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Arthur C. Pillsbury photographs and slides

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 83

Scope and Contents

Collection includes photographs, negatives, and slides of time-lapse photography, plants, landscapes, underwater explorations, and medical research. It also includes examples of microscopic photography and photographs of family and friends.

Dates

  • Creation: approximately 1890-1969

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Negatives Condition restricted; permission to use items must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research. Items kept in cold storage; access requires 24 hours advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Please direct any questions to Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Arthur Clarence Pillsbury was born on October 9, 1870, in Middlesex, Massachusetts, to Harlin Henry Pillsbury and Harriet Foster. He moved to Auburn, California, in 1883 at the age of 11. In 1893, Arthur entered Stanford University, graduating in mechanical engineering in 1897. Arthur began buying and selling bicycles to fund his interest in cameras and photography, including designing and building a motorcycle. During the Alaska Gold Rush, Arthur worked as a photographer and boat mechanic. He became an official photographer for the Census Bureau in Alaska, then returned to California where he continued in work as a photographer. He was a pioneer in many areas of photography, including time-lapse, underwater, macro, micro, and x-ray, and photographed from hot air balloons. He was also a film maker, inventing the first microscopic motion picture camera. By 1919, his films had been licensed for foreign distribution by Pathé, Universal and Paramount. He was also a known scientist, inventor, explorer, author, and lecturer. Arthur married AEtheline S. Devel in 1906 in Marin, California. That same year they bought a photographic concessionaire in Yosemite National Park and worked to build it up for the next 24 years. Arthur died on March 5, 1946, in Alameda, California.

Extent

3 photographs (5,270 items)

2 oversize boxes

13 boxes (6.5 linear ft.)

3 slides (159 items)

3 negatives (1,655 items)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Donated by Rell G. Francis and Mrs. William Oliver, Jr. in 1980.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Muriel M. Oliver and William Harold Oliver, Jr.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Rell G. Francis and Mrs. William Oliver, Jr.; 1980.

Appraisal

Photographs (Photograph Archives).

Related Materials

See also the Arthur C. Pillsbury papers (MSS SC 724).

Title
Register of Arthur C. Pillsbury photographs and slides
Author
Rose Frank
Date
2011 November 10
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States