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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 09, Photograph 189
    No caption. Unidentified woman and boy sitting in a small go-cart in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 188
    No caption. William McCarthy and an unidentified woman sitting in a small go-cart in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 187
    No caption. Unidentified woman and boy sitting in a small go-cart in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 186
    No caption. Two unidentified men laughing as they pose in grass skirts and long-haired wigs while holding a mandolin and ukulele, in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 185
    No caption. Two unidentified boys hugging a dog in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 184
    Caption: "The Boys & Kaiser." Two unidentified boys pose with boxing gloves while an older boy sits with a dog in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 183
    No caption. Two unidentified boys boxing in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 182
    Caption: "Devil On Wheels," c. 1925. Unidentified person in a devil costume posing on a bicycle in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 181
    No caption. Young unidentified boy seated on a horse saddled with English tack in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 180
    No Caption. William McCarthy poses with an unidentified woman on a wicker chair in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 179
    No caption. William McCarthy embracing two unidentified women on a wicker chair in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 178
    No caption. An unidentified woman seated on a horse saddled in English tack at the John Shields house in the Daybreak Estates area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 177
    No caption. An unidentified woman seated on a horse saddled in English tack at the John Shields house in the Daybreak Estates area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 176
    No caption. William and unidentified woman embrace while sitting in a wicker chair in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 175
    No caption. William McCarthy and unidentified woman embrace while sitting in a wicker chair in front of the John Shields residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 174
    No caption: Grace McCarthy seated at a desk reading a book, in the guest room of a residence in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island. See also 96-07-08-alb11-222.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 173
    No caption. An unidentified man poses in the drivers seat of an automobile while two unidentified boys sit on the car's running boards.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 172
    Caption: "Daybreak Beach." Beach scene in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island. A gazebo stands at the edge of the cliff leading down to the beach.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 171
    No caption: William (second from right) and Grace (far left) McCarthy pose with two unidentified people in front of the John Shields house in the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 170
    No caption. Grace McCarthy poses in a hydrangea garden, c. 1925. See also 96-07-08-alb09-160.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 169
    Caption: "Daybreak Entrance." A man pauses for a quick photo sitting in his car at the entrance to a private road leading to the Daybreak Estate area of Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 168
    No caption: William (middle) and Grace (far left) McCarthy posing with four unidentified women in front of a small body of water, c. 1925.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 167
    No caption: Grace McCarthy (far left) poses with four unidentified women in front of a small body of water, c. 1925.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 166
    No caption: Bird's eye view of New York City's Lower East Side and Two Bridges areas. The Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges span the East River in the right side of the photograph. See also 96-07-08-alb09-145.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 165
    No caption: View of New York City's skyline, as seen from the Brooklyn Bridge, c. 1925. A portion of the bridge (designed by architect John Augustus Roebling and completed in 1883) can be seen in the right hand side of the photograph. See also 96-07-08-alb09-144.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 164
    Caption: "Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch - Prospect Park - Brooklyn," c. 1925. (John H. Duncan, architect) The Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch was built between 1889 and 1892, and dedicated on October 21st, 1892 to honor the "Defenders of the Union, 1861-1865."
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 163
    No caption: A path leading to the John Shields home on Long Island.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 162
    Caption: "Superintents [sic] Home On The J. Shields Home. Place. N.Y." A small home on the property of John Shields, on Long Island, secondary to the main residence on the property.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 161
    Caption: "The John Shields Home." Side view of the residence of John Shields on Long Island, with a car parked under a carport.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 160
    Caption: "Hydrangia [sic]Pathway." Grace McCarthy poses in a hydrangea garden. See also 96-07-08-alb09-170.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 159
    Caption: "The John Shields Home. N.Y." Residence of John Shields, on Long Island in the Daybreak Estate area. See also 96-07-08-alb11-221.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 158
    Caption: "Grants Tomb. N.Y." The remains of Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the U.S. and Commanding General of the Union Army during the last year of the Civil War, were laid to rest in this elaborate tomb, designed by architect John Duncan. Grant died in 1885, but construction on the granite and marble structure did not begin until 1891. Grant's remains were transferred to the tomb on April 27, 1897. The tomb is the largest mausoleum in North America. See also 96-07-08-alb11-209.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 157
