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Exhibits

William M. McCarthy Photograph Collection

Item set

Title
William M. McCarthy Photograph Collection
Description
Capturing the rich history of the early twentieth century, the William M. McCarthy Photograph Collection (Identification #96-07-08) highlights well-known landmarks, historic events, and scenic vistas from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, from the Deep South to Canada, and from Mexico to Cuba. Scenes across the Golden State are captured in stunning shots from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite and the Central Coast to Southern California cities. The collection features nearly 3,000 photographs taken by native Californians William M. and Grace McCarthy from approximately 1905 to 1938. The McCarthys traveled extensively during the early years of automobile travel, as newly constructed highways connected people and places throughout the United States and beyond, providing pictorial documentation of a pivotal period in our nation's history.

William M. McCarthy (1876 – 1956) and Grace C. Kane (1878 – 1957) wed in the early 1900s and lived in San Francisco for most of their lives where William was stationed as an armament expert for the U.S. War Department. The collection features photographs of the McCarthys' travels, as well as the many family members and friends they encountered along the way. Always ready with his camera, William McCarthy also captured remarkable images of significant events, including shots of San Francisco before and after the 1906 earthquake, the fire that destroyed that city's iconic Cliff House in 1907, the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, and their 1938 journey into Mexico along the newly constructed Pan American Highway. The original black and white photographs, mounted in eleven albums, make up one of the few private collections preserved by the California State Archives. The entire collection was digitized by the State Archives' curatorial staff.

To request a high-resolution scan of one or more of these images, contact the California State Archives at ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov or (916) 653-2246. Please include the Title or Identifier for each photograph in which you are interested, as well as the desired format (tiff, jpg, pdf) and resolution (DPI) for the requested scan. Duplication fees will apply.

DISCLAIMER
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by the creators of the materials presented (William and Grace McCarthy) are theirs alone. As noted in image descriptions, certain photographs are restricted or have been cropped due to sensitive content deemed unsuitable for online distribution.
Date
1905-1938
Contributor
Audrey Fullerton-Samora of Sacramento, great niece of William and Grace McCarthy, donated the William M. McCarthy Photograph Collection to the California State Archives in 1996.
Creator
William M. McCarthy
Publisher
California State Archives, a division of the California Secretary of State's Office
Rights
The California State Archives, a division of the California Secretary of State’s Office, owns the copyright to the William M. McCarthy Photograph Collection. The images and content may be used for personal use, research, or educational purposes. For any use of these materials, please credit the “California State Archives, William M. McCarthy Photograph Collection, Identification #96-07-08.” Commercial use or distribution of the images or content is not permitted without prior written permission from the California State Archives. Please note that the materials contained in this collection may include copyrighted material (such as postcards) not held by the California State Archives. Additionally, other limitations, such as the right of publicity, may limit use of the materials in this collection.

For more information about the copyrights related to this collection or to request permission to use the digital images or content, please contact the California State Archives at ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov or (916) 653-2246.
Identifier
Collection ID#96-07-08

