Photographs, negatives, and papers (1899-1931)

Manuscript Collection 539

• About J. H. Field
• About the Collection
• Contents of the Collection

Julius Herman Field (also called "Fields") was born 19 February 1869 in Waupun, Wisconsin.  Son of a contractor and builder, he was trained in the Arts and Crafts tradition.  Physical frailness forced him to seek another occupation, so he took up photography.  Mostly self-taught, he won second prize with his first photo contest submission.  As magazines began publishing his work, he saved enough money to pay for training from a photographer in Waupun.  After a years' apprenticeship, he was hired by his teacher and by 1894 had managed to buy a studio in Berlin, Wisconsin.

He hired as his assistant Minnie Bell Dies (born 16 March 1879).  She was his bookkeeper, lab technician, retoucher, "official greeter" as Field became increasingly deaf, and eventually his wife as well.  Their only child was a son, Burton, born in Berlin.

The Fields, influenced by William Lighton's article about Happy Hollow Farm in The Saturday Evening Post (22 January 1910), moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 1913.  (Lighton later enlarged and published "Happy Hollow Farm" as a book, illustrated by Field's photographs.)  At first the family lived at 207 North College, while Burton attended the University of Arkansas, finishing in 1933.  The Fields then bought a house at 735 West Dickson and took in student boarders.  Field's studio was on or just off of the square, on the second floor.  Portraits were the "bread and butter" of Field's business, and he did some travelling to photograph children and families in their own homes and gardens, though travelling made him ill.

The bicycle was Field's main means of transportation.  (It was only after his retirement that he owned a car, a Model A Ford, which neither he nor Mrs. Field could drive.)  Field also was in the habit of taking long walks into the country, especially along railroad tracks, frequently with his camera.  Many of his nature pictures were taken early in the morning.  He often returned to the same place (he made thirty trips in one case) until the light was just right.

Following a series of heart attacks, Field died 14 January 1936.  The body was returned to Waupun for burial.  Despite failing eyesight, Mrs. Field stayed in Fayetteville, even continuing to print and sell Field's photographs.  She finally went to Richmond, Virginia, to live with Burton, by then a doctor.  She died there 7 May 1971.

The collection includes prints made by Field, contact prints made from Field's negatives by the Special Collections Department, glass plate negatives, publications, and other papers pertaining to Field.  The collection originally included Field's camera, tripod, focusing cloth, film holders, and awards.

Field described many of his techniques in magazine articles and interviews.  It is evident, especially from the negatives in this collection, that most of his "soft focus" effects were obtained by manipulation during the printing process:  use of a light-diffusing coating ("ground glass varnish") on the negative, scratching the emulsion to add features or to obscure unwanted parts of the image, drawing on it with pencil or ink, or using ground glass or celluloid screens in printing.  See also the descriptions of Field and others on his techniques in Series 4, Folders 6 and 7.

All positive prints are numbered consecutively.  Numbers 1-101 make up Series 1 and are prints made by Field.  Numbers 102-172 make up Series 2 and are prints made from Field's negatives by Special Collections.  In some cases the same image may be found in both series; the images are cross-referenced by number.  The glass plate negatives in Series 3 have the same number as their corresponding prints in Series 2, Subseries 2, with the addition of suffix "n."  Series 4 contains publications and other papers.  Any item pertaining directly to a print in Series 1 or 2 is so noted.

Photographs, negatives, and other papers pertaining to J. H. Field were donated to Special Collections by his son, Burton Field, Dillwyn, Virginia, 1 February 1985.

RESTRICTIONS APPLY.  Negatives are not available for research without special permission.

Processed by Nan Lawler, Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in February 1990.

Series 1. Prints made by Field.  Boxes 1-2 (print numbers 1-101).

  Subseries 1. Landscapes:  buildings and roads.
  Subseries 2. Landscapes:  fields, woods, and water.
  Subseries 3. Landscapes:  clouds and sky.
  Subseries 4. Landscapes:  rural scenes.
  Subseries 5. People:  classical and artistic.
  Subseries 6. People:  genre.
  Subseries 7. People:  portraits.

Series 2. Prints made by Special Collections from Field's negatives.  Box 3 (print numbers 102-172).

  Subseries 1. Prints made from nitrate negatives (print numbers 102-137).
  Subseries 2. Prints made from glass plate negatives (print numbers 138-172).

Series 3. Glass plate negatives (negative numbers 138n-172n).  RESTRICTED.

Series 4. Publications and other papers.  Box 4.

Most of the larger prints are platinum prints.  Usually they were printed on a larger sheet of paper, and Field signed the print ("Field") below and to the right of the image and put a copyright symbol and his initials below and to the left of the image.  Occasionally he dated the print.  Field's copyright stamp ("Copyright ____ By J. H. Field") appears on the verso of many of the prints; at times the date was not filled in.

The smaller prints are almost always 5" x 7" contact prints.  Many are mounted on card stock.  Some prints have an adhesive label ("From J. H. Field, photographer, Berlin, Wis.") on the verso.

Titles of pictures (from prints, negatives, negative envelopes, or published photos) are underlined.  Some images have more than one title.

Most of the photographs are landscapes and nature scenes, although portraits were the mainstay of Field's business.  This series is very roughly (and somewhat arbitrarily) subdivided by subject matter.  Many of the images, of course, could fit in several subseries.

The original donation included 5" x 7" nitrate and glass plate negatives.  Contact prints were made of these; they are in Series 2.  Many of the prints in Series 1 were made from those negatives; the descriptions of these prints include the print numbers of contact prints in Series 2.

Another large collection of Field photographs (Access. No. 434) includes a number of prints similar to prints in this collection.  These are noted in the descriptions.

Images are numbered consecutively.  If there are two or more nearly identical images (most often different prints from the same negative), all have the same number, with a letter suffix for each; e.g., 15a and 15b.  All measurements are in inches, height first.  Oversize prints are stored in Box 2 and are indicated by an asterisk before the image number or letter.

Subseries 1. Landscapes:  buildings and roads.
 

Boxes 1-2  (* = oversize items, in Box 2)

 1. Steam train in yards.   4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, mounted on 5 1/4 x 7 brown card.

 * 2. Filling station, Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Northwest corner of College Avenue and Center Street, according to Burton Field.  See photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 2, and comment by Burton Field, Series 4, Folder 7.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 sheet.

 * 3. House in snow, 803 Mission Boulevard, Fayetteville, Arkansas. 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 sheet.

 4. Carnall Hall in snow, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia.

 5. House where the Field family first lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  6 1/2 x 4 1/2, sepia.

 6. Old Chemistry Building, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas.  10 x 8, sepia.

 7. The Old Elevator.  6 1/2 x 4 1/2, mounted on 7 x 5 gray card.

 * 8. Log house in snow.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 sheet.

 * 9. Two houses in snow.  12 3/4 x 9 1/2.

 10. Snow-covered road with buildings and trees.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2.

 11. Snow-covered road, small bridge, fence, and trees.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, on 5 x 7 sheet.

 12. Snow-covered residential street with two figures walking, Berlin, Wisconsin.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, originally mounted on 5 x 7 tan card.

 13. Winter.  Snow-covered country road.  4 1/4 x 6 1/2.
 

Subseries 2. Landscapes:  fields, woods, and water.

Boxes 1-2  (cont.)  (* = oversize items, in Box 2)

 14. Stream and field in snow.
   a. 4 1/2 x 6 1/2.
   b. 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, mounted (loosening) on 5 x 7 gray-brown card.

 15. Spirit of Winter.  Snow-covered shocks in field, farmhouse, outbuildings in background, ca. 1923.
  See also Series 2, #138.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.
  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #16.
   * a. 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 cream-colored sheet.
   * b. 7 1/4 x 9 1/2, on tissue, mounted on 10 1/2 x 13 1/2 board.
   * c. 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, sepia, on 10 1/2 x 13 1/2 sheet.

 * 16. Stream and brush in snow. 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 sheet.

 * 17. Stream and woods in snow.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, sepia, on 11 x 14 cream-colored sheet.

