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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 07, Photograph 264
    No Caption: shows the railroad tracks in the Feather River Canyon, c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 263
    Caption: "Feather River Canyon," c. 1915, shows the Feather River Canyon trestle.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 262
    No Caption: Shows a train on railroad tracks alongside a river in the Sierra Nevada, c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 261
    Caption: "In the Sierras," shows a train traveling in the Sierra Nevada, c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 260
    No Caption: Shows a train somewhere in the Sierra Nevada, c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 259
    Caption: "Crossing the Line California to Nevada," c. 1915, shows railroad tracks intersecting the border between California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 258
    Caption: "Gigling, Monterey Co. Cal. July 14, 1915," shows a man in military gear shooting a large cannon. See also 96-07-08-alb07-257.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 257
    Caption: "Field Artillery Target Practice. Gigling, Cal.," c. 1915, shows men in military gear firing a large cannon at the Gigling Field Artillery Range in Monterey, California, which, along with the surrounding area, was redesignated Fort Ord in 1940.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 256
    Caption: "Padre Junipero Sierra [sic] Monument. Monterey," c. 1915, shows a monument commemorating the Spanish Franciscan priest, Father Junipero Serra, who led the founding and construction of the Spanish Mission system in Alta California during the Spanish era. The monument was commissioned and erected in 1891 by Jane Stanford of Stanford University and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 255
    Caption: "Sloat Monument. Monument, Cal," c. 1915, shows the Commodore John Drake Sloat monument in Monterey, California. The monument was constructed in 1910 and commemorates the taking possession of California from Mexico in 1846 by Sloat and his men at Monterey, which was the capital city of Alta California during the Mexican era.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 254
    No Caption: Shows the grounds and buildings of the Hotel Del Monte resort in Monterey, California, c. 1915. See also 96-07-08-alb07-253.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 253
    Caption: "Del Monte Hotel Cal July 15, 1915," shows the entrance to the Hotel Del Monte (Lewis P. Hobart and Clarence A. Tan Tau, architects), in Monterey, California. Originally opened in 1880, it was the world's largest luxury resort in that time. During World War II, the hotel and grounds was leased to the U.S. Navy. It later became the Naval Postgraduate School of the U.S. Navy and today functions as administrative offices and residences for the school.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 252
    Caption: "Torpedo Boat Coronado, San Diego Bay," c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 251
    Caption: "Santa Fe Depot. San Diego, Cal, July 18, 1915," shows the Santa Fe Depot (Arthur Brown Jr, architect), in the Mission Revival architectural style. The train station opened in March 1915 to accommodate the crowds expected to visit the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego that year. The depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 250
    Caption: "Broadway San Diego, Cal July 19, 1915," shows the busy thoroughfare. See also 96-07-08-alb07-231.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 249
    Caption: "The Isthmus Panama California Exposition July 18, 1915," shows a façade of the USS Isthmus where the "War of the Worlds" science fiction extravaganza was presented, which depicted the future destruction of New York City.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 248
    Caption: "Music Stand PC. Expo. San Diego, Cal. July 18, 1915," at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 247
    Caption: "Model Orange Orchard P.C. Exposition, San Diego, Cal."
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 246
    Caption: "Interior of California Building, P.C. Expo. San Diego, July 18, 1915," at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego. See also 96-07-08-alb01-153.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 245
    Caption: "Promenade. Panama California Exposition. San Diego," at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego. See also 96-07-08-alb01-152.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 244
    Caption: "California Building. P.C. Exp. San Diego. July 18, 1915," shows the Cabrillo Bridge to the entryway of the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, with the California Building on the right. See also 96-07-08-alb01-164.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 243
    Caption: "California Counties Building P.C. Exp. San Diego," at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 242
    No Caption: Shows the reflecting pool at the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. See also 96-07-08-alb01-163, with caption: "La Laguna Espejada. P.C. Exp. San Diego July 18, 1915."