Items

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  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 022
    Caption: "Alligator Farm, Los Angeles," c. 1935, shows a large group of alligators in a pen.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 021
    Caption: "Alligator said to be over 500 years old. Alligator Farm, Los Angeles," c. 1935, shows a large alligator at the animal-themed park, which was a major city tourist attraction from 1907 to 1953.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 020
    Caption: "Huntington Art Gallery- Los Angeles," c. 1935, shows Grace McCarthy standing before the Huntington Art Gallery building in San Marino, Los Angeles County.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 019
    Caption: "Huntington Art Gallery Grounds-Los Angeles," c. 1935, shows William McCarthy standing in the gardens of the Huntington Art Gallery in San Marino, Los Angeles County.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 018
    Caption: "Seventh St. at Broadway, Los Angeles," c. 1935.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 017
    Caption: "City Hall, Los Angeles, Population of Los Angeles 1, 360,000," The iconic Los Angeles City Hall building, completed in 1928, still houses the offices of the mayor and city council. Defined as "Modern American" by one of the architects who worked on the original building, the landmark was restored to its original grandeur and seismically stabilized in 2001. See also 96-07-08-alb11-005, dated May 18, 1934.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 016
    Caption: "Oil Wells, Venice Beach, Los Angeles," c. 1935, shows numerous oil wells along the shoreline of Venice Beach in Los Angeles.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 015
    Caption: "Ocean Park - Los Angeles," c. 1935 shows a view of the Ocean Park Pier amusement zone in Santa Monica.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 014
    Caption: "Santa Monica," c. 1935, shows the Santa Monica pier with Auto Park, Overlook Hotel and Apartments, and various shops, restaurants, and amusements.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 013
    Caption: "Thelma Todd's Tavern - Santa Monica," c. 1935. Built in 1928 for Hollywood actress Thelma Todd, the restaurant overlooked the Pacific Ocean at Malibu. Todd lived in the home above the tavern, where she was found dead in December 1935, under mysterious circumstances.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 012
    Caption: "California Coast Highway - Oxnard to Santa Monica, May 24, 1935."
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 011
    Caption: "Santa Barbara Court House," c. 1935, shows a view of the courthouse's landscaped grounds.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 010
    Caption: "Santa Barbara Court House - Interior," c. 1935, shows a view of the murals painted on the interior walls of the courthouse.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 009
    Caption: "Santa Barbara Court House," c. 1935, was built in the Spanish-Colonial Revival style (Charles Willard Moore, architect) and completed in 1929.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 008
    Caption: "Biltmore Hotel-Montecito, Santa Barbara, May 23, 1935, Santa Barbara Population 36,000."
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 007
    Caption: "Home of C.B. Raymond, Montecito, Santa Barbara, May 23, 1935."
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 006
    Caption: "Santa Barbara Mission, May 23, 1935," was established in 1786 by Spanish Franciscan monks.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 005
    Caption: "Pasa [sic] Robles Hotel, May 22, 1935." View of the Hotel el Paso de Robles (pass of the oaks). This resort hotel opened in 1891, and featured a variety of amenities including a mineral hot springs "plunge" bath. The hotel burned down in 1940, and was replaced by the building that is still in operation today as the Paso Robles Inn.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 004
    Caption: "China Town, San Francisco, May 21, 1935," shows a busy street scene in the Chinese district of San Francisco.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 003
    Caption: "Golden Gate Park Music Stand, San Francisco."
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 002
    Caption: "Market Street, San Francisco, May 21, 1935," shows the busy thoroughfare with the San Francisco Chronicle building on the right.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 001
    Caption: "City Hall, San Francisco, Population in San Francisco 750,000, May 21, 1935." The date with which the photograph was labeled (May 21, 1935) does not appear to be accurate. The date is more likely circa 1925. See also 96-07-08-alb09-003 and 005, and 96-07-08-alb11-001.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000k
    Caption: "Western States Tour - Left San Francisco May 21, 1935, Returned Sept. 10, 1935 - Traveled 7,124 Mi. Note Dark Line." The California State Automobile Association map of the U.S. shows the route that William and Grace McCarthy took during their 1935 tour of the western states, including national parks.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000j
    No Caption: A Glacier National Park decal, 1935, octagon-shaped, olive green and white, with an image of a mountain goat standing on a rocky cliff.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000i
    No Caption: A Mt. Rainier National Park decal, 1935, octagon-shaped, red and white, with an image of a deer standing before Mt. Rainier.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000h
    No Caption: A Crater Lake National Park decal, 1935, octagon-shaped, brown and white, with an image of a bear on a cliff that with the lake below.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000g
    No Caption: A Yosemite National Park decal, 1936, octagon-shaped, red and white, with an image of a mountain lion with Half Dome in the background.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000f
    No Caption: A decal for the "Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Alta, Canadian Pacific," c. 1935.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000e
    No Caption: A Yosemite National Park decal, 1937, octagon-shaped, blue and white, with an image of a mountain lion with Half Dome in the background.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000d
    No Caption: A Grand Canyon National Park decal, 1935, octagon-shaped, orange and white, with an image of a beaver surrounded by canyons.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000c
    No Caption: A Zion National Park decal, 1935, octagon- shaped, blue and white, with an image of a porcupine in a grove of pine trees.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000b
    No Caption: A Bryce Canyon National Park decal, 1935, octagon-shaped, orange and white, with an image of unique rock formations, trees, and clouds.
  • McCarthy Album 10, Photograph 000a
    No Caption: A Yellowstone National Park decal, 1935, octagon-shaped, green and white, with an image of a buffalo in the foreground and mountain range in the background.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph x007
    No caption, undated. Photograph of five unidentified men in military uniform, posing in front of a tent with a sign designating it as part of Company H. This photograph was loose in the box with Album 11.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph x006