18. Stream and trees.  6 1/4 x 4 1/4.

19. Young willow tree by water.  6 1/2 x 9 1/2, on tissue.

20. Stream through field; flat-bottom boat in stream, Berlin, Wisconsin. See also Series 2, #139.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia.

21. The Old Sentinel at Stone's.  Sycamore tree beside stream, probably near Fayetteville, Arkansas.  See also Series 2, #140.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.  7 x 5, sepia.

22. Landscape with two men fishing from boat, Berlin, Wisconsin.  4 1/2 x 6 1/4, mounted on 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 gray-brown card.

23. Lake, trees, and sky.  4 3/4 x 6 1/2, on 5 x 7 sheet.

24. Marsh landscape.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, mounted on 5 x 7 light brown card.

25. Stream and trees, probably at Happy Hollow Farm, near Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1920-1925.
  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #2.
   * a. 10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 14 x 11 sheet.
   * b. 10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 14 x 11 sheet.

* 26. Rushes and Riffles.  See photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 2.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 sheet.

* 27. Morning Mists.  Shore with rowboat, Berlin, Wisconsin.  See also Series 2, #141.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.
  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 sheet.

28. Morning Mists at Monte Ne.  Lagoon with gondola, Monte Ne, Benton County, Arkansas, ca. 1920.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #1.
   * a. 10 1/2 x 7 1/2, on 13 1/2 x 10 1/4 cream-colored sheet.
   * b. 10 1/2 x 7 1/2, on 14 x 11 sheet.

* 29. The Bridge--Spoor's.  Foundation and turntable of swing bridge, boat, willows, mist, ca. 1923. See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #23a, 23b.
See also Series 2, #142.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 13 1/2 x 10 1/4 sheet.

* 30. Sandy Shore.  Fishing boats on muddy bank, Berlin, Wisconsin, 1908. See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #30.  See also Series 2, #143.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 14 x 11 sheet.

31. Mist rising over river.
   a. 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia.
   b. 4 1/4 x 6 1/4, mounted on 5 x 6 3/4 gray card.
   c. 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, on 5 x 7 sheet.

32. Moonlight--Berlin Lock.  Water, shore, and hills, Berlin, Wisconsin. See also Series 2, #144.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.
   * a. 5 3/4 x 9 3/4, sepia, mounted on 10 1/2 x 13 1/2 cream-colored board.
   * b. 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 10 1/2 x 13 1/2 sheet.

33. River and trees.
   a. 4 1/4 x 6 1/4, mounted on 5 1/4 x 6 3/4 gray-brown card.
   b. 4 1/4 x 6 1/4, mounted on 5 x 6 3/4 gray card.

* 34. 'Twixt Winter and Spring.  Stream with snow-covered bank, possibly near Happy Hollow Farm, Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1923. See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #25a, 25b.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 14 x 11 sheet.

* 35. Stream with trees, possibly near Happy Hollow Farm, Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1923. See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #6.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, on 13 1/2 x 10 1/2 sheet.

* 36. Winter scene.  Buildings, smokestack reflected in still water. See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #24.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, sepia, on 11 x 14 sheet.

Boxes 1-2  (cont.)  (* = oversize items, in Box 2)

 37. Summer Clouds. See also Series 2, #102.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.  10 x 7 1/4, sepia, on tissue.

 38. Trees and pond (same location as #37, but slightly different angle).  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, on 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 sheet.

 39. Sun Flecked Water.  Landscape.  Shore with light, hills in background, 1921.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #29.  See photocopy of negative envelopes, Series 4, Folder 2, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.  9 3/4 x 7, sepia, on tissue.

 40. Lake with tree in foreground.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2.

 41. Landscape.  Water, sky, buildings.  6 1/2 x 4 1/2.

 42. Sky, water, shore, with two figures on shore.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2.

 43. Landscape.  Sky, water, building and trees in the distance.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, mounted on 5 1/4 x 7 black card.

 44. Trees at Sunset.  Possibly near Happy Hollow Farm, Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1921.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #9a, 9b.  See photocopy of negative envelopes, Series 4, Folder 2.
   * a. 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 cream-colored sheet.
   * b. 9 3/4 x 13 1/4, on 10 1/2 x 13 1/4 cream-colored sheet.

