, Edward and William had moved to Portland, where they established their own studio.

Both Edward and William traveled to Alaska and brought back photos -- William in 1886 and Edward in 1887. When William moved back to Boston in 1887, Edward took over the Portland studio, though he then sold it near the end of 1888 to move to San Francisco, where he worked with the third brother, Sam, learning Sam's photo supply business.

Edward later returned to Portland to open "the only house north of San Francisco dealing exclusively in photographic supplies".Being in the supply business, the Partridges were on the leading edge of photographic technology.

Edward contracted Brights disease and returned to San Francisco for treatment in 1890. He died in June of 1891.

Source: "Edward J. Partridge," Old Oregon: The Art of Historic Photos. https://www.oldoregonphotos.com/photographers/ejpartridge.html# (accessed 2021 August 10)

Extent

3.16 linear feet (4 containers) : 2 glass plate negative flip top boxes, 1 flat photo box (11"x9"), 1 (21"x17") folder housed with multiple collections

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The Edward and William Partridge photographs are arrangend in three series:


1. Glass plate negatives, circa 1870s-1900s
2. Boudoir cards, circa 1870s-1900s
3. Copy negatives and modern prints, circa 1990s-2000s

Related Materials

Related collections in Special Collections and University Archives include:

  • Angelus Studio photographs (PH 037)
  • Barbara Day collection of Partridge photographs (PH 245_x1)

Processing Information note

Collection processed by Normandy S. Helmer with description provided by Tom Robinson. Revisions to this collection completed by Alexandra M. Bisio, 2021

Title
Guide to the Edward and William Partridge photographs
Status
Complete Description
Author
Finding aid prepared by Normandy Helmer. Revisions by Alexandra M. Bisio
Date
2010, 2021
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 University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403-1299 USA