Transcription of interview (See CD 2 A in Box 5). Tape 2 A, Side 2. , 8/31/2008
File — translation missing: en.enumerations.container_type.container: Box 1, Folder: 6
Scope and Contents
Notes taken from transcription, rough transcript only. Lee and Ramona. Lee’s house Laguna. Lee and Ramona commenting about Leslie’s book, Native names for places, stories about the places and their moral tales. Lee listened to stories of family. He used to buy and read dime novels. Continuation of Lee’s story of getting into photography. In late 1946 lived in Laguna, was married to Virginia Leslie. They went to Denver for his photo job training. After returning to New Mexico Lee got the camera, worked at the trading post for about twenty years and took lots of photographs. More on Lee’s brother Robert, his home. Lee’s home in Simi Valley was rented, trashed. Camera story continued, Lee had dark room at the trading post. Trading post had an auto court, 1933, rented tourist cabins, wood frame walls, during the Great Depression, Dust Bowl years, travelers families headed to California, so poor, in old car, with kids and dogs and chickens. Lee’s Dad and others gave the Okies food and money to move them along the way. Lee wished he could have taken photos like Dorthea Lang at that time, but he had no camera yet. The rent on cabins was $1.00 or 1.50 per night, one bed, two beds, small, with kitchen and stove, includes in rent was wood and coal. Only building still left standing today was the tourist court common bathroom, shower, toilet and water. After the Bob Hope Palm Desert Classic Lee turned and turned that place into a dark room, photo lab. Later in 1970s Leslie’s husband John Silke remodeled the building for Lee, needed plumbing work, tree roots. Lee planned to sell, show his photos of celebrities in California for the museum exhibit, to make money to repair the place. Comments on California Indian casinos giving money to their tribal members, if live on the reservation. Mentions Julia and Veronica, with the California exhibit, UC-Davis, one-man Lee show. Carl Gorman Museum. Comments on upcoming exhibit Spring 2009 Indigenous Conference, photographers from around the world, including Lee
Dates
- 8/31/2008
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 7 boxes (3.5 cu. ft., plus 1 oversize folder)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Caplan, Ramona (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451