* 45. Mt. Sequoyah Dark Cloud.  House at the foot of a hill, two scraggly trees in foreground, clouds, Fayetteville, Arkansas.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #32.  See also Series 2, #103.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 14 x 11 sheet.

 46. Landscape with four trees, ca. 1923.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #10a, 10b.
   * a. 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 10 3/4 x 13 1/2 sheet.
   * b. 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 10 3/4 x 13 1/2 sheet.

 * 47. Decorative Panel--Western Sun.  Hazy sun, branch in foreground.  See also clippings, Series 4, Folder 6.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 13 1/2 x 10 1/4 sheet.
 
Subseries 4. Landscapes:  rural scenes.

Boxes 1-2  (cont.)  (* = oversize items, in Box 2)

 48. Tree with three trunks, shadows on grassy hill.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, mounted on 5 x 7 gray card.

* 49. At Peep O'Day.  Water's edge with tree, shadows, flecks of light from water.  See also Series 2, #145.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 14 x 11 sheet.

* 50. Stream, brush on banks.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 sheet.

51. Trees along stream.  6 1/2 x 4 1/2, sepia, apparently mounted (glued along top) to cream-colored card, card later cut to 1 1/2 x 4 1/2.

52. Wooded hillside with wash, fields, and river in background.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, on 5 x 7 sheet.

53. Wooded landscape with split-rail fence.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, mounted on 5 1/4 x 7 tan card.

54. Dirt road through trees, with split-rail fence.  6 1/2 x 4 1/2, sepia.

55. Wooded slope with river behind.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, mounted on 5 x 6 3/4 light brown card.

56. Trail through trees.  6 1/2 x 4 1/2, sepia, mounted on 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 dark brown card.

57. Large tree with brush, mist, trees in background.
   a. 4 1/2 x 6 1/4, sepia.
   b. 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, on 5 x 7 sheet.

58. Fork in dirt road, trees.  6 x 4.

* 59. Landscape with dirt road and woods, light and shadow, ca. 1923.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #15.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, on 11 x 14 cream-colored sheet.

60. Field with haystacks.  6 1/4 x 4 1/2, sepia, mounted on 7 x 4 3/4 dark brown card.

61. Corn stalk stacks in field, building and trees in mist in background.  4 1/4 x 6 1/4, sepia, mounted on 5 x 6 3/4 tan card.

62. Corn stalk stacks in field.  4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, on 5 x 7 sheet.

63. Corn stalk stacks in field, trees and mist in background.  6 1/2 x 4 1/2, sepia, mounted on 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 tan card.

64. Wheatfield--Berlin.  Field with haystacks, trees and wildflowers in foreground, Berlin, Wisconsin.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #31.
  See also Series 2, #146.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.
   a. 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, mounted on 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 tan card.
   b. 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, sepia, had been mounted on brown card (glue and fiber residue along top).

65. Sheep--In the Ozark Hills.  Trail of Sheep.  Rocky slope with sheep, probably near Fayetteville, Arkansas.  See also Series 2, #104.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.  7 x 9 1/2, sepia, on tissue.

* 66. Tree and cow in mist.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, on 14 x 11 sheet.

* 67. Nature's Jewel.  Nature's Jewels.  Orb web with dew.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, sepia, on 10 3/4 x 13 3/4 cream-colored sheet.
 
Subseries 5. People:  classical and artistic.
 
Boxes 1-2  (cont.)  (* = oversize items, in Box 2)

68. Spirit of Youth.  Two young women in diaphanous clothing, with billowing scarf.  See also Series 2, #105.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.
   * a. 10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 13 1/2 x 10 1/4 cream-colored sheet.
   * b. 10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 13 x 10 cream-colored sheet.

69. Man With Bow.  Man (Herbert Phillip Finger) posed nude as archer, Gayeta Lodge, near Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1925.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #3.  See also clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.  9 3/4 x 7 1/4, sepia, on tissue.

* 70. Nude girl with ball at water's edge.  7 1/2 x 10 1/2, sepia, on 11 x 14 sheet.

