Robert Wray glass negatives, circa 1890s-1920s | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By Michael Maune and Neal Harmeyer

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Robert Wray glass negatives, circa 1890s-1920s

Primary Creator: Wray, Robert

Extent: 0.2 Cubic feet

Arrangement:

1. Glass Negatives, circa 1890s-1920s (0.1 cubic feet)

The glass negatives feature Purdue University and time spent in France during World War I. They also feature a mansion, lake-house, and images of family life. Due to lack of documentation, no individuals or buildings are currently identified in the negatives. All negatives have been removed from boxes and housed in acid-free paper sleeves. The negatives are organized into four subseries. The original order of each box is retained in each subseries. Each subseries number corresponds to the box number from which the negatives originated.

2. Negative Boxes, circa 1890s-1920s, (0.1 cubic feet)

The Negative boxes document photographic developing technology companies in the United States and France. Each box features printed information about the photography company as well as typography styles of the period. The original order of the boxes is retained.

Date Acquired: 12/09/2011

Subjects: France--Pictorial works, Purdue University

Forms of Material: Glass negatives

Languages: English, French

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Robert Wray glass negatives (1890s-1920s; 0.2 cubic feet) documents life during the World War I era. The glass negatives feature Purdue University and time spent in France during World War I. It also features a mansion, lake-house, and images of family life. Due to lack of documentation, no individuals or buildings are currently identified in the negatives. Types of materials include: 63 glass negatives and four cardboard boxes for holding negatives. The Negatives are organized into two formal series.

Biographical Note

Robert Wray, originally from Shelbyville, IN, graduated from Purdue University in 1922 with his Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi, Phi Lambda Upsilon, Chemical Engineering Society, Purdue Union, PAA, YMCA, and Yellow Dog.

Subject/Index Terms

France--Pictorial works
Purdue University

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Acquisition Source: Alexis Smith Macklin

Acquisition Method: Donation

Processing Information: Whenever possible, original order of the materials has been retained. All materials have been housed in acid-free sleeves and acid-free boxes.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Glass Negatives, circa 1890s-1920s],
[Series 2: Negative Boxes, circa 1890s-1920s],
[All]

Series 1: Glass Negatives, circa 1890s-1920s

sub-series 1: Woman and children in field, undated

Item 1: Boy and girl in standing field with woman in between them, undated
Item 2: Boy standing and girl sitting in field with building behind them, undated
Item 3: Woman sitting and child standing on brick walk, undated
Item 4: Boy and girl standing field, undated
Item 5: Boy standing in field, undated
Item 6: Boy standing in field with building behind, undated
Item 7: Boy and girl standing field with building behind them. Woman standing in left background, undated
Item 8: Girl standing in field with flowers. Building in right background, undated
Item 9: Boy standing in field with building in background, undated

sub-series 2: Soldiers and others in France, circa 1917-1918

Item 1: Soldier standing in front of building, circa 1917-1918
Item 2: Soldier standing in front of building, circa 1917-1918
Item 3: Soldier standing with two women, circa 1917-1918
Item 4: Soldier standing next to wall, circa 1917-1918
Item 5: Two women standing in front of wall, circa 1917-1918
Item 6: Two men (one in soldier uniform) standing and four women sitting with tree and building in background, circa 1917-1918
Item 7: Several people (including three soldiers) sitting at table having drinks, circa 1917-1918
Item 8: Soldier with two women. One women is wearing a fur, circa 1917-1918
Item 9: Two men (one in soldier uniform) standing and four women sitting with tree and building in background, circa 1917-1918
Item 10: Soldier and two women standing with tree in background, circa 1917-1918
Item 11: Two women and soldier standing, circa 1917-1918
Item 12: Blank, circa 1917-1918
Item 13: Crane shown at center. Piles of scrap metal shown in background. Stacks of shells shown to left of crane. Building shown in background, circa 1917-1918
Item 14: Crane shown at center. Piles of scrap metal shown in background. Stacks of shells shown to left of crane. Building shown in background, circa 1917-1918
Item 15: Smoke stack shown in background. Two rail cars shown riding on raised track. Power plant(?), circa 1917-1918
Item 16: Multiple buildings and raised pipes shown. Several power line towers shown, circa 1917-1918
Item 17: Two smoke stacks shown in background. Two buildings shown at right. Two cylindrical tanks shown in left foreground. Large pile of some rock shown in left background, circa 1917-1918
Item 18: Woman shown farming field with three goats at left, circa 1917-1918

