A Guide to the

Basil Clemons Photograph Collection
1919-1948

35 linear ft.

Collection Number: AR317

Prepared by Shirley R. Rodnitzky
March 1988 (rev. 1996, 1999)

CITATION: Basil Clemons Photograph Collection, AR317, Box number, Folder number, Special Collections Division, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

Biographical Sketch
Scope and Contents
Provenance
Literary Rights
Note to the Researcher
Portrait of Clemons
Container List
:: Prints (Subjects)
:: Prints (Portraits)
:: Prints (Miscellaneous)
:: Clemmons Family Genealogy
:: Reisberg Prints
:: Negatives (Subjects-Prints Available)
:: Negatives (Subjects-Prints Not Available)
:: Negatives (Portraits)
:: Negatives (Paper)
:: Negatives (Roll Film and Oversize Film)
:: Artifacts
:: Duplicate Prints
:: Copy Negatives

Biographical Sketch

Basil Edwin Clemons was born July 22, 1887 in Lauderdale County, Alabama, to Lemuel Joseph and Sarah Alice Clemmons. In researching their ancestry, Clemmons family members found that official documents list the name with two m's although Basil spelled it with only one. The family moved to Ridgeway, Texas, while Clemons was a child. In 1903, at age sixteen he left Texas and the family's cotton fields behind for California. He witnessed the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, learned photography in Hollywood, and trooped with the Tom Mix Wild West Show. Around 1909 Clemons drifted to Alaska where he photographed gold mining camps, Indians, Eskimos, and dogsled races. While in Alaska he joined the U.S. Army and trained at Fort Liscom, Alaska. After his army discharge in 1918, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he established a photograph studio. While traveling with a circus in 1919, he returned to Texas. After receiving word that his studio in Seattle was destroyed by fire, he headed toward the oil boom town of Breckenridge in Stephens County, Texas. There he photographed the oil fields, the town, and its surrounding communities, until blindness and other health problems ended his career in 1949.

"Our Fire Chief - Heaven Bless Him for Doing the Best He Can With What He Has To Do With."
Breckenridge, Texas Fire 4-22-21.

Clemons lived and developed his photographs in a gypsy wagon without benefit of running water or electricity. Unfortunately, there are no photos in the collection of this wagon other than small portions of the interior or exterior in an occasional print. His photographs epitomize small town America, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s. Clemons utilized some techniques largely unknown to the photographic profession. In 1936 he turned down an offer from Eastman Kodak Company for his process for color developing. The collection contains only a few examples of his color prints which are now badly faded. He spent a lifetime capturing the vitality of Breckenridge and neighboring communities in Stephens County with his portraits of people and their lifestyles.

Basil Clemons died June 22, 1964, in Breckenridge and is buried beside his parents in Hopkins County, Texas.

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Sources: Doodle & Cactus Berries by Betty Elliott Hanna (Nortex Press, 1975), and a biographical sketch by Jean Ann Pellizzari Credicott, daughter of Frank Pellizzari, Jr., former assistant to Clemons (see: collection holding file.) Box 34 contains portraits of Clemons and the Clemmons family, 1920-1947.

Scope and Contents Note

The Basil Clemons Photograph Collection contains approximately 12,000 black and white, gelatin silver prints and 5,900 cellulose nitrate, safety film, and paper negatives dating from 1919 through 1948. It includes many undated items. The bulk of the prints and negatives are dated in the 1920s during the oil boom which took Breckenridge, Texas, from a town with a population of 800 to 30,000 practically overnight. Scenes in and around Breckenridge dominate the collection, but prints of nearby communities in Stephens County are included. An occasional print made in Seattle, Washington, one Alaska print (in Clubs), and a few prints by other photographers and studios are scattered throughout the collection. Box 35 contains fifteen matted prints produced and donated to Special Collections in 1985, by Andy Reisberg of Dallas who used Basil Clemons negatives.

"Roasting One" Rattlesnake hunt on Swenson Ranch, Breckenridge, Texas.