71. Daisies.  Woman in field of flowers.  7 x 9, sepia, on 10 1/2 x 12 1/4 cream-colored sheet.

72. In the Garden.  Woman picking flowers.  See also clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.  6 1/2 x 9 1/2 half-circle, sepia, on 7 1/4 x 9 3/4 tissue, mounted on 7 1/2 x 10 cream-colored card.
 
Subseries 6. People:  genre.

Boxes 1-2  (cont.)  (* = oversize items, in Box 2)

73. Morning Work.  Woman (Mrs. Field) sweeping porch.  See also clipping, Series 4, Folder 6, and comment by Burton Field, Series 4, Folder 7.
   a. 9 x 6 1/4, sepia.
* b. 9 x 6 1/4, sepia, mounted on 9 1/2 x 6 3/4 gray card, mounted in turn on 14 x 11 cream-colored board.

74. Mrs. J. H. Field & Son of Fayetteville.
   a. 5 x 7, sepia.
   b. 4 3/4 x 6 3/4, sepia, mounted on 7 1/2 x 8 3/4 buff-colored card.

75. Mrs. J. H. Field and son, of Fayetteville.  Pose similar to #74.  6 3/4 x 9 1/4, sepia.

76. Child painting (Burton Field).  12 x 8 1/2, sepia, hand-colored, mounted on 12 x 8 1/2 dark brown card.

77. After-Dinner Nap.  (Burton Field)  See also clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.  9 1/4 x 7 1/2, sepia, mounted on 10 x 8 buff-colored card.

* 78. Woman walking on dirt road toward church, Fayetteville, Arkansas (probably looking south on Willow Avenue).   See also Series 2, #147.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and comment by Burton Field, Series 4, Folder 7.  10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 13 3/4 x 10 1/2 sheet.

79. Man drinking from pool.  See comment by Burton Field, Series 4, Folder 7.  7 x 10, sepia.

80. Girl on dirt road in mist.  4 1/2 x 6 1/4, mounted on 5 1/2 x 6 3/4 gray-brown card.

 81. Horse-drawn plow, man drinking, woman and child.  4 1/4 x 6 1/4, sepia, on 6 x 8 sheet.

 82. Cleaning up.  Trash burner.  See also Series 2, #106.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.  6 x 4 1/4, sepia, on 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 sheet.

 83. Fagot Gatherer.  Rear view of man with bundle of sticks on his shoulder.  Fence dimly visible in background.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #52a, 52b.  See comments by Samuel Ladd Davies and Burton Field, Series 4, Folder 7.   Note: Not different prints from the same negative; two negatives were made, probably at the same time.  Glass plate negative for #83b in Series 2; negative for 83a missing.
   a. See photocopy of negative envelope Series 4, Folder 3 (comments on envelope indicate that it might have been negative for this print).    4 1/2 x 6 1/4, sepia.
* b. See also Series 2, #148.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.   7 1/2 x 10 1/2, sepia, on 10 1/2 x 13 1/2 cream-colored sheet.

84. Harvest-Time.  Man with pumpkin in field, corn stalk stacks in background.  See also Series 2, #149.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clippings, Series 4, Folder 6.  5 x 7, sepia, on 8 x 10 cream-colored sheet.

85. Shadow of J. H. Field and camera on stucco wall.  See comment by Burton Field, Series 4, Folder 7.
   a. 6 1/2 x 4 3/4 on 7 x 5 sheet.
* b. 10 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 12 3/4 x 9 3/4 cream-colored sheet.

Boxes 1-2  (cont.)  (* = oversize items, in Box 2)

 86. Portrait of Dr. S. W. Davies.  5 1/4 x 3 1/4, sepia.

 87. Portrait of Mrs. S. W. Davies.  6 x 4, sepia.

 88. Portrait of Miss Edith Davies (Mrs. J. P. Brower).  7 x 3, sepia.

 89. Informal portrait of Miss Mary Lou Davies sitting on grass.  4 x 5 1/2, sepia.

 90. Group portrait of five men identified on verso as "Physicians of N. W. Arkansas.  Dr. Gregg, 2. Dr. Wood, 3. Dr. Ellis, 4. ?, 5. ?".
   a. 4 1/4 x 6 1/4, sepia, on 5 x 6 3/4 sheet.
   b. 4 1/4 x 6 1/4, sepia, on 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 sheet.

