Underwood and Underwood Photograph Collection
Finding Aid prepared by Jordan Ritchie
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
& LIBRARY GALLERY
Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250
https://library.umbc.edu/speccoll/
410-455-2232
Updated- February 2019
Summary Information
Repository The Special Collections Department of the Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Creator Underwood and Underwood Company
Title Underwood and Underwood Collection
Date (inclusive) 1900-1975
Extent 556 Folders,(<40,000 Photographs)
Language English
Language of Materials note English
Abstract Photographs taken from various unidentified parties but under the common ownership of Underwood and Underwood. Photographs almost all black and white glossy prints yet vary in size and subject. Often the original captions are included or attached to the images, often including subject information, copyrights and dates.
Preferred Citation note-
[identification of item], title of collection, collection call # or ID#, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County. |
Historical Note
The Underwood and Underwood Company was founded in 1882 by two brothers Elmer and Bert Underwood. Starting out as a stereoscopic photograph sales company located in Kansas, they quickly became the worldwide leader in the production and sales of stereographic images.Their early success and the prosperity of the American economy in the late 19th century led to the company’s expansion into new markets, most notably photojournalism. With the rise of Kodak to international fame, and the expansion of the middle class caused by an ever-growing industrialization, the medium of photography became increasingly commonplace in the everyday lives of most Americans, and even became a popular hobby. With the multiplying number of magazines and weekly periodicals using photography, Underwood and Underwood eventually fully transitioned their business into the growing domain that would later be called Photojournalism and commercial photography. Along with news images, this company began collecting and taking photographs intended for use in advertising, and eventually evolved into one of the earliest photo syndication agencies.
With their innovative business model, Underwood and Underwood became amongst the first companies to produce, buy, and sell photographic images on a a large scale to various media companies, and would eventually expand from their location in Kansas, to headquarters in Baltimore, New York, London, Toronto, and offices in St. Petersburg, Paris, Bombay, Singapore, Manila, El Paso, and San Francisco. The Underwood brothers’ company would be heavily involved in photographing politicians, including presidents, thanks to their office in Washington, as well as war and conflicts photographs through both world wars. Additionally, they were often involved in taking pictures of various athletic events, especially during multiple Olympics, when they would sell their images to a multitude of publications around the globe. Underwood and Underwood would continue as a news and wire photographic company for nearly a century, until 1975, following the death of their longtime owner and director Milton Davison. The company and its remaining collection of images located in their New York City offices were sold to George Rinhart. Mr. Rinhart kindly donated a large collection of prints to the University of Maryland Baltimore County Library in 1987, as well as to multiple other public and private collectors, including the Library of Congress of the United States.
Scope and Contents note
Arrangement note
Arranged within broadly labeled folders. Folders are not chronological nor entirely by subjects. Many included different years, subjects, sizes, and even on occasion other primary documents, including letters, recites, and newspaper clippings. This is the original manner in which the collection was organized when first donated.
Administrative Information
Condition Governing Access note
Collection is open to select research, by appointment only.
The archives reserve the right to restrict access to materials of sensitive nature or due to the collection items condition. Please contact the department for further information
Conditions Governing Use note
The collection is the physical property of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Special Collections Archive. The Library archive holds literary rights only for material created by archive personnel or given to the archive with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication and for other purposes where stated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Due to the nature and age of these photographs, they are highly delicate to work with so many precautions need be taken when accessing them. Many are torn, degrading, marked with pen, pencil or stamped, the marks were on the items prior to their arrival at the archive.
For anyone unfamiliar and interested in the proper method to utilize and evaluate historic photography, please consult: Edwards, Elizabeth. “Photography and the Material Performance of the Past.” History and Theory, Theme Issue 48. Wesleyan University. (December 2009). 130-150.
