Albuquerque Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: PICT-994-046
Historical Background
The Albuquerque Photograph Collection emphasizes points of interest from the city’s history, and presents images that reveal the distinctive geography and culture of the city. Founded in 1706 as a Spanish colonial settlement, Albuquerque continues to reflect these origins in its architecture, culture, and diverse demographics. The Church of San Felipe de Neri and Old Town Plaza date to the original Spanish-village style layout of the town around a central plaza. After the United States gained control of New Mexico, and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad arrived in Albuquerque, another central commercial and business district grew up around the railroad station, in what is now downtown Albuquerque. During the twentieth century, Albuquerque was part of the culture of motor tourism along Route 66, and also played a major role in the Atomic Age, due to the presence of the Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia Base, and Sandia National Laboratories. In recent decades, Albuquerque has experienced a growing population, and a period of urban renewal in the downtown district.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of pictorial works depicting specific structures, cityscapes, aerial views, mountain landscapes, events, and people of Albuquerque, New Mexico. These works notably include a stereoscope of the interior of San Felipe de Neri Church prior to the 1881 addition of a pressed metal ceiling and arches. Street scenes date from the early 1900s, and there is also included a 1908 image of a Gas & Electric Co. wagon.
Other early 20th century images include photographs from Los Padillas Elementary School and the Albuquerque Indian School, a Native American standing by a Santa Fe Railroad car with businessmen (1910-1920); and Wright's Trading Post (1920s).
Images of businesses include Enchanted Mesa Shop (1930s), Goodyear and Wilger Tire Companies (1950s), Nob Hill Business Center (1940s); and Sandia Indian Bingo (1986).
The collection also contains photographs of Albuquerque families farming and gardening (1930s-1940s, 1980s). Additionally, several historic events are depicted in the collection, including a crowd greeting the first flight into the Albuquerque Airport (10 August 1934), the dedication of Person Station, an electric generating station (1951), parade views from "Enchantorama," a celebration of Albuquerque's 250th founding anniversary (1956), and National Guardsmen during the Albuquerque Race Riots (1971).
Images of important governmental institutions include the old and new Bernalillo County Courthouse (1908 & 1960s), a courtroom (1960), plans for a City-County Government Complex (1960s) and an Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School tower operator.
The collection includes pictorial works depicting particular domestic structures, including the home of notable Albuquerque journalist and writer, Erna Fergusson (1951), and a dome-shaped wind and solar-powered home near Albuquerque (1973).
A final series was added to accomodate photographic sets or composite views which overlap the designated subject groupings. It includes a small booklet from 1905 of 24 labeled photomechanical prints assembled as a souvevir titled "Miniatures Albuquerque, N.M."
Other early 20th century images include photographs from Los Padillas Elementary School and the Albuquerque Indian School, a Native American standing by a Santa Fe Railroad car with businessmen (1910-1920); and Wright's Trading Post (1920s).
Images of businesses include Enchanted Mesa Shop (1930s), Goodyear and Wilger Tire Companies (1950s), Nob Hill Business Center (1940s); and Sandia Indian Bingo (1986).
The collection also contains photographs of Albuquerque families farming and gardening (1930s-1940s, 1980s). Additionally, several historic events are depicted in the collection, including a crowd greeting the first flight into the Albuquerque Airport (10 August 1934), the dedication of Person Station, an electric generating station (1951), parade views from "Enchantorama," a celebration of Albuquerque's 250th founding anniversary (1956), and National Guardsmen during the Albuquerque Race Riots (1971).
Images of important governmental institutions include the old and new Bernalillo County Courthouse (1908 & 1960s), a courtroom (1960), plans for a City-County Government Complex (1960s) and an Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School tower operator.
The collection includes pictorial works depicting particular domestic structures, including the home of notable Albuquerque journalist and writer, Erna Fergusson (1951), and a dome-shaped wind and solar-powered home near Albuquerque (1973).
A final series was added to accomodate photographic sets or composite views which overlap the designated subject groupings. It includes a small booklet from 1905 of 24 labeled photomechanical prints assembled as a souvevir titled "Miniatures Albuquerque, N.M."
Dates
- 1881-1986
- Majority of material found within 1900s, 1920s, 1950s, 1960s
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for copyright compliance. For more information see the Photographs and Images Research Guide and contact the Pictorial Archivist.
