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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 064
    No Caption: shows Grace and William McCarthy, and unidentified woman riding in an electric motor chair, also known as the Osborn Electriquette, at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 063
    Caption: "Motor Chairs," shows Grace and William McCarthy, and unidentified woman riding in an electric motor chair, also known as the Osborn Electriquette, at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 062
    Caption: "Court of Palms," shows The Pioneer,(Solon Borglum, sculptor) in the Court of Palms at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 061
    Caption: "Court of Flowers," Grace McCarthy (on right) and unidentified woman at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 060
    Caption: "Column of the Setting Sun," or, Descending Night (Adolph A. Weinman, sculptor), at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 059
    Caption: "Column of the Rising Sun," (Adolph A. Weinman, sculptor), at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 058
    No Caption: shows a man in a hat and overcoat feeding pigeons near what appears to be the columns of the Palace of Fine Arts at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 057
    Caption: "Feeding the Pigeons," shows a man in a hat and overcoat feeding pigeons near what appears to be the columns of the Palace of Fine Arts at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 056
    Caption: "Court of the Universe," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-044.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 055
    Caption: "Court of the Universe Colonnades," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-043.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 054
    Caption: "Court of the Universe," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-042.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 053
    Caption: "Court of the Universe Colonnades," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-041.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 052
    Caption: "Court of the Universe Looking East," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-040.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 051
    Caption: "Court of the Universe Looking West," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-039.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 050
    Caption: "Arch, Court of the Universe, Western," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-038.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 049
    Caption: "Arch, Court of the Universe, Eastern," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-037.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 048
    Caption: "South Gardens, Looking East from Tower," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-036.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 047
    Caption: "South Gardens, Looking West from Tower of Jewels," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-035.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 046
    Caption: "Court of the Universe," shows a crowd of visitors at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-033.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 045
    Caption: "Court of the Universe," with Grace and William McCarthy standing before a fountain at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-034.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 044
    Caption: "Colonnade, Court of the Universe," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-013.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 043
    Caption: "Court of the Universe from Tower of Jewels," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-031.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 042
    Caption: "Court of Palms," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-030.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 041
    No Caption: See also 96-07-08-alb01-032, with caption: "Beauty and the Beast Fountain," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 040
    Caption: "Court of Four Seasons," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-029.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 039
    Caption: "Palace of Horticulture," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-028.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 038
    Caption: "Court of Flowers," William and Grace McCarthy standing in the Court of Flowers at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 037
    Caption: "South Gardens," William and Grace McCarthy riding in an electric motor chair, also known as the Osborn Electriquette, at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-027.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 036
    Caption: "The Lagoon," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. S ee also 96-07-08-alb07-026.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 035
    Caption: "Palace of Fine Arts," with reflecting pool at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-025.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 034
    No Caption: Palace of Fine Arts at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-024.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 033
    Caption: "Colonnades of the Palace of Fine Arts," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-8-alb01-023.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 032
    Caption: "Palace of Fine Arts," with several visitors viewing the statuary at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 031
    Caption: "Palace of Fine Arts," with William McCarthy smiling for the camera at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb03-104.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 030
    Caption: "Avenue of Palms," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 029
    Caption: "Avenue of Palms," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 028
    Caption: "Avenue of Palms - Looking West," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 027
    Caption: "Avenue of Palms - Looking East," with Fageol car, at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb03-041.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 026
    Caption: "South Gardens," with Fountain of Energy (A. Stirling Calder, sculptor) on the left, and Festival Hall, center right, at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 025
    Caption: "General View from the Aeroscope," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-018.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 024
    Caption: "Fountain of Energy," (A. Stirling Calder, sculptor), at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-016.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 023
    Caption: "Fountain of Energy," (A. Stirling Calder, sculptor), at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-015.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 022
    Caption: "On the Avenue of Palms," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 021
    Caption: "Panama Pacific International Exposition, General View Looking North," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 020
    No Caption: Fountain of Energy (A. Stirling Calder, sculptor), with the Tower of Jewels at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 019
    Caption: "Fountain of Energy and Tower," (A. Stirling Calder, sculptor), at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 018
    Caption: "Palace of Fine Arts Dome," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 017
    Caption: "Reflections on Lagoon," at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. See also 96-07-08-alb01-011.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 016
    No Caption: The Fountain of Energy (A. Stirling Calder, sculptor), shows a side view with surrounding statuary at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
  • McCarthy Album 07, Photograph 015a
    No Caption: A small white commemorative bookmark with embroidered golden poppies tied with blue ribbon and blue lettering: "Pan. Pac. Int. Exp. 1915."