Timothy Davis photograph collection

File — Box: 1

Identifier: 2024-061

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection consists of the personal photograph collection of Timothy Davis, a resident of Rochester, New York. At his passing, Davis possessed three distinct, historically significant groups of photographs in his collection. They consist of photos of sewer construction in Rochester c.1915 in an album entitled “Album #3” and many photo negatives of the Civilian Conservation Corp c.1938 Camp DC15 in Juniper Flats, Likely, CA. There are also two glass plate negatives of the Court St Bridge that are labeled 1893 taken “from the towpath”.

Dates

Creation: 1893 - ca. 1938

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 Note

Timothy Davis was born on December 3, 1948, to Kenneth and Betty Davis. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1968. He was married his wife, Mary, for 53 years; they had no children. Davis, according to his obituary, was an athlete, hunter, and family comedian. He passed away on January 17, 2024.

How the photographs in this collection came into his possession is unknown. Why he owned a set of negatives depicting a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in California is also unknown. The most substantial element in the collection is Album No. 3, which includes extensive photographic records of the construction of sewers in Rochester between 1911 and 1915. Based on commonalities in style, especially the format and typeface of the table of contents and individual labels on each photograph, the album appears to be part of a series of photographic albums of public works projects compiled by the City of Rochester in the first three decades of the 20th century.

Extent

.25 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection consists of 1 box.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the estate of Timothy Davis, 2024.

Bibliography

Timothy Davis [obituary]Democrat & Chronicle (newspaper), Rochester, New York, January 19, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024 from https://www.democratandchronicle.com/obituaries/pnys0695331.