Skip to main content

Ernest Knee Photographs of 726 Camino del Monte Sol, Santa Fe (NM)

 Collection
Identifier: PICT-2008-003

Scope and Content

The collection consists of seven black and white photographs of interior and exterior views of 726 Camino del Monte Sol, Santa Fe, NM. This residence was built circa 1935 for Dr. Dwight W. Rife in the Spanish-Pueblo style. John Gaw Meem was the architect. Photographs, credited to Ernest Knee, are mounted on matte board. These photographs were used in Architectural Forum.

Dates

  • 20th century

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution. For more information see the Photographs and Images Research Guide and contact the Pictorial Archivist.

Biographical Information

Ernest Knee (1907-1982) was born in Montreal, Canada. He contracted rheumatic fever at age 11, and tuberculosis a few years later. He and his mother relocated to Tucson so he could recover. His mother returned to Canada circa 1930. Ernest had met Virginia Schaufer, who was an artist, and would become his wife. In 1931, Ernest and Virginia moved to Camino del Monte Sol in Santa Fe, NM. They became part of the Santa Fe artist community and friends with many of the artists who often visited Santa Fe (Edward Weston, Gustave Baumann, Ansel Adams, Cinco Pintures, Mabel Dodge Luhan, Georgia O’Keeffe). Knee was seduced by New Mexico’s architecture, culture, traditions, and landscape. He photographed prodigiously.

Knee moved to California during the war, where he created a photography department for Howard Hughes. Knee moved back to Santa Fe in 1949. The market for photography had declined by then, so he put his woodworking skills to use, establishing the Spanish Pueblo Doors company in downtown Santa Fe (1950-1970). After selling the business, he returned to photography. He set up a darkroom, printed, and exhibited his photographs from earlier years. Knee's photographs have been acquired and exhibited at major museums across the country including the George Eastman House, Rochester, NY; Museum of Modern Art, NY; Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, CA; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, CA; Princeton University of Art, Princeton, NJ; New Orleans Museum of Art, LA; University of New Mexico, NM; New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, NM; Chicago Art Institute.

Sources: Obscura Gallery website

Knee, Dana. Ernest Knee in New Mexico. Museum of New Mexico Press, 2005.

Extent

7 items (1 box) : 7 mounted photographic prints ; 13 x 15 in.

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Seven black and white photographs of interior and exterior views of 726 Camino del Monte Sol, Santa Fe, NM. The residence was built circa 1937 in the Spanish-Pueblo style. Photographs, credited to Ernest Knee, are mounted on matte board.

Physical Location

B2. Shelved in Big Box area.

Related Archival Material

John Gaw Meem Job Files. (Job #244; Box 17 Folders 26-27) Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries.
Title
Finding Aid of the Ernest Knee Photographs of 726 Camino del Monte Sol, Santa Fe (NM)
Status
Completed
Date
©2012; ©2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • 20220613: Finding aid enhanced to processed status.

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