Harrison Morton Bretz Photographs (SC-277)
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of 38 original photographic prints (of 30 different pictures) in downtown Dayton, Ohio. About half of the photos depict damage following the Great 1913 Flood of Dayton, and the rest show various landmarks, buildings, and scenes of Dayton between 1913 and 1920 (several alluding to World War I). Landmarks shown include Memorial Hall, the "New" Courthouse, Union Station, the Third Street post office, the Dayton Daily News building, the Old Main Library, and the Miami Hotel. One of the scenes showing flood damage shows Bretz's home at 49 Stratford Avenue, which was in downtown Dayton near West First Street.
Each photo in the collection is individually numbered and sleeved. Each sleeve contains the original print(s) for that picture, as well as an enlarged reproduction print with additional details (known or inferred) printed at the bottom, including subject, location, and date. This information was provided by the donor, Herbert V. Markle, the grandson of Harrison Morton Bretz.
All of the photos are believed to have been taken by Harrison Morton Bretz himself.
Dates
- Creation: 1913-1920
Creator
- Bretz, Harrison Morton, 1888-1972 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on accessing paper-based material in this collection. However, researchers are requested to provide at least 2 days' notice when requesting electronic records. Access to the original electronic media is also restricted.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Harrison Morton Bretz was born July 24, 1888, in Dayton, Ohio. He married Nellie Carter in 1907. At the time that these photographs were captured, he lived with his family at 49 Stratford (between West First and Monument, just west of Perry Street) in downtown Dayton. In 1913, he was working as a paper cutter at a box factory. In 1917, he was a paper cutter at United Brethren Publishing House. He does not appear to have served in World War I. From about 1920 onward, he worked mainly in clerical positions. He died September 10, 1972, and is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Dayton.
Extent
0.08 linear feet : 38 photographs
228 Megabytes : sc277_e0001
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The photographs are arranged according to their original numbering (by the donor), which is roughly chronological (and places all 1913 flood photographs at the beginning).
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
A computer with hardware and software capable of accessing JPEG/JPG files will be required to view the electronic records (digitized/scanned photographs) in e-item sc277_e0001 of this collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Herbert V. Markle, grandson of Harrison Bretz, in September 2012.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital scans of the photographs were provided by the donor via optical disk, available in the E-Archive.
donor
- Markle, Herbert Van, 1948- (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Harrison Morton Bretz Photographs (SC-277)
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2021 Sept 3
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2021 Sept 3: Finding aid revised and updated by Lisa Rickey during ArchivesSpace conversion, September 2021.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092
library-archives@wright.edu