Folder Title |
# of Items |
A-AL: Misc Folder 1 |
98 |
A-AL |
87 |
A-AL: Misc Folder 2 |
100 |
Agriculture; Akerson, George; and AGHA, Kurdo Zaro |
79 |
Allen, Henry |
93 |
Althouse, Paul |
77 |
AM to AS |
90 |
AM to AS: Misc |
73 |
American Legion and Arizona |
40 |
AT to AZ |
104 |
Armistice Day and Archaeology |
99 |
BA: misc |
90 |
Bagpipes and Barcelona |
53 |
BE: misc and Beauty Pageants |
108 |
Belgium (folder 1) |
75 |
Belgium (folder 2) |
100 |
Bermuda |
79 |
BO: misc |
90 |
BI and BJ and BL |
30 |
BR: misc (folder 1) |
49 |
Boxing |
5 |
(Motor) Boats Engines - Outboards |
47 |
Boats (motor) |
83 |
BR: misc (folder 2) |
99 |
BR: misc (folder 3) |
91 |
Bulgaria, Burma, and By: misc |
79 |
BU: misc |
58 |
CA: misc (folder 1) |
22 |
CA: misc (folder 2) |
100 |
California |
30 |
Camps and Camping (folder 1) |
96 |
Camps and Camping (folder 2) |
101 |
C |
99 |
D |
69 |
Canning |
103 |
Catholics |
91 |
CE-CH |
93 |
China (folder 1) |
40 |
China (folder 2) |
99 |
China (folder 3) |
101 |
China (folder 4) |
100 |
China (folder 5) |
100 |
China (folder 6) |
100 |
China (folder 7) |
100 |
Chinese-Japanese War (folder 1) |
100 |
Chinese-Japanese War (folder 2) |
80 |
Chinese-Japanese War; including Europeans and Americans in China (folder 3) |
92 |
Chinese-Japanese War; also possibly some from the Revolution (folder4) |
81 |
Christ |
100 |
CI: misc and CL: misc and Cleaning |
84 |
CO: misc (folder 1) |
52 |
CO: misc (folder 2) |
101 |
CO: misc (folder 3) |
100 |
CO: misc (folder 4) |
100 |
CO: misc (folder 5) |
103 |
Coal |
21 |
Colorado |
106 |
Connecticut; Corsica; and Coolidge, Calvin |
70 |
Costa Rica |
68 |
Coste and Bellonte |
102 |
CR: misc (folder 1) |
66 |
CR: misc (folder 2) |
101 |
CR: misc (folder 3) |
100 |
D (folder 1) |
100 |
D (folder 2) |
99 |
CR: misc (folder 4) |
101 |
CRO: misc |
103 |
CU: misc |
24 |
Cuba (folder 1) |
61 |
Cuba (folder 2) |
98 |
Cuba (folder 3) |
104 |
CU: misc |
100 |
Curacao |
67 |
Czechoslovakia (folder 1) |
36 |
Czechoslovakia (folder 2) |
88 |
Czechoslovakia (folder 3) |
100 |
DA: misc |
60 |
DE: misc |
52 |
Denmark (folder 1) |
39 |
Denmark (folder 2) |
100 |
DI misc; DO misc; Dominical Republic; DR misc |
105 |
Dutch East Indies |
20 |
DU and DY |
22 |
E to EK: misc |
79 |
EL: misc (folder 1) |
79 |
EL: misc (folder 2) |
100 |
EL: misc (folder 3) |
100 |
EM: misc (folder 1) |
24 |
EM: misc (folder 2) |
99 |
EM: misc (folder 3) |
100 |
EN: misc (folder 1) |
108 |
EN: misc (folder 2) |
79 |
England: Bournemouth |
31 |
EP: misc |
17 |
ER: misc (folder 1) |
101 |
ER: misc (folder 2) |
48 |
ES: misc |
77 |
Espil, Dr. Felipe and wife |
47 |
EU: misc |
39 |
EX-EZ: misc |
21 |
FA: misc |
16 |
