Whitelaw Roemer Photograph Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of the photographs and negatives of Whitelaw Roemer. It is broken down into three series. The first is a series of photographs of Front Street, ca. 1965, just before it was razed for the Urban Renewal project in the city of Rochester. These photographs depict store fronts, shop keepers and patrons. The second series is a photographic process called Sabattier, produced about 1965-1975. The third series includes personal photographs and ephemera ranging from 1906-1975. Most of this collection was photographed in Rochester, New York and the surrounding areas.
Dates
- Creation: 1906-1966
- Creation: Majority of material found within Inferred 1965-1975
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.
Biographical / Historical
Whitelaw Craig Roemer was born in Massillon, Ohio in 1913 and died in Rochester New York in 1999. He was the son of Leonard and Eva Roemer, and brother to Benjamin W. Roemer, Leonard Roemer Jr, and Joel Roemer. A few years after his birth, Leonard Sr. moved his family to Rochester, New York. Whitelaw graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology and began his career at Kodak around 1937. He married Lillian Mahan and had a son named Charles. Leaving Kodak in 1977, Whitelaw spent his retirement volunteering at the George Eastman House.
Extent
4.5 Cubic Feet (9 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists of papers and photographs of Whitelaw Roemer. The materials date from 1906-1975, with the bulk of the collection from 1965-1975. The collection consists of art photographs, journalistic photographs, and personal photographs.
Arrangement
This collection consists of nine boxes divided into three series:
Series I: Front Street Photographs
Series II: Sabattier Process Photographs
series III: Personal Photographs and Ephemera
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Charles Roemer to the Local History and Genealogy division in 2022. [2022.019]
Bibliography
Obituary. Nov 14, 1969, page 15. Democrat & Chronicle (newspaper), Rochester, New York.
Obituary. Feb 01, 1972, page 17. Democrat & Chronicle (newspaper), Rochester, New York
Obituary. Jan 10, 1999, page 16, page 17. Democrat & Chronicle (newspaper), Rochester, New York
Condition Description
Most materials are in good condition. Some creased and bent photographs.
Processing Information
This collection is not in its original organization. It has been sorted according to three distinct subjects: Front Street, the Sabattier process, and personal photographs and ephemera. The Front Street photographs were arranged according to subject and location. The Sabattier process involves many negatives and prints. It has been sorted to respect all stages of photography involved in creating the final print.
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Whitelaw Roemer Photograph Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Noeme Liestman, assisted by George Macko and Owain Gray, under the supervision of Brandon Fess.
- Date
- 2022-12-16
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Local History & Genealogy Division Repository
115 South Ave.
Rochester 14604 USA
585-428-8370
585-428-8353 (Fax)
lochistref@libraryweb.org