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 241
    Caption: "La Laguna Espejada or Mirror Pool. P.C. Exp. San Diego," shows the reflecting pool at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego. See also 96-07-08-alb01-162.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 240
    Caption: "Cabrilla [sic] Bridge. P.C. Exp. San Diego. July 18, 1915," Built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the Cabrillo Bridge continues to provide access between Balboa Park and the uptown area of San Diego. See also 96-07-08-alb01-161.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 239
    No Caption: see also 96-07-08-alb01-160, with the caption: "Cabrilla [sic] Bridge." Built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the Cabrillo Bridge continues to provide access between Balboa Park and the uptown area of San Diego.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 238
    No Caption: William and Grace McCarthy (in white dress) are seen standing before the entrance to the California Building at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego. See also 96-07-08-alb01-159.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 237
    Caption: "Fine Arts Building P.C. Exp.," at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park San Diego. See also 96-07-08-alb01-158.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 236
    Caption: "Varied Industries Building P.C. Exp." William McCarthy is seen standing near the Varied Industries Building, with the California Building in the background, at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego. See also 96-07-08-alb01-157.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 235
    Caption: "Prado. P.C. Exp. July 18, 1915," shows a continuous covered arcade and walkway demarcated by arches at the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. See also 96-07-08alb01-156.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 234
    Caption: "General View - Panama -California Exposition, San Diego, Cal." Shows a bird's eye view of the exposition grounds.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 233
    Caption: "Panama-California Exposition, San Diego, July 18, 1915," shows a view of the exposition in the distance.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 232
    Caption: "Coronado Hotel," c. 1915, shows the luxury seaside resort in San Diego County, founded by Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story, and built in 1888. The hotel was designated a California Historical Landmark in 1970, and a National Historic Landmark in 1977. See also 96-07-08-alb01-150.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 231
    Caption: "Broadway, San Diego," c. 1915, one of the city's main thoroughfares.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 230
    Caption: "Entrance - California Building," (Bertrum Goodhue, architect), shows the richly-decorated entranceway to the California Building at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego, 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 229
    Caption: "California Building Tower - July 18, 15," (Bertrum Goodhue, architect), at the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego, 1915. The exposition's Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture designed by Bertrum Goodhue is credited with giving the style national exposure.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 228
    No Caption: Scenic railway at Venice beach wharf, c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 227
    No Caption: shows a street scene in Venice, California, c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 226
    No Caption: A view of the Casa Del Rey Hotel in Santa Cruz, California, c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 225
    Caption: "Casa Del Rey - Santa Cruz," c. 1915, shows William and Grace McCarthy with an unidentified woman in an automobile in front of the Casa Del Rey Hotel in Santa Cruz, California. The luxury hotel was opened in 1911 by developer Fred W. Swanton. The hotel was demolished after it sustained considerable damage from the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 224
    No Caption: Grace McCarthy is seen standing near the entrance of the Hotel Virginia, on Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, California. The luxury hotel was opened in 1908 by Col. Charles Rivers Drake, a Civil War veteran and early Long Beach developer. During the Great Depression, the hotel suffered the fate of many businesses during that time and closed its doors in October of 1932.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 223
    Caption: "Long Beach," c. 1915, shows a view of a portion of "The Pike," which was an amusement zone along the shoreline in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1902 by Charles Rivers Drake, a Civil War veteran and early Long Beach developer. The Pike included arcades, gift shops, food stands, a variety of rides, and a grand bath house (the two-story building pictured on the right). After years of disrepair, The Pike was closed in 1979.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 222
    Caption: "San Pedro," c. 1915, shows two ships docked at the harbor in San Pedro, Los Angeles.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 221
    Caption: "Point Firmin [sic] Lighthouse," c. 1915, shows the Point Fermin lighthouse, built in 1874 in San Pedro Bay, which was the first navigational light into the bay. It served as a federally-operated lighthouse until 1927, when its operations were turned over to the City of Los Angeles. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the west coast was blacked out for fear of being an easy target to enemy forces. It was never lit again, but during WWII it served the U.S. Navy as a lookout tower and signaling station for ships coming into the San Pedro Bay. In 2003, the lighthouse was opened after being restored, retrofitted, and rehabilitated for public use. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and managed by the Department of Recreation and Parks of the City of Los Angeles.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 220
    Caption: "Art Museum - Los Angeles," c. 1915. Located in Exposition Park, the Beaux Arts building, opened in 1913, was originally known as the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science, and Art. In 1963, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art moved to its current location on Wilshire Blvd. The Exposition Park facility became the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. After two years of renovation and restoration, it was reopened in 2009. See also 96-07-08-alb01-148.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 219
    No Caption: shows Broadway in Los Angeles, c. 1915, with M.A. Hamburger's department store on the right, which later became the May Co. The Majestic Theatre, opened in 1908, can be seen at the end of the block in the distance.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 218
    No Caption: c. 1915, shows a monument with a statue of Stephen M. White on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Courthouse. Stephen M. White, a former Los Angeles district attorney, served in the California Senate, as well as acting Lieutenant Governor from 1887-1891. He also served in the United States Senate from 1893 -1899. White was also responsible for the creation of Los Angeles Harbor in San Pedro. The monument was moved in 1989 to the entrance of Cabrillo Beach near the harbor where it resides today.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 217
    No Caption: shows the Venice Miniature Railway on a bridge over a canal in Venice, c. 1915.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 216
    Caption: "Venice," c. 1915, shows the site of Villa City Boating, where visitors to the resort seaside village of Venice could purchase gondola rides on the canals to visit the town. The seaside resort was founded by tobacco millionaire, Abbot Kinney in 1905, and designed to be like the namesake Italian city.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 215
    No Caption: c. 1915. Shows a view of Broadway in Los Angeles. On the right side of the street is Woodley Theatre, a vaudeville theater that opened in 1913.