Family |
30 |
Farming |
67 |
Fashion |
48 |
FI: misc and Fiber Waste |
32 |
FI (folder 1) |
101 |
FI (folder 2) |
104 |
Fires (folder 1) |
50 |
Fire (folder 2) |
99 |
Fire (folder 3) |
101 |
Fire (folder 4) |
100 |
FL |
102 |
FL: misc |
80 |
Flags (folder 1) |
22 |
Flags (folder 2) |
100 |
FO: misc (folder 1) |
17 |
FO: misc (folder 2) |
100 |
FO: misc (folder 3) |
102 |
FR: misc (folder 1) |
69 |
FR: misc (folder 2) |
104 |
G |
100 |
FU: misc |
37 |
GA-GL (folder 1) |
100 |
GA-GL: misc (folder 2) |
30 |
Georgia |
43 |
German (War/Soldiers) |
96 |
Germany (War) |
85 |
Germany (misc) |
75 |
GR: misc |
80 |
GN:GZ |
95 |
D (folder 1) |
77 |
E (misc) (folder 1) |
60 |
E (misc) (Folder 2) |
101 |
F (folder 1) |
20 |
D (folder 2) |
100 |
D (Folder 3) |
102 |
HA: misc (folder 1) |
47 |
HA: misc (folder 2) |
99 |
HA: misc (folder 3) |
99 |
HA: misc (folder 4) |
102 |
HA: misc (folder 5) |
102 |
Havana (folder 1) |
97 |
Havana (folder 2) |
99 |
Havana (folder 3) |
101 |
HE: misc |
60 |
HI: misc (folder 1) |
99 |
HI: misc (folder 2) |
47 |
HO: misc (folder 21) |
106 |
Hoover, Herbert and Hoare, Samuel |
100 |
HU: misc |
53 |
HO: misc (folder 2) |
73 |
HY: misc |
3 |
I-IN (misc) |
43 |
India |
36 |
IP-IZ: misc |
79 |
Indonesia (Dutch East Indies) |
89 |
Industry, Interiors, and Inventors |
108 |
Ja, Je, Ji, Jo, Ju: misc |
56 |
HO: misc (folder 3) |
74 |
Jamaica |
42 |
Japan (folder 1) |
113 |
Japan (folder 2) |
98 |
Japane (folder 3) |
102 |
Jewels, Jewelry, and Jewish |
83 |
F (folder 1) |
100 |
F (folder 2) |
98 |
F (folder 3) |
100 |
KA: misc (folder 1) |
12 |
KA: misc (folder 2) |
100 |
KA: misc (folder 3) |
88 |
KA: misc (folder 4) |
104 |
KA: misc (folder 5) |
100 |
KA: misc (folder 6) |
101 |
Keeler |
7 |
KE: misc (folder 1) |
106 |
KE: misc (folder 2) |
100 |
KE: misc (folder 3) |
100 |
KEA-KEH |
108 |
KEI-KEM |
91 |
Ker-Kez |
107 |
Kerner, Otto |
15 |
KH: misc |
66 |
KI: misc (folder 1) |
97 |
KI: misc (folder 2) |
102 |
Kiep, O.C |
52 |
Kitchens and Kitchen appliances (folder 1) |
95 |
Kitchens and Kitchen appliances (folder 2) |
46 |
KL-KY |
12 |
Knight, Don (photos by him) |
26 |
LA: misc |
32 |
Lakes |
9 |
Laundry |
43 |
Lead Industry and LE: misc |
35 |
LI and LL: misc |
44 |
Los Angeles |
48 |
LO: misc |
23 |
LU: misc |
12 |
F (folder 1) |
96 |
F (folder 2) |
100 |
F (folder 3) |
100 |
F (folder 4) |
99 |
F (folder 5) |
100 |
F (folder 6) |
102 |
F (folder 7) |
63 |
MA: misc (folder 1) |
114 |
MA: portraits (folder 1) |
100 |
MA: portraits (folder 2) |
119 |
MA: misc (folder 2) |
108 |
MA: misc (folder 3) |
101 |
MA: misc (folder 4) |
98 |
MA: misc (folder 5) |
103 |
MAK-MAL (misc) |
78 |
MAL (misc) |
105 |
MAN: misc (folder 1) |