sub-series 3: Buildings, undated

Item 1: Man in suit standing in front of house and next to trellis, undated
Item 2: Four men sitting on bed with Purdue banner on wall in background. Man on left is holding fraternity paddle. (Beta Theta Pi or Phi Lambda Upsilon?), circa 1920s
Item 3: Three men sitting around a table with series of tubes on table. Purdue pennant on wall in background, circa 1920s
Item 4: Large house shown with stone and steel bar wall surrounding it, undated
Item 5: Large house with porch and stairs shown behind foregrounded trees. Lamppost in left foreground, undated
Item 6: Large mansion shown in background. Field in foreground, undated
Item 7: Lakehouse shown in background. Lake shown in foreground. Smokestack shown in background, undated
Item 8: House shown in background behind trees. Steel bar wall shown surrounding house, undated
Item 9: Large mansion shown with two cylindrical towers and conical roofs, undated
Item 10: Large mansion shown in background. Field in foreground, undated
Item 11: Path on mansion grounds shown with landscaping. Arch doorway shown in background, undated
Item 12: Statue of woman with statue child sitting on base. Two people, woman and child, standing at left of statue, undated
Item 13: Street shown with multiple houses on either side. Mansion shown in background, undated
Item 14: Arch doorway with closed doors shown with eagle crest above on wall. Two chains hang from beams on either side of door (drawbridge?). A person is shown standing in front of door, undated
Item 15: Mansion shown with multiple towers, undated
Item 16: Mansion shown with landscaping in foreground and designs shown on roof, undated
Item 17: House, undated
Item 18: Lake and surrounding banks and central island shown. Person shown standing on edge of island looking into lake. Two people in canoe shown at right. House shown in background. Bridge shown at left, undated
Item 19: House shown in background with large brick wall shown in foreground, undated

sub-series 4: Miscellaneous, undated

Item 1: Several soldiers on deck of ship. Two booms shown in foreground. Two masts shown in background, along with rope ladder, undated
Item 2: Several soldiers shown on deck of ship. Several booms, masts, sails, and ropes shown surrounding soldiers, undated
Item 3: Several soldiers shown leaning on railing of deck of ship, undated
Item 4: House shown in background behind trees. Lamp post shown in foreground, undated
Item 5: Two men standing on sidewalk in suits, undated
Item 6: Man in suit and hat shown standing in front of porch, undated
Item 7: Stone wall shown in foreground. Cylindrical tower shown in background with conical roof, undated
Item 8: Statues shown at entrance of raised stone walkway, undated
Item 9: Stone wall shown surrounding house with trees in foreground, undated
Item 10: Several people shown standing near tables topped with tents. Clothes are shown on the tables and on the ground in the foreground. (Market?), undated
Item 11: Several soldiers shown standing and sitting on deck of ship with railing in background, undated
Item 12: Woman in overcoat and hat shown standing in front of porch, undated
Item 13: Table with chairs shown inside building in front of brick fireplace. Several trophies are shown on mantel above fireplace, undated
Item 14: Foliage shown with stone steps in left background, undated
Item 15: Carved stone fireplace shown with clock and photos on mantel above, undated
Item 16: Man in suit shown standing in front of porch, undated
Item 17: Dog shown standing in front of porch, undated

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Glass Negatives, circa 1890s-1920s],
[Series 2: Negative Boxes, circa 1890s-1920s],
[All]