Photography Collections Database

Record Detail

There are more than five million objects in the Harry Ransom Center's Photography Collection. Many records contain legacy descriptions. A review and update of our records is ongoing.

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Call Number:

PH-00243

Collection Name:

Joe Coltharp Photography Collection of W. D. (Wilfred Dudley) Smithers Portraits and Big Bend Scenes

Creator:

Coltharp, Joe, 1912- (1912 - )

No. of Items:

46 photographs

Span Dates:

circa 1969-1976

Description:

The collection consists of 46 gelatin silver prints and negatives by Joe Coltharp (American, 1912-2010). Coltharp, the first full-time curator (1969-1977) of the Harry Ransom Center’s Photography Collection, was a friend of the West Texas photographer W. D. (Wilfred Dudley) Smithers (American, 1895-1981). Coltharp was also responsible for securing and conserving Smithers' collection at the Center. The images in this collection were made during some of Coltharp's trips to Alpine and the Big Bend to secure the materials and to interview Smithers. Subjects of the photographs include portraits of Smithers, as well as images of him at his home in Fort Davis, Texas, engaged in various activities, in his studio, and in his cactus garden. He is also seen showing Kevin and Mike Henley around his studio. Other images are of the Big Bend area, taken in either Candelaria or Terlingua, Texas.

(Note: Print 986:0008:0001 has no negative, and there is no print for negative 986:0008:0046.)

Accession No(s):

986:0008:0001-0046

Location(s):

Discrete Collections Box 1 (986:0008:0001-0046)
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