The collection is divided into three series - prints, negatives, and artifacts. All prints and negatives are further subdivided into subject and portrait categories. The subject and portrait categories were predetermined by a family member who sorted the prints before they arrived at UT Arlington. Some of the categories were revised, however, the prints remain organized basically as received. Most of the subject prints are identified and dated and were arranged by the archivist in chronological order with undated items placed at the end of each subject category. Most portraits are not identified or dated. The bulk of the prints are 8" x 10", but each category contains a variety of smaller sizes. Most small prints are filed together chronologically in front of the 8" x 10" prints in each subject category in which they occur. If a negatives exists for a print, a notation was made on the reverse of the print and on its interleaving sheet. Duplicate prints were separated from the collection unless the print showed a tonal difference or was printed on a different type of photographic paper. There are twenty manuscript boxes of duplicate prints arranged in the same order as the print collection.

The negatives were sorted and arranged by the staff archivist in the same subject and portrait categories as the prints, and are also arranged in chronological order with undated items at the end of each subject category. The subject negatives are further divided into two categories: negatives with prints and negatives without prints. There are prints for approximately twenty-five per cent of the negatives. The unprinted negatives contain some very interesting shots and are worth the extra time necessary to view them. The collection also contains portrait negatives, not matched to the prints. In addition, there are paper negatives, antique roll film, and copy negatives made by the UT Arlington Media Center. Completing the collection are assorted photographic folders and an Ansco color tung and plates.

Basil Clemons was an innovative, pioneer, commercial photographer. His photographs of Breckenridge's development and decline provide a unique record and valuable contribution to the social history of small town America and the boom town phenomena. The oil field photographs which include several panoramas are especially rare views. However, the whole experience of oil boom Stephens County is captured by the 1920s era prints present in most other subject categories. Shots of streets, stores, ranches, sporting events, mule teams, fairs, wild west shows, fires, floods, and the circus, etc. (many with oil derricks and rigging equipment looming in the background) provide a complete picture of the oil boom Twenties. Other towns depicted frequently in the collection are: Eliasville, Caddo, Ibex, Ivan, Parks, Ranger, Red Gap, and South Bend. A few photographs depict Fort Worth, Jim Kearn, Lovely Valley, and Stinton. Photographs by the United Oil Photo and Press Service and H. T. Bearden, Stephenvil1e, Texas (for which Special Collections does not own the copyright) which show oil fields in Breckenridge, Burkburnett, Desdemona, Hilburn, Necessity, Ranger, and Ray Field are located in Box 34.

All prints and negatives are interleaved with acid-free archival paper and are filed in white acid-free photographic folders. Please use the guide (container list) that follows to select the boxes that you wish to view. Only one box will be given to a researcher at a time. The collection contains 85 manuscript boxes, a total of 35 linear feet.

Other Sources of Basil Clemons materials: Basil Clemons' photographs of Alaska may be found at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage; the Alaska Historical Library, Juneau; and the University of Alaska Library, Fairbanks. The Basil Clemons manuscript holding file contains a list of photos at the Alaska State Library, and photocopies of five prints at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. The Swenson Memorial Museum in Breckenridge, Texas, also has a large collection of Basil Clemons photographs.

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Provenance Statement

The Basil Clemons Photograph Collection was purchased in June 1985, by The University of Texas at Arlington from the Clemmons family with the assistance of a generous grant from Vicki Vinson and her father, Johnny Vinson, of Fort Worth, Texas. Elmer Clemmons, brother and administrator of Basil Clemons' estate transferred to UT Arlington all legal title, copyright, and literary property rights to the prints and negatives included in this collection. The materials were received by Dr. Charles C. Colley, Director of Special Collections, from Nancy J. Wallace and Mary P. Wallace (niece and sister of Basil Clemons), who had stored them in their home at Commerce, Texas.

Literary Rights Statement

Permission to publish any material from the Basil Clemons Photograph Collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Division.