 91. Portrait of Dr. Edward F. Ellis in academic cap and gown.  9 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 10 x 8 sheet.

 92. Portrait of J. H. Field.  5 1/2 x 3 1/2, sepia, mounted on 5 3/4 x 3 1/2 buff-colored card.

 93. Portrait of J. H. Field.  4 1/2 x 3 oval, sepia, mounted on 6 x 4 1/4 board.

 94. Portrait of J. H. Field.  5 1/2 x 3 3/4, sepia, mounted on 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 shaded board.

 95. Portrait of J. H. Field.
   a. 6 1/2 x 4 1/4, sepia.
   b. 10 x 6 1/2, sepia, on 10 1/4 x 6 3/4 sheet.
   c. 10 x 6 1/2, sepia, on 11 x 7 sheet.

 96. J. H. Field with photographic gear and bicycle.  See comment by Burton Field, Series 4, Folder 7.  6 3/4 x 4 3/4, sepia, on 7 x 5 sheet.

 97. J. H. Field in darkroom apron.  5 1/2 x 4, sepia, mounted on 6 1/2 x 4 1/4 board.

 * 98. Portrait of unidentified man.  9 1/2 x 7 1/2, sepia, on 14 x 11 cream-colored sheet.

 99. Portrait of unidentified woman.  7 1/2 x 4 1/2, sepia, on 8 x 5 cream-colored card.

100. Portrait of unidentified woman. 10 3/4 x 6 1/2, sepia, on 11 x 7 cream-colored card.

101. Proof sheet.  18 images of group portrait.  4 x 5 1/2.

This series contains contact prints made by Special Collections from all negatives in the collection that could be printed.

The collection originally included both nitrate and glass plate negatives, some in poor condition.  After they were printed, the nitrate negatives were removed and destroyed for safety reasons.  Color transparencies were made of most of them in an attempt to show Field's alteration of negatives (see biographical information on page 2 of this finding aid) for the effect he wanted in a print.  The transparencies are described in Series 4.

Subseries 1 contains the contact prints made from Field's nitrate negatives.  Because the negatives no longer exist, descriptions of Field's alterations of them have been recorded in the finding aid.

Subseries 2 contains the contact prints made from Field's glass plate negatives.  The original glass plates (restricted) are in Series 3.

To preserve the information on the deteriorating negative envelopes, the envelopes were photocopied onto acid-neutral paper and then discarded.  Envelopes were also photocopied for negatives too decayed to print.  These photocopies are in Series 4.

Contacts for which a print made by Field exists (see Series 1) are grouped at the beginning of each subseries, in the same order as in Series 1, and cross-referenced.  Titles of photographs (usually taken from negative envelopes) are underlined.  All contacts are 5" x 7".
 

Subseries 1. Prints made from nitrate negatives.

Box 3

102. Summer Clouds.  See #37 in Series 1.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

103. Mt. Sequoyah Dark Cloud.  See #45 in Series 1.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

104. Sheep--In the Ozark Hills.  Trail of Sheep.  See #65 in Series 1.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

105. Spirit of Youth.  See #68 in Series 1.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

106. Cleaning Up.  Trash Burner.  See #82 in Series 1.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

107. Log house at Prairie Grove (exterior), 1931.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

108. Log house at Prairie Grove (interior), 1931.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

109. Little White Church in Wildwood.  (St. James Methodist Church, Fayetteville?)  Emulsion scraped off negative for path and shadows on hillside at center and right.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

110. Water wheel--Cane Hill.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

111. The Castle.  (Washington County Courthouse, Fayetteville.)  Small patch of emulsion scratched, lower right (unable to determine whether the negative was manipulated by Field or damaged).  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

112. Prairie Schooner.  (Horse-drawn wagon on paved road.)  Emulsion scratched, apparently to obscure clothes hanging on 2 lines at lower right.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

113. Automobile parked at side of mountain road.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

114. Fly Gap.  (Two men at side of curve in dirt road.)  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

115. Horse-drawn wagon on mountainous road.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

116. Landscape near Monte Ne, Arkansas.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

117. Landscape near Monte Ne, Arkansas.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

118. Landscape near Monte Ne, Arkansas.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

119. Landscape near Monte Ne, Arkansas.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

120. Landscape near Monte Ne, Arkansas.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

121. Landscape near Monte Ne, Arkansas.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

122. Landscape near Monte Ne, Arkansas.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

123. Evening. [illegible] Pond.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.  See also Field Photographs (Access. No. 434), #22.

124. Dogwood tree in bloom.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

125. In the Quiet Places.  Rabbit Tracks in Snow.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

126. Queen Anne's Lace and butterfly.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.  See also photocopy of another negative, apparently similar image, that was too deteriorated to print, Series 4, Folder 1.  See clippings, Series 4, Folder 6.

127. Ghosts of Summer.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1, and clippings, Series 4, Folder 6.

128. Dogwood studio study.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

129. Dogwood studio study.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

130. Passion flower studio study.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

131. Passion flower studio study.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

132. Landscape with fence.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

133. Trees and Clouds.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.

134. Spring Sunshine.  Landscape?  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

135. Old Faithful.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

136. Old Faithful.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.

137. Split rail fence, Prairie Grove trip, 1931.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 1.
 

Subseries 2. Prints made from glass plate negatives.

Box 3 (cont'd)

138. Spirit of Winter.  See #15 in Series 1.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

139. Stream through field; flat-bottom boat in stream.  See #20 in Series 1.  Written on negative:  "Aug 2--1901--7 p.m. Stu[?]."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

140. The Old Sentinel at Stone's.  See #21 in Series 1.  Written on negative:  "1/4 sec Aug[?] 1--1914. low[?] [illegible] 10 a.m. [illegible]."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

141. Morning Mists.  See #27 in Series 1.  Written on negative:  "Aug 20--1901   8 a.m. 26X."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

142. The Bridge--Spoor's.  See #29 in Series 1.  Written on negative:  "Jul 17--1907   6[?] a.m."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

143. Sandy Shore.  See #30 in Series 1.  Written on negative:  "Sifs[?] 5/08."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

144. Moonlight--Berlin Lock.  See #32 in Series 1.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

145. At Peep o'Day.  See #49 in Series 1.  Written on negative:  "Aug 25[?]--1907  6:30 a.m."  Emulsion scratched; light-diffusing coating, pencil highlights.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.

146. Wheatfield--Berlin.  See #64 in Series 1.  Written on negative:  "1903 July 18  6:30 a.m.  single--stop 8  Iso D.C. (or E?) Used[?] 1/2 sec."  Emulsion scratched to darken tree trunks on print.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

147. Woman walking on dirt road toward church, Fayetteville, Arkansas (probably looking south on Willow Avenue).  See #78 in Series 1.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

148. Fagot Gatherer.  See #83b in Series 1.  Pencil on emulsion side to highlight details of pants, path, and tree.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

149. Man with pumpkin in field, corn stalk stacks in background.  See #84 in Series 1.  Pencil on emulsion side to highlight pumpkin and man's back; entire negative brushed with light-diffusing coating; brush marks showing.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

150. A Southern Dream.  Arkansas Building (later Wolf House), Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Written on negative:  "May 7--1914--7 a.m. [illegible] 2 sec[?]."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.

151. Arkansas Building, (later Wolf House), Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Written on negative:  "May 4-7[?] 1914 [illegible] 2 sec[?]".  Edge of drive, hill opposite highlighted in pencil on emulsion side.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

152. The Old Homestead.  Old Home Stead--Snow.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.

153. Birthplace of the Pumpkin Pie.  Written on negative:  "Oct 3."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

154. Evening Landscape.  Farm, Berlin, Wisconsin.  Written on negative:  "May 15, 1902.  6:30 p.m. Med Iso, 5 sec, single, no stop."  Light-diffusing coating and pencil on non-emulsion side; some scratching and pencil on emulsion side.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.

155. There's Comfort Just Over the Hill.  Snow-covered hill, house, Berlin, Wisconsin.  Written on negative:  "Jan. 26, 08--Med Iso Screen. Single."  Smoke drawn in on emulsion side with pencil, some scratches.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clippings, Series 4, Folder 6.

