William Alonso Clapshaw Glass Plate Negatives Collection

Accession

Identifier: ACC-2023-30

Staff Only

Content Description

A collection of approximately 35 glass plate negatives created by William Alonso Clapshaw (1880-1974) of Forest Grove, Oregon. Most of the plates appear to show images of outdoor locations near Forest Grove between 1900-1910, such as farmhouses, barns, and outdoor group portraits. There are also several portraits staged indoors, including one self-portrait of the photographer. Many of the images appear to be connected to the Clapshaw Family. A photocopy of a handwritten partial inventory list that was originally found with the plates is also included (the original list disintegrated and no longer exists). Some images are damaged due to the photographic emulsion layer separating and cracking off of the glass. About half measure approximately 4" x 6" and half measure approximately 6" x 8".

Acquisition Type

Gift

Provenance

The photographer William Alonso Clapshaw was the original creator and owner of the plates. For many years they were in the possession of Hillside Church on Clapshaw Hill Road, northwest of Forest Grove. There, they had been stored in the old Hillside School building, which is part of the church grounds. The church gave the plates to local resident and artist Cherie Savoie Tintary circa 2017. She passed them on to the Pacific University Archives in 2023 so that they could be kept in secure conditions permanently.