Note to the Researcher

All researchers must wear white cotton or nylon gloves while handling the prints or negatives. Please request a pair from the staff member on duty at the service desk. The original order of the collection must be maintained. Please plan ahead to allow ample time to examine unprinted negatives. If photocopies of any prints are needed, please record the title, date, and location of the print that you require on the "Photoduplication Request" form (for photocopies) or on the "Request for Copies" form (for photographic reprints). Lay a paper marker (available from the service desk) vertically on top of the requested item. If a negative exists for a print, please allow extra staff time to examine the negative for condition. If damaged or in poor condition, a 4" x 5" copy negative will be required. Negatives will not be loaned. All copy negatives remain the property of Special Collections. All photographic reproductions are processed in the University Media Center. Rush orders are not accepted. Please request a current price list from the desk attendant. Orders are processed within seven to ten work days. All fees must be paid in advance.

The 1996 revision of the finding aid included the addition of page and series headings and rearrangement of the format after the document was scanned into WordPerfect. A copy was downloaded onto a disk from which extra copies can be made. No new information was added. The 1999 revision cleaned up the finding aid and text after it was transferred from WordPerfect to Microsoft Word 6.0.

Container List

Prints (Subjects)

Box 1
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-3: Airports and Airplanes, 1926-1940, n.d. ; (27 prints). Single airplanes, air shows, groups posed with planes, family groups. See also: Oil Belt Fairs for Flying Circus, and Weddings and Anniversaries (1929).
4-13: Automobiles, 1929-1936, n.d.; (95 prints). Old wreck races, garages, auto showrooms, auto sales and service buildings, people posed with autos. See also: Oil Belt Fairs for auto shows and races.
14-15: Banks, 1924-1927, n.d.; (13 prints). Bank buildings, interior and exterior. Includes Eliasville, Texas bank, 1927.
16-19: Boy and Sea Scouts, 1925, 1934-1944, n.d.; (32 prints). Boy Scout groups and camping scenes, Sea Scout ceremonies. Includes Abilene Boy Scouts at Christoval as well as Breckenridge Boy Scouts and scouts at Baptist Encampment at Lueders, Texas.
20-24: Carbon Black Plant, 1923-1929, n.d.; (45 prints). Plant views (interior and exterior), carbon black plant workers, groups with family members. Includes plants in Parks, Texas.

Box 2
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-20: Churches, 1920-1948, n.d.; (195 prints). Sports teams, encampments, buildings, banquets, revivals, choirs, picnics, conventions, Bible and Sunday School classes, Salvation Army parades, YMCA groups, and the Jewish synagogue. Also includes churches in Eliasville, Texas.

Box 3
Folder(s)

1-22: Circuses, 1920-1927; (221 prints). Parades with wagons and circus animals, tent raising, individuals and groups of performers, circus trains, carnival game and food booths, aerial shots. Circus groups include: Alamo Exposition Shows, Robbins Bros, Clark's Greater Shows, Barnum & Bailey, Gentry Shows, Joe Robinson Shows, H. W. Campbell Shows, Tom Mix Shows, Madame Rainey's Strutters, Bill Hames Shows. See also: Oil Belt Fairs for carnival scenes.

Box 4
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-13: Circuses (continued), 1927-1949, n.d.; (124 prints). Most of the circus prints are from the 1920s.
14-25: Clubs, ca. 1910, 1919-1926; (120 prints). Conventions, banquets, retirement dinners, dances, parade floats, organization group photos. Included are: Masons, Moose, Knights of Pythias, Oddfellows, KKK, PTA, Eastern Star, Demolays, BPOE, Rainbows, Hi-Y, Salvation Army, Civic League, Lions Clubs, Elks, YMCA, Rotarians, American Legion, Big Brothers, Texaco Club, Farm Boys and Girls, J.C. Jamboree, Pecan Growers Association, Chamber of Commerce, Country Club, and Red Cross volunteers. Also includes one photo reproduction of an Alaska group, ca. 1910.

Box 5
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-13: Clubs (continued), 1926-1948, n.d.; (128 prints).
14-19: Court Houses, Court and Law Officers, 1921-1943, n.d.; (54 prints). Old county court house, new court house dedication, law officers, sheriffs, parades, jail scenes.
20-25: Davis Dancers, 1928-1944, n.d.; (60 prints). Variety shows, candid portraits of dancers in costume, group an individual dancers, revues. (Pupils of Emmett A. Davis).

Box 6
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-3: Davis Dancers (continued), n.d.; (24 prints).
4-11: Fires, 1920-1929; (75 prints). Breckenridge firemen posed with fire trucks, fire scenes, demolished buildings, gas, oil, and salt mines photos.
12-13: Floods, 1921-1928, n.d.; (20 prints). Flood scenes, people and autos in floods, the "Paul Revere of the Breckenridge Flood," 1922.
14: Fort Worth Fat Stock Show, 1922; (10 prints). Parades, cowboys, campfire scenes, animal exhibits, George Loos Shows.
15-19: Funerals and Funeral Homes, 1923-1948, n.d.; (50 prints). Open caskets, cemetery scenes, grave sites, Thompson-Kiker Funeral Home and coach, Breckenridge Memorial Park, cancer victims (1923-1931).
20: Girl Scouts, 1925, 1934; (2 prints). Groups with leaders.
21: Governors, 1923-1939 (10 prints). Crowd and rally scenes for Governors Lee O'Daniel and Pat Neff. Governor Neff's daughter in beauty pageant.
22-25: Hotels, 1920-1946, n.d.; (25 prints). Breckenridge hotels, interior and exterior.

Box 7
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1: Lover's Retreat, 1926-1929; (7 prints). Nature scenes and couples.
2-6: Mexican Town, 1920-1926, n.d.; (44 prints). Mexican families, groups, and individuals. Includes Chas. Lugo's Restaurant and friends and Rice's section gang (Jake Hamon R.R.).
7-22: Miscellaneous, 1920-1948, n.d.; (163 prints). Chamber of Commerce prints, homes in Breckenridge, deer and wolf hunters, animals, insects, miniature railroad, street and yard scenes, country scenes, Breckenridge Hospital, candid shots of small groups, windmill, pretty home contest winner (Washington state), UT ArlingtonH sign, hanging notice and crowd scene, reproductions of printed items.
23-24: Mule Teams, 1920-1926, n.d.; (17 prints). Mule teams moving houses, in the oil fields, street scenes. Includes teaming camps, freight teams, and dam site.

Box 8
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-3: Musicians, 1921-1939, n.d.; (24 prints). Professional groups posed with instruments, individuals with piano, violin, or harmonica.
4-l4: Oil Belt Fairs, 1920-1939, n.d.; (104 prints). Auto and motorcycle races and air shows. Cattle and auto shows, parades, crop displays, and product exhibits, poultry shows, First Aid contests, carnival and midway exhibits, Jr. High School and High School exhibits.
15-25: Oil Fields and Oil Towns, 1920-1921; (112 prints). Oil fields, machinery, workers, and oil processing plants. Includes "Chigger" Brown nitro explosion site (1926) as well as town street scenes during oil boom and men on horseback in oil fields. In addition to Breckenridge other towns depicted in Stephens County are: Caddo, Eliasville, Harding City, Ibex, Ivan, Jim Kearn, Parks, Ranger, Red Gap, South Bend, and Stinton. See also: Box 34.

Box 9
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-26: Oil Fields, 1921-1944, n.d. (continued); (243 prints).

Box 10
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-9: Parades and Celebrations, 1920-1943, n.d.; (88 prints). Armistice Day, Fourth of July, San Jacinto Day, and Labor Day parades. Breckenridge main streets with horses, autos, and floats. Carnival booths and Eastland Fourth of July (1939). See also: Oil Belt Fairs, Rodeos, and Wild West Shows.
10: Pioneer's Day, 1934; (7 prints). Pioneer's Day reunion, Boom Days celebrations. Large groups, street scenes, animals.
11–23: Possum Kingdom and Area Lakes, 1920-1941, n.d.; (126 prints). Lake recreation scenes. Includes Possum Kingdom Lake and Dam, Lake Cisco, Lake Grand, Crystal Lake, the Brazos, Rainbow Rapids, Twin Lakes, Lake Kemp, Lake De La Fosse, the Big Sandy (Burleson), the Clear Fork of the Brazos, Hubbard Creek, map showing Possum Kingdom Reservoir and surrounding territory (1940), and the "Gonzolos."

