Oakes, N.D. Area Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2037
Scope and Contents
The collection of photographic prints seem to have been originally the property of a business, perhaps the H. J. Johnson Land Company of Oakes, N.D., due to the fact that several images have the company‟s name on them and other images have been mounted with graphics and others marked up with a grease pencil as if being prepared for printing in a publication. Since many are of farms or farming scenes, likely the company was selling farm property. Unfortunately very few of the images is identified or dated. It would appear the images, many on cardboard mounts, date from the early 1900 into the 1920s.
No original internal organization was found at the time the images were donated. Thus the collection was organized into a single Topical Series, with the files arranged alphabetically by the file title. Consult the Contents listing for specific subjects used to organize the collection.
The Automobiles file includes two images of farmyards with an automobile by the house, an automobile in a field, and a float being pulled by an automobile with Thomas F. Marshall seated on the float. Marshall served in the North Dakota Senate and the United States House of Representatives.
The Baldwin Farms files are views of the various Baldwin farms and their buildings. There is only one image of a herd of sheep in a pasture with a man on a horse nearby. The baseball image is a group photo of the Oakes, N.D. team on a baseball field, with the spectator stands in the background. The image has the word „Recreation‟ added above the people and a white ink border. The large stone block building has a sign on the second story for Ditterback & Ball Real Estate and Loans. Men, women and children are seated or standing on the first floor entry, but the business name is not visible. Large awnings cover the windows on either side of the corner entrance. Location of the building is not known.
There are a number of farmstead images, likely farms that were being sold. The images typically include the house, barn and other outbuildings on the farm. Most of the prints have cardboard mounts but are not identified as to photographer. One mount has two images along with graphics and penciled on it is the „H. J. Johnson Land Co.‟ A separate folder includes four images of farmsteads in which there is a windmill visible. All are mounted on cardboard. The H. J. Johnson Land & Cattle Co. file includes an interior view of the business, an agricultural exhibit and a float by a city curb. One of the images also states that the company was located at Oakes, N.D. and had been in business for fifty years.
There are two interesting interior views of a harness shop, although name and location are not given. Two men are standing in each photo and surrounded by harness goods, display cabinets and items hung from the walls. The harvest scenes are primarily of fields of shocked grain. There are several images of binders in operation. One mount, containing two images. is identified as on the Glover Farm and includes a line of binders and a farmstead. The single haying scene is of horses, men and hay stacker working in field with large hay stack being made.
There is a nice image, on cardboard mount, of a three-story brick hospital with the nursing staff standing outside the entrance and a horse-drawn ambulance also by the entry. Although the word „hospital‟ can be read on the building and ambulance, the specific name of the hospital cannot. The Oakes, N.D. file includes views of the railroad station, Dr. Teal‟s Infirmary and Livery, and the First National Bank building. The pioneer homes images include a „before‟ and „after‟ homes collage of a sod house and wood-frame house; a long line of horses in a farmyard, and of three men and two women standing on a farmyard with a number of outbuildings. This last image was taken by W.H. and L.E. Watts, Oakes, N.D. photographers. Handwritten on back of print is “Grandpa Hanson‟s old home.”
The plowing scene includes an image of a one or two-bottom plow being pulled in a stubble field, and of two four-bottom plows being pulled by International Diesel tractor. The Steele, N.D. scenes are mounted on cardboard and include of the public school, Presbyterian Church, and a farmstead.
There are three threshing scenes, all with laborers, horses, wagons, and steam engines present. On one dark smoke is coming from the steam engine. The final Towns file includes views of houses located in a town and of a large brick three-story building with a Mansard roof. The year "1881‟ is visible on the top of the Mansard roof over the entry. Men, women and several children are standing near the entrance.
No original internal organization was found at the time the images were donated. Thus the collection was organized into a single Topical Series, with the files arranged alphabetically by the file title. Consult the Contents listing for specific subjects used to organize the collection.