Extent
186 items (3 boxes) : 116 prints, 44 slides, 25 negatives, 1 booklet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Albuquerque Photograph Collection is comprised of photographic prints, negatives, and postcards, depicting Albuquerque locations, landmarks, persons, and events.
Arrangement
Because this collection is an artificial collection housing pictorial works related to Albuquerque from a wide variety of sources, and spanning a long chronology, the order was imposed according to subject matter. Items are separated into series according to the subject of each item, and within each series, are filed in chronological order where possible (later additions may fall to the end of a series.)
- Series 1: Aerial photographs
- Series 2: Business enterprises
- Series 3: Churches
- Series 4: Cityscapes
- Series 5: Clubs and social events
- Series 6: Energy and natural resources
- Series 7: Government buildings
- Series 8: Landscapes
- Series 9: Old Town
- Series 10: Race riots
- Series 11: Residential architectures
- Series 12: Sandia Peak Tramway
- Series 13: Schools
- Series 14: Transportation
- Series 15: Work
- Series 16: Composite views and sets
Physical Location
B2. Shelved by Pictorial Number. Oversize items shelved in Large Drawers and Extra-Oversize Drawers by Pictorial Number.
Alternate Format
As of Sept. 2015, the entire Albuquerque Photograph Collection is available online via New Mexico’s Digital Collections, with the exception of one item which was unable to be digitized: a large photograph taken in 1921 of the students of the State University of New Mexico, item number 994-046(13)-0024 (located in the Extra-Oversize Drawers). Likewise, later additions, including item 994-046(4)-0015 from 2018 and 994-046(5)-0006 from 2023, may not be digitized.
Collection Available Online
Examples from the Albuquerque Photograph Collection are available in digital format from New Mexico's Digital Collections.
General
Because this collection is an artificial collection housing pictorial works related to Albuquerque from a wide variety of sources, and spanning a long chronology, the order was imposed according to subject matter. Items are separated into series according to the subject of each item, and within each series, are filed in chronological order.
General
As of Sept. 2015, the entire Albuquerque Photograph Collection is available online via New Mexico’s Digital Collections, with the exception of one item which was unable to be digitized: a large photograph taken in 1921 of the students of the State University of New Mexico, item number 994-046(13)-0024 (located in the Extra-Oversize Drawers). Likewise, later additions, including item 994-046(4)-0015 from 2018 and 994-046(5)-0006 from 2023, may not be digitized.
Processing Information
The Albuquerque Photograph Collection is an artificial collection first created in 1994 that brought together images from previously existing collections (which were dissolved at that time). In 2015, the collection was reprocessed to include new additions and was also completely digitized. Reprocessing included renumbering each item in order to reflect the updated arrangement. Because the collection continues to grow, materials have been arranged in several small series to allow for the addition of new materials in future. And in 2017, a series was added for items which overlap a single subject.
Collection numbers previously utilized for items in the Albuquerque Photograph Collection are: 989-025, 989-024, 994-001, 992-013, 986-038, 993-010, 986-039, 996-030, 991-006, 986-040, 995-004, 989-026, 987-010.
Collection numbers previously utilized for items in the Albuquerque Photograph Collection are: 989-025, 989-024, 994-001, 992-013, 986-038, 993-010, 986-039, 996-030, 991-006, 986-040, 995-004, 989-026, 987-010.
- Aerial photographs -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque
- Airports -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque -- Pictorial works
- Albuquerque (N.M.) -- Pictorial works
- Boynton, George
- Caplin, Harvey, 1914-1984
- City and town life -- New Mexico -- Pictorial works
- Cityscapes -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque
- Commercial buildings -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque -- Pictorial works
- Courthouses -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque -- Pictorial works
- Fergusson, Erna, 1888-1964
- Indians of North America -- Education -- Pictorial works
- Photographs
- Plans
- Public buildings -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque -- Pictorial works
- Race riots -- Photographs
- Railroad stations -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque -- Pictorial works
- Schools -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque -- Pictorial works
- Solar energy -- Photographs
- Stereographs
- Tourism -- New Mexico -- Albuquerque -- Pictorial works
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Albuquerque Photograph Collection, 1881-1986
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Eileen Hogan
- Date
- © 2013, 2018
- 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
- March 13, 2017: This finding aid and collection arrangement was updated by Cindy Abel Morris to accomodate a souvenir photographic booklet.
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
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
cswrref@unm.edu
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
cswrref@unm.edu