Box 11
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-5: Ranches (Cattle, Dairy, and Poultry), 1923-1939, n.d.; (47 prints). Ranchers with horses and cattle, poultry shows, chicken farms, poultry dressing plant showing child laborers, dairy cattle, Grand Champion steers. See also: Rattler Roundup.
6-7: Rattler Roundup, 1937-1938, n.d.; (19 prints). Rattlesnake hunts and hunters posed with snakes. The Vick and P. C. Oloflin ranches.
8-12: Rodeos, 1921-1946, n.d.; (50 prints). Breckenridge, Big Sandy, Wayland, Elk's Club, and Stoker Rodeos. Rodeo parades, visitors, headquarters. Crowd and corral scenes.
13-17: Schools - Buildings, 1920-1940, n.d.; (46 prints). Schools under construction, elementary through junior high, but primarily Breckenridge High School. Includes home economics building and "Teacherage." See also following school categories for school buildings.
18-24: Schools - Classrooms/Groups, 1919-1924; (67 prints). Primarily pupils posed in classrooms or in large groups outside schools (pre-school through high school). Other districts represented are: Lovely Valley and Red Gap (1923), Eliasville and Ivan (1924), and Caddo (1930). Also includes faculty posed together and with students, and a high school prom in Seattle, Washington (1919).

Box 12
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-19: Schools - Classrooms/Groups, 1924-1943, n.d. (continued); (185 prints)
20-25 Schools - Clubs/Pep Squads, 1920-1928; (63 prints). Elementary through high school clubs; high school academic clubs, library staff, booster clubs, yearbook staff, glee clubs, and musical and dramatic groups, etc. All are group photos.

Box 13
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-23: Schools - Clubs/Pep Squads (continued), 1928-1944, n.d.; (224 prints)
24-26: Schools - Graduates (Elementary, Junior High), 1923-1948; (23 prints). Breckenridge elementary (1923-1924) and junior high (1928-1948) graduating classes.

Box 14
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-6: Schools - Graduates (High School), 1921-1948; (53 prints). Breckenridge High School graduating classes. Other communities represented are: Caddo High School, 1926-1927, 1931 and Parks High School, 1934-1935.
7-19: Schools - Plays, 1920-1947; (170 prints). Dramatic groups, glee clubs, strings groups, recitals, elementary through high school groups.
20-21: Schools - Queen Coronations, 1925-1937, n.d.; (19 prints). Breckenridge High School Buckaroo Queen Coronations, the queen and her court.

Box 15
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-7: Snow, 1923-1947, n.d.; (67 prints). Scenes of Breckenridge and Lake De La Fosse after snowfalls and in below freezing temperatures.
8-25: Soldiers, 1920, 1934-1945, n.d.; (170 prints). Includes Spanish War Veterans, 15th Battalion Texas State Guard meetings, marching groups, Bridge of Honor Land Ship ceremonies, small groups, portraits, and soldiers with families. See also: Portraits, Men and Family Groups.

Box 16
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-26: Sports, 1920-1937; (259 prints). Primarily high school and YMCA sports teams, fans, and action scenes as well as the Breckenridge Athletic Club. Sports represented are football, boxing, baseball, basketball, track, tennis, golf, and swimming. Other towns with teams represented are Caddo, Ivan, Parks, and Red Gap. Included is the West Texas Golf Tournament, 1926.

Box 17
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-25 Sports, 1937-1942 (continued); (264 prints)

Box 18
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-23 Stores and Window Displays, 1919-1946, n.d.; (227 prints). Window displays, stores, businesses, restaurants, and cafes as well as service shops and manufacturing plants (interior and exterior shots). Other towns included are Jim Kearn (1921), Ibex (1923), and Seattle, Washington (1919-1920, n.d.)