    Caption: "Delaware & Hudson R.R. Exhibit. Chicago. Sept. 21, 1934. First Locomotive to Operate on an American Railroad, August 8, 1829." View of a replica of the Stourbridge Lion, the first steam locomotive to operate in the U.S., on lines built by the Delaware and Hudson Railway (formerly the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company). The replica was displayed at the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition, celebrating Chicago's one-hundred year anniversary of incorporation. This photograph was loose in the box with Album 11.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph x005
    Caption: "Ancient Locomotives. Chicago Fair. Sept. 21, 1934." This photograph shows two steam locomotives from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, on display at the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, celebrating that city's one-hundred year anniversary of incorporation. This photograph was loose in the box with Album 11.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph x004
    Caption: "Sept. 21, 1934, Baltimore and Ohio R.R. Exhibit. Chicago Fair." Shows a replica of the Tom Thumb, an early steam locomotive built by Peter Cooper in 1830 for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This replica was displayed at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, a world's fair celebrating the city's one-hundred year anniversary of incorporation. This photograph was loose in the box with Album 11.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph x003
    No caption, c. 1935. William McCarthy is feeding a bear standing upright, likely in Yosemite National Park. This photograph was loose in the box with Album 11.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph x002
    No caption, undated. A locomotive steams through the center of this photograph, in an unidentified location. This photograph was loose in the box with Album 11.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph x001
    Caption: "Modern Locomotive. Chicago & North Western R.R. Chicago Fair, Sept. 21, 1934." Grace McCarthy is seated next to a large locomotive of the Chicago and North Western Railroad while visiting the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. The locomotive was one of the new Class H 4-8-4 engines, capable of pulling either freight or passenger trains. These locomotives were among the heaviest of their class produced in America, and were dubbed the "Zeppelins of the Rails." This photograph was loose in the box with Album 11.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 334e
    Image withheld due to copyright considerations. For more information, please contact the California State Archives Reference Desk at ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov or (916) 653-2246. Image is a map of the United States showing "Our 1934 United States Automobile Tour. Traveled 10,000 miles -- May 14 to Oct 9.th. Note the Blue Line for Route of Travel." The blue line stretches from San Francisco to Los Angeles, then along the southern portion of the U.S. into Florida, south to Havana, and then north along the East Coast until heading east from Boston. The route skirted the Great Lakes then struck out across the Great Plains, Colorado, and Nevada, before ending in San Francisco to complete the loop.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 334d
    No caption. Undated clippings from unidentified pamphlets or newspapers. The first describes the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, while the second provides details regarding the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 334c
    No caption. Letter from Henry Golombeck of the U.S. Navy to William and Grace McCarthy, on the letterhead of the USS New York, dated May 14, 1937, and sent from London England.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 334b
    Image withheld due to copyright considerations. For more information, please contact the California State Archives Reference Desk at ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov or (916) 653-2246. This postcard, sent to William and Grace McCarthy in May 1937, commemorates the coronation of George VI, King of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. The back of the postcard features an image of the Hotel de Ville in Paris.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 334a
    Image withheld due to copyright considerations. For more information, please contact the California State Archives Reference Desk at ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov or (916) 653-2246. This postcard, sent to William and Grace McCarthy in May 1937, commemorates the coronation of George VI, King of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. The front of the postcard features both an American flag and the Union Jack of Great Britain.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 333
    Caption: "U.S. Battle Ship California. May 28, 1937." The USS California, a Tennessee-class dreadnaught battleship, was the fifth U.S. ship named after the Golden State. Launched in 1915, the California served as the Pacific Fleet's flagship for twenty years. The California was docked at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked in 1941. Two bombs struck and eventually sunk her, killing ninety-eight of her crew and wounding sixty-one more. The California was subsequently refloated, with repairs done first at Pearl Harbor and then at Puget Sound Navy Yard. She then sailed to assist numerous campaigns in the Pacific Theater of the war, earning seven battle stars for this service. The California was decommissioned in 1947, and sold for scrapping in 1959.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 332
    Caption: "Golden Gate Bridge, Pedestrian Day. May 27, 1937." View of crowds walking across the just-completed Golden Gate Bridge as part of Pedestrian Day. Pedestrian Day kicked off the Golden Gate Bridge Fiesta celebrating the opening of the now-iconic bridge. Approximately 200,000 people walked or roller-skated across the bridge during the Pedestrian Day festivities, held the day before the bridge opened to vehicular traffic.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 331
    Caption: "Golden Gate Bridge Opening Day. U.S. Fleet Passing Under the Golden Gate Bridge. U.S. Flag Ship Pennsylvania [sic]. May 28, 1937." View of the super-dreadnaught battleship USS Pennsylvania as she passed under the Golden Gate Bridge as part of the celebrations surrounding the bridge's opening day. The third U.S. Navy ship named for the state of Pennsylvania, she was launched in 1915. The Pennsylvania served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, and was damaged while in dry-dock during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. After being repaired, she spend the remainder of World War II in the Pacific Theater. Hit by a torpedo in August 1945, the severely damaged Pennsylvania was repaired well enough to serve as a target ship during Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests off Bikini Atoll in July 1946. She was decommissioned that year, and after undergoing radiation testing, was scuttled by the U.S. Navy in February 1948.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 330
    No caption. View of the western, suspension span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, looking toward San Francisco. The photograph was likely taken from a point on either Treasure Island or Yerba Buena Island.
  • McCarthy Album 11, Photograph 329
    Image withheld due to copyright considerations. For more information, please contact the California State Archives Reference Desk at ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov or (916) 653-2246. Caption: "San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, Nov. 12, 1936." View of the western, suspension span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge from its deck. A single automobile can be seen traveling away from the photographer.