    Caption: "Washington Arch - Washington Square. N.Y," c. 1925. The marble Washington Square Arch (Stanford White, architect) was built between 1890 and 1892 to replace the original wooden arch, which had been erected in 1889 to honor the centennial of President George Washington's inauguration.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 156
    Caption: "Frances [sic] Tavern N.Y. Where Washington Took Leave Of Offices And Disbanded The Troops At Conclusion Of Revolutionery [sic] War." Built as a family home for Etienne "Stephen" DeLancey in 1719, this building was converted to use as a tavern in 1762. It served many important functions before, during, and after the Revolutionary War, but several fires in the nineteenth century erased the building's original appearance. The Sons of the Revolution purchased the property in 1904 and embarked upon extensive restoration plans in 1907, supervised by William Mersereau. The building is now used as a museum and art gallery. See also 96-07-08-alb11-203.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 155
    Caption: "Subtreasury - Wall Street - Washington Statue Marking Spot Where Washington Took His Oath of Office April 30 1789." The original building on this site, constructed in 1700, served as New York's city hall, then as the Capitol for the newly-created United States under the Constitution of 1789, and was the site of George Washington's inauguration as the first U.S. President. The original building was demolished in 1812, but a new building, designed to house the U.S. Custom House for the Port of New York, was opened in 1842. It is this building that is seen in the photograph. The new building subsequently housed one of six U.S. sub-treasuries between 1862 and 1920. A statue of George Washington (John Quincy Adams Ward, sculptor) was erected in front of the building in 1882, to commemorate the approximate site of Washington's inauguration. See also 96-07-08-alb11-204.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 154
    Caption: "East Side Street Scene. N.Y," c. 1925. Bird's eye view of a street in New York City's East Side. The city's skyline looms in the background.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 153
    Caption: "Central Park Scene N.Y.," c. 1925. New York City's Central Park, established in 1857, was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and landscape designer and architect Calvert Vaux. This photograph shows one of the water features within the park, crossed by a pedestrian bridge.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 152
    Caption: "Museum of Natural History N.Y.," c. 1925. View of the original building of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The Victorian Gothic-style building, often referred to as a "castle," was designed by J. Wrey Mould. It opened in 1877. Later expansions added to the complex around this building and have disguised much of it from view.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 151
    Caption: "Main [sic] Memorial Statue - Central Park N. Y." c. 1925. The monument was designed by Harold Van Buren Magonile, while the statuary was created by Attilio Piccirilli. The memorial, dedicated in New York City's Central Park in 1913, honors the more than 260 men killed aboard the USS Maine when the ship exploded in Havana's harbor during the Spanish-American War in 1898.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 150
    Caption: "The Woolworth Towering Above All Others," c. 1925. Constructed between 1910 and 1920 and designed by architect Cass Gilbert, the Neo-Gothic building was once the tallest in the world at 792 feet. It appears at the left side of this photograph.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 149
    Caption: "Brooklyn Bridge N.Y.," c. 1925. Erroneously labeled, this photograph actually shows the Manhattan Bridge spanning the East River, just west of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Manhattan Bridge, designed by Leon Moisseiff, opened in 1909.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 148
    Caption: "East River & Brooklyn Bridge N.Y," c. 1925. Three boats on the East River passing beneath the Manhattan Bridge. The photograph was taken from the Brooklyn Bridge (which is not seen in the photo). See also 96-07-08-alb09-199.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 147
    Caption: "Broadyay [sic] from Roof of Woolworth Bldg N.Y.," c. 1925. Bird's eye view of New York City's Broadway, and surrounding skyscrapers.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 146
    Caption: "City Hall - N.Y," c. 1925. View of the façade of New York City's City Hall. The French Renaissance style building, designed by architect John McComb, Jr., was constructed between 1803 and 1811. The statue Civic Virtue Triumphant Over Unrighteousness (Frederick William MacMonnies, sculptor) stands in front of the building. The statue, unveiled in 1922, has subsequently been moved. It now stands in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 145
    Caption: "East Side New York." Bird's eye view of New York City's Lower East Side and Two Bridges areas. The Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges span the East River in the right side of the photograph. See also 96-07-08-alb09-166.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 144
    Caption: "N.Y. Sky Line From Brooklyn Bridge." View of New York City's skyline, as seen from the Brooklyn Bridge. A portion of the bridge (designed by architect John Augustus Roebling and completed in 1883) can be seen in the right hand side of the photograph. See also 96-07-08-alb09-165.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 143
    Caption: "N.Y. City." View of Manhattan's skyline as viewed from the Brooklyn Bridge in 1934. See also 96-07-08-alb11-205.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 142
    Caption: "West Point," c. 1925. The United States Military Academy, commonly referred to as West Point, as viewed from across the Hudson River.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 141
    Caption: "Hudson River," c. 1925. A train crosses high above the Hudson River over the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge. Buildings of the C.N. Arnold Co., a lumber company, sit on the bank of the river in the foreground. The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge first began operation in 1889. The tracks were destroyed by a fire in 1974, but the bridge was subsequently rebuilt, opening as the Walkway Over the Hudson (a pedestrian bridge) in 2003.
  • McCarthy Album 09, Photograph 140
    Caption: "Hudson River Boat," c. 1925. The Washington Irving, a three-stack steamer ship, is shown in this photograph. The ship was in operation from 1913 to 1926, when it collided with an oil barge and sank.