Box 19
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-5: Stores and Window Displays (continued), n.d.; (42 prints)
6-12: Street Construction, 1920-1941, n.d.; (64 prints). Construction of streets and gas mains. Also depicts completed main streets, neighborhood streets, and highways outside Breckenridge. Includes South Bend, Texas, 1920.
13-15: Theaters, 1920-1946, n.d.; (29 prints). Theatre buildings (National Theater, Alhambra Theater, Palace Theater). Includes movie ads in front of theaters, marquees, promotional events, ticket windows, interior and exterior views.
16: U.S.O., 1944; (10 prints). Primarily dances and the U.S.O. snack bar in Breckenridge.
17-23: Water Works and Water Parks, 1920-1939, n.d.; (62 prints). Breckenridge water system including dedication of water system (1922), laying water lines, water park scenes, Skaggs Bros. pipeline contractors,Walker-Caldwell Water Co., and waterworks buildings.
24-27: Weddings and Anniversaries, 1929-1945, n.d.; (41 prints). Family groups, couples, and individuals at wedding and anniversary celebrations. Primarily 1940s weddings of women to servicemen in homes. Includes a few church weddings. See also: Portraits, Family Groups.

Box 20
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-6: Weddings and Anniversaries 1945-1946, n.d. (continued); (58 prints)
7-12: Wild West Shows, 1920-1947, n.d.; (54 prints). Texas Kid's rodeo shows, parades and advertising, Emerson and Western Wild West Shows, "Ridin Bob Roberts," Wortham Shows.

Prints (Portraits)

Box 21
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-25: Family Groups, 1920, 1922-1946, n.d.; (250 prints). Family groups include family reunions, couples, parents and children, parent and child, and children with family unit. Some photos are tinted, most are not identified. Includes two pre-1900 reprints.

Box 22
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-22: Family Groups (continued), n.d. (ca. 1920s-l940s(220 prints). Some photos are tinted.

Box 23
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-26 :Family Groups (continued), n.d. (ca. l920s-l940s); (251 prints). Includes 5" x 8" and smaller photos.

Box 24
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-20: Children, 1920-1946, n.d.; (201 prints). Includes individual portraits and groups of children in a family unit, both candid and formal poses. Most photos are not identified.

Box 25
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-22: Children, n.d. (continued) (ca. l920s-1940s); (209 prints). Some tinted and some early color film. Includes 5" x 8" and smaller photos, 1924-1929, n.d.

Box 26
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-24: Men, 1922-1947, n.d.; (231 prints). Includes individual formal poses and candid shots as well as small groups of men. Some tinted photos and color film is included. Most photos are not identified.

Box 27
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-31: Men (continued), 1922-1928, 1963, n.d.; (199 prints). These are 5" x 8" and smaller prints. The 1963 print is not by Clemons.

Box 28
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-22: Women, 1920-1947, n.d.; (214 prints). Includes formal poses and candid shots as well as small groups of women. Some tinted photos are included.

Box 29
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-22: Women, n.d. (ca. 1920s-l940s); (211 prints). Some tinted photos. Most of the portraits are not identified.

Box 30
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-20: Women, n.d. (ca. 1920s-1940s) (continued); (195 prints)

Box 31
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-22: Women, n.d. (ca. 1920s-1940s) (continued); (214 prints)

Box 32
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

31-22: Women, 1924-1928, 1936, n.d.; (214 prints). These are all 5" x 8" photos. Some photos are tinted.

Box 33
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-14: Women, n.d.; (284 prints). These are 5" x 8" photos, ca.1920s and 4" x 5" photos, 1923-1928, 1946, n.d. Some photos are tinted.

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Prints (Miscellaneous)

Box 34
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-3: Portraits of Basil Clemons, 1920-1947, n.d.; (21 prints). These prints are reproductions by University Media Services. The Clemmons family retains the originals.
4: Article and Prints; (9 items). Article by M. H. Hudson of Caddo, Texas (2pp.) "The Rise and Fall of an Empire." Includes letter of rejection from the Fuel Oil Journal (1931) and seven oil field prints by Clemons, 1920-1921, 1929.
5-7: United Oil Photo & Press Service, Stephenville, Texas, n.d. (1920s); (14 prints). Oil fields in Desdemona and Ray, Texas. (Special Collections does not own the copyright to these prints. Permission to publish must be obtained from United Oil Photo & Press Service.)
8: Bearden and Meador Prints, 1920, n.d.; (9 prints). Oil fields in and around Breckenridge, Ranger, Necessity, and Hilburn Field, Texas. Includes print by Meador, Mexia, Texas (n.d.), and a few unidentified prints.
9: Breckenridge High School Yearbook, 1928; (80 pp.). Photocopy of several pages of the 1928 yearbook, the Buckaroo, showing student groups and portraits. Basil Clemons did the photography for this yearbook. The collection contains a few of the same prints used in the yearbook.
10: Clemmons family genealogy cards compiled by a relative.