The Automobiles file includes two images of farmyards with an automobile by the house, an automobile in a field, and a float being pulled by an automobile with Thomas F. Marshall seated on the float. Marshall served in the North Dakota Senate and the United States House of Representatives.
The Baldwin Farms files are views of the various Baldwin farms and their buildings. There is only one image of a herd of sheep in a pasture with a man on a horse nearby. The baseball image is a group photo of the Oakes, N.D. team on a baseball field, with the spectator stands in the background. The image has the word „Recreation‟ added above the people and a white ink border. The large stone block building has a sign on the second story for Ditterback & Ball Real Estate and Loans. Men, women and children are seated or standing on the first floor entry, but the business name is not visible. Large awnings cover the windows on either side of the corner entrance. Location of the building is not known.
There are a number of farmstead images, likely farms that were being sold. The images typically include the house, barn and other outbuildings on the farm. Most of the prints have cardboard mounts but are not identified as to photographer. One mount has two images along with graphics and penciled on it is the „H. J. Johnson Land Co.‟ A separate folder includes four images of farmsteads in which there is a windmill visible. All are mounted on cardboard. The H. J. Johnson Land & Cattle Co. file includes an interior view of the business, an agricultural exhibit and a float by a city curb. One of the images also states that the company was located at Oakes, N.D. and had been in business for fifty years.
There are two interesting interior views of a harness shop, although name and location are not given. Two men are standing in each photo and surrounded by harness goods, display cabinets and items hung from the walls. The harvest scenes are primarily of fields of shocked grain. There are several images of binders in operation. One mount, containing two images. is identified as on the Glover Farm and includes a line of binders and a farmstead. The single haying scene is of horses, men and hay stacker working in field with large hay stack being made.
There is a nice image, on cardboard mount, of a three-story brick hospital with the nursing staff standing outside the entrance and a horse-drawn ambulance also by the entry. Although the word „hospital‟ can be read on the building and ambulance, the specific name of the hospital cannot. The Oakes, N.D. file includes views of the railroad station, Dr. Teal‟s Infirmary and Livery, and the First National Bank building. The pioneer homes images include a „before‟ and „after‟ homes collage of a sod house and wood-frame house; a long line of horses in a farmyard, and of three men and two women standing on a farmyard with a number of outbuildings. This last image was taken by W.H. and L.E. Watts, Oakes, N.D. photographers. Handwritten on back of print is “Grandpa Hanson‟s old home.”
The plowing scene includes an image of a one or two-bottom plow being pulled in a stubble field, and of two four-bottom plows being pulled by International Diesel tractor. The Steele, N.D. scenes are mounted on cardboard and include of the public school, Presbyterian Church, and a farmstead.
There are three threshing scenes, all with laborers, horses, wagons, and steam engines present. On one dark smoke is coming from the steam engine. The final Towns file includes views of houses located in a town and of a large brick three-story building with a Mansard roof. The year "1881‟ is visible on the top of the Mansard roof over the entry. Men, women and several children are standing near the entrance.
Dates
- 1900s-1920s
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection remain with the creators.
History
This collection of photographs was found in an abandoned barn in the Oakes, N.D. area. The original owner and any subsequent owners of them are not known. The collection was then donated to the Institute for Regional Studies.
Extent
75 Photographic Prints (75 photographic prints)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection of photographic prints seem to have been originally the property of a business, perhaps the H. J. Johnson Land Company of Oakes, N.D., due to the fact that several images have the company‟s name on them and other images have been mounted with graphics and others marked up with a grease pencil as if being prepared for printing in a publication. Since many are of farms or farming scenes, likely the company was selling farm property. Unfortunately very few of the images is identified or dated. It would appear the images, many on cardboard mounts, date from the early 1900 into the 1920s.
Provenance
Deposited by Scott Kudelka, 1984 (Acc. 2117).
Property rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Oakes, N.D. Area Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu