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Rudolph Michaelis glass plate negatives of Chicago and the Midwest

 Collection
Identifier: Midwest-MS-Michaelis

Scope and Content of the Collection

Collection of 167 glass plate negatives and a few prints created by Rudolph Michaelis between 1900 and 1905, found in the attic of a house formerly occupied by the Michaelis family in Berkley, California. Images show city street views, buildings, businesses, homes, churches, parks, family, and friends and are primarily of Chicago and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also includes images taken in other locations in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Iowa. Michaelis often wrote photograph information on the negative sleeves, including the time of day, weather conditions, and the stop used. This information has been transcribed on the enclosures for each negative. Because the negatives are in original order by size, related images are not always grouped together and are not chronological.

Dates

  • Creation: 1900-1905

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Rudolph Michaelis glass plate negatives of Chicago and the Midwest are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Rudolph Michaelis glass plate negatives of Chicago and the Midwest are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Biography of Rudolph Michaelis

American amateur photographer.

Rudolph F. Michaelis was born about 1869 in Marion County, Missouri to August and Johanna Michaelis. He married Rosa Belle Allen in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Aug. 16, 1892. Michaelis and his family lived in Chicago from around 1900 to 1905, and by 1908 were living in Berkeley, California at 2212 Grove Street (which later became Martin Luther King Boulevard). He died in Alameda County, California on Jan. 22, 1935.

Extent

9.5 Linear Feet (17 boxes)

Abstract

Collection of 167 glass plate negatives and a few prints created by Rudolph Michaelis between 1900 and 1905. Images show city street views, buildings, businesses, homes, churches, parks, family, and friends and are primarily of Chicago and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also includes images taken in other locations in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Iowa.

Arrangement

Materials are in original order by size of negative with prints at the end.

Collection Stack Location

1 45 4

Provenance

Gift, Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2017.

Processed by

Catherine Grandgeorge, 2018.

Title
Inventory of the Rudolph Michaelis glass plate negatives of Chicago and the Midwest, 1900-1905
Status
Completed
Author
Catherine Grandgeorge
Date
©2018.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
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