Box 35
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

35: Andy Reisberg Prints, 1985; (15 matted prints). Prints by Andy Reisberg of Dallas, a professional photographer, using Clemons' 8" x 10" negatives.

Top of Page Table of Contents Container List Prints Negatives Artifacts

Negatives (Subjects - Prints Available) 1920-1948 (974 negatives)
Box 36
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-25: Airports and Airplanes, 1937 -- Circuses, ca.1920

Box 37
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-25: Circuses, 1921-1935, n.d. -- Clubs, 1921-1944, n.d.

Box 38
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-33: Court Houses, Court and Law Officers, 1927-1932 -- Oil Belt Fairs, 1927-1939

Box 39
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-16: Oil Fields, 1922-1939, n.d.

Box 40
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-33: Parades and Celebrations, 1923-1946, n.d. -- Schools - Clubs/Pep Squads, 1923-1944, nd.

Box 41
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-28: Schools - Graduates, Jr. High, 1932-1946. Stores and Window Displays, 1921-1948, n.d.

Box 42
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-19: Street Construction, 1922-1941 -- Wild West Shows, 1920-1925, n.d.

Top of Page Table of Contents Container List Prints Negatives Artifacts

Negatives (Subjects-No Prints Available) 1920-1948 (1,647 negatives)

Box 43
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1: Airports and Airplanes, n.d.; (3 negatives)
2-10: Automobiles, 1924-1947, n.d.; (54 negatives)
11-12: Boy and Sea Scouts, 1938-1944, n.d.; (11 negatives)
13-15: Churches, 1926-1936, n.d.; (10 negatives)
16-29: Circuses, 1920-1938, n.d.; (91 negatives)

Box 44
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-4: Circuses, 1920-1938, n.d. (continued); (28 negatives)
5-13: Clubs, 1922-1944, n.d.; (46 negatives)
14-16: Court Houses, Court and Law Officers, 1922-1942, n.d.; (16 negatives)
17-19: Davis Dancers, 1934, n.d.; (18 negatives)
20: Fires, n.d.; (6 negatives)
21: Floods, n.d.; (5 negatives)
22: Fort Worth Stock Show, n.d.; (6 negatives)
23-25: Funerals and Cemeteries, 1927-1947, n.d.; (20 negatives)

Box 45
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1: Governors, n.d.; (4 negatives)
2: Hotels, 1935-1936, n.d.; (3 negatives)
3: Mexican Town, 1933, n.d.; (2 negatives)
4-24: Miscellaneous, 1922-1946, n.d.
25: Mule Teams, n.d.; (2 negatives)
26-28: Musicians, 1931-1938, n.d.; (14 negatives)

Box 46
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-3: Oil Belt Fairs, 1927-1939, n.d.; (18 negatives)
4-21: Oil Fields, 1920-1943, n.d.; (115 negatives)

Box 47
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-6: Oil Fields (continued), n.d.; (34 negatives)
7-13: Parades and Celebrations, 1925-1944, n.d.; (80 negatives)
14-25: Possum Kingdom and Area Lakes, 1925-1941, n.d.; (103 negatives)
26-28: Ranches, 1928, 1944, n.d.; (15 small negatives)

Box 48
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-5: Ranches, 1927-1931, n.d. (continued); (30 negatives)
6-13: Rattler Roundup, 1937-1938, n.d.; (58 negatives)
14-21: Rodeos, 1922-1947, n.d.; (87 negatives)
22: Schools - Buildings, 1935, 1936, n.d.; (8 negatives)
23-29: Schools - Classrooms/Groups, 1935-1940, n.d.; (42 negatives)