156. Stone wall and peach tree.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

157. Pond with reflected trees.  Light-diffusing coating; pencil to highlight sky and reflection.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.  (Very similar negative must have been used to print Roacher's Pond--Springtime; published photograph in Series 4, Folder 6.)

158. April--Sunlit Pool.  Pond and trees.  Scratches and pencil on emulsion side.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

159. Sunlit Creek.  Stream and trees.  Shoreline highlighted with pencil on emulsion side.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

160. Pond with reflected trees.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

161. Morning in May.  Written on negative:  "June 8, 1914.  9 a.m.  Iso screen."  Some pencil highlights on ground.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.

162. River and trees, reflection of sun on water through fog.  Shoreline and sun highlighted with pencil on emulsion side.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

163. River and trees.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

164. Edge of the Pond.  Grasses, pond, trees, reflection of sun in water.  Pencil on emulsion side to highlight sun and reflection.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

165. End of a Grey Day.  Grass and brush by water in mist.  Written on negative:  "Jan 27--1907.  8:15 a.m."  Ink and pencil to highlight sun and shoreline.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

166. Dogwood branch.  Written on negative:  "Apr[?] 23--1915.  Soft 5.6.  #30   1 sec."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

167. Dogwood branch.  Written on negative:  "Apr 23--1915.  #20 new stop 16 [?] 5 sec."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

168. Dogwood branch.  Written on negative:  "Apr 23--1915.  [illegible] #70   12 sec[?]."  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

169. Home at Eve.  Man with hoe walking with cow, dog carrying bucket.  Written on negative:  "Jul[?] 4--1907--6:20 a.m."  Light-diffusing coating on emulsion side.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clipping, Series 4, Folder 6.

170. Boyhood Joys.  Fishing line, hats, and shirt highlighted with pencil on emulsion side.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

171. Pickaninnies & Watermelon.  Children eating watermelon.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3.

172. October.  Man husking corn.  Written on negative:  "Sept 27--1906.  6:45 a.m.  Med Iso Single."  Man's back and foliage highlighted in ink on emulsion side.  See also photocopy of negative envelope, Series 4, Folder 3, and clippings, Series 4, Folder 6.

Included here are the glass plate negatives from which prints in Series 2, Subseries 2, were made.  The negatives have the same numbers, with the suffix "n."  These negatives are restricted.

Included are photocopies of negative envelopes, 35 mm color transparencies of most of the nitrate negatives, notes of Burton Field about the photographs, articles about J. H. Field, and clippings of published photographs.

Box 4

1. Photocopies of envelopes that had contained nitrate negatives used to print photographs in Series 2, Subseries 1, and numbered the same.  Photocopies include notes by processor about condition of negatives.

  Note:  35 mm color transparencies were made of most of these; transparencies are stored in the Special Collections transparency files.

2. Photocopies of envelopes that had contained nitrate negatives too badly deteriorated to print.  Four may have been negatives for prints in Series 1 (noted on photocopies).  Several were apparently the negatives from which prints in Field Photographs (Access. No. 434) were made (also noted on photocopies).

3. Photocopies of envelopes that had contained glass plate negatives used to print photographs in Series 2, Subseries 2, and numbered the same.  Also photocopies of two envelopes of glass plate negatives too badly deteriorated to print.

4. Photocopies of empty envelopes containing [Field's] notes.

5. Items pertaining to Field's manipulations of prints:  photocopies of envelopes and wrappings from "Artograph Screen," celluloid and paper, and ground glass prints (ground glass for diffusion is stored with glass plate negatives).

6. Clippings of Field's published photographs and notes about Field, mainly from photography journals.  So far as possible, items are arranged in the same order as the photographs in this collection, with print numbers from Series 1 and 2 shown in square brackets.  Copy of Holland's:  The Magazine of the South (June 1929) is in Box 2.

7. Information about Field, mostly collected by the Shiloh Museum (Springdale, Arkansas) for an exhibit on J. H. Field in 1984.

Last modified: Friday, January 23, 2009