John Bauguess photographs

Collection

Identifier: PH 338

Scope and Contents note

The John Bauguess photograph collection consists of photographic prints taken during 1960-2016. The collection is arranged in four series by topic: Ken Kesey, Oregon social documentary, Migrant farm workers (Pineros y campesinos Unidos del Noreste), and Eugene urban renewal.

The subject matter of the prints includes portraiture and documentary photography primarily taken throughout Oregon. Portrait subjects include Ken Kesey, Grayson Matthews, Oregon residents, musicians, and migrant farm workers. Documentary photography depicts Oregon urban and rural communities, social gatherings, 1970s urban renewal in downtown Eugene, University of Oregon Wolf Sanctuary, Oregon fiddler community events, Whiteaker neighborhood street scenes, Cottage Grove Halloween parade, 2021 Olympic Trials and Nike Fair at Hayward field, migrant farm worker living conditions, and “Animal House” movie documentation. All photographs are printed on archival acid-free paper.

There are 339 original archival inkjet prints, with 306 prints in black and white and 33 in color of varying sizes. The materials are foldered and housed in 7 flat boxes of various sizes. The prints are grouped by project and arranged into series as established by the photographer. Series II: Oregon social documentary was further arranged by region, established by the processing archivist. Almost all prints include hand-written titles provided by the photographer describing the topic, location, and date for each print.

Dates

Creation: 1960-2016

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open to the public.

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

Conditions Governing Use note

Property rights and copyrights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives.

Biographical / Historical

John Bauguess (1943-2020) was a Eugene-area photographer and instructor. He grew up in Dexter, Oregon and joined the Coast Guard Reserve in the 1960s, stationed in Seattle, Washington. He later worked as a reporter and photographer for the East Oregonian, Klamath Herald, News in Klamath Falls, and photography instructor at Lane Community College.

As a social documentary photographer, Bauguess began photographing in 1962. He attended the University of Oregon from 1962-1965, studying photography, journalism, and creative writing while receiving mentorship from photographer Bernard Freemesser. He continued his photography studies in 1970 at the San Francisco Art Institute.

His work contains five decades of documentary photography for the people and places of Eugene, Oregon and Oregon communities more broadly. He has photographed people in both city and rural environments and regards his work as an historical record of contemporary life in the changing social landscape. His projects have included “The Oregon Old-Time Fiddler Project,” directed by folklorist Linda Danielson of Eugene, “Stories of Homelessness,” “Migrant Workers,” “Urban Renewal,” and “City Folklife.” Bauguess has exhibited widely, including a one-person show in 1995 at the Light Box Gallery in Grand Central Terminal in New York.

Bauguess’ work has been widely exhibited and published in numerous books, periodicals, and newspapers, such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Weekly, and The Oregonian. His photographs are in the permanent collections of the Oregon State Capitol, Oregon Liquor and Control Commission, and the University of Oregon’s Fine Art Collection.

Sources: Bauguess, John. 2008. “Personal Statement.” Correspondence with the University of Oregon’s Special Collections and University Archives.

Denis, Matthew. “Local Photographer John Bauguess dies at 76.” Register Guard, 30 Jan. 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.registerguard.com/news/20200129/local-photographer-john-bauguess-dies-at-76.

Emmons, Robert. “Guest View: In memoriam: a photographer, still life.” Register Guard, 2 FEb. 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.registerguard.com/opinion/20200202/guest-view-in-memoriam-photographer-still-life.

Extent

12.17 linear feet (7 containers) : 1 (25 x 19”) flat box, 1 (25 x 21") flat box, 1( 20” x 16”) flat box, 3 (21 x 17”) flat boxes, 1 (13” x 11”) flat box

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

John Bauguess (1943-2020) was a Eugene-area photographer and instructor who studied with Bernard Freemesser at the University of Oregon, and the San Francisco Art Institute. His work has been widely exhibited and published. The collection (1960-2016) contains 339 archival inkjet prints, with 306 prints in black and white and 33 in color. The prints feature documentary photography of Oregon residents, urban life, agricultural activities in the Willamette Valley, migrant farm worker living conditions taken for Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noreste (PCUN), Eugene urban renewal demolitions, as well as several portraits of American novelist, Ken Kesey, and the Further bus.

Arrangement

The John Bauguess photographs are arranged in four series as originally established by the photographer:

Series 1. Ken Kesey, 1960-1998 Series 2. Oregon social documentary, 1966-2016 Series 3. Migrant farm workers, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), 1988 Series 4. Eugene urban renewal, 1971-1974

Series 2. Oregon social documentary is arranged into four subseries: 2.1 Oregon fiddlers, 1976-1977 2.2 University of Oregon Wolf Sanctuary, 1971-1975 2.3 Events, 1977-2015 2.4 Regions, 1966-2016

Prints contained in Subseries 2.4 Regions were arranged by Oregon county, established by the processing archivist. Almost all prints include hand-written titles provided by the photographer describing the topic, location, and date for each print.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Urban Renewal photographs purchased from John Bauguess in 2008, 2017.

Related Materials

Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) records consisting of correspondence, newsletters, publications, photographs, newspaper clippings, audio recordings, and other documents are available in the University Archives collection (Coll 355).

Grayson L. Matthews Photographs comprised of photographic prints of rodeos and rodeo performers, towns and buildings, and landscapes in the American West are available in the University Archives photograph collection (PH 349).