105 |
MAN: misc (folder 2) |
95 |
MANNERS, Dianna Duff-Cooper |
101 |
MAC/MC: misc |
17 |
ME: misc (folder 1) |
38 |
ME: misc (folder 2) |
90 |
ME: misc (folder 3) |
104 |
ME: (portraits) |
100 |
Men at work |
94 |
Military, American Expeditionary force in mexico against Pancho Villa (folder 1) |
91 |
Military: American Expeditionary Force in Mexico |
101 |
Military: American Expeditionary force in Mexico against Pancho Villa (folder 2) |
102 |
Military: British Navy |
79 |
Military: misc |
55 |
Military: misc |
60 |
F (folder 8) |
100 |
F (folder 9) |
100 |
F (folder 10) |
99 |
Mining: misc |
117 |
Modern home |
29 |
MI: misc |
29 |
Mining Coal |
99 |
Mining: coal and copper |
107 |
MO: misc |
121 |
Montogmery |
2 |
Motors: outboard |
21 |
Moving Day |
33 |
MU: misc |
86 |
Navy |
121 |
NA and NE |
38 |
New York (folder 1) |
93 |
New york (folder 2) |
104 |
NI |
11 |
Norway-Royalty |
47 |
NO-NZ |
7 |
OA-OH |
23 |
Offices |
74 |
Oil (folder 1) |
91 |
Oil (folder 2) |
85 |
OI-OZ |
49 |
Olaya,m Dr. Enrique H. |
59 |
PA: misc |
97 |
Gilbert, S. Parker |
69 |
Parks |
17 |
People Painting |
20 |
PE: misc (folder 1) |
100 |
PE: misc (folder 2) |
79 |
Heinrich Pestalozzi (Switzerland) |
14 |
Pets (Children with pets) |
32 |
PH: misc |
38 |
Photography: Reflections and misc. |
29 |
PI: misc |
63 |
PL: misc |
19 |
Police (folder 1) |
104 |
Police (folder 2) |
78 |
PO: misc |
110 |
Polo |
49 |
Power Plants |
33 |
PR: misc |
28 |
PS-PY: misc |
21 |
F (folder 11) |
100 |
F (folder 12) |
99 |
F (folder 13) |
100 |
Q: misc |
14 |
RA: misc |
110 |
Radar |
64 |
Radio/ Broad Casting (folder 1) |
100 |
Radio/Broadcasting (folder 2) |
100 |
Radio/ Broadcasting (folder 3) |
83 |
RE: misc |
76 |
Religion (folder 1) |
36 |
Religion (folder 2) |
100 |
Restaurants |
35 |
RI: misc (folder 1) |
50 |
RI: misc (folder 2) |
100 |
Rivers |
59 |
RO: misc (folder 1) |
98 |
RO: misc (folder 2) |
100 |
RO: misc (folder 3) |
100 |
RO: misc (folder 4) |
98 |
RO: misc (folder 5) |
102 |
RU: misc (folder 1) |
100 |
RU: misc (folder 2) |
99 |
Russia/ Soviet Union |
10 |
RU: misc (folder 3) |
101 |
RU: misc (folder 4) |
96 |
RU: misc (folder 5) |
97 |
Ruppert, Jacob |
30 |
RY: misc (folder 1) |
78 |
RY: misc (folder 2) |
99 |
Ryan and Rzeschewki |
84 |
F (folder 14) |
100 |
G (folder 1) |
24 |
G (folder 2) |
100 |
F (folder 15) |
100 |
F (folder 16) |
100 |
SA: misc (folder 1) |
100 |
SA: misc (folder 2) |
100 |
SA: misc (folder 3) |
100 |
SA misc and Sailing |
73 |
SA: misc (folder 4) |
100 |
SA: misc (folder 5) |
100 |
SA: misc (folder 6) |
101 |
St. George, George and Sackett, Frederick |
78 |
SB: misc |
15 |
SC: misc |
50 |
SCA: misc |
100 |
Schacht, Schall, Schain |
