Oscar and Harriet Nelson Photograph Collection
Scope and Contents
Collection contains 590 photographs, 415 negatives, and a travel diary documenting the Nelson's various outings with the Sierra Club from 1925-1934. The diary, kept by Harriett in 1931, is 60 pages in length and details the vacation taken by the Nelsons from August 8-22.
Dates
- 1925-1934
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Materials must be used on-site; advance notice suggested. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Historical Note
Oscar Mathais Ferdinand Nelson was born in 1901 in the San Francisco Bay area. He attended Stanford University and, after graduation, began working for the California and Hawaiian Sugar Refining Corporation in Crocket, California. Oscar met his wife and fellow photographer, Harriet Bennett, while they were members of the Sierra Club. They were married in 1930.
Over a nine-year period, the couple participated in regular outings with the Sierra Club into the Sierra Nevada mountain range, as well as other California locations. Though photography, the couple documented their experiences on the trips.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Oscar Mathais Ferdinand Nelson (1901-1979) and Harriet Bennett Nelson were members of the Sierra Club. The couple participated in regular outings with the Sierra Club into the Sierra Nevada mountain range, as well as other California locations and documented their trips through photography. Collection contains 590 photographs, 415 negatives, and a travel diary documenting the Nelson's various outings with the Sierra Club from 1925-1934.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by trip. Original order created by the Nelsons has been maintained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Barry Cassidy Rare Books in April 2009.
Source
- Barry Cassidy Rare Books (Bookseller, Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Oscar and Harriet Nelson Photograph Collection
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Jessica Maddox and Kimberly Roberts
- Date
- August 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Nevada, Reno. Special Collections Department Repository
Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center
1664 N. Virginia St.
Reno Nevada 89557-0322 USA
775-682-5665
775-682-5724 (Fax)
specoll@unr.edu