R.H. Hardin Negatives

Collection

Identifier: AppMs-0840

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The R.H. Hardin Negatives consist primarily of glass plate negatives thought to be the work of Roswell Holtsinger Hardin of Johnson City, Tennessee. Most of the photographs are of people and were taken outside, either in front of simple fabric backdrops or in the woods, although there are a few formal studio portraits and an even smaller number of photographs taken indoors in non-studio settings. There are numerous multiple exposure negatives in which only a portion of the plate was exposed, creating two or more distinct images on a single plate.

The people and places depicted represent a range of lifestyles and economic backgrounds. The subjects of the photographs have not been identified.

In addition to the negatives, there is a small amount of supplementary material pertaining to R.H. Hardin and to the practice of photography between 1887 and 1921.

Dates

1887-1921

Creator

Hardin, R.H. (Roswell Holtsinger) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The copy prints are open for research. For reasons of preservation, the glass negatives may only be handled by archives staff.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Extent

8.65 linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

Louis and Judy Wilkin purchased the negatives from Carl Phillips, owner of Mousey's Trading Post in Kingsport, Tennessee, in 1983.

Method of Acquisition

The negatives were donated to the Reece Museum at East Tennessee State University by Louis and Judy Wilkin in December 1997. The museum later transferred the negatives to the Archives of Appalachia, accession number 2014-051.

Other Descriptive Information

With a very few exceptions, dates are given as circa 1900. Clothing and other cues may be used to date the images more accurately. The Archives made a conscious decision not to spend time researching fashion, but input is welcome as are contributions to the positive identification of people and places pictured in this collection.

Processing Information

Preliminary preservation work was completed in October 2014 by student assistant David Caraveo.

Subjects

Advertisements Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Broadsides (notices) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Children -- Portraits Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Men--Portraits Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
Negatives (photographic) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Photography--1890-1930 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Photography--Appalachian Region Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Photography--Equipment and supplies--Handbooks, manuals, etc. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Women--Portraits Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings