Scope and Contents note
The Dan Powell photograph collection primarily consists of large format photographic prints taken by Powell between 1978 and 2012. The constructed photography series contains nineteen discrete photograph projects and several single image works created by Powell between 1978 and 2002. Works in this series include composites, diptychs and triptychs, images with hand drawn marks, as well as hand toned and colored photographs. The landscape and Street photography series contains four discrete photographic projects, and several single image works, taken by Powell between 1982 and 2012 primarily in New York, the upper Midwest, and West. The Western Landscapes Series represents the largest body of work in the collection. The European images series includes two discrete photographic projects and a large number of travel photographs taken by Powell between 1983 and 2012. Many of Powell’s landscapes, street scenes, and still lives, were repurposed to create composite, diptych, and triptych works at a later date. Some, particularly prints in the Western Landscape Series, were later hand toned.
Dates
- 1978-2002
Creator
- Powell, Dan, 1950- (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use note
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical/Historical note
Dan Powell was born in 1950 in Richland, Washington and grew up in Central Washington. Powell holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, a master's degree in art/photography from Central Washington University, and an master's in fine arts degree in art/photography from University of Illinois. He was an Associate Professor with tenure at The University of Northern Iowa 1980-1987. Powell spent 1983 on leave in Europe and in New York City. He joined the faculty in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts at the University of Oregon in 1987 and is now an associate professor in art/photography. Powell's work has been widely exhibited since 1977 and has won national awards. His work is in the permanent collections of the Polaroid Corporation, the Portland Art Museum, Washington State Arts Commission, Art Institute of Chicago and numerous other public, private and corporate collections.
Extent
51.75 linear feet (33 containers) : 23 boxes, 10 oversize folders
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Dan Powell is a widely exhibited fine art photographer and head of the photography department at the University of Oregon. The collection is a comprehensive representation of Powell's work, including constructed imagery done in the studio as well as social and physical landscape imagery.
Arrangement note
The Dan Powell Photographs collection intellectually organized into three series:
Series I. Constructed photography, 1978-2002
Series II. Landscape and street photography, 1982-2010
Series III. European Images, 1983-2012
These series are intellectually arranged chronologically. Prints in the Dan Powell photograph collection are physically arranged by size.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Purchased by University of Oregon Libraries, 2005. Gift of Dan Powell, 2007.
Existence and Location of Copies
Selected items are available online in the Dan Powell photographs, 1970s-2000s and the Oregon Percent for Art collection in Oregon Digital.
Processing Information note
Collection processed by Normandy S. Helmer. Revisions completed by Alexandra M. Bisio in 2018.
- Title
- Guide to the Dan Powell photographs
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Normandy Helmer. Revisions completed by Alexandra M. Bisio in 2018.
- Date
- 2010
- 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