100 |
SCHE-SCHI: misc (folder 1) |
98 |
SCHE-SCHI: misc (folder 2) |
96 |
SCHL-SCHZ: misc |
86 |
Sculpture |
42 |
SE: misc |
15 |
SH: misc |
104 |
Shanghai |
100 |
Ships (folder 1) |
64 |
Ships (folder 2) |
96 |
Shriners |
70 |
SI: misc |
31 |
Silhouettes and sinking ships |
82 |
SK: misc and Sky Writing |
80 |
SL:misc |
1 |
SM: misc |
12 |
Smyrna (in Turkey) |
14 |
SN: misc |
6 |
SO: misc |
13 |
Social Register |
110 |
Spaeth, Sigmund |
1 |
SP: misc |
9 |
Spain (folder 1) |
99 |
Spain (folder 2) |
97 |
Spain (folder 3) |
96 |
Spain- Sam Sebastian |
29 |
Spain, King Alphonso and Queen Victoria Eugenia |
102 |
Spain, King and Queen |
103 |
Spain, Queen Victoria |
100 |
King and Queen of Spain |
101 |
Spain: King Alphonso and Queen Victoria Eugenia |
101 |
Spain: King Alphonso |
101 |
Spain: Royal family |
105 |
Stadiums |
66 |
ST: misc |
31 |
Steam |
32 |
Stein, Lilly |
3 |
Storms (folder 2) |
41 |
Storms (folder 1) |
104 |
Students |
66 |
SU: misc and sulphur and Summerall, Chas |
100 |
Sugar Cane |
115 |
Sumatra |
98 |
SV and SW |
18 |
Sweden (folder 1) |
99 |
Sweden (folder 2) |
114 |
Switzerland (folder 1) |
103 |
Switzerland (folder 2) |
100 |
Switzerland (folder 3) |
99 |
Switzerland (folder 4) |
92 |
Sweden (folder 3) |
103 |
Switzerland (folder 5) |
100 |
Switzerland (folder 6) |
101 |
G (folder 3) |
100 |
Switzerland (folder 7) |
114 |
Syria, Balbach |
5 |
Syria, Ruins of Ancient Zyre |
7 |
Armenistan, Syria |
38 |
TA: misc |
24 |
Tahiti |
23 |
Tasmania |
32 |
TE: misc |
61 |
Tea |
26 |
TH: misc |
10 |
TI: misc |
10 |
TO: misc |
43 |
Track and Field photos |
44 |
Tractors (folder 1) |
130 |
Tractors (folder 2) |
108 |
Tractors (folder 3) |
145 |
Tractors (folder 4) |
141 |
Tractor (folder 5) |
118 |
Trains (folder 1) |
99 |
Trains (folder 2) |
50 |
Trains (folder 3) |
103 |
Trains (folder 4) |
95 |
TR: misc |
26 |
TU: misc |
18 |
Tunisia |
29 |
Turkey |
77 |
Turkestan |
40 |
TW: misc |
7 |
TY: misc |
9 |
G (folder 4) |
100 |
G (folder 5) |
92 |
H (folder 1) |
15 |
H (folder 2) |
100 |
H (folder 3) |
100 |
G (folder 6) |
100 |
G (folder 7) |
100 |
G (folder 8) |
100 |
G (folder 9) |
100 |
G (folder 10) |
100 |
Ub-Ut: misc |
17 |
Unemployment |
67 |
Violins, VI: misc |
30 |
VE: misc, VO: misc |
17 |
VA: misc |
33 |
Veterans |
79 |
Volcano |
39 |
Walker, Frank and some misc WA |
74 |
WA: misc |
102 |
Walker: misc (some misc. WA) |
104 |
Warren: misc and Walker |
101 |
Warren, F.E and Warren, Charles B. and WA (misc) |
102 |
WE/WH: misc |
86 |
White |
101 |
Wire Industry and fences and WI misc |
37 |
WO: misc (folder 1) |
46 |
WO: misc (folder 2) |
102 |
WO: misc (folder 3) |
92 |
World War II |
27 |
L (folder 1) |