Box 49
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-7: Schools - Clubs/Pep Squads, 1927-1948, n.d.; (50 negatives)
8: Schools - Graduates, 1947, n.d.; (4 negatives)
9-11: Schools - Plays, 1923-1948, n.d.; (22 negatives)
12: Schools - Queen Coronations, 1936; (1 negative)
13: Snow, 1926-1936, n.d.; (6 negatives)
14-20: Soldiers, 1928-1944, n.d.; (67 negatives)
21-30: Sports, n.d. (small sizes); (118 negatives)

Box 50
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-8: Sports (continued), 1921-1943, n.d.; (68 negatives)
9-19: Stores and Window Displays, 1923-1942, n.d.; (78 negatives)
20-22: Street Construction, 1922-1937, n.d.; (20 negatives)
23-26: Theatres, 1924-1946, n.d.; (26 negatives)

Box 51
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1: U.S.O., 1944; (2 negatives)
2–9: Waterworks, Water Parks, 1921-1929, n.d.; (48 negatives)
10-14: Weddings and Anniversaries, 1928-1946, n.d.; (30 negatives)
15-16: Wild West Shows, 1921, 1925, n.d.; (14 negatives)

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Negatives (Portraits-Not Matched to Prints) (1,870 negatives)

Box 52
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-21: Family Groups, 1925-1946, n.d.; (267 negatives)

Box 53
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-8: Family Groups (Couples), 1929-1946, n.d.; (88 negatives)
9-13: Family Groups (Reunions), 1922-1946, n.d.; (45 negatives)
14-22: Children (Formal portraits), 1925-1938, n.d.; (91 negatives)

Box 54
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-7: Children (Formal portraits), n.d.; (67 negatives)
8-10: Children (Candid portraits), 1926-1936, n.d.; (31 negatives)
11-15: Children (Groups), 1925-1941, n.d.; (44 negatives)
16-23: Children (With Adult), 1925-1946, n.d.; (97 negatives)

Box 55
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-4: Children (With Adult), n.d.; (32 negatives)
5-26: Men (Formal portraits), 1925-1931, n.d.; (196 negatives)

Box 56
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-4: Men (Formal portraits), 1931-1940, n.d.; (36 negatives)
5: Men (Candid Portraits), n.d.; (l0 negatives)
6-8: Men (Groups), 1929-1946, n.d.; (36 negatives)
9-24: Women (Candid Portraits), 1925-1947, n.d.; (204 negatiyes)

Box 67
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-4: Women (Candid Portraits), n.d.; (37 negatives)
5-15: Women (Candid Groups), 1924-1946, n.d.; (145 negatives)
16-24: Women (Formal portraits), n.d. (5"x8"); (101 negatives)

Box 58
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-21: Women (Formal portraits), 1922-1946, n.d.; (204 negatives)

Box 59
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

1-12: Women (Formal portraits), n.d.; (122 negatives)
13: Women (Groups), 1922-1925, rid.;(8 negatives)
14: Women (Nudes), n.d.; (9 negatives)

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Negatives (Miscellaneous)

Box 60
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

Paper Negatives (Unsorted, primarily portraits); (approx. 1,450 negatives).

Box 61
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

Paper Negatives (continued)

Box 62
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

Roll Film and Oversize film (4" x 12"); (23 rolls and 5 oversize negatives. The roll film is not Clemons' work. He processed this film for others. Primarily circus, parades, sports, and stores and window displays.

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Artifacts

Box 63
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

Assorted photographic folders (43 items).

Box 64
Folder(s) Title, Dates, and Description:

Ansco Color Tung and steel plates. (3 items)

Duplicate Prints

Boxes 65--79, Title, Dates, and Description:

Subject Prints. Airplanes and Airports - Wild West Shows (2,610 prints).

Boxes 80--84, Title, Dates, and Description:

Portraits. Family Groups - Women (1,093 prints).

Copy Negatives

Box 85, Title, Dates, and Description:

Copy negatives (4" x 5") by University Media Services made for Clemons print requests. Negatives are made both for prints without negatives and for requests when an original 8" x 10" nitrate negative exists. The copy negative is then used instead of the nitrate negative for preservation purposes.

Box 85A, Title, Dates, and Description:

Copy negatives (35mm)

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Special Collections
The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries
Phone: (817) 272-3393 * Fax: (817) 272-3360 * E-mail: Reference Desk

This page last updated December 8, 2004