Free Studio of Photography Collection

Collection

Identifier: 1998-28

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Approximately 18,000 images taken by the Hostetler Studio dating 1895-1925 and the Free Studio dating 1940's-1970's. Also 125 panoramic negatives taken by Hostetler Studio.

Dates

Creation: 1890-1970's

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are available for use in the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center only.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials are available for use in the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center only.

Request permission before copying materials.

Personal digital cameras and scanners are allowed in the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center on a case-by-case basis. The items that a researcher may want to scan or photograph must be examined and evaluated for physical condition, copyright issues, and donor restrictions by staff.

Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of reproductions of copyrighted material.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

Biographical / Historical

John Benton Hostetler (1868-1925) learned about photography in his Illinois hometown of Decatur before coming to Davenport about 1887 to work for Jarvis White Art Co. By 1898 he had nearly absorbed the stock of Jarvis White Art Company and became the sole owner and operator of "Hostetler Studio". He remained active in the art of photography and civic activities until his death in 1925. His obituary states he "always displayed keen interest in affairs pertaining to the old pioneers and early history of Davenport. He possessed the largest collection of prints and negatives of these pioneers and old historic landmarks to be found in the city." Lester Toloff bought the studio after Hostetler's death and ran it until 1934. In 1935, Frank A. Free purchased the glass plate negatives, giving the Free Studio a collection of approximately 100,000 plates. His son Henry "Bud" joined the business. When Lois Free, Henry's wife, chose to retire from the photography business, she donated the bulk of Hostetler plates to the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center and the bulk of the Free Studio plates to the Putnam Museum.

Extent

78 Box(es) : black and white glass negatives taken by Hostetler Studio from about 1895-1925 ; 8 x 10"

60 Box(es) : black and white glass negatives taken by Hostetler Studio from about 1895-1925 ; 5 x 7"

125 photographic_negatives : Panoramic images in negative format taken by Hostetler Studio. Stored at Davenport Police Archives.. Each negative is individually boxed, then boxes stored within 9 record center cartons. These are the ORIGINAL black and white cellulose nitrate negatives - not to be used. Flammable. New acetate negatives and prints were made ca 2000 for use. ; Vary from 18" to over 50" in length.

3 Box(es) : black and white glass negatives taken by Free Studio ; 8 x 10"

2 Box(es) : black and white glass negatives taken by Free Studio ; 5 x 7"

9 Box(es) : Oversized black and white glass negative montages taken by Free Studio ; up to 18 x 24"

4 Box(es) : black and white original prints taken by Free Studio ; 8 x 10"

72 Box(es) : black and white acetate negatives taken by Free Studio ; 5 x 7"

1 Box(es) : black and white acetate negatives taken by Free Studio ; 8 x 10"

1 Box(es) : black and white proofs taken by Free Studio ; 5 x 7"

1 Box(es) : black and white proofs taken by Free Studio ; 8 x 10"

1 Box(es) : black and white acetate negatives taken by either hostetler or Free Studio - unknown ; 8 x 10"

1 Box(es) : black and white acetate negatives taken by either hostetler or Free Studio - unknown ; 5 x 7"

3 Box(es) : Items used for advertising purposes from the Free Studio; multiple wrapped items in 2 boxes; showcase cards in 1 box. ; various

1 Box(es) (Free Studio Accounts)

142 items : Use and archival prints of Hostetler Studio Panoramics.: Use copies over 50" long located in Lower Level Hallway (beside Large Meeting Room). Use copies under 50" long are located in Map Case 3, Drawers 13, 14, 15. Archival prints stored Range 45 Sections 3 & 4.

1 Box(es) : Use copies of Hostetler Panoramic negatives.: black and white acetate copy negatives created by Boyd-Fitzgerald Studio are stored Range 49 Section 5. Digital TIF scans are stored SC Media Drive J: Vol. 500-505 Panoramics. ; 8 x 10"

1 Box(es) : Slides of selected Hostetler Panoramic images were taken for possible use in programs. Location: Range 49 Section 5. ; standard

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Physical Location

Range 49 Sections 1-10 glass negatives, exhibit prints, prints made from original negatives by Boyd-Fitzgerald ca 1999, some original prints and proofs. HOSTETLER PANORAMICS Use prints over 50” long are located in the Lower Level Hallway [beside film room]. Use prints under 50” long are located in Map Case 3, Drawers 13, 14 and 15. Archival prints are stored in Range 45 Sections 3 & 4 of compact shelving. New [ca 2000] 8 x 10” acetate negatives are located in Range 49 Section 5.These negs were partially scanned in 2012 by summer intern Kelsey. September 2013 intern/volunteer Ellen Korn completed the scanning project. Digital scans of these “new” negs are stored on the SC Media drive J: New UMVDIA Vol. 500-505 Panoramics Original oversized cellulose nitrate negatives are NOT TO BE USED due to fragile condition. Each negative is individually boxed and stored in 9 record center cartons at the Police Records Center where a sprinkler system is available per order of Fire Chief September 2013. Exception: Original Neg 012 is in a flat enclosure due to brittle condition; located Police Records Center. Slides of panoramic images are located in archive box located in Range 49 Section 5 of compact shelving. Not every image has a slide – see fka Procite Database / Sharepoint Photo Database. Digital Images are stored on J:\NEW Image Archive\VOL500-506 Panoramics [January 2014 kmo] Slides are located in Rg. 59 Sec. 5 of compact shelving. [Jan. 2014]