100 |
K (folder 1) |
99 |
L (folder 2) |
38 |
M (folder 1) |
100 |
H (folder 1) |
100 |
I (Folder 1) |
75 |
I (folder 2) |
101 |
I (folder 3) |
91 |
K (folder 2) |
17 |
J |
91 |
H (folder 2) |
100 |
H (folder 3) |
100 |
H (folder 4) |
103 |
H (folder 5) |
100 |
H (folder 6) |
100 |
H (folder 7) |
102 |
Wright: (misc) |
103 |
WR: misc (folder 1) |
101 |
WR: misc (folder 2) |
64 |
Wright, J. Butler and WR: misc |
49 |
WU: misc |
90 |
Wuu, Chao Chu |
62 |
Wyant |
27 |
WY: misc |
35 |
X & Y: misc |
30 |
Yugoslavia |
51 |
Z: misc |
25 |
N |
80 |
O (folder 1) |
80 |
O (folder 2) |
100 |
P (folder 1) |
52 |
P (folder 2) |
100 |
P (folder 3) |
100 |
P (folder 4) |
100 |
Rocco, Eddie |
68 |
R (folder 1) |
100 |
M (folder 2) |
100 |
M (folder 3) |
112 |
M (folder 4) |
100 |
M (folder 5) |
100 |
M (folder 6) |
100 |
M (folder 7) |
100 |
M (folder 8) |
84 |
M (folder 9) |
100 |
W (folder 1) |
100 |
W (folder 2) |
95 |
W (folder 3) |
101 |
Y |
21 |
Z |
2 |
T (folder 1) |
107 |
T (folder 2) |
99 |
U (folder 1) |
100 |
U (folder 2) |
21 |
V (folder 1) |
41 |
V (folder 2) |
100 |
V (folder 3) |
110 |
W (folder 4) |
27 |
T (folder 3) |
100 |
T (folder 4) |
100 |
T (folder 5) |
101 |
S (folder 1) |
101 |
S (folder 2) |
100 |
T (folder 6) |
22 |
T (folder 7) |
101 |
S (folder 3) |
101 |
S (folder 4) |
100 |
S (folder 5) |
100 |
S (folder 6) |
100 |
S (folder 7) |
100 |
R (folder 2) |
100 |
S (folder 8) |
100 |
R (folder 3) |
100 |
R (folder 4) |
100 |
R (folder 5) |
82 |
S (folder 9) |
48 |
B (folder 1) |
102 |
B (folder 2) |
104 |
A (folder 1) |
20 |
B (folder 3) |
101 |
A (folder 2) |
102 |
A (folder 3) |
100 |
B (folder 4) |
98 |
B (folder 5) |
52 |
B (folder 6) |
100 |
C (folder 1) |
23 |
D (folder 1) |
100 |
C (folder 2) |
100 |
B (folder 7) |
100 |
C (folder 3) |
93 |
B (folder 8) |
100 |
BOX |
|
World War I: Americans |
97 |
World War I: Misc. |
87 |
Military: Misc. |
100 |
Military: WWI era: French Soldiers to 1940 |
18 |
Military: WWI Ear: Aviators to 1940 |
6 |
Priests- 1920? |
4 |
World War I- Austrians & Germans |
51 |
Military- WWI era- British Soldiers to 1940 |
|
Military- WWI era: United States Soldiers to 1940 |
100 |
WWI- Americans |
100 |
Military Wars: WWI |
|
Military Wars: WWI (Folder 2) |
|
Military Wars: WWI (Folder 3) |
|
Military Wars: WWI (Folder 4) |
|
Military Wars: WWI (Folder 5) |
|
WWI- Austria & Germans (Folder2) |
100 |
Military- WWI Era: United States Soliders to 1940 |
|
Military WWI Era: U.S Soliders to 1940 |
100 |
Military: WWI era: Navy (USA) to 1940 |
|
Military: United States, troops in China- 1927-1941 |
|
Military- WWI era- Italian Soliders to 1940 |
|
Spain |
39 |
World War I- France and French |
100 |