Scope and Contents
The collection, which reflects the order of Palmquist's papers at the time of his death, includes research files on a range of subjects containing material from circa 1848 to 2003, with a focus on photography, especially its role in the history of the American West, particularly in California. The research files also provide rich documentation for the history of Humboldt County, California, the birthplace and primary residence of Palmquist. In most of the research files, the order of the materials reflects the original filing order used by Palmquist.
Correspondence documents the working relationships between Palmquist and auction houses, filmmakers, gallery owners, geographers, historians, historical societies, libraries, museums, photographers, and publishers related chiefly to the history of photography.
The papers include examples of academic articles and photographs published by Palmquist, as well as research files and drafts related to his publications and projects, including unrealized efforts. Exhibition material includes preparatory and publicity material, as well as documentation of shows that Palmquist designed or participated in.
Dates
- circa 1822-2003
- Majority of material found within 1952 - 2003
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Boxes 221-228 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Boxes 229-234 (computer disks): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies of electronic files may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Conditions Governing Use
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Arrangement
Extent
77.5 Linear Feet ((213 boxes) + 21 broadsides.)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Peter E. Palmquist (1936-2003)
From 1971 until his death, Palmquist collected textual materials and hundreds of thousands of photographic items documenting the practice and occupation of photography from its beginning through the turn of the twenty-first century. He had particular interest in early California photographers, photographers of the American West, and women photographers.
A self-trained researcher and historian of photography, Palmquist organized more than one hundred exhibitions and wrote more than three hundred articles and a hundred monographs. He was a founding editor of The Daguerreian Annual, and a president of the National Stereoscopic Association.
Palmquist died January 13, 2003, in Oakland.
Processing Information
As a rule, descriptive information found in the Collection Contents section is drawn in large part from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Much of the collection remains in Palmquist's orginal folders and represent his original order for the material.
Former call numbers: Uncat Mss 128 and Uncat Mss 509
- Audiovisual materials
- Born digital
- California -- Pictorial works
- Cities and towns -- California -- Pictorial works
- Humboldt County (Calif.)
- Humboldt County (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
- Palmquist, Peter E.
- Photographers -- California
- Photographers -- History
- Photographers -- West (U.S.)
- Photography -- California
- Photography -- History
- Photography -- West (U.S.)
- West (U.S.) -- Pictorial works
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the Peter E. Palmquist Papers
- Author
- by Matthew Daniel Mason
- Date
- 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.