Herman T. Bohlman Photograph Collection (P
202)
ca. 1898-1925
2 cubic feet: 180 lantern slides, 33 prints, 131 glass
negatives, and 135 film negatives
Herman T. Bohlman, on the Lewis River,
Washington, ca. 1900. Bohlman and William L. Finley made
several river trips and treks to bird habitat areas during the first decade of this
century. This trip to the Lewis River was one of their first.
Although both became accomplished wildlife photographers, some
historians believe that Bohlman taught Finley photography. Photo
by William L. Finley. [OSU Archives - P
202.]
Scope and Content Note
Most images were taken by Herman T. Bohlman and pertain to his
study of birds in the Pacific Northwest, especially at the Oregon
coast and the Klamath Lake area. The collection also includes
images of Bohlman's river trips on the Lewis River (Washington) and
the Willamette River (Oregon) around the turn of the century. Many
of the trips were taken with fellow ornithologist and
conservationist William L. Finley, who appears in several photos.
A number of the bird photos appear in or are similar to those in
Birds of Oregon (Gabrielson and Jewett, 1940) and William
L. Finley: Pioneer Wildlife Photographer (Mathewson, OSU Press,
1986).
Also included in the collection are images of the Portland
waterfront wharves; Crater Lake; Metakahtla, Alaska; Mazamas in the Mt. Jefferson
region in 1917; and Bohlman
Family and friends. Sixteen lantern slides are copies of Weister
& Co. views of the Columbia River Gorge from 1914 and 1915.
Several of the film negatives are copies of bird photos and
illustrations from other sources.
Forms
The collection consists primarily of lantern slides (mounted and
unmounted), glass negatives ranging in size from 3.25x4.25 to
6.5x8.5, and nitrate base film negatives. A small number of
contact prints have been made of selected glass negatives. These
are indicated in the inventory.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is currently organized by format and arranged by
general subject categories within each format.
Biographical Note
Herman Theodore Bohlman was born on April 15, 1872 in Portland,
Oregon, and lived there all of his life. He was a lifelong friend
of William L. Finley, renowned ornithologist, naturalist, and
conservationist. Bohlman and Finley were co-founders of the
North-Western Ornithological Association in 1894. Several accounts
tell of Bohlman teaching Finley photography, and the two started
photographing birds in the late 1890s. Between 1899 and 1908 they
made trips to the Columbia River (1900), Three Arch Rocks (1901 &
1903) on the Oregon coast, California (1904 & 1906), Klamath and
Tule Lakes (1905), Malheur and Harney Lakes (1908), and other
places to study and photograph birds. In 1912 Bohlman and Finley
revisited the Klamath and Malheur regions.
Bohlman's photographs appeared in U.S. and international magazines,
as well as Finley's 1907 book, American Birds. He was a
charter member (1900) of what would become the Oregon Audobon
Society, and was serving on the organization's board at the time of
his death in February 1943. In his later years, Bohlman was an avid
oil painter and a member of the Oregon Artist Society. Bohlman was
associated with the family's plumbing business in Portland for over
40 years. On October 14, 1908 he married Maud Bittleston at the
Finley home, Jennings Lodge. They had one son, H. Theodore
Bohlman.
Restrictions
Scholarly use of ten or more collection images, or any commercial
use, requires the permission of the donor.
Related Materials
The William L. Finley Papers
include photos of Bohlman and Finley together. RG 18, University Publications and OSU
Press , includes the manuscript copy and original illustrations
of Birds of Oregon. PUB 383, OSU Press, includes copies of
William L. Finley: Pioneer Wildlife
Photographer.
Shelf Locations
Lantern Slides and Glass Negatives - 2/1
Prints - 1 file folder on Photograph Collection shelves
Nitrate Negatives - 10/1/11
Oversize prints - 2/2/3 [12x17 oversize box]
Preliminary
Inventory
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